登陆注册
5237600000078

第78章 REVENGE IS--BITTER(1)

At no time during his career did Wingrave appear before the public more prominently than during the next few months. As London began to fill up again, during the early part of October, he gave many and magnificent entertainments, his name figured in all the great social events, he bought a mansion in Park Lane which had been built for Royalty, and the account of the treasures with which he filled it read like a chapter from some modern Arabian Nights. In the city, he was more hated and dreaded than ever. His transactions, huge and carefully thought out, were for his own aggrandizement only, and left always in their wake ruin and disaster for the less fortunate and weaker speculators.

He played for his own hand only, the camaraderie of finance he ignored altogether. In one other respect, too, he occupied a unique position amongst the financial magnates of the moment. All appeals on behalf of charity he steadily ignored. He gave nothing away. His name never figured amongst the hospital lists; suffering and disaster, which drew their humble contributions from the struggling poor and middle classes, left him unmoved and his check book unopened. In an age when huge gifts on behalf of charity was the fashionable road to the peerage, his attitude was all the more noticeable. He would give a thousand pounds for a piece of Sevres china which took his fancy;he would not give a thousand farthings to ease the sufferings of his fellows.

Yet there were few found to criticize him. He was called original, a crank;there were even some who professed to see merit in his attitude. To both criticism and praise he was alike indifferent. With a cynicism with seemed only to become more bitter he pursued his undeviating and deliberate way.

One morning he met Lady Ruth on the pavement in Bond Street. She pointed to the vacant seat in her landau.

"Get in, please, for a few minutes," she said. "I want to talk to you. I will take you where you like."They drove off in silence.

"You were not at the Wavertons last night," he remarked.

"No!" she answered quietly. "I was not asked."He glanced at her questioningly.

"I thought that you were so friendly," he said.

"I was," she answered. "Lady Waverton scarcely knows me now! It is the beginning of the end, I suppose.""You are a little enigmatical this morning," he declared.

"Oh, no! You understand me very well," she answered. "Everybody knows that it is you who keep us going. Lumley has not got quite used to taking your money.

He has lost nearly all his ambition. Soon his day will have gone by. People shrug their shoulders when they speak of us. Two years ago the Wavertons were delighted to know me. Society seems big, but it isn't. There are no end of little sets, one inside the other. Two years ago, I was in the innermost, today I'm getting towards the outside edge. Look at me! Do you see any change?"He scrutinized her mercilessly in the cold morning light.

"You look older," he said, "and you have begun to use rouge, which is a pity."She laughed hardly.

"You think so? Well, I don't want Emily to see my hollow cheeks--or you! Are you satisfied, Wingrave?""I am afraid I don't understand--" he began.

"Don't lie," she interrupted curtly. "You do understand. This is your vengeance--very subtle and very crafty. Everything has turned out exactly as you planned. You have broken us, Wingrave! I thought myself a clever woman, but I might as well have tried to gamble with the angels. Why don't you finish it off now--make me run away with you?""It would bore us both," he answered calmly. "Besides, you wouldn't come!""I should, and you know that I would," she answered. "Everyone expects it of us. I think myself that it would be more decent."He looked at her thoughtfully.

"You are a strange woman," he said. "I find it hard sometimes to understand you.""Then you are a fool," she declared in a fierce little whisper. "You know what is underneath all my suffering, all my broken pride! You know that I was fool enough to keep the flame flickering--that I have cared always and for no one else!"He stopped the carriage.

"You are the most original woman I ever met," he said quietly. "I neither wish to care nor be cared for by anyone. Go home to your husband, and tell him to buy Treadwells up to six."That same afternoon Wingrave met Aynesworth and cut him dead. Something in the younger man's appearance, though, perplexed him. Aynesworth certainly had not the air of a successful man. He was pale, carelessly dressed, and apparently in ill health. Wingrave, after an amount of hesitation, which was rare with him, turned his car towards Battersea, and found himself, a few minutes later, mounting the five flights of stone steps. Juliet herself opened the door to him. She gave a little gasp when she saw who it was, and did not immediately invite him to enter.

"I am sorry," Wingrave said coldly, "to inflict this visit upon you. If you are alone, and afraid to ask me in, we can talk here."Her cheeks became as flushed as a moment before they had been pale. She looked at him reproachfully, and, standing on one side to let him pass, closed the door behind him. Then she led the way into her sitting room.

同类推荐
  • 敏树禅师语录

    敏树禅师语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 瑶溪集

    瑶溪集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 鹦鹉洲

    鹦鹉洲

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 登夏州城楼

    登夏州城楼

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 先唐文

    先唐文

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 极品凰妃:天才调香师

    极品凰妃:天才调香师

    “我才不做你的新娘!”她才不肯嫁给这个又腹黑又霸道还蛮不讲理的男人!作为天才调香师的她莫名其妙穿越到古代将军府大小姐的身上…还被一纸婚约和性格暴戾的霸道皇子绑在了一起!二人于是成为了一对欢喜冤家,吵架拌嘴,却也逐渐日久生情…她也从此陷入了一场诡谲多变的宫廷斗争,明争暗斗,尔虞我诈…--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 古穿今之步步影后

    古穿今之步步影后

    一朝穿越,竟成了戏子?NO!NO!NO!是明星!杨微表示自己的脑袋有些不够用。不过看在当明星工资这么高的份上就继续做下去吧。不过,有谁来告诉我,为什么当个明星事也这么多?!摔!男主伸出一根粗壮的大腿:喏,抱好了,看谁还敢欺负你。
  • 重生之影后归来

    重生之影后归来

    一个悲催的打算报仇的美女明星还没来得及报仇就over了,然后重生回来虐渣男,踩贱女,走向人生巅峰,顺便和影帝谈恋爱的故事!
  • 农门喜事:粗野夫君宠娇妻

    农门喜事:粗野夫君宠娇妻

    土著农家小寡妇如何勾搭上健硕魁梧的屠夫,俩人争取努力奋斗过上幸福小日子。最后在生个包子看家啊!
  • 何必霜融作暖阳

    何必霜融作暖阳

    陈否涩:我喜欢上了一个人,她眉眼弯弯,笑颜灿烂,但心如坚石,嘴如利刃。程笑:我爱上了一个人,他干净阳光,温柔体贴,但怀疑爱情,自始至终。他爱她,她喜欢占有他;他可为她付出,她可为他抢夺。他的爱太沉重;她的爱太肤浅。坚持到最后,两败俱伤,执迷不悟。----这是一个悲伤的故事……
  • 深空之下

    深空之下

    (新书已发:《深空之流浪舰队》!)深空之下,星河璀璨,文明无数……这里是月球1号基地,随着一次史无前例的超强核爆,一艘庞大无比的超级战舰正式高歌起航!它是人类最后的希望,其名为……诺亚!(传统星际科幻小说,Q群:642704770)
  • PANDORA

    PANDORA

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 昨梦录

    昨梦录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 细节决定成败的24堂课

    细节决定成败的24堂课

    该书用最鲜明的成功实例或失败教训来说明问题。在实例的前后,又有编者总结的各个成功人士和名人智者所共知共识的道理和分析,来尽可能地让读者认识到每一堂课所要教授的内容,领会每一节课所要阐述的要领。
  • 任正非内部讲话:关键时,任正非说了什么

    任正非内部讲话:关键时,任正非说了什么

    本书深刻的分析了华为发展过程中关键性的时间点,以及其时任正非所扮演的角色,他如何引导企业的成长,如何在黑暗中抓住微光,应对企业所面临的一次次危机。任正非日益成熟的管理智慧,一篇篇热情、深刻而鼓舞人心的文章,一次次动人心魄的演讲,他大气磅礴地进行全球性布局,游刃有余地面对激烈竞争,从容不迫的处理企业发展困惑……任正非并非天生就是卓越的企业家和领导者,他也是经过了披荆斩棘、披星戴月的奋斗,历尽艰难困苦,才成就辉煌。我们可以坦诚地讲,在企业管理与经营方面,我们的确需要以任正非为楷模,以他为方向、为导师,我们由衷相信,中国企业的未来,是靠华为这样的企业推动的。人人敬仰的“英雄”任正非,是如何指引华为,使其成为中国最成功的国际化企业的呢?相信你从这本书可以找到答案。