按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
brick and stone； he found the old wooden building still intact； with its
villa…like galleries and verandas incongruously and ostentatiously
overlooked by two new and aspiring erections on either side。 For an
instant he tried to recall the glamour of old days。 He remembered when his
boyish eyes regarded it as the crowning work of opulence and distinction；
he remembered a ball given there on some public occasion； which was to
him the acme of social brilliancy and display。 How tawdry and trivial it
looked beside those later and more solid structures！ How inconsistent were
those long latticed verandas and balconies； pathetic record of that first
illusion of the pioneers that their climate was a tropical one！ A restaurant
and billiard…saloon had aggrandized all of the lower story； but there was
still the fanlight； over which the remembered title of 〃St。 Charles；〃 in
gilded letters； was now reinforced by the too demonstrative legend；
〃Apartments and Board； by the Day or Week。〃 Was it possible that this
narrow； creaking staircase had once seemed to him the broad steps of
Fame and Fortune？ On the first landing； a preoccupied Irish servant…girl；
with a mop； directed him to a door at the end of the passage； at which he
knocked。 The door was opened by a grizzled negro servant； who was still
holding a piece of oily chamois…leather in his hand； and the contents of a
dueling…case； scattered upon a table in the centre of the room； showed
18
… Page 19…
A WARD OF THE GOLDEN GATE
what had been his occupation。 Admitting Hathaway with great courtesy； he
said：
〃Marse Harry bin havin' his ole trubble； sah； and bin engaged just dis
momen' on his toylet； ef yo'll accommodate yo'self on de sofa； I inform
him yo' is heah。〃
As the negro passed into the next room； Paul cast a hasty glance
around the apartment。 The furniture； originally rich and elegant； was now
worn threadbare and lustreless。 A book…case； containing； among other
volumes； a few law booksthere being a vague tradition； as Paul
remembered； that Colonel Pendleton had once been connected with the
lawa few French chairs of tarnished gilt； a rifle in the corner； a
presentation sword in a mahogany case； a few classical prints on the walls；
and one or two iron deed…boxes marked 〃El Dorado Bank；〃 were the
principal objects。 A mild flavor of dry decay and methylated spirits
pervaded the apartment。 Yet it was scrupulously clean and well kept； and a
few clothes neatly brushed and folded on a chair bore witness to the
servant's care。 As Paul； however； glanced behind the sofa； he was
concerned to see a coat； which had evidently been thrust hurriedly in a
corner； with the sleeve lining inside out； and a needle and thread still
sticking in the seam。 It struck him instantly that this had been the negro's
occupation； and that the pistol…cleaning was a polite fiction。
〃Yo' 'll have to skuse Marse Harry seein' yo in bed； but his laig's
pow'ful bad to…day； and he can't stand；〃 said the servant reentering the
room。 〃Skuse me； sah；〃 he added in a dignified confidential whisper； half
closing the door with his hand； 〃but if yo' wouldn't mind avoidin' 'xcitin' or
controversical topics in yo' conversation； it would be de better fo' him。〃
Paul smilingly assented； and the black retainer； with even more than
the usual solemn ceremonious exaggeration of his race； ushered him into
the bedroom。 It was furnished in the same faded glory as the sitting…room；
with the exception of a low； iron camp…bedstead； in which the tall；
soldierly figure of Colonel Pendleton； clad in threadbare silk dressing…
gown； was stretched。 He had changed in eight years： his hair had become
gray； and was thinned over the sunken temples； but his iron…gray
moustache was still particularly long and well pointed。 His face bore
19
… Page 20…
A WARD OF THE GOLDEN GATE
marks of illness and care； there were deep lines down the angle of the
nostril that spoke of alternate savage outbreak and repression； and gave his
smile a sardonic rigidity。 His dark eyes； that shone with the exaltation of
fever； fixed Paul's on entering； and with the tyranny of an invalid never
left them。
〃Well； Hathaway？〃
With the sound of that voice Paul felt the years slip away； and he was
again a boy； looking up admiringly to the strong man； who now lay
helpless before him。 He had entered the room with a faint sense of
sympathizing superiority and a consciousness of having had experience in
controlling men。 But all this fled before Colonel Pendleton's authoritative
voice； even its broken tones carried the old dominant spirit of the man； and
Paul found himself admiring a quality in his old acquaintance that he
missed in his newer friends。
〃I haven't seen you for eight years； Hathaway。 Come here and let me
look at you。〃
Paul approached the bedside with boyish obedience。 Pendleton took
his hand and gazed at him critically。
〃I should have recognized you； sir； for all your moustache and your
inches。 The last time I saw you was in Jack Hammersley's office。 Well；
Jack's dead； and here I am； little better； I reckon。 You remember
Hammersley's house？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Paul； albeit wondering at the question。
〃Something like this； Swiss villa style。 I remember when Jack put it up。
Well； the last time I was out； I passed there。 And what do you think they've
done to it？〃
Paul could not imagine。
〃Well； sir；〃 said the colonel gravely； 〃they've changed it into a church
missionary shop and young men's Christian reading…room！ But that's
'progress' and 'improvement'！〃 He paused； and； slowly withdrawing his
hand from Paul's； added with grim apology； 〃You're young； and belong to
the new school； perhaps。 Well； sir； I've read your speech； I don't belong to
your partymine died ten years ago