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I consider this one of the most valuable properties I have ever
controlled。〃
〃Do you really think so？〃
〃I do； indeed。〃
〃O； Colonel； the wasting grind and grief of poverty！ If we could realize
immediately。 I don't mean sell it all； but sell part…enough； you know；
to〃
〃See how you tremble with excitement。 That comes of lack of experience。
My boy； when you have been familiar with vast operations as long as I
have； you'll be different。 Look at me； is my eye dilated？ do you notice
a quiver anywhere？ Feel my pulse： plunk…plunk…plunksame as if I were
asleep。 And yet； what is passing through my calm cold mind？ A
procession of figures which would make a financial novice drunk just the
sight of them。 Now it is by keeping cool； and looking at a thing all
around； that a man sees what's really in it； and saves himself from the
novice's unfailing mistakethe one you've just suggestedeagerness to
realize。 Listen to me。 Your idea is to sell a part of him for ready
cash。 Now mine isguess。〃
〃I haven't an idea。 What is it？〃
〃Stock himof course。〃
〃Well； I should never have thought of that。〃
〃Because you are not a financier。 Say he has committed a thousand
crimes。 Certainly that's a low estimate。 By the look of him； even in
his unfinished condition； he has committed all of a million。 But call it
only a thousand to be perfectly safe； five thousand reward； multiplied by
a thousand； gives us a dead sure cash basis ofwhat？ Five million
dollars！〃
〃Waitlet me get my breath。〃
〃And the property indestructible。 Perpetually fruitfulperpetually； for
a property with his disposition will go on committing crimes and winning
rewards。〃
〃You daze me； you make my head whirl！〃
〃Let it whirl； it won't do it any harm。 Now that matter is all fixed
leave it alone。 I'll get up the company and issue the stock； all in good
time。 Just leave it in my hands。 I judge you don't doubt my ability to
work it up for all it is worth。〃。
〃Indeed I don't。 I can say that with truth。〃
〃All right； then。 That's disposed of。 Everything in its turn。 We old
operators； go by order and systemno helter…skelter business with us。
What's the next thing on the docket？ The carrying on of the
materializationthe bringing it down to date。 I will begin on that at
once。 I think
〃Look here； Rossmore。 You didn't lock It in。 A hundred to one it has
escaped！〃
〃Calm yourself； as to that； don't give yourself any uneasiness。〃
〃But why shouldn't it escape？〃
〃Let it； if it wants to？ What of it？〃
〃Well； I should consider it a pretty serious calamity。〃
〃Why； my dear boy； once in my power； always in my power。 It may go and
come freely。 I can produce it here whenever I want it； just by the
exercise of my will。〃
〃Well； I am truly glad to hear that； I do assure you。〃
〃Yes； I shall give it all the painting it wants to do； and we and the
family will make it as comfortable and contented as we can。 No occasion
to restrain its movements。 I hope to persuade it to remain pretty quiet；
though； because a materialization which is in a state of arrested
development must of necessity be pretty soft and flabby and
substanceless； anderby the way； I wonder where It comes from？〃
〃How？ What do you mean？〃
The earl pointed significantlyand interrogatively toward the sky。
Hawkins started； then settled into deep reflection； finally shook his
head sorrowfully and pointed downwards。
〃What makes you think so； Washington？〃
〃Well； I hardly know； but really you can see； yourself； that he doesn't
seem to be pining for his last place。〃
〃It's well thought！ Soundly deduced。 We've done that Thing a favor。
But I believe I will pump it a little； in a quiet way； and find out if we
are right。〃
〃How long is it going to take to finish him off and fetch him down to
date； Colonel？〃
〃I wish I knew； but I don't。 I am clear knocked out by this new detail
this unforeseen necessity of working a subject down gradually from his
condition of ancestor to his ultimate result as posterity。 But I'll make
him hump himself； anyway。〃
〃Rossmore！〃
〃Yes； dear。 We're in the laboratory。 ComeHawkins is here。 Mind； now
Hawkinshe's a sound； living； human being to all the familydon't
forget that。 Here she comes。〃
〃Keep your seats； I'm not coming in。 I just wanted to ask； who is it
that's painting down there？〃
〃That？ Oh； that's a young artist； young Englishman； named Tracy； very
promisingfavorite pupil of Hans Christian Andersen or one of the other
old mastersAndersen I'm pretty sure it is； he's going to half…sole some
of our old Italian masterpieces。 Been talking to him？〃
〃Well； only a word。 I stumbled right in on him without expecting anybody
was there。 I tried to be polite to him； offered him a snack〃（Sellers
delivered a large wink to Hawkins from behind his hand）； 〃but he
declined； and said he wasn't hungry〃 （another sarcastic wink）； 〃so I
brought some apples〃 （doublewink）； 〃and he ate a couple of〃
〃What！〃 and the colonel sprang some yards toward the ceiling and came
down quaking with astonishment。
Lady Rossmore was smitten dumb with amazement。 She gazed at the sheepish
relic of Cherokee Strip； then at her husband； and then at the guest
again。 Finally she said：
〃What is the matter with you； Mulberry？〃
He did not answer immediately。 His back was turned； he was bending over
his chair； feeling the seat of it。 But he answered next moment； and
said：
〃Ah； there it is； it was a tack。〃
The lady contemplated him doubtfully a moment； then said； pretty
snappishly：
〃All that for a tack！ Praise goodness it wasn't a shingle nail； it would
have landed you in the Milky Way。 I do hate to have my nerves shook up
so。〃 And she turned on her heel and went her way。
As soon as she was safely out； the Colonel said； in a suppressed voice：
〃Comewe must see for ourselves。 It must be a mistake。〃
They hurried softly down and peeped in。 Sellers whispered； in a sort of
despair
It is eating！ What a grisly spectacle！ Hawkins it's horrible！ Take me
awayI can't stand
They tottered back to the laboratory。
CHAPTER XX。
Tracy made slow progress with his work； for his mind wandered a good
deal。 Many things were puzzling him。 Finally a light burst upon him all
of a suddenseemed to； at any rateand he said to himself； 〃I've got
the clew at lastthis man's mind is off its balance； I don't know how
much； but it's off a point or two； sure； off enough to explain this mess
of perplexities； anyway。 These dreadful chromos which he takes for old
masters； these villainous portraitswhich to his frantic mind represent
Rossmores； the hatchments； the pompous name of this ramshackle old crib
Rossmore Towers； and that odd assertion of his； that I was expected。 How
could I be expected？ that is； Lord Berkeley。 He knows by the papers that
that person was burned up in the New Gadsby。 Why； hang it； he really
doesn't know who he was expecting； for his talk showed that he was not
expecting an Englishman； or yet an artist； yet I answer his requirements
notwithstanding。 He seems sufficiently satisfied with me。 Yes； he is a
little off； in fact I am afraid he i