Part 26 (1/2)
”To begin with, then, I came primarily to talk about Steve Armstrong. I believe he's a friend of yours.”
”Yes.” A halt, then the query direct returned. ”Is he of yours?”
”I'll answer that question later, if you please. At least he's the one adult to date I can remember who ever called me by my first name. Did you know that he'd returned to town?”
”Yes. He was here last night.”
”Responsible, was he?”
”Mr. Roberts!” Randall flushed like a woman with strangers. ”Pardon me, but there are some questions I can't answer--at least until you answer my own of a moment ago.”
”I understand perfectly. Also, contrary to your suspicion, I didn't avoid your question to make it difficult for you. It requires two to be friends. Enmities I, personally, have none. Life's too short and too busy. If it will a.s.sist you any, I met Armstrong in the street this evening face to face, and he declined to speak. I judge he's no friend to me. Am I any more clear?”
”Yes,” simply.
”Do you wish to answer my question now, then?”
”I judge you have a good reason for asking. He was not responsible, wholly.”
”Not even decently so?”
”Hardly.”
”I gathered as much from his appearance to-night. It was the first time I'd seen him in nearly a year. You know the whole story between Armstrong and myself, I take it?”
”Yes,” once more.
”And your sympathy is naturally with him.”
”It has been.”
”And now--”
The smile that made Randall's face boyish came into being.
”I'm deferring judgment now--and observing.”
”I fear I can't help you much there,” said Darley, shortly. ”I wished to discuss the future a bit, not the past. The last time I talked with Armstrong he was impossible. I think you know what I mean. All men are that way when they lose their nerve and drown the corpse. What I wish to ask of you is whether the thing was justified. I'm not artistic. I don't brag of it--I admit it. You're different; your opinion is of value.
Commercially, he's an impossibility. He couldn't hold a place if he had it--any place. I don't need to tell you that either. As a writer--can he write, or can't he?”
Harry Randall took off his big eyegla.s.ses and polished one lens and then the other.
”In my opinion, yes--and no.” He held the gla.s.ses to the light, seemed satisfied, and placed them carefully on his nose. ”A great writer--he'll never be that. It takes nerve and infinite patience to be anything great, and Steve invariably loses his nerve too soon. He lacks just that much of being big. As for ability, the spark--he's got it, Roberts, as certainly as you and I are sitting here. Elementally, he's a child and will always remain a child. I think most artists are more or less so. Children can't bear criticism or delay--uncertain delay--that's Steve. On the other hand, if he were encouraged, kept free on the financial side, left at liberty to work when he felt the mood, and then only, then--I realize it's a big 'if' and a big contract for some one--he'd make good. Have I answered your question?”
”Yes. And here's another: Is it worth while?”
”To bolster him, you mean; to 'pull him out of the mud,' to use his own phrase?”
”No; that would be a waste of energy. I mean to keep him out permanently, to continue pulling indefinitely.”
For a long time the two men sat in silence.