多蘿西·丹尼爾斯

Outside she looked vainly for a hansom or any other means of transportation. She found none and began running as fast as she could. Once there at the office building， she ran into it and disdained the new lift and ran up the stairs. Drury was not at his desk. She lifted her skirts and ran up another flight of stairs， not stopping until she rushed into the night editors office without knocking.

Guy Spencer was at his post， conferring with a man， whom she had seen only once in passing， but immediately recognized as George Morgan， the wealthy owner of newspaper.

“What is it， Miss Bradley？” the editor asked.

“Drury... Bryant Drury... hes writing an article about Mrs. Hallett. You have to stop the story. Drury is making a big mistake，” Lydia said between gasps.

“Sit down， Miss Bradley，” Mr. Morgan urged. “Slow down and tell me about it.” He glanced at the editor. “I take it， this is the young lady you hired recently as a reporter？”

“Miss Lydia Bradley. Shes been with us six months. Now Lydia， what this is about？”

“I was dining with Mr. Drury at Delmonicos. He saw Mrs. Paul Hallett， the society woman， at a table just behind ours. She was with a much younger man and holding hands with him across the table. Mr. Drury is going to print a gossip item about her indiscreet behavior in a public place.”

“The fool！” Morgan said angrily. “The Halletts are too important for that nonsense.”

“He didnt check the story，” Lydia said. “I found Mrs. Hallett in the ladies room and I learned the young man happens to be her younger brother， who today graduated from medical school. The dinner was a celebration. She informed me her husband had an important meeting tonight and was unable to be with them. Mrs. Hallett will sue him and the newspaper if he prints that item. She despises Drury.”

“My God，” Spencer exclaimed. “That kind of thing could have terrible consequences. Ive got to stop it.” He picked up the telephone and shouted for the rewrite room. “Is Drury there？” He asked. “Already left？ Listen carefully. He just wrote something for his column. Is it at the press room yet？ Go down there. Personally. Kill that whole column of his... Let the goddamn paper be late！ Its a life-and-death matter. Do what you have to. Just kill that column！”

Spencer hung up and sighed in relieve. “Another half hour and that story would have been on the streets. Miss Bradley，” he eyed her gratefully， “were indebted to you for your initiative.”

“Drurys self-conceit is destroying his effectiveness as a reporter，” Morgan mused thoughtfully. “This isnt the first time he neglected to check a story. Am I wrong， Guy？”

“You are right， sir，” Spencer said somberly. “A damn shame. Up until recently he was the best in the country.”

“And so far，” Morgan went on， “weve been lucky in killing his inaccuracies before they got into print. Thank God， you probably save the paper a good deal of money， Miss Bradley. Thank you.”

The phone rang as she stood up to leave. Spencer answered it. “Send him up，” he said crisply. He replaced the phone. “Miss Bradley， please wait a few minutes. They caught Drury as he was leaving the building. I want you here to listen to his explanation.”

“Dont worry about Drury，” Morgan said. He retreated to a far corner of the room that was in near darkness.

Drury came in without knocking. He started when he saw Lydia was here， and his eyes narrowed.

“Now listen，” he said immediately on the defensive， “dont believe this girls story. I wasnt harassing her. She was trying to get me to have her put on a big assignment and she offered me favors—”

“Drury，” Spencer cut in， “you wrote a squib for your column about Mrs. Hallett.” Drury looked surprised. “Sure I did. Caught her dead to rights.”

“Miss Bradley talked to Mrs. Hallett and discovered she was not being unfaithful to her husband. The man she was with happens to be her brother. They were celebrating his graduation from medical school.”

Drury turned pale. “Good God！ Ive got to stop...”

“The story has been killed，” Morgan said quickly， moving out of the shadows.

Drurys mouth opened to voice an angry response， but when he recognized Morgan， his tone changed.

“Mr. Morgan. I didnt notice you were here. Im sorry about this. It was good of Miss Bradley to check the story. Though Im sure she told you I sent her to do just that.”

“Damn it， Drury，” Morgan said， “you didnt ask anyone to check the story. You hate Hallett and you thought you saw a chance to embarrass him. You should thank Miss Bradley for warning us in time.”

Drury turned to Lydia， still bluffing his way through it. “Lydia， why didnt you tell these gentlemen you were supposed to contact me if you got anything out of Mrs. Hallett？”

“Hold on， Drury，” Morgan said in rapidly rising anger. “You did not ask Miss Bradley to check. Even if you had， you wrote the story and sent it to press without waiting for any word from her.”

“I thought she found nothing and went home...”

“Drury，” Morgan said， “you are a liar. You were a fine reporter until your head swelled. You think everyones afraid of you. I dont want you working for us any longer， even if you do have a famous by-line1. In other words， sir， you are fired. Now get out of here.”

Drury turned threateningly toward Lydia. “A good game you play. Pretending to seek my advice when， in fact， you were out to get me from the start. From the way things look， youre after my job.”

“Mr. Drury，” she said more calmly than she felt， “I likely saved you a great deal of money， for Mrs. Hallett would surely have sued you， and you didnt stand the slightest chance of winning the suit.”

“Shes right，” Spencer agreed. “You ought to be thanking her. And get this， Drury， if I ever hear of you making any trouble for this young lady， youll not only never again work on any newspaper， but on any publication in the world. Now get out！ I dont want to see your face again.”

“Dont be afraid of him， Lydia.” Spencer said. “Hell probably destroy himself before he does you.”

“I dont like to be the cause of anyone losing his job，” she replied somberly.

“Weve been watching him， hoping hed change. But he thought he was above reproach.” Morgan said.

“Yes，” Spencer agreed. “Too much drinking， too many women and a growing carelessness with his stories. Word gets around. As for you， Lydia， you saved us and also Drury from disaster. We give a bonus for a good story. You deserve one for stopping a bad story. Youll find one hundred dollars extra in your next paycheck.”

“Make that two hundred，” Morgan said.

“Thank you， gentlemen. Im very grateful.” She arouse， ready to leave the office， still feeling somewhat overwhelmed by all that had happened.

“Dont be in such a hurry to leave， Miss Bradley，” Morgan said with a chuckle. “Please sit down and tell me about yourself. How old are you？”

“Twenty， sir.”

“Do you live with your family？”

“My father， Paul Bradley， died some years ago， and my mother shortly after him. I have no one else—”

“Good God！ Not the Paul Bradley of the Lyttonville Herald？ Of course we knew of him. He was a fine newspaper man，” Morgan interjected.

“Yes， sir. He was the one who taught me all the journalism I know. He always encouraged me to pursue it...”

“Why didnt you mention he was your father when we hired you？” Spencer asked.

“I didnt want to trade on his reputation，” Lydia answered. “I want to make my own way.”

“I see. Then， you have no obligation that would tie you down？ No… young man？” Morgan presently continued.

“None， sir，” Lydia replied， more and more mystified at this kind of questioning.

“I travelled around Europe expensively. One place attracted and interested me far more than any other. Im referring to Monte Carlo. Know where that is， Miss Bradley？ Or what it is？”

“Ive heard of it， but I know nothing of it， sir.”

“Good. Not many do. Its part of the Principality of Monaco， located on the French Riviera near Italy. Its a beautiful place， and has one of the finest climates to be found in the world.”

“Its taken off， like a sky rocket.” Morgan went on. “Theyve built a big casino and several hotels there， rather grander than anything all Europe has to offer. And the gambling is for stakes that would stagger you. All kinds of gambling. In just a short time I saw a king， an emperor， the Kaiser—supposedly incognito—a large assortment of dukes， barons and earls. Diplomats， military people... crowds of more than ordinary citizens， mostly the very rich.” He paused， offered Spencer a cigar and lit up one for himself. After a few speculative puffs， he added， “I never saw anything like it in my life.”

“What are you getting at？” Guy Spencer asked， still thoroughly mystified.

“Miss Bradley，” Morgan said， and his eyes fastened on her face. “How would you like to go to Monte Carlo？ Live there as our permanent representative. With unlimited funds—though not for gambling. Youll have the best of everything， for theres no other way to treat Monte Carlo， especially youre there on business for the paper.”

“I... to go to Monte Carlo？” Lydia asked incredulously.

“Thats what I said.”

“But... why me？ Ive only been with the paper a short time！”

“Thats why Im selecting you. Granted， Im impressed with your family background. But your fathers reputation has little to do with this decision.”

“What an idea！” Spencer said， getting carried away by Morgans eloquence. “Well feature Lydias story. With photos. She can arrange for them on Monte Carlo.”

“Tell us when you can go. Day after tomorrow？”

“Yes. Ill do the very best I can.”

“Good. Guy will make all the arrangements， passport， money， salary. Be generous， Guy， Lydia just saved us a small fortune. Im looking forward to your success， my dear.”

（The end）

出了酒店，莉迪婭想找一輛雙輪馬車或其他任何交通工具。發(fā)現(xiàn)什么也找不到后，她開始拼命奔跑。一到報(bào)館大樓，她立馬沖了進(jìn)去，沒乘新電梯，順著樓梯往上爬。德魯里的位子空著。她提起裙子又往上爬了一層，一口氣奔到夜班編輯的辦公室，門也沒敲就沖了進(jìn)去。

主編蓋伊·斯潘塞坐在桌子邊正和一個(gè)人討論著什么，那個(gè)人莉迪婭只在路過時(shí)見過一次，不過她立刻認(rèn)出那是喬治·摩根，報(bào)社的闊佬大老板。

“布拉德利小姐，有什么事？”主編問道。

“德魯里……布萊恩特·德魯里……他正在寫一篇關(guān)于哈利特夫人的文章。您必須阻止他，不能讓他寫。德魯里犯了個(gè)大錯(cuò)。”莉迪婭邊喘邊說。

“請坐，布拉德利小姐?！蹦Ω壬泻舻?，“別著急，說說怎么回事?！彼戳艘谎壑骶?。“我猜，這位年輕女士是你最近聘任的記者吧？”

“這是莉迪婭·布拉德利小姐。她來我們這兒有六個(gè)月了。莉迪婭，這是怎么回事??？”

“我和德魯里先生在戴蒙尼可大酒店吃飯。他看到了名媛保羅·哈利特夫人，就坐在我們后面的一張桌子。哈利特夫人和一位很年輕的男士在一起，還隔著桌子抓著年輕人的手。德魯里先生于是要寫一篇關(guān)于哈利特夫人在公共場合有不檢點(diǎn)行為的八卦文章發(fā)表?！?/p>

“白癡！”摩根大怒，“哈利特夫婦是大人物，怎么能這么亂寫。”

“德魯里沒有核實(shí)?！崩虻蠇I說，“我在洗手間見到哈利特夫人，了解到那個(gè)年輕人是她弟弟，今天剛從醫(yī)學(xué)院畢業(yè)，這頓晚餐就是為慶祝弟弟畢業(yè)的。她告訴我說，她丈夫今晚有個(gè)重要會(huì)議，所以不能跟他們一起慶祝。如果德魯里發(fā)表了那篇文章，哈利特夫人肯定會(huì)把他和報(bào)社告上法庭。她很鄙視他?！?/p>

“天??！”斯潘塞大叫，“這事兒后果太可怕了。我必須阻止?！彼闷痣娫挻舐曇ň庉嬍摇！暗卖斃镌趩幔俊彼麊?，“已經(jīng)走了？給我好好聽著，他剛才為他的專欄寫了點(diǎn)兒東西，現(xiàn)在送到印刷車間了嗎？快去，你親自去，把他那個(gè)專欄整個(gè)撤了……該死的報(bào)紙，晚就晚了吧！這可是生死攸關(guān)的大事。做你該做的事去。撤了那個(gè)專欄！”

斯潘塞掛斷電話，松了口氣。“布拉德利小姐，再晚半個(gè)小時(shí)，那個(gè)故事就會(huì)滿大街流傳了?！彼屑さ乜粗澳氵@次能主動(dòng)查證，我們感激不盡?！?/p>

“德魯里的驕傲自大正毀掉他的記者公信力?！蹦Ω粲兴嫉卣f道，“這不是他第一次不核實(shí)事情真相了。蓋伊，我沒說錯(cuò)吧？”

“先生，你沒說錯(cuò)。”斯潘塞郁郁地說道，“該死的，真丟臉。不久前他還算是國內(nèi)最棒的。”

“到目前為止，”摩根接著說，“我們每次都很幸運(yùn)在開印前把他的不實(shí)報(bào)道斃了。感謝上帝，布拉德利小姐， 你這下可給報(bào)社省了不少錢。謝謝你。”

莉迪婭站起身準(zhǔn)備離開，這時(shí)電話響了。斯潘塞拿起了電話?！敖兴蟻??！痹捄芨纱?。他掛上電話說：“布拉德利小姐，請稍等。德魯里離開大樓時(shí)被攔住了，我想讓你在這兒聽聽他的解釋?！?/p>

“不用怕德魯里?！蹦Ωf著就退到了屋子遠(yuǎn)處一個(gè)幽暗的角落里。

德魯里門也不敲就走了進(jìn)來。他看到莉迪婭在屋里時(shí)，瞇起眼睛，馬上開口道。

“聽我說，”他立刻開始給自己辯白，“別相信這女孩的話。我沒騷擾她。是她想盡辦法要我答應(yīng)給她一項(xiàng)重要任務(wù)，她還答應(yīng)給我好處——”

“德魯里，”斯潘塞打斷了他的話，“你為自己的專欄寫了一篇關(guān)于哈利特夫人的短文吧?！钡卖斃镲@得很驚訝：“是，我是寫了，而且抓了個(gè)現(xiàn)行！”

“布拉德利小姐和哈利特夫人談過了，發(fā)現(xiàn)哈利特夫人并沒有對丈夫不忠，和她在一起的碰巧是她剛從醫(yī)學(xué)院畢業(yè)的弟弟，他們正在慶祝畢業(yè)。”

德魯里的臉一下子白了?！疤彀?！我得趕緊阻止……”

“你的故事已經(jīng)撤了?！蹦Ω贿叢逶?，一邊從幽暗的墻角走了出來。

德魯里張嘴剛想發(fā)作，看清是摩根后，語氣一下軟了下來。

“摩根先生，沒注意到您在這兒，很抱歉。布拉德利小姐核實(shí)過太好了。當(dāng)然，我想她肯定告訴你們了，是我派她去核實(shí)的?！?/p>

“德魯里，混蛋！”摩根說，“你沒有叫任何人去核實(shí)。你恨哈利特，這次你是以為有機(jī)會(huì)可以好好羞辱他一下了。你應(yīng)該感謝布拉德利小姐及時(shí)提醒了我們?！?/p>

德魯里轉(zhuǎn)向莉迪婭，還想繼續(xù)狡辯：“莉迪婭，你為什么不告訴這兩位先生，你從哈利特夫人那里了解到情況后應(yīng)該跟我聯(lián)系的。”

“德魯里，打住。”摩根話中的怒氣急劇上升，“你根本沒叫布拉德利小姐去核實(shí)。即使你叫了，你也沒等她回復(fù)就寫了這個(gè)故事并且送去付印了。”

“我以為她沒問出什么回家了……”

“德魯里，”摩根說，“你說謊。你在自我膨脹之前，曾是個(gè)優(yōu)秀的記者。你以為人人都怕你。即使你確實(shí)有些名氣，我們報(bào)紙也不再需要你了。換句話說，你被解雇了。現(xiàn)在，請離開這兒?！?/p>

德魯里氣勢洶洶地轉(zhuǎn)身沖莉迪婭說：“你玩的好把戲。假裝請教我，其實(shí)從一開始就想抓我的把柄。看樣子，你盯上了我的位置?！?/p>

“德魯里先生，”莉迪婭沒想到自己能那么平心靜氣，“我可能幫你省下了一大筆錢，因?yàn)楣胤蛉丝隙〞?huì)把你告上法庭，而你絕不可能贏。”

“她說得對?！彼古巳硎就猓澳銘?yīng)該謝謝她。聽著，德魯里，如果讓我知道你找這位年輕女士的麻煩，那你不僅永遠(yuǎn)找不到報(bào)社工作，而且全世界的出版圈你也別想混了。滾！我不想再見到你。”

“莉迪婭，別怕他?！彼古巳f，“他在對你下手前可能就先把自己給毀了?！?/p>

“我不喜歡別人因?yàn)槲叶鴣G了飯碗?！彼行┯魫灥卣f。

“我們一直在注意他，希望他會(huì)有所改變。但顯然他認(rèn)為自己無可指責(zé)。”摩根說。

“是啊?！彼古巳胶偷溃靶锞?，玩女人，寫文章越來越粗制濫造。話已經(jīng)傳開了。至于你，莉迪婭，你救了報(bào)社，也救了德魯里，讓我們逃過一劫。發(fā)表好故事我們都會(huì)獎(jiǎng)勵(lì)，你擋住了一個(gè)壞故事也值得獎(jiǎng)勵(lì)。下次發(fā)薪水時(shí)你會(huì)多拿到100美元?！?/p>

“要多200。”摩根說。

“二位先生，謝謝你們。非常感謝。”她站起身，準(zhǔn)備離開辦公室，剛剛發(fā)生的一切仍然讓她感覺有點(diǎn)兒不知所措。

“別這么急著走，布拉德利小姐?！蹦Ω⑽⒁恍φf，“請坐，說說你自己的情況吧。你多大了？”

“20歲，先生?！?/p>

“你和家人一塊兒住嗎？”

“家父保羅·布拉德利幾年前過世了，家母不久也走了。目前家里沒別人了——”

“天??！不會(huì)是《利頓維爾先驅(qū)報(bào)》的保羅·布拉德利吧？我們當(dāng)然知道他。他是位優(yōu)秀的報(bào)人?！蹦Ω逶捳f。

“是的，先生。我所有的新聞行業(yè)知識(shí)都是他教的。他一直鼓勵(lì)我追求……”

“聘用你時(shí)怎么不告訴我們令尊是保羅·布拉德利呢？”斯潘塞問道。

“我不想利用家父的名聲?！崩虻蠇I答道，“我要闖出一條自己的路。”

“明白了。那么就沒什么捆住你手腳了吧？沒……有男朋友？”摩根接著問。

“沒有，先生。”莉迪婭答道，這樣的提問讓她越來越困惑了。

“我周游歐洲，都是很奢華的旅行，有一個(gè)地方比其他任何地方都吸引我，讓我感興趣。我指的是蒙特卡洛。布拉德利小姐，知道它在哪兒嗎？了解這個(gè)地方嗎？”

“我聽說過這個(gè)地方，但對它一無所知，先生?！?/p>

“很好。了解的人確實(shí)不太多。它屬于摩納哥公國，位于法國蔚藍(lán)海岸，靠近意大利。那是個(gè)非常美麗的地方，有全球最適宜的氣候?！?/p>

“蒙特卡洛發(fā)展很快，就像沖天的火箭。”摩根接著說道，“他們建了一個(gè)大賭場和幾家酒店，比全歐洲其他地方建得都輝煌。至于賭場里的賭注，真會(huì)嚇壞人。各種賭博花樣百出。不過一會(huì)兒工夫我就看見了一個(gè)國王、一位皇帝——德國皇帝，恐怕用的假名——一大幫各色各樣的公爵、男爵和伯爵。還有外交官、軍人……成群結(jié)隊(duì)，都不是普通老百姓，大多極其富有?！蹦ΩＡ讼聛?，遞給斯潘塞一支雪茄，自己也點(diǎn)了一支。他若有所思地噴了幾口煙，接著說道：“我這輩子從未見過這樣的情況?！?/p>

“你想說什么？”蓋伊·斯潘塞問，仍然一頭霧水。

“布拉德利小姐，”摩根盯著她的臉說道，“你想去蒙特卡洛嗎？作為我們的常駐代表到那兒生活。資金沒有上限——當(dāng)然不是給你賭博的。給你配備的一切都是最好的，待在蒙特卡洛的花銷絕少不了，尤其你是報(bào)社派駐那兒的，更不能丟了身份?！?/p>

“我……去蒙特卡洛？”莉迪婭問，她感覺難以置信。

“沒錯(cuò)，去蒙特卡洛?！?/p>

“但是……為什么派我去？我進(jìn)報(bào)社并沒多久??！”

“就因?yàn)槟銊倎聿痪貌胚x中你。當(dāng)然，你的家庭背景也是我很重視的。但這次的決定和令尊的聲譽(yù)沒什么關(guān)系?！?/p>

“好主意！”斯潘塞說，對摩根的口才佩服極了，“我們可以把莉迪婭的報(bào)道做成專題，再配上照片。她可以在蒙特卡洛搞定這些。”

“看看哪天能動(dòng)身吧。后天怎么樣？”

“好，我會(huì)竭盡全力?！?/p>

“太好了。蓋伊?xí)才藕靡磺?，護(hù)照、錢、薪水等。蓋伊，大方點(diǎn)兒，莉迪婭剛給我們省了一大筆錢。期待你取得成功，親愛的?！?/p>

（完）