The Tenth Man. W. Somerset Maugham

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СКАЧАТЬ straight, straight as a die. I’m expecting his report every day. He may cable me at any moment. Then I shall get to work. I’m going to float the mine as a company with a capital of half a million. Your father will be chairman, and he ought to make close on fifty thousand out of it. For a reason I needn’t tell you, we can’t afford to wait. We must have ready money, and that means floating the company at once. My only chance is in Middlepool, where three parts of my backing have come from before. We shall soon be in the middle of a General Election. And you know how uncertain my seat in Middlepool is. I keep it only by my personal popularity. I’m at the mercy of the Nonconformists, and if there’s talk of a divorce it’s all U.P. with me. They’ll make me retire before the election, and if that happens the new company won’t stand a dog’s chance.

      Lady Francis.

      Why?

      George Winter.

      Because with the general public nervous, I shall have to depend on Middlepool, and there I can only float it on my personal character.

      Catherine.

      I’m afraid you’ll think it very selfish, but I haven’t any more power of self-sacrifice in me.

      George Winter.

      If the Campo del Oro is a failure, it’ll knock down all the other companies I’m connected with. The Lewishams will seize the opportunity to make a raid on me. I’m standing on the edge of a precipice, and anyone who cares to give me a shove will send me over. … It’ll mean your father’s ruin and mine—I dare say you don’t mind that—but it’ll also mean the ruin of thousands of poor investors all over the country. Three-quarters of the population of Middlepool will lose their savings.

      Catherine.

      You’ve lied to me so often, George.

      George Winter.

      I can show you by plain figures that every word I say is true.

      Catherine.

      I haven’t much sympathy with the gamblers who want to make money without working for it. If they lose, it’s their own look out.

      [There is a pause. George Winter looks at her and nods to himself.

      George Winter.

      [To Etchingham.] I think you’d better go now. The rest of our conversation doesn’t need any listeners.

      Catherine.

      I have nothing more to say to you.

      George Winter.

      Don’t be a damned fool. It’s a matter of life and death to me, and d’you think I’m going to … [He stops.] Please, Lady Francis.

      Lady Francis.

      Of course we’ll leave you. Come, Frank.

      [Lady Francis and her husband go out.

      George Winter.

      [With a twinkle in his eye.] I don’t think your elopement receives the unqualified approval of your parents.

      Catherine.

      D’you want to repeat that odious scene of last night? Surely we said all that we had to say to one another.

      George Winter.

      [Shrugging his shoulders.] You know, I wouldn’t have played the fool with other women if you hadn’t shown me very clearly that you didn’t want to have anything to do with me.

      Catherine.

      I would rather not discuss that.

      George Winter.

      [With a chuckle.] After all, it isn’t as if I cared a tinker’s cuss for the whole lot of them.

      Catherine.

      [Flushing.] And you think that makes it any better? I think I could have forgiven you if you’d had any love for those wretched women. But it wasn’t even that. You exposed me to all that humiliation merely to gratify your vanity. When I’ve seen how you’ve treated those women I, even I, have been sorry for them.

      George Winter.

      If you like I’ll give you my solemn word of honour that you shall have no cause to complain in future.

      Catherine.

      It’s too late. You’ve given me my chance of freedom and I mean to take it.

      George Winter.

      You’re not keeping your part of the bargain.

      Catherine.

      What d’you mean?

      George Winter.

      You didn’t marry me because you were in love with me. …

      Catherine.

      [Interrupting.] That’s not true.

      George Winter.

      [With a smile.] Think.

      Catherine.

      [Hesitating.] A year ago I would have said again that it wasn’t true. I didn’t know what love was.

      George Winter.

      You married me because I was rich.

      Catherine.

      [Passionately.] No, no.

      George Winter.

      I’d just won a seat that they’d given me because they thought I hadn’t a chance. I won it off my own bat, because I imposed myself on Middlepool and forced them to vote for me. I was in the public eye. I was a power already. The world seemed at my feet.

      Catherine.

      All that’s very harmless. You flattered me. The life you offered me seemed so large, so full, and I was very young. I was dazzled by your brilliancy and your success. I mistook it for love.

      George Winter.

      And I married you because I wanted a wife. You happened to have an uncle who’s a duke, and aristocratic connexions are devilish useful in England to a Radical politician.

      Catherine.

      [Bitterly.] Oh, yes, I found out soon enough why you married me.

      George Winter.

      It was a business arrangement on both sides, and you’ve had your full share of the profits.

      Catherine.

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