Libro went home, made an inventory, and counted the change in his pocket He was thirty-five years old, big, healthy, good-natured, and irrepressible. Here he was face to face with starvation. He grimly smiled, for it was at any rate a new experience. He sat down by the little bookcase, forgot his cares and his creditors, and took out his beloved friends. He tenderly fondled the first edition of Elia, dipped into Beaumont and Fletcher, and took solace from the "Pleasures of Memory." When he looked at his watch, it was eight o"clock. Two hours had glided away in the company of his morocco-clad companions.
It was then that he thought of Ethel. He would go to her at once and unfold his story. He told her in a few words that he was ruined and could not marry her. This made her more than ever determined to marry him. She loved him and could not allow such a small thing as money to interfere with their plans. The more he insisted, the more determined she became. At last they reached a compromise--he would put the matter squarely up to her father. Mr. Edwards was called from his study.
"Mr. Edwards," he began, "I suppose you read of what happened to-day in the stock-market--"
"Yes, yes, of course," Mr. Edwards replied quickly, "what of it?"
"Well, I was long on New Haven and Reading--"
"Speculating again, have you?"
"Yes, and I"m broke, and Ethel would not allow me to break off the engagement until I spoke to you."
"She is a foolish girl. You are released, and I think it a good thing for my daughter."
"Perhaps some day when I go to work--" poor Libro pleaded.
"Work! Work!" retorted Mr. Edwards, "who ever heard of a stock broker who _worked_!"
Without another word they parted--and Libro returned to the drawing-room to pay, with many kisses, his farewell to Ethel.
When at last he was on the street he thought that poverty was the most terrible thing in the world--it destroyed in a moment love and happiness. And yet he was no longer thrice a fool--for he was not engaged, he was no longer a speculator, and, of course, he must cease to be a collector. While he was meditating about this curious effect of poverty, which had changed over night a fool into a philosopher, a beggar approached him. He felt in his pockets and handed him a quarter. Libro then went on his way, for the humor of the incident appealed to him.
The next day he tried to secure a position. He asked all his friends, who could do nothing "on account of the war."
He then tried the department stores, the banks, the hotels, the theatres--everywhere. No one would give a position to a stock-broker.
Mr. Edwards was right!
But he must live--the situation had become not so fantastic. He would sell everything--his father"s watch, his jewelry, his clothing, everything but his books. Those he would not part with.
On the corner of Thirty-fifth and Broadway was a p.a.w.nshop--he had pa.s.sed it hundreds of times, but had never thought of entering. Half of it was a store where the pledges were sold; each piece of jewelry had a huge white card on which ran some such legend--"Former price $1,000--now $400." The other half of the shop was where the real "business" was conducted, and it was here that its patrons lost their patrimony. Libro was ashamed to enter; he hesitated two or three times and then returned to his rooms. He picked up old "Omar" in its paper covers, and with the imprint of Bernard Quaritch, 1859, for it was a first edition and much beloved. He then read of wines and the joys of heaven--he could not afford to buy those full orient vintages, but, nevertheless, in the quietude of his rooms, he drank deep.
Two days later, with the courage of hunger, Libro visited the locality of this American Mont de Piete. But he was again afraid to enter. He seemed to see all his friends near him, watching him. He thought they smiled when they acknowledged his trembling salute. Broadway seemed to contain myriads of his acquaintances. He then thought with dread of the interior of the place, with its poor, degraded, perhaps half-clothed men and women, forced to pledge their last precious possession. He walked away, but returned, laughing at his cowardice.
This was also to be a new experience. He resolved to walk quickly up to the door and enter before anyone would notice him.
He received a shock when he pa.s.sed the portals. If he observed acquaintances on the outside, here on the inside, he met _friends_!
All Wall Street seemed to be gathered. It was more like a meeting of the Down Town Club. "h.e.l.lo, Jack! Why, if that"s not Libro!" and "The Baby Member!" greeted him from all sides. Before the well-worn counter was the flower of New York"s financial set, p.a.w.ning their diamonds and their good-repute. The wire houses and the bucket shops and the legitimate offices were all closed, and, by a marvelous change, as in the twinkling of an eye, the princ.i.p.als, and not their customers, were putting up "more margin!"
John Libro entered properly into the spirit of the occasion. He laughed with the others when one received $50 on a diamond ring that cost two hundred. He roared in harmony with the crowd when one well known Broadway habitue objected to the twelve dollars proffered on a gold watch. It was all too funny for anything! It was now his turn.
He felt sick as he took from his tie an emerald pin, the gift of his mother.
"How much do you want on this?" asked the proprietor. It was a cold voice which went through him like steel. He took an instant dislike to this man who was the proprietor himself, Geoffrey Steinman, a king among his brethren of this old and honorable profession.
"Seventy-five dollars," said Libro.
"This is no time for jokes," Steinman retorted. "I shall advance you fifteen dollars, and not a cent more."
"But it cost a hundred at Tiffany"s!"
"Fifteen dollars--my time is valuable."
It was the same old story. John Libro received the money and departed.
He was bitter at the world and particularly at the cold, keen gentleman who presided over the destinies of the shop with the glittering windows. He grew bitter when his watch (his father"s gift), his fob, his gold card-case, his medals and finally his overcoat went into the tiger"s maw. And every time he remonstrated with him, cursed him, or implored him, Steinman remained the same--heartless, brusque, cutting, satirical and, what was worse than all, polite. "d.a.m.n his politeness,"
gasped Libro--"I can do nothing at all with him when he is polite!"
This hate ripened and broke out anew when each article was p.a.w.ned. "If I could only get even"--he exclaimed hopelessly. He had not a chance in the world, he thought. For a thousand times he said goodby to a dear memento of his parents or a remembrance of his youth. At last he had pledged everything.
Libro had not heard from Ethel for months, although it seemed like ages to him! On the cold afternoon that he had p.a.w.ned his overcoat he went to his rooms and thought if it would not be better to end it all, quietly and decently. He thought for a long time. He went to the little bookcase and picked up an old edition of Boethius on the "Consolations of Philosophy," and only the t.i.tle consoled him. He, however, found many long-tried friends, and their broad margins and blue and crimson morocco covers made him forget that man was made to mourn. His first editions of the poets made him oblivious to his condition and he lived once again on high Parna.s.sus.
Libro was looking over the Poems of John Keats, published in 1817, when a catalogue slip fell out. On the slip it stated that a copy had once sold for five hundred dollars! This, then, was meat and drink for him!
He would sell it! He could live for months on poor Keats. But his soul revolted. He was not a cannibal. He could not live off the flesh of his own.
But at last he was compelled to return to Steinman. He wrapped up the precious volume tenderly, affectionately. He took it bravely, for was he not offering at the sacrifice the dearest of his possessions? He gently, timidly, unwrapt before the p.a.w.nbroker the little volume, awaiting expectantly the admiration that always followed its appearance. But, alas, he was not among book-lovers.
"No books!" exclaimed Steinman. "I"ve got stuck on them once or twice before. Not one cent!"
"You,--you--" but Libro could not find words to explain his hatred. He would have killed him had he a weapon near.
"Don"t you know that book has sold for five hundred dollars at auction," exclaimed Libro.
"Then sell it at auction," replied Steinman, politely. As the poor and crushed bibliophile turned to go, the proprietor interrupted him.
"Wait. If you are so interested in that old plunder, perhaps you would like to see this."
Steinman held in his hands a dingy old volume. Libro could not resist.
An unknown force compelled him to look at it. With hatred consuming him, he nevertheless, like a true bibliophile, received from his enemy the book. He opened it.
"Why, they are Shakespeare quartos!" he almost shouted, and then stopped suddenly.
The proprietor was looking at him narrowly. Libro"s heart had almost stopped beating. There was the long lost quarto of "t.i.tus Andronicus,"
1594, and a perfect first edition of "Hamlet"! There were others in the volume, a veritable treasure trove. It was, in truth, a great discovery!
"What"s it worth?" said Steinman.
"Something to a collector," replied Libro, honestly: "nothing to you."
"Well, if you know anyone who wants the old thing he can have it for ten dollars. I once advanced that amount on it. Since then I say, No Books!"
John Libro by a superhuman effort controlled himself.
"Steinman, I need money for food. You already have everything valuable I possess,--but this."
He took from his finger a ring. It had been his mother"s wedding ring.
It was the last that remained to him of his parents" legacy.
"How much will you give me on this?" he said, trembling. His very life depended upon Steinman"s answer. He held his breath.
"A little less than gold-value," said Steinman. He threw it carelessly on the scales.