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Chapter 8 · Idols

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Chapter eight of Idols by William John Locke. This LibriVox recording is in the
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public domain recording by Simon Evers, Chapter eight. An anxious face met Hugh
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as he was shown into the drawing room. Minna had grown into a woman
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since her illness, and had hardened considerably during the process. Instead of the
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lazy uplifting of silky lashes veiling swimming eyes with which she be wont to greet
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him, she met him with a glance as keen as his own. The
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racial spirit of bargain revealed itself in her expression. Once more. He was
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struck by the latent power of strength and hardness. She wore a dark red
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dinner dress and heavy gold bracelets, and a diamond star shone in the dark
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clusters of her hair. I'm doubt you've come early, she said, receiving
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his kiss mechanically. I wanted to have a word with you before Papa comes
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down. They walked slowly to the fireplace and turned towards each other, leaning
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against the mantelpiece. Well, he said, weren't you going to tell Papa
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after dinner over the walnuts of the wine? Don't wait until you said good
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bye to me? Shall I let you know the result? You will be
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anxious? Do you mind coming to me afterwards the old way? Not at
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all? But I shall have to wait outside until the house is quiet.
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There will be a nice far upstairs to warm you and my wife's heart,
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that depends, she replied, with a curious smile. Shall you be perishing
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for it? We must try to whim back to each other again dinner,
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he said, stretching out his hand so as to touch lightly her cheek.
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It will not be hard, for circumstances will be more favorable than they have
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been. I'm afraid I haven't played a very noble part, my dear,
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And when a man is conscious of that, he ventss plean upon others.
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That's not very noble either, But it's miserable human nature. Do you understand.
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I'm glad you see that you have treated me badly, she said.
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At any rate, it's a hopeful beginning. The thought of her failure to
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grasp his meaning was dancing irritatingly in his mind as he stepped forward to greet
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Israel Heart, who at that moment entered the room. Very please to see
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you, mister Coleman. Sorry I'm late, kept in the city gold,
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isn't it? He rubbed his soft palms together and held them out to the
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blaze of the fire. How's business be netting loose lots of lucky jail birds
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lately? No, we always believe firmly in our client's innocence, retorted Hugh,
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with a laugh. That's more than I do in mine, said the
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money lender. The young man returned a light answer, but curled his mustache
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and drew himself up with unconscious haughtiness. The touch of vulgarity jarred upon him.
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When one has to humble one's pride before a man, one is apt
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to become super sensitive of such things. Unfortunately for Hugh, israel evinced a
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more genial and familiar mood than usual, and during the elaborate meal that followed,
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allowed himself privileges of allusion that a finer taste would have restrained, aware
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of the senselessness of feeling chafed at what on other occasions he would have let
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pass almost unnoticed. Hugh conversed with a great outward show of good humor,
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but once or twice he caught Mina's eyes fixed on him in a malicious smile,
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which irritated him still further, the courses seemed infinite. His host referred
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to each, now praising the merits of his cook, now estimating its money
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value. As he grew more genial, the more did he throw off the
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cloak of breeding that at times he well assumed and displayed the inevitable, impregnating
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conor of his mind. To the man of artistic temperament, money had no
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intrinsic value. It merely represented power over the beauty and charm of life.
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To the due financier, the making of it was an absorbing pursuit. Its
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possession was an end in itself. He had in his being in an atmosphere
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of money, could scarcely conceive different environment, just as the average gamekeeper cannot
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realize a life in which rabbits and partridges pay no part. As the bookmaker
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talked inevitable turf, so Israel talked inevitable money. Has my daughter ever shown
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you these bracelets, mister Coleman. They're almost historical, been in a great
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nobleman's family for centuries. Take one off and show it to mister Coleman.
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The present countess came to grief forse racing applied to me for money. Those
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were part of the security. The same lady tried to do me with some
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paste diamonds, but I was down too sharp, solid things are they?
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I come in for a lot of the plunder, don't I? Papa?
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Said Minna gaily, Hugh winced. Hitherto she had always express the profoundest distaste
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for her father's profession. Was this speech genuine? Was it pure malice?
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Or was its intention that of keeping a stern parent in good humor? To
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save the situation, he handed it back to Minna with a little courtly bow.
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It has never adorned a fairer arm, he said. Minner's quicker ear
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caught an ironical note, and she bit her lip. But Israel was delighted.
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I like to hear a young man pay a pretty compliment, he said,
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rolling back in his chair. The art is dying out. When min
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arose, Hugh held the door open for her. On passing him, she
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whispered, you are making a wonderful impression. Keep it up. He bowed,
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closed the door upon her, and came round to the fire, hating
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the part so bluntly defined by his wife to have to cajole this somewhat vulgar
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old Jew of shady profession his actual father in law. It was training his
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fried in the mud, but he'd been doing so ever since the disastrous day
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of his marriage. A little extra soiling, he reflected cynically, would make
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but faintly appreciable difference. The grave butler entered with coffee and cigars. Hugh
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declined the latter better have one, said Israel, carefully selecting, don't get
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this sort of thing every day. I give seven pound ten a hundred for
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them. I'm a cigarette smoke up, said Hugh. But still he accepted
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a cigar courteously, for he knew that a man is apt to be ruffled
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when he refused an eighteen penny havanna, and he had good reasons for not
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wishing to ruffle his host. Presently they went upstairs. Minna moved to the
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piano. Usually she played with taste and correctness. To night she strummed Abomdably,
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we are not quite in the mood for chopin, said Hugh, who
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was turning over her leaves. She stopped dead. No, this is more
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suitable to one's irritation, and she plunged into Stephen Henner's tarantella. The old
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man dozing in his chair did not notice the change. Don't give it away
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at once, she said, in a low voice, as she played begin
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with a formal demand in marriage, and see how he takes it. I
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should do whatever seems to me judicious, he answered, curtly. Remember I
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am an interested party, she retorted. There's such a thing as money to
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be considered. However much you may despise it. You may trust to my
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not forgetting, he replied. The evening was over at last, he bade
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minno good bye. I should like to say a few words to you,
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mister Hart before I go, he remarked. On his way downstairs, his
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host, Cordiality itself, showed him into his study, poked the file and
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lighted a cigar. Business. Yes, about the loan. I was wanting
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to discuss it best. Now we're more comfortable. Wait a moment, allaw
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me. What is the chance of having being left a small legacy? None?
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Whatever, I fear, replied Hugh Stevlish hard lines on me. Coman.
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You know when I advanced you that money, I thought your inheritance was
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as safe as a mortgage. You are aware it is not my usual way
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of doing business. This is not an actual reversion. It's only a convenient
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term. But I liked you, and somehow it's pleasant now and then to
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do a friend a good turn. I am deeply aware of all that,
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said Hugh. And as I mentioned, I considered the security safe, so
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did I. You can scarcely blame me. I believe you, said the
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old man cordially. You meant to play square. I know otherwise you wouldn't
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be here, would you. But all the same, if your uncle were
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to die to morrow, I should be down out of five thousand pounds.
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I don't pretend to say that five thousand pounds would break me. Thank god.
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I can run to six figures for something bigger than a one in front
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any day when all is called in. But money is money. Now,
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as a gentleman, would you feel morally justified in abiding by your legal rights?
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No, said Hugh, I wouldn't. But circumstances, I know,
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interrupted the man intda with upraised hand. They are quite yet what they ought
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to be. But you are going to be a successful man. They will
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alter. Now. I have a friendly proposal to make you, and I
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am coming with one to you, mister Hart, said Hugh with a smile,
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and I think you'd better hear mine first. You consider me an honest
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man, I do, and you don't disapprove of me personally. On the
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contrary, I'm very pleased and proud to call you a friend of mine.
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You wouldn't have had my money otherwise, then, mister Hart, you make
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easier what I have to say. It concerns your daughter. Mister Hart,
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what minner my daughter? Said the old man, with a sharp change of
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tone. I have the honor to ask you for her hand in marriage.
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You. An indescribable change came over the old man's face. Instantly. It
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lost the sleek and coarse materialism of the money getter, the half sensual content
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of the easy going man who had well dined, the patronizing geniality of the
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prosperous host. A fire glowed in his eyes. His Jewish features seemed to
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grow more prominent. The gray beard framed a strange patriarchal dignity. The jew,
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proud and unconquered through centuries of oppression, overwhelming all other accidents of life
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in the eternal arrogance of race, was regarding with angry and incredulous scorn the
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gentile, the hybrid child of yesterday you, he repeated, almost insultingly.
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The young man's quick blood flamed in his cheeks. He started to his feet.
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Yes, I, why shouldn't I, he cried in a loud voice.
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At that moment, the door opened and the butler entered, bearing a
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tray with spirit case and glasses. Hugh turned quickly and bent towards the fire
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with a spill to light a cigarette. The butler set his traiload on the
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great library table, secured the windows of the room, and drew the curtains,
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which had remained looped back. You need not set up, Samuels,
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said Israel. I will let mister Coleman out and lock up. With discreet
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thanks. The butler withdrew. Hugh threw his cigarette into the grate, put
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his hands into his pockets, and faced his house once more. I consider
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my proposal is quite justifiable, mister Hart, Are you aware what you are
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asking? Yes, I am a poor man. She is rich. I
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owe you money, but still money. What has money to do with it?
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Interrupted the Jew grandly. If you have the rent roll of the Groveners,
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it would make no difference. If it's a question of religion, I
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thought your views were latitudinarian. I suppose Minner knows of this, said Israel,
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apparently disregarding the remark. Certainly, mister Coleman, I have no wish
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to wound your feelings. But I would sooner have my daughter dead at my
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feet than see her marriage to Acris. Then it is useless to ask for
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your consent. Quite useless. In that case, I fear we shall have
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to do without it. I am exceedingly sorry to cause you pain, but
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the marriage will take place. Israel rose from his chair and poured some whiskey
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into the glasses, and made a courteous motion with his hand towards the siphon
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of soda water. We stand on opposite sides of a great gulf. I
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am a Jew, you are a gentile. We need not discuss the question.
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I can't restrain my daughter from carrying out her wishes, but I can
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solemnly curse her after the manner of my people, and cut her adrift from
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me. Forever I shall warn her, the wrath of the Almighty will be
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on her head. She will also be disinherited. That will ease my mind
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of a great burden, said Hugh. To show you that it is no
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animosity towards you personally that influences me, continued, Israel, with great dignity
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inconceivable of the man of an hour before, I will let you see a
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copy of my will, made some time ago, when the thought of you
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as a suitor never crossed my mind. He drew a bunch of keys from
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his pocket and opened the great safe from a locked compartment. He drew forth
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a document, and folding it so that only the particular paragraph should be visible,
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he showed it to Hugh. Nothing could be more explicit. In the
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event of Minna marrying a gentile, all the estate would pass from her and
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be devoted to specified Jewish charities. I hope Minner will be able to persuade
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you to a more favorable view of the case, said Hugh. My daughter
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could do many things, but not that she despises her people. I know.
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But you shall marry among them or be cut off from her congregation for
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ever. There seems nothing more to be said. Mister Hart said, Hugh,
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you quite realize that when my daughter leaves this house, the clothes that
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cover her will be her sole possession. I have told you I am immensely
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relieved as to our business relations. They can be discussed on a future occasion.
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Proud as he was of his birth and breeding, he could not but
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be abashed before this pride of race that transformed the vulgar usurer into a gentleman
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of fine feeling. Israel's words and attitude had not conveyed the slightest reproach on
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the score of fortune hunting. He cast neither his poverty nor his debt in
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his teeth. A great feeling of respect for the old man rose in his
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heart. Believe me, he said, after a turn across the room.
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If fate would deny it, I would give up the idea. For your
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sake, we all make our destiny, replied the old man bitterly, I
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have made mine. A few moments later, Hugh took his leave. Israel
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sumpeted him to the front door, shook hands with him, and, turning
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out the light of the hall, went back to his study. Then he
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remembered that he had forgotten to secure the door. I will do it afterwards,
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he said to himself. He picked up the will, glanced through it,
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and replaced it in the safe. For half an hour he sat in
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deep thought. Then rose went upstairs and returned bringing with him a small padlocked
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ledger. He sat down in his writing chair by the table, but remained
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in deep thought, tapping the unopened book with his fingers, My own daughter,
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Sarah's child, married to a Christian. Long he sat in an awful
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loneliness, his eyes dull and weary, looking at the specters of the past.
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At length, he took from a drawer at his side a double sheet
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of blue foolscap and dipped a pen very slowly in the ink. I Israel,
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heart will and queath No, he said, not now, I must
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think it out again, ask God for guidance. He rose, put the
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paper in the fire, and sank into the great arm chair close by,
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And there he sat thinking, thinking. At last, his eyelids closed and
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he slept. Hugh went out into a night of utter blackness and icy sleet.
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Great splashes of half melted snow fell against his face and oozed down in
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liquid. He made his way on the drive and out of the front gate.
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Dimly through the darkness. The sound reached him of the sun into clock
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striking the half hour half past eleven. He would wait until twelve before keeping
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his appointment with Minner a mile up the he throwed, and a mile back
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would fill up the time. He walked on through the darkness, splashing through
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the mud and drawing his head down into the collar of his ulster so as
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to keep the frozen rain from his neck. Not a soul was visible.
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On his return he saw a bull's eye lantern flash within the grounds of a
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house. It was a policeman examining the fastenings. Hugh hurried on, turned
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down the lane that led from the heath roads to the wood and waste lands
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behind the lindens. At last he came to the brick wall enclosing the property.
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A key in his possession opened a small side door leading into a garden
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which Minnus Caprice had made so exclusively her own that entrance to it was not
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practicable from any portion of the grounds. On the right were greenhouses, closing
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off egress from the back. While following the line of the side of the
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house, a thick box hedge ran to meet the front wall, and thus
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separated the little pleasants from the front lawn, through which curved the carriage drive.
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The house was in total darkness, scarcely discernible against the pitch black sky.
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Hugh crossed the turf, walking warily so as to avoid the shrubs with
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which it was thickly planted. Ever at anod, thrusting his hands through the
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icy, dripping foliage. Thank Heaven, this is the last time, he
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muttered to himself. He came to the house, to whose walls stretched the
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carpet of turf, a low verandah, reached by a flight of steps,
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and communicating with the interior by means of French windows, now closely barred,
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extended not quite the breadth of the building, masking its end, rose a
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tall, clipped yew. Behind this he crept, and a low window,
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whose sash he lifted, thanks to Minna's previous unbarring, admitted him into the
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house. It was a tiny chamber used by Minner as a dark room during
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intermittent photographic fever. Outside this was a heavily carpeted staircase, up which Hughes
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stole noiselessly. The handle turned smoothly beneath his grasp, and he found himself
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at last in his wife's presence. The large room was lit only by the
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leaping flames of the fire, but through quick flashes on the richly curtained bed
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and the luxurious appointments of a wealthy woman's bed chamber in a long chair before
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the fire, the tips of fur lined slippers thrust on bare feet resting on
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the fender lay minner. She wore a rich dressing gown with lace at throat
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and wrists, her dark hair flustered about her shoulders. A dedicate odor of
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toilette washes and powder hung on the warmth of the room. Hugh stopped for
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a moment on the threshold, with a little catch at his breath. The
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subtle charm of the woman's shrine stole gratefully over him. After all, it
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was sweet to have the right of such intimacy. He took off his dripping
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alster and laid it aside before coming forward. Then he stooped and kissed her.
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Oh, how wet you are, she cried, with a little grimace,
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rubbing her cheek with her handkerchief. Do come and dry yourself. You
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will find your slippers of the secret drawer as usual, she handed in a
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key, which she took from her dressing gown pocket, And while he was
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changing his wet boots well, she said, what news bad? Your father
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will not consent, because I am a Christian. We shall have to elope.
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Then you haven't told him all. No, I thought it wiser and
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seemed no necessity. It will be better for us to get married again publicly.
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You drew up an arm chair by her side, close to the fire,
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and leaning forward, warmed himself appreciatively. It's an infernal night. You
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don't know how sweet and cozy it is here. It was kind of you
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to come, she said, with cold politeness. Her tone chilled the reviving
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glow of his imagination, which already was beginning to picture gentle possibilities of their
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married life. He remained silent for some time. When he spoke again,
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it was in less genial accents. I'm afraid, Minner, that in marrying
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me, you have unwittedly made a tremendous sacrifice, not more than most women,
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I suppose. Unfortunately, Yes, with much tact and delicacy, he
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put her in possession of all the details of his recent interview. She said
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not a word until he had finished, but clenched her fingers on the arms
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of her chair and looked rigidly into the fire. I had an awful horror
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of this, she said, in a toneless voice. It will make an
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enormous difference to you. God knows I realize it. But after all we
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shall not starve. She darted a quick, sidelong glance at him, then,
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with a shudder, put her hands before her face. I knew it
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would be woe and misery, she said, whilst we were walking away from
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that horrible registrar's office. Oh God, I wish it had never been.
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It need not be misery. It sha'n't be misery if I can help it.
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You you've robbed me of my birthright. Perhaps your taunt is just minna,
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he replied, a scornful generosity, forgetting that with her had lain considerable
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initiative in the matter of the marriage. But it can scarcely mend our happiness.
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Happiness, she echoed contemptuously, A poky little house and Rochauffe's dinners and
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a cheap gowmant a year the gingerbread would have been pretty enough ten months ago.
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Now the guilty is off with great patience. Knowing that on him,
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the man, the stronger, the more rational, the less in love of
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the two rested the responsibility of the disaster. He strove to reassure her to
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paint their coming life together in the most cheerful colors, grand style of living.
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He could not offer her but comfort, certain social position, clever and
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bright society, all that was within his reach. He had done her wrong
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in marrying her, would repair it by devoting the rest of his life to
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her happiness. He pleaded to a hardened heart. She either listened stonily or
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broke into petulant recriminations. The talk grew spasmodic, interrupted by long gaps of
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sight. Imperceptibly, the night wore on. Once he noticed that she had
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fallen into a weary doze. He watched for a long time, her face
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lit up by the flickering flames. How hard and common and sullen it had
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grown. He redinated the history of the last few months of her previous life,
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of her soul. A revulsion of feeling turned his heart against her and
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against himself. The man with ambitions and wide interests in the world of action
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revolted against the slavery to such a woman. There was little use in staying
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longer. He rose to go. His movement startled her, and she opened
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her eyes. Don't go yet, I'm not asleep, I've been thinking.
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He sat down again, watched her as she looked into the fire with eyes
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that in the fantastic light seemed haggard, and waited for her to speak.
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I cannot forfeit my money, she said. It would kill me. Even
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if I loved you. I couldn't do it, and you have made me
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hate you. Our living together as you propose would be a ghastly mockery.
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I could not share the same room with you any more, she continued,
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hurriedly, Not for millions. I should not desire it, he replied coldly.
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Then why should we not keep our secret as we have kept it,
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and part now for ever and ever? She turned eager imploring eyes upon him,
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Yet hard as agates. I don't quite understand, he said. It
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is not difficult. You have told no one of our marriage, not as
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all. Is it likely that it will ever be made public from the registrar's
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office? Practically impossible? Don't you see? Then? The only interested witness
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is as faithful as a dog. The other witness and the registrar have forgotten
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our existence. Don't you see that for all practical purposes the fact of our
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marriage lies is buried in a book in Brighton that no one will ever look
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at. That if we give ourselves out as unmarried. As the end of
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our lives, no one will be a bit the wiser. We will never
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see each other again, except accidentally in the streets. We will wipe each
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other clean out of our lives and start afresh. Isn't that possible? Yes,
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he replied, it is perfectly feasible. I shall keep my money,
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spend it as I like, go where I like. You should be free
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to do whatever you want. Mary, if you choose, why shouldn't you
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It happens to be a faraday, said Hugh. That would be your own
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lookout. I should never take any steps to prosecute you. May be quite
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sure. Will you give me the same freedom? You must let me think
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before I answer, he said. Take your time, She replied, and
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lay back again in her chair, covering her eyes with her hands for the
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second time. Hugh replenished. The fire outside came still. The confused sowing
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of the wind and strange creakings filled the sleeping house. The wing that men
26:07
are occupied was far apart from the other bedrooms. Only Anna, who was
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sleeping close by in Miner's dressing room, was within air shot. At any
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time. They could talk in moderate tones and be secure from discovery. On
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that blustering night, scarcely any caution was necessary absorbed in this final settlement of
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their lives. Neither of them noted the passing of the hours. After a
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long interval of deep consideration, Hugh agreed to the man of her proposal,
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and there followed a full and anxious debate about points of detail. What do
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you propose to do to get through your life? He asked at length.
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I shall go abroad to gay places. I should procure a companion to suit
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me. Money could do most things. I may first go with an atu
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s Murner, and humed up by mother's people. They may prove interesting.
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I can't live on any longer here, I thought not. It was to
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escape this that you were willing to live with me, and your father consented
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exactly. Another long pause. Hugh viewed the new position in all its aspects.
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Humanly speaking, the secret of their marriage was exclusively with their own.
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Anything like a reconciliation was out of the question. If he had spoiled her
27:23
life by marrying her, he could make reparation by this irregular divorce. Yet
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he felt bound to give her old love one more chance. Are you certain,
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then, that you care for me no longer, in no way.
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Oh, don't reopen that, she said, All that was killed forever at
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Brighton in December. And even if it wasn't, do you think I could
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willingly give up two hundred thousand pounds for you, she laughed scornfully. You
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indeed set a high value upon yourself. Do you know, she added,
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with a sudden firmness, to which the deep tones of her voice give us
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savage intensity. I would commit any crime rather than give up that money.
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All such talk is useless. Let me have your final answer and be done
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with it very well, he replied decisively. I will grant you your absolute
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freedom on one condition that this compact between us is irrevocable. It shall be
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will you swear to it on your side, a solemn, binding oath.
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I give you my word of honor. I don't much believe in a man's
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honor, she said, contemptuously. An oath is different. I will do
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as you like, he replied. She rose, vanished for a moment among
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the shadows of the room, and returned with an old testament. I swear
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on this by the God of my father's that in no circumstances, whatever when
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I reveal the fact of my marriage with you, I renounce you forever as
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my husband. I renounce all claims upon your support, sympathy, and consider
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I swear never to interfere in any shape or form with your actions, leaving
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you free to marry again without any previous notification to me. So help me
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God. She stood deathly pale, her teeth chattering, worn out by the
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stiffness and exhaustion of her long vigil, and handed him the book that he
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had held into shaking fingers. Since you desire a formal oath, he said,
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I will take it in the form you have prescribed, and there he
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renounced her eternally, as she had just before renounced him. He looked at
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his watch. To his utter astonishment, it was past six o'clock. With
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an exclamation of dismay, set about preparing for departure. How the night had
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passed so quickly he could not tell. There is no nephew to keep these
29:51
any longer, he said, holding up the slippers. She herself had worked
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them for him in a fit of adoring industry. No nor the other things.
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She took a small bundle, neatly wrapped up in brown paper, and
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handed it to him. He thrust it beneath his arm. Good Bye,
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Minna, he said, holding out his hand. We did not swear to
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be enemies. May your new life be happier than the old. He could
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not well be more miserable, she answered, But she gave him her hand,
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cold and nerveless. Poor child, he said, God help you.
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He turned left the room, and then the house. By the way in
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which he had entered, a fine snow was falling through the not yet flifting
30:33
darkness. He hurried homewards, blindly, thinking of nothing but the strange chapter
30:40
of the night. His heart relieved already of enormous burdens, but his temples
30:45
throbbing with the strain of casting them off. He met not a soul until
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he had passed the Merriam's house. Then, as he neared the town,
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dark straggling fokures of workmen passed him, trodging on sleepily through the snow and
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darkness. The hall porter was just opening the great outer door of the mansion
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when he arrived. Come morning, sir, said the porter. Bitter he
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replied mechanically, and he sprang up the stone stairs. End of Chapter eight