福爾摩斯探案經典:《恐怖谷》第10章Part7
"I don't see, Brother Morris," said the chairman, "that it matters to us who buys them, since they can't carry them out of the district."
"With all respect to you, Eminent Bodymaster, I think it may matter very much to us. This process has been going on now for ten long years. We are gradually driving all the small men out of trade. What is the result? We find in their places great companies like the Railroad or the General Iron, who have their directors in New York or Philadelphia, and care nothing for our threats. We can take it out of their local bosses; but it only means that others will be sent in their stead. And we are making it dangerous for ourselves. The small men could not harm us. They had not the money nor the power. So long as we did not squeeze them too dry, they would stay on under our power. But if these big companies find that we stand between them and their profits, they will spare no pains and no expense to hunt us down and bring us to court."
There was a hush at these ominous words, and every face darkened as gloomy looks were exchanged. So omnipotent and unchallenged had they been that the very thought that there was possible retribution in the background had been banished from their minds. And yet the idea struck a chill to the most reckless of them.
"It is my advice," the speaker continued, "that we go easier upon the small men. On the day that they have all been driven out the power of this society will have been broken."
Unwelcome truths are not popular. There were angry cries as the speaker resumed his seat. McGinty rose with gloom upon his brow.
"Brother Morris," said he, "you were always a croaker. So long as the members of this lodge stand together there is no power in the United States that can touch them. Sure, have we not tried it often enough in the lawcourts? I expect the big companies will find it easier to pay than to fight, same as the little companies do. And now, Brethren," McGinty took off his black velvet cap and his stole as he spoke, "this lodge has finished its business for the evening, save for one small matter which may be mentioned when we are parting. The time has now come for fraternal refreshment and for harmony."
Strange indeed is human nature. Here were these men, to whom murder was familiar, who again and again had struck down the father of the family, some man against whom they had no personal feeling, without one thought of compunction or of compassion for his weeping wife or helpless children, and yet the tender or pathetic in music could move them to tears. McMurdo had a fine tenor voice, and if he had failed to gain the good will of the lodge before, it could no longer have been withheld after he had thrilled them with "I'm Sitting on the Stile, Mary," and "On the Banks of Allan Water."
In his very first night the new recruit had made himself one of the most popular of the brethren, marked already for advancement and high office. There were other qualities needed, however, besides those of good fellowship, to make a worthy Freeman, and of these he was given an example before the evening was over. The whisky bottle had passed round many times, and the men were flushed and ripe for mischief when their Bodymaster rose once more to address them.
"Boys," said he, "there's one man in this town that wants trimming up, and it's for you to see that he gets it. I'm speaking of James Stanger of the Herald. You've seen how he's been opening his mouth against us again?"
There was a murmur of assent, with many a muttered oath. McGinty took a slip of paper from his waistcoat pocket.
"LAW AND ORDER!
That's how he heads it.
"REIGN OF TERROR IN THE COAL AND IRON DISTRICT
“我不明白，莫里斯兄弟，"麥金蒂說道，“既然他們不能把礦產從這個地方帶走，誰買走它們，與我們又有什麼關係呢？”
“我十分敬重你，尊敬的身主，但我認爲這與我們有很大的關係。這種變化過程到現在已有十年之久了。我們已經逐漸把所有的小資本家趕跑了。結果怎樣呢？我們發現代替他們的是象鐵路公司或煤鐵總公司這樣的大公司，這些公司在紐約或費城有他們的董事，對我們的恫嚇置之不理。我們雖然能趕走他們在本地的工頭，但這只不過意味着另派別人來代替他們而已，而我們自己反而招來危險。那些小資本家對我們不能有任何危害。他們既無錢又無勢。只要我們不過於苛刻地壓榨他們，他們就可以在我們的勢力範圍內繼續留下來。可是如果這些大公司發覺我們妨礙他們和他們的利益，他們就會不遺餘力，不惜工本地設法摧毀我們並向法院控訴我們。”
聽到這些不吉祥的話，大家靜默下來，神情沮喪，臉色陰沉。他們過去具有無上的權威，從未遭到過挫折，以至他們根本不曾想到自己會得到什麼報應。然而，就連他們裏面最不顧一切的人，聽到莫里斯的想法，也覺得掃興。
“我勸各位，"莫里斯繼續說道，“以後對小資本家不要太苛刻了。如果有朝一日他們全被逼走了，那麼我們這個社團的勢力也就被破壞啦。”
實話是不受歡迎的。莫里斯說完剛剛落座，就聽到一些人在高聲怒叱。麥金蒂雙眉緊皺，陰鬱不快地站起身來。
“莫里斯兄弟，"麥金蒂說道，“你總是到處報喪。只要我們會衆齊心協力，在美國就沒有一種力量能碰碰我們。不錯，我們不是常在法庭上和人較量麼？我料想那些大公司會發覺，他們若象那些小公司一樣向我們付款，倒比和我們鬥爭容易得多。現在，弟兄們，"麥金蒂說話時，取下他的平頂絨帽和聖帶，“今晚會務進行完了，只有一件小事要在散會前再提一下。現在是兄弟們舉杯痛飲、盡情歡樂的時候了。”
人類的本性確實是很奇怪的。這是一些把殺人當作家常便飯的人，一而再、再而三毫無人性地殘殺過一些家庭的家長，眼見其妻室悲啼，兒女失怙，絕無內疚之心、惻隱之意，然而一聽到優柔迫切的音樂，也會感動得落淚。麥克默多有一副優美的男高音歌喉。如果說他以前還未獲得會中弟兄的友情善意，那麼在他唱"瑪麗，我坐在籬垣上"和"在亞蘭河兩岸”時，卻使他們深受感動，再也抑制不住對他的善意了。
就在這第一天夜晚，這位新會員使自己成爲弟兄中最受歡迎的一員，已經象徵着即將晉升和獲得高位。然而，要成爲一個受尊敬的自由人會會員，除了這些友情以外，還需要具有另外一些氣質，而這個晚上還沒過去，麥克默多已經被說成是這些氣質的典範了。已經酒過數巡，人們早已醉醺醺，矇矓矓，這時身主又站起來向他們講話。
“弟兄們，"麥金蒂說道，“在鎮上有一個人應當剪除，你們也知道，他是應當受到處罰的。我說的是《先驅報》的詹姆士·斯坦格。你們不是已經看到他又在破口大罵我們了嗎？”
這時室內迸發出一陣贊同的低語聲，有些人詛咒發誓。麥金蒂從背心口袋裏拿出一張報紙來讀道：
“法律與秩序！
“這是斯坦格給加上的標題。
'煤鐵礦區的恐怖統治!
