Part 3 (1/2)
CHAPTER V.
CORNER LOTS.
Mr. Plausaby was one of those men who speak upon a level pitch, in a gentle and winsome monotony. His voice was never broken by impulse, never shaken by feeling. He was courteous without ostentation, treating everybody kindly without exactly seeming to intend it. He let fall pleasant remarks incidentally or accidentally, so that one was always fortuitously overhearing his good opinion of one's self. He did not have any conscious intent to flatter each person with some ulterior design in view, but only a general disposition to keep everybody cheerful, and an impression that it was quite profitable as a rule to stand well with one's neighbors.
The morning after Charlton's arrival the fat pa.s.senger called, eager as usual to buy lots. To his lively imagination, every piece of ground staked off into town lots had infinite possibilities. It seemed that the law of probabilities had been no part of the sanguine gentleman's education, but the gloriousness of possibilities was a thing that he appreciated naturally; hopefulness was in his very fiber.
Mr. Plausaby spread his ”Map of Metropolisville” on the table, let his hand slip gently down past the ”Depot Ground,” so that the fat gentleman saw it without seeming to have had his attention called to it; then Plausaby, Esq., looked meditatively at the ground set apart for ”College,” and seemed to be making a mental calculation. Then Plausaby proceeded to unfold the many advantages of the place, and Albert was a pleased listener; he had never before suspected that Metropolisville had prospects so entirely dazzling. He could not doubt the statements of the bland Plausaby, who said these things in a confidential and reserved way to the fat gentleman. Charlton did not understand, but Plausaby did, that what is told in a corner to a fat gentleman with curly hair and a hopeful nose is sure to be repeated from the house-tops.
”You are an Episcopalian, I believe?” said Plausaby, Esq. The fat gentleman replied that he was a Baptist.
”Oh! well, I might have known it from your cordial way of talking.
Baptist myself, in principle. In principle, at least Not a member of any church, sorry to say. Very sorry. My mother and my first Wife were both Baptists. Both of them. I have a very warm side for the good old Baptist church. Very warm side. And a warm side for every Baptist. Every Baptist.
To say nothing of the feeling I have always had for you--well, well, let us not pa.s.s compliments. Business is business in this country. In this country, you know. But I will tell _you_ one thing. The lot there marked 'College' I am just about transferring to trustees for a Baptist university. There are two or three parties, members of Dr. Armitage's church in New York City, that are going to give us a hundred thousand dollars endowment. A hundred thousand dollars. Don't say anything about it. There are people who--well, who would spoil the thing if they could.
We have neighbors, you know. Not very friendly ones. Not very friendly.
Perritaut, for instance. It isn't best to tell one's neighbor all one's good luck. Not all one's good luck,” and Plausaby, Esq., smiled knowingly at the fat man, who did his best to screw his very transparent face into a crafty smile in return. ”Besides,” continued Squire Plausaby, ”once let it get out that the Baptist University is going to occupy that block, and there'll be a great demand--”
[Ill.u.s.tration: PLAUSABY SELLS LOTS.]
”For all the blocks around,” said the eager fat gentleman, growing impatient at Plausaby's long-windedness.
”Precisely. For all the blocks around,” went on Plausaby. ”And I want to hold on to as much of the property in this quarter as--”
”As you can, of course,” said the other.
”As I can, of course. As much as I can, of course. But I'd like to have you interested. You are a man of influence. A man of weight. Of weight of character. You will bring other Baptists. And the more Baptists, the better for--the better for--”
”For the college, of course.”
”Exactly. Precisely. For the college, of course. The more, the better.
And I should like your name on the board of trustees of--of--”
”The college?”
”The university, of course. I should like your name.”
The fat gentleman was pleased at the prospect of owning land near the Baptist University, and doubly pleased at the prospect of seeing his name in print as one of the guardians of the destiny of the infant inst.i.tution. He thought he would like to buy half of block 26.
”Well, no. I couldn't sell in 26 to you or any man. Couldn't sell to any man. I want to hold that block because of its slope. I'll sell in 28 _to you_, and the lots there are just about as good. Quite as good, indeed.
But I want to build on 26.”
The fat gentleman declared that he wouldn't have anything but lots in 26.
That block suited his fancy, and he didn't care to buy if he could not have a pick.