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I called on him as soon as I knew he was in New York, and was received most cordially. Elkinson had a large, bony head upon a lean, muscular body. He was not yet sixty, and his clean-shaven face was of a youthfully fresh and ruddy complexion. His hair was snow-white, but still thick and full, parted in the middle and trimly cut.
My work is contemplative, speculative and affords enjoyment through the satisfaction of correct discoveries and clear vision. In practical life I am unhappy, with money, honor, glory and all. But you, Judge Elkinson, have need of me for this very quality. Humanity must not only act organizedly but also think organizedly.
A frugal, existence is all I want. I shall endeavor to obtain that. By giving lessons, for example." "And had you hoped to be in any degree supported by me in that direction?" asked the careful and practical American. "No! I did not come to you for that. I have not the slightest intention of burdening my old acquaintances by presuming on our former relations." "Good!" said Elkinson honestly.
A pupil, sent to me by Elkinson, stayed away after a few weeks without paying me perhaps because he may have heard something about my illegitimate marriage. Some journalists who had known me in former days received me with superficial friendliness and promised to do something for me. But they did nothing speedily absorbed again in their own interests.
The last is divine worship, the first waste of time. I also tried to engage the interest of other influential persons besides Judge Elkinson. But I had rightly selected him as the most available, and with all the others met with less success. I had used up my best powder at the first onslaught.
"It is very kind of you, my dear Count Muralto, very kind indeed to look me up again. Have you been assigned to the post at Washington again? And how are the countess and the children?" "Don't bother about using my title, Mr. Elkinson. It must be distressing to your democratic spirit." The mocking eyes twinkled as though they enjoyed my sally. "On the contrary! on the contrary! that is atavism!
Judge Elkinson still represented the fast disappearing type of gentleman, and I knew that for him this was possible through an extraordinary suppleness of mind, fineness of tact and feeling, and a philosophic broadness of view. Honest in the strict sense of the word, with naïve uprightness that he could not be any more than any other faithful member of the herd, with some astuteness.
"As the part of a match at a forest fire. For myself full of profound satisfaction, for the outer world absolutely obscure. I shall come to talk with you now and then. Judge Elkinson is the man, the benefactor of his people, the liberator of mankind." "And for you nothing? No money, no glory, no honor?" "This disinterestedness seems incredible to you.
I have come here as an emigrant, poor, and accompanied by a woman who is my true wife, but can never be lawfully recognized as such." "H'm! H'm! that is grave, very grave," said Judge Elkinson. The roguish twinkle in his eyes vanished and he assumed the severe, inexorable expression of the judge.
What I said to Judge Elkinson would have been entirely sufficient to convince him and to stir his powers into action, had it been told him in the same words but under more favorable circumstances; or if he had heard it oftener, from different persons and in different words.
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