"Louis L'amour - sackett05 - Ride The River" - читать интересную книгу автора (L'Amour Louis)

brought. Five hundred dollars? It's more than I earn in a year! Preposterous!"
"I think she did the right thing, Mr. Butts," Mrs. Sulky said. "Why would he
come over here at night to get her to sign those papers? They had an appointment
for today."
"She will wind up with nothing, nothing at all!"
There was a tap at the door, and when Amy Sulky opened it, Finian Chantry was
there, a tall, elegant old man in a gray frock coat and trousers of a lighter
gray.
"Mrs. Sulky? Mr. Chantry."
"How do you do?"
"Mr. Chantry?" Mr. Butts thrust himself forward. "I am Ephraim Butts, and I have
been hoping to have a chance to speak to youЧ"
"Another time, Mr. Butts. Miss Sackett and I have business to discuss." He
stepped back to allow me to precede him. "Miss Sackett?"
When we were seated in his carriage, I said, "I don't like that man."
"Do not let yourself be bothered by the inconsequential. One has only so much
time in this world, so devote it to the work and the people most important to
you, to those you love and things that matter. One can waste half a lifetime
with people one doesn't really like, or doing things when one would be better
off somewhere else."
As we rode along over the brick-paved streets, I told him about James White
coming to the boardinghouse with the five hundred dollars.
"You did the right thing, Echo," he said. "There is much more involved."
He stepped down from the carriage at Mr. White's office and shifted his cane to
the other hand to help me down. "That's a beautiful cane," I said. "My father
had one like it."
"Yes, I shouldn't wonder. Inherited from your grandfather, perhaps?"
"Yes, I believe it was, although Pa never had much use for it. He was always a
strong walker."
"Of course." He held the cane up. "It is just a little something I like to have
with me. It has become a habit, I am afraid."
The tall, dirty-looking young man stood up quickly when he saw Mr. Chantry.
"Yes, sir!"
"Mr. White, if you please. Miss Sackett and Finian Chantry to see him."
"Yes, sir. Right away, sir."
White sat hunched behind his desk when we entered. He stood up grudgingly. "Mr.
Chantry? What can I do for you, sir?"
"You can pay Miss Sackett three thousand, three hundred and twenty-five dollars.
This is, I believe, the sum due her from the estate of Barnabas O'Hara,
deceased."
"Now, see here! IЧ"
"Mr. White, I am not a very patient man. As I grow older, I find time very
important. I also have had occasion to discuss some of your activities with
various members of the bar. Miss Sackett has apprised me of your attempt to get
her to sign away most of her inheritance, and I am in no mood for dillydallying.
The money, sir!"
Reluctantly White got up and went to his safe. For a moment he hesitated; then
he turned the handle and opened the door.
When he had counted the money, he pushed it across the desk. "There!" he said.
"Now, here's the receipt."