登陆注册
5250800000005

第5章 Chapter II A Reconnoiter(3)

Still another was a Mr. Rambaud, pioneer railroad man, to whom Addison, smiling jocosely, observed: "Mr. Cowperwood is on from Philadelphia, Mr. Rambaud, trying to find out whether he wants to lose any money out here. Can't you sell him some of that bad land you have up in the Northwest?"

Rambaud--a spare, pale, black-bearded man of much force and exactness, dressed, as Cowperwood observed, in much better taste than some of the others--looked at Cowperwood shrewdly but in a gentlemanly, retiring way, with a gracious, enigmatic smile. He caught a glance in return which he could not possibly forget. The eyes of Cowperwood said more than any words ever could. Instead of jesting faintly Mr. Rambaud decided to explain some things about the Northwest. Perhaps this Philadelphian might be interested.

To a man who has gone through a great life struggle in one metropolis and tested all the phases of human duplicity, decency, sympathy, and chicanery in the controlling group of men that one invariably finds in every American city at least, the temperament and significance of another group in another city is not so much, and yet it is. Long since Cowperwood had parted company with the idea that humanity at any angle or under any circumstances, climatic or otherwise, is in any way different. To him the most noteworthy characteristic of the human race was that it was strangely chemic, being anything or nothing, as the hour and the condition afforded.

In his leisure moments--those free from practical calculation, which were not many--he often speculated as to what life really was. If he had not been a great financier and, above all, a marvelous organizer he might have become a highly individualistic philosopher--a calling which, if he had thought anything about it at all at this time, would have seemed rather trivial. His business as he saw it was with the material facts of life, or, rather, with those third and fourth degree theorems and syllogisms which control material things and so represent wealth. He was here to deal with the great general needs of the Middle West--to seize upon, if he might, certain well-springs of wealth and power and rise to recognized authority. In his morning talks he had learned of the extent and character of the stock-yards' enterprises, of the great railroad and ship interests, of the tremendous rising importance of real estate, grain speculation, the hotel business, the hardware business. He had learned of universal manufacturing companies--one that made cars, another elevators, another binders, another windmills, another engines. Apparently, any new industry seemed to do well in Chicago. In his talk with the one director of the Board of Trade to whom he had a letter he had learned that few, if any, local stocks were dealt in on 'change. Wheat, corn, and grains of all kinds were principally speculated in. The big stocks of the East were gambled in by way of leased wires on the New York Stock Exchange--not otherwise.

As he looked at these men, all pleasantly civil, all general in their remarks, each safely keeping his vast plans under his vest, Cowperwood wondered how he would fare in this community. There were such difficult things ahead of him to do. No one of these men, all of whom were in their commercial-social way agreeable, knew that he had only recently been in the penitentiary. How much difference would that make in their attitude? No one of them knew that, although he was married and had two children, he was planning to divorce his wife and marry the girl who had appropriated to herself the role which his wife had once played.

"Are you seriously contemplating looking into the Northwest?" asked Mr. Rambaud, interestedly, toward the close of the luncheon.

"That is my present plan after I finish here. I thought I'd take a short run up there."

"Let me put you in touch with an interesting party that is going as far as Fargo and Duluth. There is a private car leaving Thursday, most of them citizens of Chicago, but some Easterners. I would be glad to have you join us. I am going as far as Minneapolis."

Cowperwood thanked him and accepted. A long conversation followed about the Northwest, its timber, wheat, land sales, cattle, and possible manufacturing plants.

What Fargo, Minneapolis, and Duluth were to be civically and financially were the chief topics of conversation. Naturally, Mr.

Rambaud, having under his direction vast railroad lines which penetrated this region, was confident of the future of it.

Cowperwood gathered it all, almost by instinct. Gas, street-railways, land speculations, banks, wherever located, were his chief thoughts.

Finally he left the club to keep his other appointments, but something of his personality remained behind him. Mr. Addison and Mr. Rambaud, among others, were sincerely convinced that he was one of the most interesting men they had met in years. And he scarcely had said anything at all--just listened.

同类推荐
  • 虏庭事实

    虏庭事实

    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。
  • 上清天宝斋初夜仪

    上清天宝斋初夜仪

    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。
  • 兜率不磷坚禅师语录

    兜率不磷坚禅师语录

    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。
  • 奇方类编

    奇方类编

    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。
  • 小儿杂病门

    小儿杂病门

    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
  • 恶魔蜜宠:校草的甜心萝莉

    恶魔蜜宠:校草的甜心萝莉

    【宠文+爆笑】四个腹黑霸道的富家少爷被各自父母设计,从此同住一起,过上了暗无天日的生活。在学校第一天就遇上了几个强悍霸道的女霸王!女霸王又怎样?看几位少爷如何降服她们!某女仰天哀嚎:“少爷,求放过!”某恶魔:“你生是我的人,死也是我的人,认栽吧!”某彪悍女摆出一个架势:“打赢我再说!”某火爆男气炸了:“今天老子一定要赢你!”某花心男手拿一朵玫瑰跪在地上:“我爱你,嫁给我吧!”某女把花丢到他脸上:“一朵破花就想让我嫁你?滚你的!”某男玩味一笑:“拍了我那么多照就想跑?”某女一脸羞涩:“那我让你拍回来!”【PS:前期免费,后期上架收费,并非全文免费】
  • 我想要怒放的生命

    我想要怒放的生命

    单亲爸爸催泪奋斗史,爱是支撑一切的力量.梦想用来实现,人生需要逆袭,致我们活得人模狗样的青春。著名培训专家、畅销书作家付遥,著名资本及历史研究学者、畅销书作家雾满拦江联袂推荐。
  • 娱乐头条之天后归来

    娱乐头条之天后归来

    妖妖新书《九阙朝凰之第一女帝》火热连载中,撩最彪悍的女帝,谈最甜的恋爱!重生后的她明白了一个道理:从国民作家到国民天后,你差的只是一个有没有存稿的问题。***连夜赶存稿的苏妍,意外过劳死,重生到异世大陆东洲。前身被准一线女星暗中搞死,而她却直接收到了公司的解约书。苏妍勾唇一笑:就算你不解约,老娘也不会继续伺候你们。***从十八线的边缘小明星,到怀揣着金光灿灿的金手指。苏妍以实际行动告诉你,她将是如何在这个娱乐圈内征战杀伐。言情天后,最美导演,金牌制作人……她必然会成为这个世界最璀璨的那颗明星。***她对他始于颜值,忠于人格!初次见面就被那张脸诱惑的五迷三道。于是她的私藏书里,这个男人就成了永恒的男主角,而她就是那个被各种攻陷的女主。男人:你这样意淫,不觉得空虚?天后:天上地下,书里书外,你只能是我一个人的,任何人都不能觊觎分毫。男人:媳妇太霸权,好幸福怎么办?【你是我的长兴厮守,更是天长地久。】
  • 我若成魔

    我若成魔

    男主年幼之时被魔人暗算成魔,却入了仙门,后被逐出,结实了魔人却是在利用男主,两难之间的男主被逼迫,仙人追杀魔人抗压,最后一念成魔......
  • Tales from the Hood (Sisters Grimm #6)

    Tales from the Hood (Sisters Grimm #6)

    Funny, suspenseful, and fast-paced, The Sisters Grimm continues to charm readers with its outrageous take on familiar fairy tales. In Ferryport Landing everyone gets a day in court—even the Big Bad Wolf, a.k.a. Mr. Canis. When Canis is put on trial for past crimes, Mayor Heart's kangaroo court is determined to find him guilty. It's up to the Grimms to uncover evidence to save their friend, though Sabrina starts to wonder whether they would all be safer with the Wolf in jail. Despite her misgivings, Sabrina and her sister, Daphne, investigate what actually happened in the Big Bad Wolf's most famous tale—and the real story is full of surprises!
  • 马上写出好文章:四十余种写作技巧和秘诀一次教给你!

    马上写出好文章:四十余种写作技巧和秘诀一次教给你!

    你是否热爱写作,却苦于下手呢?这就是你要找的书!无论是写实还是虚构,本书涵盖的数十种简单易行的写作技巧和创作秘诀,都将全方位助你提高写作能力,轻松克服写作障碍。马上将本书放入购物车吧,你一定会惊叹于这些实用便捷的方法为你的写作水平带来的正能量。
  • 地藏

    地藏

    地藏三十二化身,而我独见阿修罗。别墅如同怪兽耸立在暗夜中,暴烈的雨线扑打着地面,掩盖了一切声响,连挖土的声音都微不可察。偶尔一道闪电撕裂夜空,才会恍惚瞥见密林中,花树下这条挥动铁铲的影子。他将土层拍严实,拄着铁铲大口大口喘着气,眼前的雨水从雨披的帽檐上流下,形成一条雨帘,连视线都模糊了。“几个月后,这里就会长满野草,盛开鲜花吧。”他说。然后,拖着铁铲转身离去。雨水冲刷,稀松的土层化作泥浆四下流淌,露出土层下透明的塑料布,也露出塑料布下死者的面孔。
  • 荣耀新美文:远走高飞

    荣耀新美文:远走高飞

    有多元的视野,从各个角度描摹和思考人生和社会,将视野焦点多样化,并以独特的生命体验,勾勒当下不同群体的现实生活。有温度的故事,这里有美好的回忆,也有惨淡的阴影;有青春的疼痛,也有成长的蜕变。故事里有彷徨,有焦虑,有孤独,更有勇气,有温暖,有力量,有憧憬。有情怀的青春,这些青年作者的笔下涌动的是青春的新姿态,他们以独特的个性讲述属于他们的青春和成长,朦胧的爱,懵懂的情,挫折的阵痛,叛逆的碰撞,这一切都属于他们的逻辑和思维。有创意的表达,这里有跌宕起伏的故事情节,有变化多端的叙事方式,有多角度的人物塑造;他们冲破固有思想的牢笼,凭借创意思维和丰富的想象,创造出属于自己的文学话语空间。
  • 北大经典课

    北大经典课

    本书收录了上百篇经典作品,凝聚了古今中外的文学精髓,体裁涉及散文、诗辞、小说、戏剧,充分呈现出经典文学作品的不朽魅力。书中遴选季羡林、朱光潜、胡适、老舍等北大名师的名言作引开篇,在北大学者的引导与点评中,吟咏绵绵古韵,重温民国经典,观赏异域风情,追寻生活之美。上完这一课,从此爱上经典,让我们在诗词中邂逅一段纯美感情,于戏剧故事里领略几番悲欢离合吧。
  • 土眼洋事之总理衙门

    土眼洋事之总理衙门

    《点后斋画报》,它像一个巨大的橱房,既遇映射出西方的巨大投影,也反映出国人对西方文化的最初印象。人们从这份画报上可以看到有矣西方的种种事像:外国的总统和国王,贵妇与时装,天上飞的气球,地上跑的机车,水里走的轮船。当然,也有大最也不知道是谁编出来的“人咬狗”的奇闻怪事。国人也因此知道了,洋人也有男欢女爱,也有贪生怕死,也有凶杀和恶行,有一切中国人也能有的爱好和毛病。虽然,我们的画师画的无论哪一国的洋楼,都是租界的产物,画面上一股洋泾浜味。官方的战报也跟民间的战事传闻一样有着报喜不报忧的习惯……