Mr. Bridge_ A Novel - Evan S. Connell [8]
“He has stolen from you, is that what you are telling me?”
“Not precisely.”
“But he has been stealing, has he not?”
“No sir. His friends they sincerely believes he means to pay back. It is just that some is more impatient than others. There is this one friend of his happens to have this extremely bad nature. According to what they say, he has told Mr. Talbot either you gets me that money tomorrow midnight or there is trouble in the road ahead.”
“When did he say this?”
“Well, let me think. That must have been about yesterday, as I recall.”
Mr. Bridge leaned back in his chair. “By midnight tonight, then?”
Harriet nodded miserably.
“The twenty-five dollars you want to borrow is not for yourself, but for this man you run around with. Is that correct?”
“Yes, sir.”
“A few minutes ago you told me it was for personal expenses. You told me there were some items you wished to purchase for yourself. Now you give me a different story. Which am I to believe?”
Harriet was busily patting her forehead with the handkerchief.
“Suppose this twenty-five dollars is not repaid. In your opinion, what will happen?”
“Well, it does come to a bit more than just that.”
“More? More, you say? How much more?”
“Let me think. There is all these claims being made which makes it difficult. However, according to what I hear, it’s likely about a hundred dollars, I believe. Mr. Talbot, though, he claims he still got some of it left yet and we feel if there is twenty-five dollars added to what he has not spent that will do for the time being. In fact, he has talked the situation over with this friend of his and that is the idea.”
“But if neither of you can find the twenty-five dollars?”
“I just don’t know,” Harriet said. “I just don’t know, Mr. Bridge.”
“Has this man threatened Couperin?”
“I would call it that, yes. There has been these threats, yes. Quite a few.”
“Harriet, I don’t mind telling you I don’t like this. I don’t like anything about it. I don’t intend to become involved in it. Surely you can find the money somewhere else.”
“We done asked. Everybody we know, only nobody don’t help. Everybody tell us the same—don’t want to get theirselves mixed up in nothing.”
“I don’t blame them.”
Harriet’s eyes were glistening. “He promise he won’t never do it again.”
“I wish I had more confidence in Couperin’s promise. If you want my opinion, you would be better off if you stopped seeing that fellow.”
She buried her face in the handkerchief and wept without making a sound.
“Borrowing is bad business. You will never get a clearer demonstration of it than you are getting right now. I am sorry, Harriet, but I am not going to lend you the money.”
After she left the study he remained for quite a while in the same position, leaning back in the chair with his chin resting on his fingertips while he thought about the problem; and he thought about Lester, and a number of other experiences with Negroes.
10 Senator Horton Bailey
Harriet had been putting on an act, he decided, and he suspected he would hear no more about it. Days passed and he became convinced he was right because she went about her duties with no sign of animosity, and on Thursday he noted that Couperin came by for her as usual.
But the problem of debts turned up again after Mrs. Bridge remarked while reading the evening paper: “I see your friend Horton Bailey is in the news.”
“Friend?” he replied, putting stress on the word.
“Oh, just because you disagree with his politics! Honestly, Walter, what would this country be like if we all agreed upon everything?”
“His politics are his business. It so happens that I do disagree with the man on that score, but I have other reasons for disliking him. Perfectly valid reasons.”
“I thought the two of you got along very well. You mention him every once in a while.”
“I have known the man since the World War but I don’t