the financier-第3部分

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co；　had　issued　bonds　and　certificates　in　great　variety；　amounting　in　value　to　ten　or　fifteen　million　dollars。　　Later；　in　connection　with　the　scheme　to　make　Texas　a　State　of　the　Union；　a　bill　was　passed　providing　a　contribution　on　the　part　of　the　United　States　of　five　million　dollars；　to　be　applied　to　the　extinguishment　of　this　old　debt。　　Grund　knew　of　this；　and　also　of　the　fact　that　some　of　this　debt；　owing　to　the　peculiar　conditions　of　issue；　was　to　be　paid　in　full；　while　other　portions　were　to　be　scaled　down；　and　there　was　to　be　a　false　or　pre…arranged　failure　to　pass　the　bill　at　one　session　in　order　to　frighten　off　the　outsiders　who　might　have　heard　and　begun　to　buy　the　old　certificates　for　profit。　　He　acquainted　the　Third　National　Bank　with　this　fact；　and　of　course　the　information　came　to　Cowperwood　as　teller。　　He　told　his　wife　about　it；　and　so　his　son；　in　this　roundabout　way；　heard　it；　and　his　clear；　big　eyes　glistened。　　He　wondered　why　his　father　did　not　take　advantage　of　the　situation　and　buy　some　Texas　certificates　for　himself。　　Grund；　so　his　father　said；　and　possibly　three　or　four　others；　had　made　over　a　hundred　thousand　dollars　apiece。　　It　wasn't　exactly　legitimate；　he　seemed　to　think；　and　yet　it　was；　too。　　Why　shouldn't　such　inside　information　be　rewarded？　　Somehow；　Frank　realized　that　his　father　was　too　honest；　too　cautious；　but　when　he　grew　up；　he　told　himself；　he　was　going　to　be　a　broker；　or　a　financier；　or　a　banker；　and　do　some　of　these　things。

Just　at　this　time　there　came　to　the　Cowperwoods　an　uncle　who　had　not　previously　appeared　in　the　life　of　the　family。　　He　was　a　brother　of　Mrs。　Cowperwood'sSeneca　Davis　by　namesolid；　unctuous；　five　feet　ten　in　height；　with　a　big；　round　body；　a　round；　smooth　head　rather　bald；　a　clear；　ruddy　complexion；　blue　eyes；　and　what　little　hair　he　had　of　a　sandy　hue。　　He　was　exceedingly　well　dressed　according　to　standards　prevailing　in　those　days；　indulging　in　flowered　waistcoats；　long；　light…colored　frock…coats；　and　the　invariable　（for　a　fairly　prosperous　man）　high　hat。　　Frank　was　fascinated　by　him　at　once。　　He　had　been　a　planter　in　Cuba　and　still　owned　a　big　ranch　there　and　could　tell　him　tales　of　Cuban　liferebellions；　ambuscades；　hand…to…hand　fighting　with　machetes　on　his　own　plantation；　and　things　of　that　sort。　　He　brought　with　him　a　collection　of　Indian　curies；　to　say　nothing　of　an　independent　fortune　and　several　slavesone；　named　Manuel；　a　tall；　raw…boned　black；　was　his　constant　attendant；　a　bodyservant；　as　it　were。　　He　shipped　raw　sugar　from　his　plantation　in　boat…loads　to　the　Southwark　wharves　in　Philadelphia。　　Frank　liked　him　because　he　took　life　in　a　hearty；　jovial　way；　rather　rough　and　offhand　for　this　somewhat　quiet　and　reserved　household。

〃Why；　Nancy　Arabella；〃　he　said　to　Mrs　Cowperwood　on　arriving　one　Sunday　afternoon；　and　throwing　the　household　into　joyous　astonishment　at　his　unexpected　and　unheralded　appearance；　〃you　haven't　grown　an　inch！　I　thought　when　you　married　old　brother　Hy　here　that　you　were　going　to　fatten　up　like　your　brother。　　But　look　at　you！　I　swear　to　Heaven　you　don't　weigh　five　pounds。〃　　And　he　jounced　her　up　and　down　by　the　waist；　much　to　the　perturbation　of　the　children；　who　had　never　before　seen　their　mother　so　familiarly　handled。

Henry　Cowperwood　was　exceedingly　interested　in　and　pleased　at　the　arrival　of　this　rather　prosperous　relative；　for　twelve　years　before；　when　he　was　married；　Seneca　Davis　had　not　taken　much　notice　of　him。

〃Look　at　these　little　putty…faced　Philadelphians；〃　he　continued；　〃They　ought　to　come　down　to　my　ranch　in　Cuba　and　get　tanned　up。　That　would　take　away　this　waxy　look。〃　　And　he　pinched　the　cheek　of　Anna　Adelaide；　now　five　years　old。　　〃I　tell　you；　Henry；　you　have　a　rather　nice　place　here。〃　　And　he　looked　at　the　main　room　of　the　rather　conventional　three…story　house　with　a　critical　eye。

Measuring　twenty　by　twenty…four　and　finished　in　imitation　cherry；　with　a　set　of　new　Sheraton　parlor　furniture　it　presented　a　quaintly　harmonious　aspect。　　Since　Henry　had　become　teller　the　family　had　acquired　a　pianoa　decided　luxury　in　those　days　brought　from　Europe；　and　it　was　intended　that　Anna　Adelaide；　when　she　was　old　enough；　should　learn　to　play。　　There　were　a　few　uncommon　ornaments　in　the　rooma　gas　chandelier　for　one　thing；　a　glass　bowl　with　goldfish　in　it；　some　rare　and　highly　polished　shells；　and　a　marble　Cupid　bearing　a　basket　of　flowers。　　It　was　summer　time；　the　windows　were　open；　and　the　trees　outside；　with　their　widely　extended　green　branches；　were　pleasantly　visible　shading　the　brick　sidewalk。　　Uncle　Seneca　strolled　out　into　the　back　yard。

〃Well；　this　is　pleasant　enough；〃　he　observed；　noting　a　large　elm　and　seeing　that　the　yard　was　partially　paved　with　brick　and　enclosed　within　brick　walls；　up　the　sides　of　which　vines　were　climbing。　　〃Where's　your　hammock？　Don't　you　string　a　hammock　here　in　summer？　Down　on　my　veranda　at　San　Pedro　I　have　six　or　seven。〃

〃We　hadn't　thought　of　putting　one　up　because　of　the　neighbors；　but　it　would　be　nice；〃　agreed　Mrs。　Cowperwood。　　〃Henry　will　have　to　get　one。〃

〃I　have　two　or　three　in　my　trunks　over　at　the　hotel。　　My　niggers　make　'em　down　there。　　I'll　send　Manuel　over　with　them　in　the　morning。〃

He　plucked　at　the　vines；　tweaked　Edward's　ear；　told　Joseph；　the　second　boy；　he　would　bring　him　an　Indian　tomahawk；　and　went　back　into　the　house。

〃This　is　the　lad　that　interests　me；〃　he　said；　after　a　time；　laying　a　hand　on　the　shoulder　of　Frank。　　〃What　did　you　name　him　in　full；　Henry？〃

〃Frank　Algernon。〃

〃Well；　you　might　have　named　him　after　me。　　There's　something　to　this　boy。　　How　would　you　like　to　come　down　to　Cuba　and　be　a　planter；　my　boy？〃

〃I'm　not　so　sure　that　I'd　like　to；〃　replied　the　eldest。

〃Well；　that's　straight…spoken。　　What　have　you　against　it？〃

〃Nothing；　except　that　I　don't　know　anything　about　it。〃

〃What　do　you　know？〃

The　boy　smiled　wisely。　　〃Not　very　much；　I　guess。〃

〃Well；　what　are　you　interested　in？〃

〃Money！〃

〃Aha！　What's　bred　in　the　bone；　eh？　Get　something　of　that　from　your　father；　eh？　Well；　that's　a　good　trait。　　And　spoken　like　a　man；　too！　We'll　hear　more　about　that　later。　　Nancy；　you're　breeding　a　financier　here；　I　think。　　He　talks　like　one。〃

He　looked　at　Frank　carefully　now。　　There　was　real　force　in　that　sturdy　young　bodyno　doubt　of　it。　　Those　large；　clear　gray　eyes　were　full　of　intelligence。　　They　indicated　much　and　revealed　nothing。

〃A　smart　boy！〃　he　said　to　Henry；　his　brother…in…law。　　〃I　like　his　get…up。　　You　have　a　bright　family。〃

Henry　Cowperwood　smiled　dryly。　　This　man；　if　he　liked　Frank；　might　do　much　for　the　boy。　　He　might　eventually　leave　him　some　of　his　fortune。　　He　was　wealthy　and　single。

Uncle　Seneca　became　a　frequent　visitor　to　the　househe　and　his　negro　body…guard；　Manuel；　who　spoke　both　English　and　Spanish；　much　to　the　astonishment　of　the　children；　and　he　took　an　increasing　interest　in　Frank。

〃When　that　boy　gets　old　enough　to　find　out　what　he　wants　to　do；　I　think　I'll　help　him　to　do　it；〃　he　observed　to　his　sister　one　day；　and　she　told　him　she　was　very　grateful。　　He　talked　to　Frank　about　his　studies；　and　found　that　he　cared　little　for　books　or　most　of　the　study　he　was　compelled　to　pursue。　　Grammar　was　an　abomination。　Literature　silly。　　Latin　was　of　no　use。　　Historywell；　it　was　fairly　interesting。

〃I　like　bookkeeping　and　arithmetic；〃　he　observed。　　〃I　want　to　get　out　and　get　to　work；　though。　　That's　what　I　want　to　do。〃

〃You're　pretty　young；　my　son；〃　observed　his　uncle。　　〃You're　only　how　old　now？　Fourteen？〃

〃Thirteen。〃

〃Well；　you　can't　leave　school　much　before　sixteen。　　You'll　do　better　if　you　stay　until　seventeen　or　eighteen。　　It　can't　do　you　any　harm。　　You　won't　be　a　boy　again。〃

〃I　don't　want　to　be　a　boy。　I　want　to　get　to　work。〃

〃Don't　go　too　fast；　son。　　You'll　be　a　man　soon　enough。　　You　want　to　be　a　banker；　do　you？〃

〃Yes；　sir！〃

〃Well；　when　the　time　comes；　if　everything　is　all　right　and　you've　behaved　yourself　and　you　still　want　to；　I'll　help　you　get　a　start　in　business。　　If　I　were　you　and　were　going　to　be　a　banker；　I'd　first　spend　a　year　or　so　in　some　good　grain　and　commission　house。　There's　good　training　to　be　had　there。　　You'll　learn　a　lot　that　you　ought　to　know。　　And；　meantime；　keep　your　health　and　learn　all　you　can。　　Wherever　I　am；　you　let　me　know；　and　I'll　write　and　find　out　how　you've　been　conducting　yourself。〃

He　gave　the　boy　a　ten…dollar　gold　piece　with　which　to　start　a　bank…account。　　And；　not　strange　to　say；　he　liked　the　whole　Cowperwood　household　much　better　for　this　dynamic；　self…sufficient；　sterling　youth　who　was　an　integral　part　of　it。





Chapter　III




It　was　in　his　thirteenth　year　that　young　Cowperwood　entered　into　his　first　business　venture。　　Walking　along　Front　Street　one　day；　a　street　of　importing　and　wholesale　establishments；　he　saw　an　auctioneer's　flag　hanging　out　before　a　wholesale　grocery　and　from　the　interior　came　the　auctioneer's　voice：　〃What　am　I　bid　for　this　exceptional　lot　of　Java　coffee；　twenty…two　bags　all　told；　which　is　now　selling　in　the　market　for　seven　dollars　and　thirty…two　cents　a　bag　wholesale？　What　am　I　bid？　What　am　I　bid？　The　whole　lot　must　go　as　one。　　What　am　I　bid？〃

〃Eighteen　dollars；〃　suggested　a　trader　standing　near　the　door；　more　to　start　the