His eyes were clear
and slightly humorous, as if he knew a host of funny things if he only
chose to tell. Finally in answer to my reproachful gaze, he said:
"'Well, I didn't have anything to say about it, did I? I did not ask
to be born a minister's son. It was foreordained, and now I've got to
live up to it in self-defense. There may be forgiveness for other
erring ones, but I tell you our crowd is spotted.'
"I had nothing to say.
"'Well, you might at least say, "Good for you, my boy. Here's luck?"'
he complained.
"I was still silent.
"'It is good business, too,' he continued belligerently. 'I am selling
lots of furniture. I have burned the black and white cards. I have
broken the ice-cold bottles. I have shunned the gilded youths with
mellow voices. I go to church. I sell furniture. I sleuth Matters.'
"'You what?'
"'I am trailing Matters. Turn about. Where he goeth, I goeth. Where
he lodgeth, I lodgeth. His knowledge is my knowledge, and his tricks,
my salvation.'
"'You make me sick, Kirke. Why don't you talk sense?'
"'He is crooked, Connie, and everybody knows it. But it is no cinch
catching him at it. Smithson is going to be elected and Matters knows
it. But the only way I can keep out of that trial is to get something
on Matters.
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