第1章

Whenitsturncame，theprivatesecretary，somewhatapologetically，laidtheletterinfrontoftheWisestManinWallStreet。

"FromMrs。Austin，probationofficer，CourtofGeneralSessions，"

heexplained。"WantsaletteraboutSpear。He’sbeenconvictedoftheft。ComesupforsentenceTuesday。"

"Spear？"repeatedArnoldThorndike。

"Youngfellow，stenographer，usedtodoyourletterslastsummergoinginandoutonthetrain。"

Thegreatmannodded。"Iremember。Whatabouthim？"

Thehabitualgloomoftheprivatesecretarywaslightenedbyagrin。

"Wentontheloose;hadwithhimaboutfivehundreddollarsbelongingtothefirm;he’swithIsaacs&Sonsnow，shoepeopleonSixthAvenue。Metawoman，andwokeupwithoutthemoney。Thenextmorningheofferedtomakegood，butIsaacscalledinapoliceman。Whentheylookedintoit，theyfoundtheboyhadbeendrunk。Theytriedtowithdrawthecharge，buthe’dbeencommitted。

Now，theprobationofficeristryingtogetthejudgetosuspendsentence。Aletterfromyou，sir，would——"

Itwasevidentthemindofthegreatmanwaselsewhere。Youngmenwho，drunkorsober，spentthefirm’smoneyonwomenwhodisappearedbeforesunrisedidnotappealtohim。AnotherlettersubmittedthatmorninghadcomefromhisartagentinEurope。InFlorencehehaddiscoveredtheCorreggiohehadbeensenttofind。

Itwasundoubtedlygenuine，andheaskedtobeinstructedbycable。

Thepricewasfortythousanddollars。Withoneeyeclosed，andtheotherkeenlyregardingtheinkstand，Mr。Thorndikedecidedtopaytheprice;andwiththefacilityoflongpracticedismissedtheCorreggio，andsnappedhismindbacktothepresent。

"Spearhadaletterfromuswhenheleft，didn’the？"heasked。

"Whathehasdevelopedinto，SINCEheleftus——"heshruggedhisshoulders。Thesecretarywithdrewtheletter，andslippedanotherinitsplace。

"HomerFirth，thelandscapeman，"hechanted，"wantspermissiontouseblueflintonthenewroad，withturfgutters，andtoplantsilverfirseachside。Saysitwillruntoaboutfivethousanddollarsamile。"

"No！"protestedthegreatmanfirmly，"blueflintmakesacountryplacelooklikeacemetery。Minelookstoomuchlikeacemeterynow。Landscapegardeners！"heexclaimedimpatiently。"Theironlyideaistoinsultnature。TheplacewasbetterthedayIboughtit，whenitwasrunningwild;youcouldpickflowersallthewaytothegates。"Pleasedthatitshouldhaverecurredtohim，thegreatmansmiled。"Why，Spear，"heexclaimed，"alwaystookinabunchofthemforhismother。Don’tyouremember，weusedtoseehimbeforebreakfastwanderingaroundthegroundspickingflowers？"Mr。

Thorndikenoddedbriskly。"Ilikehistakingflowerstohismother。"

"HeSAIDitwastohismother，"suggestedthesecretarygloomily。

"Well，hepickedtheflowers，anyway，"laughedMr。Thorndike。"Hedidn’tpickourpockets。Andhehadtherunofthehouseinthosedays。Asfarasweknow，"hedictated，"hewassatisfactory。

Don’tsaymorethanthat。"

Thesecretaryscribbledamarkwithhispencil。"Andthelandscapeman？"

"Tellhim，"commandedThorndike，"Iwantawoodroad，suitabletoafarm;andtoletthetreesgrowwhereGodplantedthem。"

AshiscarsliddowntownonTuesdaymorningthemindofArnoldThorndikewasoccupiedwithsuchdetailsofdailyroutineasthepurchaseofarailroad，theJapaneseloan，thenewwingtohisartgallery，andanattackthatmorning，inhisownnewspaper，uponhispettrust。Buthisbusymindwasnottoooccupiedtoreturnthesalutesofthetrafficpolicemenwhoclearedthewayforhim。Or，bysomegeniusofmemory，torecallthefactthatitwasonthismorningyoungSpearwastobesentencedfortheft。Itwasacharmingmorning。Thespringwasatfulltide，andtheairwassweetandclean。Mr。Thorndikeconsideredwhimsicallythattosendamantojailwiththememoryofsuchamorningclingingtohimwasaddingayeartohissentence。Heregrettedhehadnotgiventheprobationofficerastrongerletter。Herememberedtheyoungmannow，andfavorably。Ashy，silentyouth，deftinwork，andatothertimesconsciousandembarrassed。Butthat，onthepartofastenographer，inthepresenceoftheWisestManinWallStreet，wasnotunnatural。Onoccasions，Mr。Thorndikehadputevenroyalty——

frayed，impecuniousroyalty，onthelookoutforaloan——atitsease。

Thehoodofthecarwasdown，andthetasteoftheair，warmedbythesun，wasgrateful。Itwasatthistime，ayearbefore，thatyoungSpearpickedthespringflowerstotaketohismother。A

yearfromnowwherewouldyoungSpearbe？

Itwascharacteristicofthegreatmantoactquickly，soquicklythathisfriendsdeclaredhewasaslavetoimpulse。Itwasthesesameimpulses，leadingsoinvariablytosuccess，thatmadehisenemiescallhimtheWisestMan。Heleanedforwardandtouchedthechauffeur’sshoulder。"StopattheCourtofGeneralSessions，"hecommanded。Whatheproposedtodowouldtakebutafewminutes。A

word，apersonalwordfromhimtothedistrictattorney，orthejudge，wouldbeenough。HerecalledthataSundaySpecialhadoncecalculatedthattheworkingtimeofArnoldThorndikebroughthimintwohundreddollarsaminute。Atthatrate，keepingSpearoutofprisonwouldcostathousanddollars。

OutofthesunshineMr。Thorndikesteppedintothegloomofanechoingrotunda，shutinoneveryside，hungbybalconies，lit，manystoriesoverhead，byadirtyskylight。Theplacewasdamp，theairacridwiththesmellofstaletobaccojuice，andfoulwiththepresenceofmanyunwashedhumans。Apoliceman，chewingstolidly，noddedtowardanelevatorshaft，andotherpolicemennoddedhimfurtherontotheofficeofthedistrictattorney。

ThereArnoldThorndikebreathedmorefreely。Hewasagainamonghisownpeople。Hecouldnothelpbutappreciatethedramaticqualitiesofthesituation;thattherichestmaninWallStreetshouldappearinpersontopleadforahumbleandweakerbrother。

Heknewhecouldnotescaperecognition，hisfacewastoowellknown，but，hetrusted，forthesakeofSpear，thereporterswouldmakenodisplayofhisvisit。Withadeprecatorylaugh，heexplainedwhyhehadcome。Buttheoutburstofapprobationhehadanticipateddidnotfollow。

Thedistrictattorneyranhisfingerbrisklydownaprintedcard。

"HenrySpear，"heexclaimed，"that’syourman。PartThree，JudgeFallon。Andrewsisinthatcourt。"Hewalkedtothedoorofhisprivateoffice。"Andrews！"hecalled。

Heintroducedanalert，broad—shoulderedyoungmanofyearsofmuchindiscretionandwithacharmingandinconsequentmanner。

"Mr。ThorndikeisinterestedinHenrySpear，comingupforsentenceinPartThreethismorning。Wantstospeakforhim。Takehimoverwithyou。"

Thedistrictattorneyshookhandsquickly，andretreatedtohisprivateoffice。Mr。Andrewstookoutacigaretteand，ashecrossedthefloor，litit。

"Comewithme，"hecommanded。Somewhatpuzzled，slightlyannoyed，butenjoyingwithalthenoveltyoftheenvironmentandthecurtnessofhisreception，Mr。Thorndikefollowed。Hedecidedthat，inhisignorance，hehadwastedhisowntimeandthatoftheprosecutingattorney。Heshouldatoncehavesentinhiscardtothejudge。

Asheunderstoodit，Mr。Andrewswasnowconductinghimtothatdignitary，and，inamoment，hewouldbefreetoreturntohisownaffairs，whichweretheaffairsoftwocontinents。ButMr。Andrewsledhimtoanoffice，bareandsmall，andofferedhimachair，andhandedhimamorningnewspaper。Therewerepeoplewaitingintheroom;strangepeople，onlylikethoseMr。Thorndikehadseenonferry—boats。TheyleanedforwardtowardyoungMr。Andrews，fawning，theireyeswidewithapprehension。

Mr。Thorndikerefusedthenewspaper。"IthoughtIwasgoingtoseethejudge，"hesuggested。

"Courtdoesn’topenforafewminutesyet，"saidtheassistantdistrictattorney。"Judgeisalwayslate，anyway。"

Mr。Thorndikesuppressedanexclamation。Hewantedtoprotest，buthisclearmindshowedhimthattherewasnothingagainstwhich，withreason，hecouldprotest。Hecouldnotcomplainbecausethesepeoplewerenotapparentlyawareofthesacrificehewasmaking。

Hehadcomeamongthemtoperformakindlyact。Herecognizedthathemustnotstultifyitbyashowofirritation。Hehadprecipitatedhimselfintoagameofwhichhedidnotknowtherules。Thatwasall。Nexttimehewouldknowbetter。Nexttimehewouldsendaclerk。Buthewasnotwithoutasenseofhumor，andthesituationasitnowwasforceduponhimstruckhimasamusing。Helaughedgood—naturedlyandreachedforthedesktelephone。

"MayIusethis？"heasked。HespoketotheWallStreetoffice。

Heexplainedhewouldbeafewminuteslate。Hedirectedwhatshouldbedoneifthemarketopenedinacertainway。Hegaverapidordersonmanydifferentmatters，askedtohavereadtohimacablegramheexpectedfromPetersburg，andonefromVienna。

"Theyanswereachother，"washisfinalinstruction。"Itlookslikepeace。"

Mr。Andrewswithgenialpatiencehadremainedsilent。Nowheturneduponhisvisitors。ALevantine，burly，unshaven，andsoiled，toweredtruculentlyabovehim。YoungMr。Andrewswithhisswivelchairtiltedback，hishandsclaspedbehindhishead，hiscigarettehangingfromhislips，regardedthemandispassionately。

"Yougottahellofanervetocometoseeme，"hecommentedcheerfully。ToMr。Thorndike，theformofgreetingwasnovel。Sogreatlydiditdifferfromtheprocedureofhisownoffice，thathelistenedwithinterest。

"Wasityou，"demandedyoungAndrews，inapuzzledtone，"oryourbrotherwhotriedtoknifeme？"Mr。Thorndike，unaccustomedtocrossthepavementtohisofficeunlessescortedbybankmessengersandplain—clothesmen，felttheroomgrowingrapidlysmaller;thefigureofthetruculentGreekloomedtoheroicproportions。Thehandofthebankerwentvaguelytohischin，andfromtherefelltohispearlpin，whichhehastilycovered。

"Getout！"saidyoungAndrews，"anddon’tshowyourfacehere——"

ThedoorslammedupontheflyingGreek。YoungAndrewsswunghisswivelchairsothat，overhisshoulder，hecouldseeMr。

Thorndike。"Idon’tlikehisface，"heexplained。

Akindlyeyed，sadwomanwithabasketonherkneesmileduponAndrewswiththefamiliarityofanoldacquaintance。

"Isthatwomangoingtogetadivorcefrommyson，"sheasked，"nowthathe’sintrouble？"

"Nowthathe’sinSingSing？"correctedMr。Andrews。"IHOPEso！

Shedeservesit。Thatsonofyours，Mrs。Bernard，"hedeclaredemphatically，"isnogood！"

ThebrutalityshockedMr。Thorndike。Forthewomanhefeltathrillofsympathy，butatoncesawthatitwassuperfluous。Fromthesecureandloftyheightsofmotherhood，Mrs。Bernardsmileddownupontheassistantdistrictattorneyasuponanaughtychild。

Shedidnotevendeignaprotest。Shecontinuedmerelytosmile。

ThesmileremindedThorndikeofthesmileonthefaceofamotherinapaintingbyMurillohehadlatelypresentedtothechapelinthecollegehehadgiventohisnativetown。

"Thatsonofyours，"repeatedyoungAndrews，"isaleech。He’srobbedyou，robbedhiswife。BestthingIeverdidforYOUwastosendhimuptheriver。"

Themothersmileduponhimbeseechingly。

"Couldyougivemeapass？"shesaid。

YoungAndrewsflunguphishandsandappealedtoThorndike。

"Isn’tthatjustlikeamother？"heprotested。"Thatsonofhershasbrokenherheart，trampedonher，cheatedher;hasn’tleftheracent;andshecomestomeforapass，soshecankisshimthroughthebars！AndI’llbetshe’sgotacakeforhiminthatbasket！"

Themotherlaughedhappily;sheknewnowshewouldgetthepass。

"Mothers，"explainedMr。Andrews，fromthedepthofhiswisdom，"arealllikethat;yourmother，mymother。Ifyouwenttojail，yourmotherwouldbejustlikethat。"

Mr。Thorndikebowedhisheadpolitely。Hehadneverconsideredgoingtojail，orwhether，ifhedid，hismotherwouldbringhimcakeinabasket。Apparentlythereweremanyaspectsandaccidentsoflifenotincludedinhisexperience。

YoungAndrewssprangtohisfeet，and，withtheforceofahoseflushingagutter，swepthissoiledvisitorsintothehall。

"Comeon，"hecalledtotheWisestMan，"thecourtisopen。"

Inthecorridorsweremanypeople，andwithhiseyesonthebroadshouldersoftheassistantdistrictattorney，Thorndikepushedhiswaythroughthem。Thepeoplewhoblockedhisprogresswereoftheclassunknowntohim。Theirlookswereanxious，furtive，miserable。Theystoodinlittlegroups，listeningeagerlytoasharp—facedlawyer，or，insullendespair，eyingeachother。AtadooratipstafflaidhishandroughlyonthearmofMr。Thorndike。

"That’sallright，Joe，"calledyoungMr。Andrews，"he’swithME。"

Theyenteredthecourtandpasseddownanaisletoarailedenclosureinwhichwerehighoakchairs。Again，inhisefforttofollow，Mr。Thorndikewashalted，butthefirsttipstaffcametohisrescue。"Allright，"hesignalled，"he’swithMr。Andrews。"

Mr。Andrewspointedtooneoftheoakchairs。"Yousitthere，"hecommanded，"it’sreservedformembersofthebar，butit’sallright。You’rewithME。"

Distinctlyannoyed，slightlybewildered，thebankersankbetweenthearmsofachair。Hefelthehadlosthisindividuality。

Andrewshadbecomehissponsor。BecauseofAndrewshewastolerated。BecauseAndrewshadapullhewaspermittedtositasanequalamongpolice—courtlawyers。NolongerwasheArnoldThorndike。Hewasmerelytheman"withMr。Andrews。"

ThenevenAndrewsabandonedhim。"Thejudge’llbehereinaminute，now，"saidtheassistantdistrictattorney，andwentinsidearailedenclosureinfrontofthejudge’sbench。TherehegreetedanotherassistantdistrictattorneywhoseyearswerethoseofevengreaterindiscretionthantheyearsofMr。Andrews。Seatedontherail，withtheirhandsintheirpocketsandtheirbacksturnedtoMr。Thorndike，theylaughedandtalkedtogether。ThesubjectoftheirdiscoursewasoneMikeDonlin，asheappearedinvaudeville。

ToMr。ThorndikeitwasevidentthatyoungAndrewshadentirelyforgottenhim。Hearose，andtouchedhissleeve。WithinfinitesarcasmMr。Thorndikebegan:"Myengagementsarenotpressing，but——"

Acourtattendantbeatwithhispalmupontherail。

"Sitdown！"whisperedAndrews。"Thejudgeiscoming。"

Mr。Thorndikesatdown。

ThecourtattendantdronedloudlywordsMr。Thorndikecouldnotdistinguish。Therewasarustleofsilk，andfromadoorbehindhimthejudgestalkedpast。Hewasayoungman，thetypeoftheTammanypolitician。Onhisshrewd，alert，Irish—Americanfeatureswasanexpressionofunnaturalgloom。WithasmileMr。Thorndikeobservedthatitwasaslittlesuitedtothecountenanceoftheyoungjudgeaswastherobetohisshoulders。Mr。ThorndikewasstillsmilingwhenyoungAndrewsleanedovertherail。

"Standup！"hehissed。Mr。Thorndikestoodup。

Afterthecourtattendanthadutteredmoreunintelligiblewords，everyonesatdown;andthefinancieragainmovedhurriedlytotherail。

"Iwouldliketospeaktohimnowbeforehebegins，"hewhispered。

"Ican’twait。"

Mr。Andrewsstaredinamazement。Thebankerhadnotbelievedtheyoungmancouldlooksoserious。