Chapter 27
WHENWATERSENGULFUSWEREACHFORASTAR
Itwaswhenhereturnedfromhisdisturbedstrollaboutthestreets,afterreceivingthedecisivenotefromMcGregor,JamesandHay,thatHurstwoodfoundtheletterCarriehadwrittenhimthatmorning.Hethrilledintenselyashenotedthehandwriting,andrapidlytoreitopen.
“Then,”hethought,“shelovesmeorshewouldnothavewrittentomeatall.”
Hewasslightlydepressedatthetenorofthenoteforthefirstfewminutes,butsoonrecovered.“Shewouldn’twriteatallifshedidn’tcareforme.”
Thiswashisoneresourceagainstthedepressionwhichheldhim.Hecouldextractlittlefromthewordingoftheletter,butthespirithethoughtheknew.
Therewasreallysomethingexceedinglyhuman—ifnotpathetic—inhisbeingthusrelievedbyaclearlywordedreproof.Hewhohadforsolongremainedsatisfiedwithhimselfnowlookedoutsideofhimselfforcomfort—andtosuchasource.Themysticcordsofaffection!Howtheybindusall.
Thecolorcametohischeeks.ForthemomentheforgottheletterfromMcGregor,JamesandHay.IfhecouldonlyhaveCarrie,perhapshecouldgetoutofthewholeentanglement-perhapsitwouldnotmatter.Hewouldn’tcarewhathiswifedidwithherselfifonlyhemightnotloseCarrie.Hestoodupandwalkedabout,dreaminghisdelightfuldreamofalifecontinuedwiththislovelypossessorofhisheart.
Itwasnotlong,however,beforetheoldworrywasbackforconsideration,andwithitwhatweariness!Hethoughtofthemorrowandthesuit.Hehaddonenothing,andherewastheafternoonslippingaway.Itwasnowaquarteroffour.Atfivetheattorneyswouldhavegonehome.Hestillhadthemorrowuntilnoon.Evenashethought,thelastfifteenminutespassedawayanditwasfive.ThenheabandonedthethoughtofseeingthemanymorethatdayandturnedtoCarrie.
Itistobeobservedthatthemandidnotjustifyhimselftohimself.Hewasnottroublingaboutthat.HiswholethoughtwasthepossibilityofpersuadingCarrie.Nothingwaswronginthat.Helovedherdearly.Theirmutualhappinessdependeduponit.WouldthatDrouetwereonlyaway!
Whilehewasthinkingthuselatedly,herememberedthathewantedsomecleanlineninthemorning.
Thishepurchased,togetherwithahalf-dozenties,andwenttothePalmerHouse.AsheenteredhethoughthesawDrouetascendingthestairswithakey.SurelynotDrouet!Thenhethought,perhapstheyhadchangedtheirabodetemporarily.Hewentstraightuptothedesk.
“IsMr.Drouetstoppinghere.”heaskedoftheclerk.
“Ithinkheis,”saidthelatter,consultinghisprivateregistrylist.“Yes.”
“Isthatso.”exclaimedHurstwood,otherwiseconcealinghisastonishment.“Alone.”headded.
“Yes,”saidtheclerk.
Hurstwoodturnedawayandsethislipssoasbesttoexpressandconcealhisfeelings.
“How’sthat.”hethought.“They’vehadarow.”
Hehastenedtohisroomwithrisingspiritsandchangedhislinen.Ashedidso,hemadeuphismindthatifCarriewasalone,orifshehadgonetoanotherplace,itbehoovedhimtofindout.Hedecidedtocallatonce.
“IknowwhatI’lldo,”hethought.“I’llgotothedoorandaskifMr.Drouetisathome.ThatwillbringoutwhetherheisthereornotandwhereCarrieis.”
Hewasalmostmovedtosomemusculardisplayashethoughtofit.Hedecidedtogoimmediatelyaftersupper.
Oncomingdownfromhisroomatsix,helookedcarefullyabouttoseeifDrouetwaspresentandthenwentouttolunch.Hecouldscarcelyeat,however,hewassoanxioustobeabouthiserrand.BeforestartinghethoughtitwelltodiscoverwhereDrouetwouldbe,andreturnedtohishotel.
“HasMr.Drouetgoneout.”heaskedoftheclerk.
“No,”answeredthelatter,“he’sinhisroom.Doyouwishtosendupacard.”“No,I’llcallaroundlater,”answeredHurstwood,andstrolledout.
HetookaMadisoncarandwentdirecttoOgdenPlacethistimewalkingboldlyuptothedoor.Thechambermaidansweredhisknock.
“IsMr.Drouetin.”saidHurstwoodblandly.
“Heisoutofthecity,”saidthegirl,whohadheardCarrietellthistoMrs.Hale.
“IsMrs.Drouetin.”
“No,shehasgonetothetheatre.”
“Isthatso.”saidHurstwood,considerablytakenback;then,asifburdenedwithsomethingimportant,“Youdon’tknowtowhichtheatre.”
Thegirlreallyhadnoideawhereshehadgone,butnotlikingHurstwood,andwishingtocausehimtrouble,answered:“Yes,Hooley’s.”
“Thankyou,”returnedthemanager,and,tippinghishatslightly,wentaway.
“I’lllookinatHooley’s,”thoughthe,butasamatteroffacthedidnot.Beforehehadreachedthecentralportionofthecityhethoughtthewholematteroveranddecideditwouldbeuseless.AsmuchashelongedtoseeCarrie,heknewshewouldbewithsomeoneanddidnotwishtointrudewithhispleathere.Alittlelaterhemightdoso—inthemorning.Onlyinthemorninghehadthelawyerquestionbeforehim.
Thislittlepilgrimagethrewquiteawetblanketuponhisrisingspirits.Hewassoondownagaintohisoldworry,andreachedtheresortanxioustofindrelief.Quiteacompanyofgentlemenweremakingtheplacelivelywiththeirconversation.AgroupofCookCountypoliticianswereconferringaboutaroundcherry-woodtableintherearportionoftheroom.Severalyoungmerrymakerswerechatteringatthebarbeforemakingabelatedvisittothetheatre.Ashabbily-genteelindividual,witharednoseandanoldhighhat,wassippingaquietglassofalealoneatoneendofthebar.Hurstwoodnoddedtothepoliticiansandwentintohisoffice.
Aboutteno’clockafriendofhis,Mr.FrankL.Taintor,alocalsportandracingman,droppedin,andseeingHurstwoodaloneinhisofficecametothedoor.
“Hello,George!”heexclaimed.
“Howareyou,Frank.”saidHurstwood,somewhatrelievedbythesightofhim.“Sitdown,”andhemotionedhimtooneofthechairsinthelittleroom.
“What’sthematter,George.”askedTaintor.“Youlookalittleglum.Haven’tlostatthetrack,haveyou.”
“I’mnotfeelingverywellto-night.Ihadaslightcoldtheotherday.”
“Takewhiskey,George,”saidTaintor.“Yououghttoknowthat.”
Hurstwoodsmiled.
Whiletheywerestillconferringthere,severalotherofHurstwood’sfriendsentered,andnotlongaftereleven,thetheatresbeingout,someactorsbegantodropin—amongthemsomenotabilities.
ThenbeganoneofthosepointlesssocialconversationssocommoninAmericanresortswherethewould-begildedattempttoruboffgiltfromthosewhohaveitinabundance.IfHurstwoodhadoneleaning,itwastowardnotabilities.Heconsidered
that,ifanywhere,hebelongedamongthem.Hewastooproudtotoady,tookeennottostrictlyobservetheplaneheoccupiedwhentherewerethosepresentwhodidnotappreciatehim,but,insituationslikethepresent,wherehecouldshineasagentlemanandbereceivedwithoutequivocationasafriendandequalamongmenofknownability,hewasmostdelighted.Itwasonsuchoccasions,ifever,thathewould“takesomething.”Whenthesocialflavorwasstrongenoughhewouldevenunbendtotheextentofdrinkingglassforglasswithhisassociates,punctiliouslyobservinghisturntopayasifhewereanoutsiderliketheothers.Ifheeverapproachedintoxication—orratherthatruddywarmthandcomfortablenesswhichprecedesthemoreslovenlystate—itwaswhenindividualssuchastheseweregatheredabouthim,whenhewasoneofacircleofchattingcelebrities.To-night,disturbedaswashisstate,hewasratherrelievedtofindcompany,andnowthatnotabilitiesweregathered,helaidasidehistroublesforthenonce,andjoinedinrightheartily.
Itwasnotlongbeforetheimbibingbegantotell.Storiesbegantocropup—thoseever-enduring,drollstorieswhichformthemajorportionoftheconversationamongAmericanmenundersuchcircumstances.
Twelveo’clockarrived,thehourforclosing,andwithitthecompanytookleave.Hurstwoodshookhandswiththemmostcordially.Hewasveryroseatephysically.Hehadarrivedatthatstatewherehismind,thoughclear,was,nevertheless,warminitsfancies.Hefeltasifhistroubleswerenotveryserious.Goingintohisoffice,hebegantoturnovercertainaccounts,awaitingthedepartureofthebartendersandthecashier,whosoonleft.
Itwasthemanager’sduty,aswellashiscustom,afterallweregonetoseethateverythingwassafelyclosedupforthenight.Asarule,nomoneyexceptthecashtakeninafterbankinghourswaskeptabouttheplace,andthatwaslockedinthesafebythecashier,who,withtheowners,wasjointkeeperofthesecretcombination,but,nevertheless,Hurstwoodnightlytooktheprecautiontotrythecashdrawersandthesafeinordertoseethattheyweretightlyclosed.Thenhewouldlockhisownlittleofficeandsettheproperlightburningnearthesafe,afterwhichhewouldtakehisdeparture.
Neverinhisexperiencehadhefoundanythingoutoforder,butto-night,aftershuttingdownhisdesk,hecameoutandtriedthesafe.Hiswaywastogiveasharppull.Thistimethedoorresponded.Hewasslightlysurprisedatthat,andlookinginfoundthemoneycasesasleftfortheday,apparentlyunprotected.Hisfirstthoughtwas,ofcourse,toinspectthedrawersandshutthedoor.
“I’llspeaktoMayhewaboutthisto-morrow,”hethought.
Thelatterhadcertainlyimaginedupongoingoutahalf-hourbeforethathehadturnedtheknobonthedoorsoastospringthelock.Hehadneverfailedtodosobefore.Butto-nightMayhewhadotherthoughts.Hehadbeenrevolvingtheproblemofabusinessofhisown.
“I’lllookinhere,”thoughtthemanager,pullingoutthemoneydrawers.Hedidnotknowwhyhewishedtolookinthere.Itwasquiteasuperfluousaction,whichanothertimemightnothavehappenedatall.
Ashedidso,alayerofbills,inparcelsofathousand,suchasbanksissue,caughthiseye.Hecouldnottellhowmuchtheyrepresented,butpausedtoviewthem.Thenhepulledoutthesecondofthecashdrawers.Inthatwerethereceiptsoftheday.
“Ididn’tknowFitzgeraldandMoyeverleftanymoneythisway,”hismindsaidtoitself.“Theymusthaveforgottenit.”
Helookedattheotherdrawerandpausedagain.
“Countthem,”saidavoiceinhisear.
Heputhishandintothefirstoftheboxesandliftedthestack,lettingtheseparateparcelsfall.Theywerebillsoffiftyandonehundreddollarsdoneinpackagesofathousand.Hethoughthecountedtensuch.
“Whydon’tIshutthesafe.”hismindsaidtoitself,lingering.“Whatmakesmepausehere.”
Foranswertherecamethestrangestwords:
“Didyoueverhavetenthousanddollarsinreadymoney.”
Lo,themanagerrememberedthathehadneverhadsomuch.Allhispropertyhadbeenslowlyaccumulated,andnowhiswifeownedthat.Hewasworthmorethanfortythousand,alltold—butshewouldgetthat.
Hepuzzledashethoughtofthesethings,thenpushedinthedrawersandclosedthedoor,pausingwithhishandupontheknob,whichmightsoeasilylockitallbeyondtemptation.Stillhepaused.Finallyhewenttothewindowsandpulleddownthecurtains.Thenhetriedthedoor,whichhehadpreviouslylocked.Whatwasthisthing,makinghimsuspicious.Whydidhewishtomoveaboutsoquietly.Hecamebacktotheendofthecounterasiftoresthisarmandthink.Thenhewentandunlockedhislittleofficedoorandturnedonthelight.Healsoopenedhisdesk,sittingdownbeforeit,onlytothinkstrangethoughts.
“Thesafeisopen,”saidavoice.“Thereisjusttheleastlittlecrackinit.Thelockhasnotbeensprung.”Themanagerflounderedamongajumbleofthoughts.Nowalltheentanglementofthedaycameback.Alsothethoughtthatherewasasolution.Thatmoneywoulddoit.IfhehadthatandCarrie.
Heroseupandstoodstock-still,lookingatthefloor.
“Whataboutit.”hismindasked,andforanswerheputhishandslowlyupandscratchedhishead.
Themanagerwasnofooltobeledblindlyawaybysuchanerrantpropositionasthis,buthissituationwaspeculiar.Winewasinhisveins.Ithadcreptupinto
hisheadandgivenhimawarmviewofthesituation.Italsocoloredthepossibilitiesoftenthousandforhim.Hecouldseegreatopportunitieswiththat.HecouldgetCarrie.Oh,yes,hecould!Hecouldgetridofhiswife.Thatletter,too,waswaitingdiscussionto-morrowmorning.Hewouldnotneedtoanswerthat.Hewentbacktothesafeandputhishandontheknob.Thenhepulledthedooropenandtookthedrawerwiththemoneyquiteout.
Withitonceoutandbeforehim,itseemedafoolishthingtothinkaboutleavingit.Certainlyitwould.Why,hecouldlivequietlywithCarrieforyears.
Lord!whatwasthat.Forthefirsttimehewastense,asifasternhandhadbeenlaiduponhisshoulder.Helookedfearfullyaround.Notasoulwaspresent.Notasound.Someonewasshufflingbyonthesidewalk.Hetooktheboxandthemoneyandputitbackinthesafe.Thenhepartlyclosedthedooragain.
Tothosewhohaveneverwaveredinconscience,thepredicamentoftheindividualwhosemindislessstronglyconstitutedandwhotremblesinthebalancebetweendutyanddesireisscarcelyappreciable,unlessgraphicallyportrayed.Thosewhohaveneverheardthatsolemnvoiceoftheghostlyclockwhichtickswithawfuldistinctness,“thoushalt,”“thoushaltnot,”“thoushalt,”“thoushaltnot,”areinnopositiontojudge.Notaloneinsensitive,highlyorganizednaturesissuchamentalconflictpossible.Thedullestspecimenofhumanity,whendrawnbydesiretowardevil,isrecalledbyasenseofright,whichisproportionateinpowerandstrengthtohiseviltendency.Wemustrememberthatitmaynotbeaknowledgeofright,fornoknowledgeofrightispredicatedoftheanimal’sinstinctiverecoilatevil.Menarestillledbyinstinctbeforetheyareregulatedbyknowledge.Itisinstinctwhichrecallsthecriminal—itisinstinct(wherehighlyorganizedreasoningisabsent)whichgivesthecriminalhisfeelingofdanger,hisfearofwrong.
Ateveryfirstadventure,then,intosomeuntriedevil,themindwavers.Theclockofthoughtticksoutitswishanditsdenial.Tothosewhohaveneverexperiencedsuchamentaldilemma,thefollowingwillappealonthesimplegroundofrevelation.
WhenHurstwoodputthemoneyback,hisnatureagainresumeditseaseanddaring.Noonehadobservedhim.Hewasquitealone.Noonecouldtellwhathewishedtodo.Hecouldworkthisthingoutforhimself.
Theimbibationoftheeveninghadnotyetwornoff.Moistaswashisbrow,trembleasdidhishandonceafterthenamelessfright,hewasstillflushedwiththefumesofliquor.Hescarcelynoticedthatthetimewaspassing.Hewentoverhissituationonceagain,hiseyealwaysseeingthemoneyinalump,hismindalwaysseeingwhatitwoulddo.Hestrolledintohislittleroom,thentothedoor,thentothesafeagain.Heputhishandontheknobandopenedit.Therewasthemoney!Surelynoharmcouldcomefromlookingatit!
Hetookoutthedraweragainandliftedthebills.Theyweresosmooth,socompact,soportable.Howlittletheymade,afterall.Hedecidedhewouldtakethem.Yes,hewould.Hewouldputtheminhispocket.Thenhelookedatthatandsawtheywouldnotgothere.Hishandsatchel!Tobesure,hishandsatchel.Theywouldgointhat—allofitwould.Noonewouldthinkanythingofiteither.Hewentintothelittleofficeandtookitfromtheshelfinthecorner.Nowhesetituponhisdeskandwentouttowardthesafe.Forsomereasonhedidnotwanttofillitoutinthebigroom.Firsthebroughtthebillsandthentheloosereceiptsoftheday.Hewouldtakeitall.Heputtheemptydrawersbackandpushedtheirondooralmostto,thenstoodbesideitmeditating.
Thewaveringofamindundersuchcircumstancesisanalmostinexplicablething,andyetitisabsolutelytrue.Hurstwoodcouldnotbringhimselftoactdefinitely.Hewantedtothinkaboutit—toponderoverit,todecidewhetheritwerebest.HewasdrawnbysuchakeendesireforCarrie,drivenbysuchastateofturmoilinhisownaffairsthathethoughtconstantlyitwouldbebest,andyethewavered.Hedidnotknowwhatevilmightresultfromittohim—howsoonhemightcometogrief.Thetrueethicsofthesituationneveronceoccurredtohim,andneverwouldhave,underanycircumstances.
Afterhehadallthemoneyinthehandbag,arevulsionoffeelingseizedhim.Hewouldnotdoit—no!Thinkofwhatascandalitwouldmake.Thepolice!Theywouldbeafterhim.Hewouldhavetofly,andwhere.Oh,theterrorofbeingafugitivefromjustice!Hetookoutthetwoboxesandputallthemoneyback.Inhisexcitementheforgotwhathewasdoing,andputthesumsinthewrongboxes.Ashepushedthedoorto,hethoughtheremembereddoingitwrongandopenedthedooragain.Therewerethetwoboxesmixed.
Hetookthemoutandstraightenedthematter,butnowtheterrorhadgone.Whybeafraid.
Whilethemoneywasinhishandthelockclicked.Ithadsprung!Didhedoit.Hegrabbedattheknobandpulledvigorously.Ithadclosed.Heavens!hewasinforitnow,sureenough.
Themomentherealizedthatthesafewaslockedforasurety,thesweatburstoutuponhisbrowandhetrembledviolently.Helookedabouthimanddecidedinstantly.Therewasnodelayingnow.
“SupposingIdolayitonthetop,”hesaid,“andgoaway,they’llknowwhotookit.I’mthelasttocloseup.Besides,otherthingswillhappen.”
Atoncehebecamethemanofaction.
“Imustgetoutofthis,”hethought.
Hehurriedintohislittleroom,tookdownhislightovercoatandhat,lockedhisdesk,andgrabbedthe
satchel.Thenheturnedoutallbutonelightandopenedthedoor.Hetriedtoputonhisoldassuredair,butitwasalmostgone.Hewasrepentingrapidly.
“IwishIhadn’tdonethat,”hesaid.“Thatwasamistake.”
Hewalkedsteadilydownthestreet,greetinganightwatchmanwhomheknewwhowastryingdoors.Hemustgetoutofthecity,andthatquickly.
“Iwonderhowthetrainsrun.”hethought.
Instantlyhepulledouthiswatchandlooked.Itwasnearlyhalf-pastone.
Atthefirstdrugstorehestopped,seeingalong-distancetelephoneboothinside.Itwasafamousdrugstore,andcontainedoneofthefirstprivatetelephoneboothsevererected.“Iwanttouseyour‘phoneaminute,”hesaidtothenightclerk.
Thelatternodded.
“Giveme1643,”hecalledtoCentral,afterlookinguptheMichiganCentraldepotnumber.Soonhegottheticketagent.
“HowdothetrainsleavehereforDetroit.”heasked.
Themanexplainedthehours.
“Nomoreto-night.”
“Nothingwithasleeper.Yes,thereis,too,”headded.“Thereisamailtrainoutofhereatthreeo’clock.”
“Allright,”saidHurstwood.“WhattimedoesthatgettoDetroit.”
HewasthinkingifhecouldonlygetthereandcrosstheriverintoCanada,hecouldtakehistimeaboutgettingtoMontreal.Hewasrelievedtolearnthatitwouldreachtherebynoon.
“Mayhewwon’topenthesafetillnine,”hethought.“Theycan’tgetonmytrackbeforenoon.”
ThenhethoughtofCarrie.Withwhatspeedmusthegether,ifhegotheratall.Shewouldhavetocomealong.Hejumpedintothenearestcabstandingby.
“ToOgdenPlace,”hesaidsharply.“I’llgiveyouadollarmoreifyoumakegoodtime.”
Thecabbybeathishorseintoasortofimitationgallopwhichwasfairlyfast,however.OnthewayHurstwoodthoughtwhattodo.Reachingthenumber,hehurriedupthestepsanddidnotsparethebellinwakingtheservant.
“IsMrs.Drouetin.”heasked.
“Yes,”saidtheastonishedgirl.
“Tellhertodressandcometothedooratonce.Herhusbandisinthehospital,injured,andwantstoseeher.”
Theservantgirlhurriedupstairs,convincedbytheman’sstrainedandemphaticmanner.
“What!”saidCarrie,lightingthegasandsearchingforherclothes.
“Mr.Drouetishurtandinthehospital.Hewantstoseeyou.Thecab’sdownstairs.”
Carriedressedveryrapidly,andsoonappearedbelow,forgettingeverythingsavethenecessities.
“Drouetishurt,”saidHurstwoodquickly.“Hewantstoseeyou.Comequickly.”
Carriewassobewilderedthatsheswallowedthewholestory.“Getin,”saidHurstwood,helpingherandjumpingafter.Thecabbybegantoturnthehorsearound.“MichiganCentraldepot,”hesaid,standingupandspeakingsolowthatCarriecouldnothear,“asfastasyoucango.”