解读W.D. Gann的传奇之作，穿越百年依然闪烁的预测智慧
在技术分析与金融交易的浩瀚星空中，W.D. Gann（威廉·德尔伯特·江恩）无疑是一颗极其耀眼的明星。他创立的江恩理论至今仍被众多交易者奉为圭臬。然而，很少有人知道，这位技术分析大师在1927年还写过一本名为《空中隧道》（The Tunnel Thru the Air）的"科幻小说"。这本书远非简单的娱乐读物，而是一部融合了金融预测、科学幻想、圣经哲学与爱情故事的奇书，其中更隐藏着据称可以预测市场的终极"秘钥"。
一、 不止于小说：一部蕴含三重使命的奇书
Gann在本书的前言中就开宗明义，指出这本书有三个目的：
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一个有趣的浪漫故事 (An interesting romance) ：小说主线围绕青年才俊罗伯特·戈登展开。他凭借对《圣经》和自然法则的深刻理解，在1920年代的金融市场中屡创奇迹，成为"华尔街神童"。同时，他对失踪的爱人玛丽不离不弃的追寻，构成了动人的情感主线。
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传授道德课程并证明圣经中的自然法则 (A moral lesson & Natural Law)：书中通过大量引用《圣经》章节和众多人物的成败案例，强调了忠诚、信念、准备和遵循自然法则的重要性。它试图向读者证明，世界运行在一种可被认知的周期性法则之上。
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展示科学、先知和准备的价值 (Value of science, foreknowledge and preparedness)：小说中充满了"科幻"元素，如基于《以西结书》描述建造的先进飞机、无声引擎、死亡射线、袖珍无线电等。Gann通过这些想象，强调了基于知识的预见性以及为此做好准备（Preparedness）的极端重要性。
二、 "科幻"外衣下的硬核预言
这本书的副标题是"Looking Back From 1940"（从1940年回望）。Gann以1940年的未来视角，回看1927年之后的世界，其中做出了许多令人震惊的"预言"：
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经济大萧条与世界大战：主人公罗伯特通过研究《但以理书》的周期，成功预测了1929年开始的经济大萧条和随之而来的全球性战争。这与后来的历史进程有惊人的相似之处。
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技术发明：书中详细描述的"空中隧道"（连接欧美的大隧道）、无声飞机、远程通信设备等，在当时堪称天方夜谭，但其中很多概念已成为现实或正在研究（如超音速飞行、量子通信）。
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金融市场的可预测性：这是本书的核心。Gann通过罗伯特的故事，极力论证金融市场并非随机游走，其波动受制于自然的、数学的周期性法则。这些法则就隐藏在《圣经》和占星学等古老智慧中。
三、 隐藏的"秘钥"与"三次阅读"的挑战
Gann在前言中向读者发起了一个著名的挑战：
"《空中隧道》包含一个有价值的秘密，包裹在隐晦的语言中。有些人第一次读就能发现，有些人第二次读时能看到，但绝大多数人会在第三次阅读时找到这个隐藏的秘密。"
这个"秘密"究竟是什么？近百年来，Gann的追随者和研究者们众说纷纭。主流观点认为，这个秘密并非某个具体的"圣杯"指标公式，而是一整套理解市场周期性运行的思维模式和哲学体系。它可能指向：
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时间周期理论：市场的重要转折点存在于特定的时间周期中（如季节、天文周期、圣经中的数字）。
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价格与时间的和谐：价格运动与时间存在某种几何比例关系（如江恩角度线）。
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历史重复其自身："已有的事，后必再有"（《传道书》3:15），市场行为会不断重复过去的模式。
Gann鼓励读者"三次阅读"，正是引导读者从看故事，到思考道理，最终领悟其底层方法论的过程。这与我们学习编程或算法时，从看懂代码（Syntax）到理解逻辑（Logic），最终掌握其设计模式（Pattern）和思想（Philosophy）的历程何其相似！
四、 对当代技术人的启示
对于我们CSDN的读者而言，这本书的价值不仅在于金融预测，更在于其方法论上的启示：
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数据中的模式 ：Gann坚信市场数据中存在可识别的模式。这类似于我们今天用机器学习 和大数据分析从海量数据中寻找规律和特征。他是那个时代的"数据分析师"。
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跨学科学习 ：Gann的研究横跨金融、数学、几何、天文、圣经学、历史。这提醒我们，突破性的创新往往发生在学科的交叉点上。一个优秀的程序员或许也需要了解产品、业务、甚至心理学。
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逻辑与信念 ：Gann体系强调严格的数学逻辑，同时也强调信念和心态的重要性。在交易中，这相当于打造一套稳健的交易系统 （逻辑）并保持极佳的执行力（心态）。这在我们的项目开发和职业生涯中同样适用。
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"预则立" ：书中反复强调"preparedness"（有备无患）。在软件工程中，这就是要做好架构设计、压力测试、应急预案，对未来可能出现的流量、故障、攻击有所准备。
五、结语
《空中隧道》是一本难以归类的奇书。它是一部披着科幻和爱情外衣的金融哲学著作，是Gann留给世人的一份充满密码和谜题的遗产。无论你是一名交易员、技术爱好者，还是单纯对预言和神秘学感兴趣，这本书都能带你进入一个充满想象力和思辨的世界。
最终，那个"隐藏的秘密"或许并非一个可以直接兑换财富的密码，而是一种观察世界、理解规律、并为之做好准备的独特思维方式。这种追求"智慧"和"理解"的过程，才是Gann通过《空中隧道》想传递给我们的真正财富。
"Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding." - Proverbs
（得智慧、得聪明的，这人便为有福。------《箴言》）
穿越时空的预言与信仰：《空中隧道》中的金融、科学与精神探索
W. D. 甘恩（W. D. Gann）在1927年出版的《空中隧道：或从1940年回望》（The Tunnel Thru the Air or Looking Back From 1940）并非一部简单的科幻小说或爱情故事，而是一部融合了金融预测、科学幻想、精神探索与道德训诫的复杂文本。通过主人公罗伯特·戈登（Robert Gordon）的传奇经历，甘恩构建了一个宏大的叙事框架，旨在向读者揭示隐藏于自然与《圣经》中的永恒法则，并强调"预见、准备与信仰"的价值。
一、 三重使命：娱乐、教化与启示
正如甘恩在《前言》所述，本书旨在实现三个目的：提供有趣的浪漫故事、传授道德课程并证明《圣经》中的自然法则、展示科学、先知和准备的价值。这并非虚言。小说情节围绕罗伯特·戈登展开，这位出身德克萨斯农场的年轻人，凭借对《圣经》和占星学周期的深刻理解，在1920年代的华尔街取得了惊人的成功，被誉为"华尔街神童"。他精准预测了棉花、谷物和股票的波动，积累了巨额财富。
然而，小说的主线并不仅是金融投机。罗伯特同时是一位发明家，他依据《以西结书》中的描述，建造了名为"圣玛丽号"的先进飞机，甚至发明了无声引擎和"袖珍无线电"等未来科技。更重要的是，他始终痴情于失踪的爱人玛丽·斯坦顿（Marie Stanton），他的所有努力------赚钱、发明------都隐含着希望有朝一日能找回玛丽、为她提供美好生活的动机。这条爱情线贯穿始终，赋予了小说浓厚的情感色彩。
二、 隐藏的秘密与周期性法则
甘恩特意指出，小说中包含一个"有价值的秘密"，以隐晦的语言包裹，需要读者多次阅读才能领悟。这个"秘密"很大程度上指向了甘恩所信奉的"自然法则"和周期性理论。
金融市场的周期：罗伯特通过研究《圣经》（如《传道书》3:15 "已有的事，后必再有"）和占星学，坚信历史会重复，金融市场存在可预测的周期。他成功预测了1929年的大萧条和随之而来的战争动荡，这体现了甘恩本人的市场哲学------市场运动并非随机，而是受宇宙法则支配。
科学发明的预见：小说中描述的"空中隧道"（连接美国与欧洲的巨大隧道）、无声飞机、死亡射线（"死亡恶魔"）等，既是科幻想象，也暗含了甘恩对技术发展的预言和对未来战争的担忧。这些发明最终被用于保卫美国，强调了" preparedness"（有备无患）的重要性。
精神世界的法则：通过罗伯特寻找玛丽的过程，以及他与招魂师伯斯福德夫人、印第安灵体"笑水"的接触，小说深入探讨了精神世界、潜意识、灵魂不朽等主题。甘恩试图表明，爱的力量、忠诚与信仰能够超越物理距离甚至生死，这与《圣经》中的承诺相呼应。
三、《圣经》作为终极指南
小说中，《圣经》被奉为一切智慧的源泉。罗伯特反复引用《圣经》来指导自己的交易、发明和人生选择。例如，他通过《但以理书》推算战争时间，通过《雅歌》表达对玛丽的思念，通过《罗马书》获得坚持下去的勇气。甘恩借此向读者传达：《圣经》不仅是宗教经典，更是一部蕴含科学、数学和哲学真理的密码本，是通往"永恒真理"的钥匙。
四、 道德核心：爱、忠诚与补偿
尽管充满了金融和技术元素，小说的道德核心非常传统。罗伯特的成功归根结底源于他的品格：对玛丽的绝对忠诚、对朋友的慷慨、对母亲的孝顺、对国家的热爱以及交易中的诚信。他坚信"种瓜得瓜，种豆得豆"的补偿法则（Law of Compensation）。与之相对，书中提到的许多历史人物（如丹尼尔·德鲁、利弗莫尔）的失败，都被归因于贪婪、不忠或背离自然法则。
老亨利·沃森的悲剧爱情故事，以及银泉"新娘"的传说，都作为映衬，突出了罗伯特"至死不渝"的爱的珍贵。他的等待和信仰最终（根据灵界信息）得到了回报，这强化了小说的道德训诫：坚守信念和道德律法，终将获得奖赏。
结论
《空中隧道》是一部独特的、野心勃勃的作品，它打破了类型小说的界限。它既是那个时代对技术发展和未来战争的一种焦虑性想象，也是作者个人哲学体系（融合了基督教神秘主义、占星学、市场周期理论）的文学化表达。甘恩邀请读者进行"三次阅读"，实质上是在引导读者像解读《圣经》或市场图表一样，去层层深入地解读现实世界隐藏的秩序和意义。最终，这本书指向的是一种基于信仰、知识与准备的积极人生态度，相信通过遵循永恒的法则，个人能够战胜命运，甚至窥见未来的奥秘。
CHAPTER XVI
ROBERT GORDON'S GREAT CAMPAIGN IN COTTON
AFTER Robert had sold out his October cotton at
17.30 and his December cotton at 17.50 on
June 10th, he decided to watch the market very closely
for a few days because he thought it would go lower.
His forecast indicated last buying level around June
25th. He figured that after this time the market would
go higher until September 5th to 6th, when he figured
it would be final high.
On June 25th October cotton declined to 16.80 and
he bought 500 October at 16.83 and 500 December at
17.15. He figured that it would run up for about
thirty days so on July 25th he sold 500 October cotton
at 19c and sold 500 December at 19.20 and went short
of 500 December at 19.20. The decline followed as
he expected. On July 30th he sold 500 more December
cotton at 18.60 and on August 6th he bought 1000
December at 17.40 to cover his short contracts. He
figured that the Government report on August 8th
would be very bullish and that cotton would go up very
fast and continue until around September 5th to 6th,
or until the Government report in September. On
August 6th he bought 1000 December at 17.35. On
August 8th he bought 500 December at 17.30. The
Government was very bullish as he expected and cotton
advanced 200 points on August 8th. On August 9th
he sold out his 1500 December at 20.30 and sold 1000
December short at 20.30. A big decline followed and
on August 13th he bought 1000 December cotton at
19.10 and also bought 1000 December at 19.10 for long
account. He started in to pyramid on the way up. On
August 19th he bought 500 more December at 20.10;
on August 22nd he bought 500 December at 21.10; on
August 27th he bought 500 December at 22.30 and
on August 29th bought 300 December at 23.30. On
September 8th the Government report was very bullish
as he had forecast and the market went up. This was
the time when he expected the market to make final top
for a big decline. On September 8th he sold 2800 bales
of December at 24.40 and on the same day sold 2000
bales of December at 24.50 for short account. On September 9th he sold 500 more December at 23.30; on
September 11th sold 300 December at 22.30. On September 13th he bought 2800 December at 21.60 to cover
his short contract. On September 14th he sold 1000
December at 22.60. On September 17th sold 500 December at 21.60 and on September 21st sold 300 December at 20.60. September 23rd he figured that the
market was bottom for a rally and bought 1800 December at 20.60, and on the same day bought 1000 December
at 20.60 for long account. On September 28th he sold
1000 December at 22c and also went short 1000 December at 22.10. On September 29th he bought 1000
December at 21.30 and on September 29th bought
1000 December at 21.30 for long account. On October
3rd he sold 1000 December at 21.50 and also went short
of 1000 December at 21.50. On October 6th he bought
1000 December at 20.75 and went long, because he
figured the market would be higher for the Government
report on October 8th.
ROBERT GORDON'S GREAT CAMPAIGN IN MAJOR MOTORS
On Sunday, June 19, 1927, Robert Gordon spent the
day studying his charts and working out his cycles for
stocks, cotton and grain. He was short of Major Motors
and was watching it very closely. On this day he made
a new and great discovery of a time factor from which
he figured that Major Motors would decline until about
June 30th and then start an advance which would last
until about September 16th, 1927, when the Company
would be 19 years old and at that time the stock would
reach final high and would then go down to February
to April, 1929. He figured that the stock should advance to around 270 by September 16th and made up
his mind to watch it closely and cover his shorts if it
went down around June 30th, and then start buying
the stock. On June 30th it declined and he bought in
his short contracts and bought for long account 500
shares of Major Motors at 192½. He decided to pyramid it all the way up. On July 15th he bought 500
shares at 204; on July 21st he bought 300 at 214 and
on July 26th bought 300 more at 224. On August 5th
the stock advanced to 230 and he raised his stop on
1600 shares to 225. On August 8th his stock was sold
out at 225. He still believed that the stock would go up
to around 270 by September 16th but he expected a
reaction of about 12 to 15 points so he decided to wait
for a few days and watch his charts to see how the stock
acted. On August 12th Major Motors declined to 218,
being down a little over 12 points as he figured, and he
bought 1000 shares at 218. He placed a stop at 212,
a point which he figured it would not decline to. The
advance started, and on August 20th he bought 300
shares at 228; on August 24th bought 300 shares more
at 238 and on August 26th bought 300 shares more at
- When he started pyramiding, his plan was to
buy or sell the largest amount first and then gradually
decrease buying and selling smaller amounts on the way
up or down, and always using a stop loss order. On
September 7th the stock advanced to 253 and he raised
his stop on his entire amount to 243. This stop was
never reached but on September 14th a rapid advance
was on and he bought 300 shares more at 258, giving
him a line of 2200 shares of stock. He figured that it
should advance on September 16th to around 270.
When the market advanced to 272 at this time he sold
out his 2200 shares at 272.
He cleaned up a profit on this deal of over $80,000.00,
and as he figured that the stock would make final top
around this time he decided to put out a line of short
stock and pyramid all the way down, remaining short
for the long pull. On September 17th he sold 500
shares of the new Major Motors stock at 138 and 500
shares at 137 and placed a stop on it at 147.
He had made it a rule that after he had made a large
amount of profits that he would never risk more than
10 per cent of his profits on the first new deal, and that
if that deal went wrong and he lost 10 per cent of the
capital, he would decrease his trading so that the next
loss would only be 10 per cent of his remaining profits.
In this way he figured that the market would have to
beat him ten consecutive times for him to lose all the
profits he had made, and his studies of past records
showed that this could never happen. He placed orders
to sell more Major Motors at 128, 118, 108 and 98 because he expected the first decline to run until the
latter part of December, 1927, and after that time he
would put out shorts again on a rally to hold and pyramid on the way down into the Spring of 1929. His
great discovery of what stocks would do at a certain age
enabled him to make enormous profits when stocks
reached the age where they would have fast moves up
or down in a very short time.
October, 1927, was a beautiful month in New York.
The weather was warm and the sun shone brightly every
day. It reminded Robert of the Fall of 1926 when he
had gone to Sherman, Texas to visit Marie. He
thought of what a great change had taken place in one
year, of the fortune that he had made in the market,
but money would not buy relief for his aching heart.
Days, weeks and months had drifted slowly by, but
no word from Marie Stanton. She seemed to be lost as
though the earth had swallowed her up.
The great decline in stocks which he forecast for the
Fall and Winter of 1927 took place and he made money
rapidly on the short side of stocks. He was selling short
Central Steel and Major Motors and other stocks. He
had bought Corn and Wheat in October and made big
profits later in the year. Money was piling up fast
and in the latter part of October, 1927, he had made
over $300,000. He had kept Marie's money in a
separate account from his own and her original $400.00
was now over $20,000. Robert continued to keep
her account separate; he wanted to make all the money
he could and have it as a surprise for Marie, to prove
to her his faithfulness and thoughtfulness when she was
away, and also to prove his confidence in her return.
Robert became known as "The Boy Wizard of Wall
Street." His fame became known and old men of Wall
Street talked about his marvelous success. Robert refused to be interviewed by the newspapers or tell anything about his method of working in the market. Seldom ever visited a broker's office and made very few
friends. He worked upon his invention, and Walter
was his sole companion. Walter had met an old man
by the name of Henry Watson who was a veteran of
Wall Street, now over 70 years of age, had made and
lost many fortunes and had seen the biggest and best
plungers go on the rocks in Wall Street. Walter introduced Mr. Watson to Robert and he became very much
interested in the old man's reminiscences. He told
Robert the history of Daniel Drew and got him to read
the book of Drew's life, which showed how Drew, after
making $13,000,000 lost it all and died practically
a pauper. Also told the history of Daniel Sully; how
he made 10,000,000 to 15,000,000 in the Cotton market, but by violating natural laws lost it all in
a few days in the crash of Cotton in March, 1904, and
then disappeared from the financial horizon. How Livermore, the boy wonder of 1907 and 1908, had accumu-
lated millions, owned fine yachts, lost everything, had
gone thru bankruptcy, but had later recouped his fortunes. How Eugene Scales, another striking example,
who at one time had over ten millions dollars paper
profit in the Cotton market, had lost all of it. How
Allen A. Ryan, at the height of his fame, when he defied the Gods of Chance and the unwritten law of Wall
Street with the result that his millions were all lost,
had to go thru bankruptcy and paid only about twenty
cents on each one hundred dollars.
Mr. Watson also told Robert how Durant had become
the giant motor magnate and formed the General Motors
Corporation in 1908 and had made a great success, accumulating millions before the war days and afterwards. He was in full control of General Motors and
was reputed to be worth over a hundred million dollars
when the stock was selling at $410.00 in the Spring of
- Durant was very bullish and talked of General
Motors going very much higher. Deflation started in
the Summer of 1920, and all stocks declined rapidly.
He remained bullish, continuing to buy General Motors
all the way down. The stock had been split up on a
ten for one basis and the new stock which sold at $42.00
in March, 1920, an equivalent of $420.00 per share,
declined to $14.00 per share in December, 1920, and
finally in the Spring of 1922 sold at $8.25. He had
refused to sell; in fact had bought all his brokers would
let him have all the way down. When the stock declined to $15.00 per share, Durant was ruined. His
fortune of over one hundred millions dollars was wiped
out. The Morgans and Duponts took over his holdings
at a figure reported to be around $5.00 per share, and he
lost control of the gigantic corporation which had made
him famous. Later Durant organized a new company
and came back fast. He went back into the stock market
and in the great Coolidge Bull campaign from 1924 to
1927 was again a dominant factor in General Motors
and other stocks and was reputed to have made fifty
millions, or more.
The old man said that Durant was one of the very
rare exceptions of men who had gone broke in Wall
Street and had been able to come back after they were
60 years of age. Told Robert that Wall Street was a
place of ups and downs -- mostly downs, and that the
time to quit was when you were young and had made
your money.
Robert explained to Mr. Watson that he was not
guessing and gambling on hope but was following science and not trading on human judgment as he followed
the law of cycles as laid down in the Holy Bible. Mr.
Watson said, "I wish you success, and for your benefit
I will give you my opinion as to the cause of most of
the failures in Wall Street, for I know the history of
the men who have made the greatest amounts of money,
and know most of them personally. Selfishness and
greed were the cause of the fall of Daniel Drew. He
was not loyal to his associates. His idea was to get the
money and look out for himself regardless of whom he
hurt. Conditions changed and Drew failed to change
with them. The result was that he died a pauper.
Thomas W. Lawson, the man who wrote, 'Friday the
13th,' was one of the most daring traders that Wall
Street has ever known, worth at one time probably forty
to fifty million dollars. He, too, died practically penniless. At one time Lawson had the backing of the
Standard Oil crowd and turned against them after they
had helped him to make millions. In my opinion, he
cut off the hand that fed him and his ruthless attack
on men who had been his friends, was the cause of his
downfall. Men must be loyal to positions of trust and
not reveal secrets of great financial deals by which they
profited." Robert said that was his idea. As long as a
man remained loyal to his mother, his country, his
associates; above all his wife or sweetheart, success was
bound to crown his efforts. He believed in the law of
compensation; that when a man broke faith with others,
he had broken faith with himself, and that failure would
follow.
Mr. Watson told Robert that Sully made his money
in cotton, and after accumulating millions, quit specializing in cotton and began to trade in stocks and various
other commodities, which divided his attention and he
was unable to concentrate on cotton alone, the thing that
brought him the great success. "I could go over the history of Scales, Livermore, Durant, Ryan and the balance of the great men of Wall Street, and in analyzing
their trading, the one weak point would be found in all
of them. They diversified too much. Did not specialize in one commodity or a few special stocks, but spread
all over the board. The result was they had too many
irons in the fire and when one thing started to go wrong
and they began to lose money, they would invariably get
out of stocks and commodities on which they were mak-
ing money and keep those that were going against them.
Another weak point was that when luck turned against
a man in Wall Street, he kept on trying to recoup his
losses instead of stopping just as soon as there was an
indication that the tide had turned against him. Most
men at the heights of prosperity lose their sense of
good judgment, become inflated with their success, think
they are infallible, refuse to follow science or the advice
of anyone, with the result that they continue to buck
the tide till all their money is gone."
"Mr. Watson," said Robert, "I believe that if a man
starts out to make money for unselfish purposes, he will
succeed. That is what I am going to do. Your experience is very valuable to me. Your intimate knowledge
of the cause of the failures of other men is a good lesson. I have studied the Bible very carefully because I
believe it is the greatest scientific book ever written.
The laws are plainly laid down how to make a success.
There is a time and a season for everything, and if a
man does things according to the time, he will succeed.
The Bible makes it plain that not all are born to be
prophets, nor to be farmers, doctors or lawyers, but that
each can succeed in his own special line, according to
time and place. If men would only follow the Bible and
know that there is a time to stop trying to make money
and to keep what you have, then wait for another season
when the time is ripe, they could continue to succeed indefinitely. Has any man ever made a large fortune out
of Wall Street and kept it, Mr. Watson?" "Oh, yes,"
he replied, "if there were not exceptions to the rule,
business would not continue to run. I could tell you of
dozens of them, but one striking example is that of the
late E. H. Harriman who died worth about three hundred million dollars. He had probably made out of the
market a hundred million dollars in the last three or
four years of his life." Robert asked, "How did he
do it?" Mr. Watson answered, "He stuck to one class
of stocks -- railroads. He studied them day and night,
never diverted his attention to other lines. I believe
that he possessed some mathematical method which enabled him to forecast stocks many months and years in
advance. I have gone over his manipulations and the
stocks he traded in, and found that they conform closely
to the law of harmonic analysis. He certainly knew
something about time and season because he bought at
the right time and sold at the right time. He paid a
great price for his success, because he neglected his
health, sacrificed everything to make his railroads a
success and died too young. Such men are the backbone
of our country's prosperity. Constructive geniuses of
this kind are few and far between and we need more
of them. Man's greatest enemy in speculation is 'hope.'
He refuses to face facts, and facts are stubborn things.
Hope spurs us on. It may be an anchor to the soul, but
a very slim anchor in speculation, when facts are against
us."
Mr. Watson told Robert that his friend Walter had
related to him all about his love affair and the disappearance of Marie. He said, "My boy, the great love you
have for her is now furnishing the hope which will carry
you to success. When that hope is gone, you will have
to find a new one or you cannot go on." Robert told
him that Marie had said that anticipation was greater
than realization. "Robert," he said, "I want to tell
you the story of my love affair. I have made and lost
many fortunes in Wall Street, and when things have
gone wrong and I have reached the depths of despondency, have seen my last dollar fade away, been deserted
by friends of my prosperous days, then when there
seemed nothing else to live for, nothing to make me fight
on, there would come a hope, the angel of memory would
steal over me and I would again hope that some day,
somewhere, I would find my Katie." Here the old man's
eyes grew dim with tears. He drew an old wallet from
his pocket, took out a package, slowly unwrapped it.
In there was a picture in a little gold frame. The aged
hands trembled, his voice grew weak as he handed the
picture to Robert with some faded flowers which he
had pressed out and kept and said: "These flowers were
picked by her own little hands over forty years ago."
He then broke down and wept bitterly. Robert was
deeply moved by the old man's great devotion to his
long-lost sweetheart and begged him to tell more of the
story.
The old man dried his eyes and went on -- "Over 50
years ago when I was a young man, I lived near St.
Joseph, Missouri. I went to school at a country schoolhouse. Katie Larson was a beautiful young girl. We
grew up together. I don't really know when I fell in
love with her, but I know that in my school days I loved
her and always intended to marry her. The years went
by. I had never told Katie of my love. She had grown
to be a woman and I kind of took it for granted that
she knew and understood that I loved her and intended
to marry her. Time went by and we were often together. There was never any trouble or disagreements.
I was anxious to succeed and decided that I should make
some money before I proposed to Katie. Time drifted
swiftly by, I was not as successful as I hoped to be,
and finally one day I received the saddest news of my
life -- Katie had married. I realized that she had probably waited and hoped for me to make known my intentions but my financial affairs had held me back. I
knew it was all my fault. I should have confided my
plans to her and asked her to have patience and wait.
From that day I was a changed man. My heart was
broken and if no hope had been left for me, I would
never have gone on, but from that day on, hoped and
prayed that I might one day have her, even if for only
a few years or weeks, in my declining years. Katie
moved away after marrying and probably it was the
hope for her love some day that spurred me to action.
I worked harder than ever. Success crowned my efforts.
I studied medicine, moved to Dallas, Texas, became a
very successful doctor. There I met a woman whom I
thought I loved. We were married and lived seemingly
happy for a few years, but the spark of love for Katie
in my heart never died. We had a little girl born and
I named her Katie, which proved later a very foolish
thing to do. She was the pride of my life, my hope was
centered on her. Finally I made the mistake that many
men make. I told my wife of my great love for Katie.
After that time, she lost faith in me and we slowly
drifted apart. Then came separation and divorce. I
had accumulated considerable money and now being
very unhappy, I decided to leave Dallas and go to New
York and try the speculative markets. Success and
failure have followed alternately, like the rising and
falling of the tides. There has never been a day when
I have come to Wall Street that I have not hoped to
one day meet Katie again. That hope has kept me
alive. I have often tried to find her, but the years have
brought changes. She moved away to California and
I have never been able to find out whether she is living
or dead. I hope that you will never have to go thru
the years that I have gone thru without the love and
comfort that the woman you love can give. Your faith
is supreme and that will carry you safely thru, and even
if you never find Marie, if is better to live for that ideal
because it will make you a better man, as love always
brings out the best."
Robert was very much interested in the old man's
story, but very sorry that it had never ended as he had
hoped it would with him and Marie. Mr. Watson told
Robert that he thought he had wonderful ideas about
speculation, and that if he would only stick to them and
not be swept off his feet by success, that he would eventually reach the greatest height. He quoted Kipling's
"If."
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too:
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;
If you can dream -- and not make dreams your master;
If you can think -- and not make thoughts your aim,
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same:
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools;
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss:
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings -- nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, hut none too much:
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance ran,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And -- which is more -- you'll be a Man, my son!
He told Robert the greatest test of a man would come
when he reached the stage of great prosperity. That
almost any man could stand reverses but very few could
stand prosperity. Money could buy so many things
which were not necessary to a man's happiness and attracted so many people who would do him harm rather
than benefit him that most men started on the down
grade as a result of too much money and too great prosperity. Robert agreed that this was right. Said that
with him money was only a means to an end and said
that he wanted it so he could help others and benefit
his country. Mr. Watson told him that as soon as his
success was generally known and he was well established
in New York many selfish women would be attracted
to him and that if he possessed the weak point which
had been the undoing of many men, he would be lost.
That was being influenced by flattery from beautiful
women. He said, "Remember, my boy, they are attracted to the money and not to the man, but few men
can keep their heads at a time when women and men
crowd around to praise their success. I remember a
poem that I used to read when I was a boy, part of
which runs something like this:
'They crowd around me, those stately dames and belles,
And pay to me the royal homage that all great success
compels;
But where is she, that sweetheart of my former years,
Who stood by me, when others could see nothing in me.'
You will find it so, Robert. Men desert you when
money is gone, like pirates fleeing from a sinking ship.
I admonish you not to put your trust in money or men.
Continue as you have, trust God, have faith in him,
stick to your first love, and happiness and success will be
your reward."
When the old man had finished talking, Robert
noticed that the eyes had become still, his cheeks were
pale, his hand dropped limp at his side. Robert rushed
to him and soon realized that the old man was very ill.
He hurriedly summoned a doctor. Soon after laying the
old gentleman on the couch and making him comfortable, the doctor arrived. After hasty examination, he
told Robert that the end was near. They decided to
send for a minister and when he arrived, the old man
was clutching the picture in his hand. The minister
bent over him and asked him if he realized that the
end was near and if he had made his peace with God,
adding, "Will you die in the faith of a Christian?"
The old man sprang up from the couch suddenly, as the
new strength had been instilled in his frail old body.
He raised his hand and showed the doctor the picture
and said, "Will that faith bring me back Katie, the
only woman I have every really loved?" The doctor
knew that his strength was fast waning and got him to
lie down on the couch again. The minister whispered
consoling words to him, told him that "God so loved
the world that he gave his only begotten son that whomsoever believeth on him should not perish, but have
everlasting life." Again he asked, "Do you believe in
Jesus Christ? Will you accept the faith?" Again the
old man replied, "Will that faith bring back to me my
Katie?" His voice was growing weaker, the doctor
knew that it was a matter of but a few moments. The
minister again bent over him and whispered slowly,
"Will you accept Jesus Christ as your saviour and die
in the faith of a Christian?" With a faltering weak
voice he answered, "Will that faith give me back Katie,
the greatest love of my life?" The doctor turned to the
minister and said, "He has gone to his reward." "With
a love like that, such loyalty and faith to a long-lost
love must receive its reward in heaven and a just God
will extend mercy to a soul like that," said the minister.
Robert was in tears. He felt that he had net only lost
a friend, but a very dear friend, and that while the old
man's going had taken something from his life, yet the
example was one that would be of great comfort and
benefit to him. He knew that he would live faithful to
Marie, and that he would die, as the old man died,
longing for Marie, no matter what happened.
好的，这是第十六章的中文翻译：
第十六章 罗伯特·戈登在棉花市场上的伟大战役
罗伯特在6月10日以17.30美分卖出他的十月期棉花并以17.50美分卖出他的十二月期棉花后，决定密切关注市场几天，因为他认为市场会走低。他的预测显示最后的买入价位大约在6月25日左右。他推断此后市场将会上涨，直到9月5日至6日，他预计那时将是最终的高点。
6月25日，十月期棉花下跌至16.80美分，他以16.83美分买入500包十月期，并以17.15美分买入500包十二月期。他估计市场将上涨约三十天，因此在7月25日，他以19美分卖出500包十月期棉花，并以19.20美分卖出500包十二月期，同时以19.20美分做空了500包十二月期。如他所料，下跌随之而来。7月30日，他以18.60美分又卖出了500包十二月期棉花，并在8月6日以17.40美分买入1000包十二月期以回补他的空头合约。他预计政府于8月8日发布的报告将非常利好，棉花将快速上涨并持续到大约9月5日至6日，或者直到9月份的政府报告发布。8月6日，他以17.35美分买入1000包十二月期。8月8日，他以17.30美分买入500包十二月期。政府报告如他预期般非常利好，棉花在8月8日上涨了200点。8月9日，他以20.30美分卖出其1500包十二月期多头头寸，并以20.30美分做空了1000包十二月期。随后出现大幅下跌，8月13日，他以19.10美分买入1000包十二月期棉花以回补空头，并同时以19.10美分买入1000包十二月期建立多头头寸。他开始在上涨途中进行金字塔式加码。8月19日，他以20.10美分又买入500包十二月期；8月22日，他以21.10美分买入500包十二月期；8月27日，他以22.30美分买入500包十二月期；8月29日，他以23.30美分买入300包十二月期。9月8日，政府报告如他预测般非常利好，市场上涨。这正是他预期市场形成最终顶部并开始大幅下跌的时候。9月8日，他以24.40美分卖出2800包十二月期多头头寸，并在同一天以24.50美分卖出2000包十二月期建立空头头寸。9月9日，他以23.30美分又卖出500包十二月期；9月11日，他以22.30美分卖出300包十二月期。9月13日，他以21.60美分买入2800包十二月期以回补空头合约。9月14日，他以22.60美分卖出1000包十二月期（空头）。9月17日，他以21.60美分卖出500包十二月期（空头）；9月21日，他以20.60美分卖出300包十二月期（空头）。9月23日，他判断市场是反弹的底部，于是以20.60美分买入1800包十二月期（回补空头？或转为多头？原文此处逻辑稍显模糊，按字面翻译），并在同一天以20.60美分买入1000包十二月期建立多头头寸。9月28日，他以22美分卖出1000包十二月期（多头获利了结？），并以22.10美分做空1000包十二月期。9月29日，他以21.30美分买入1000包十二月期（回补空头），并在9月29日以21.30美分买入1000包十二月期建立多头头寸。10月3日，他以21.50美分卖出1000包十二月期（多头获利了结？），并以21.50美分做空1000包十二月期。10月6日，他以20.75美分买入1000包十二月期（回补空头）并做多，因为他预计市场会因10月8日的政府报告而上涨。
罗伯特·戈登在通用汽车上的伟大战役
1927年6月19日，星期日，罗伯特·戈登花了一整天研究他的图表，计算股票、棉花和谷物的周期。他当时做空通用汽车（Major Motors），并正密切关注它。在这一天，他有了一个新的重大时间因子的发现，据此他推断通用汽车将下跌至大约6月30日，然后开始一轮上涨，持续到大约1927年9月16日，那时公司成立将满19年，股票将在那时达到最终高点，然后将下跌至1929年2月至4月。他估计股票到9月16日应上涨至270美元左右，并下定决心密切关注，如果它在6月30日左右下跌，就回补空头并开始买入该股票。6月30日，股票下跌，他买回空头合约，并以192.5美元的价格为多头账户买入了500股通用汽车。他决定一路进行金字塔式加码。7月15日，他以204美元买入500股；7月21日，他以214美元买入300股；7月26日，他以224美元又买入300股。8月5日，股票上涨至230美元，他将1600股的止损点提高至225美元。8月8日，他的股票在225美元被止损卖出。他仍然相信股票到9月16日会上涨到270美元左右，但他预期会有大约12到15点的回调，因此他决定等待几天，观察图表看股票的表现。8月12日，通用汽车下跌至218美元，如他所料下跌了略超过12点，他以218美元买入1000股。他将止损点设在212美元，他认为这个价位不会被跌破。上涨开始了，8月20日，他以228美元买入300股；8月24日，他以238美元又买入300股；8月26日，他以248美元再买入300股。当他开始金字塔式加码时，他的计划是首先买入或卖出最大数量，然后在上涨或下跌途中逐渐减少买卖数量，并且总是使用止损单。9月7日，股票上涨至253美元，他将全部头寸的止损点提高至243美元。这个止损从未被触及，但在9月14日，快速上涨正在进行，他以258美元又买入了300股，使他总共持有2200股股票。他预计它在9月16日应上涨至270美元左右。当市场此时上涨至272美元时，他以272美元卖出了他的2200股。
他在这次交易中净赚了超过8万美元的利润，并且由于他判断股票将在此刻附近形成最终顶部，他决定建立空头头寸，并一路金字塔式加码做空，长期持有空头仓位。9月17日，他以138美元卖出500股新的通用汽车股票（可能指拆细后或特定批次），并以137美元卖出500股，并将止损点设在147美元。
他给自己定下一条规则：在赚取大量利润后，在任何新交易中决不再冒险投入超过其利润的10%，并且如果该交易出错，他损失了资本的10%，他将减少交易规模，使得下一次损失仅是其剩余利润的10%。通过这种方式，他推断市场必须连续击败他十次，他才会损失所有利润，而他对过去记录的研究表明这绝不可能发生。他下了订单，准备在128、118、108和98美元卖出更多通用汽车股票，因为他预期第一波下跌将持续到1927年12月下旬，之后他将在反弹时再次建立空头头寸，并持有并在下跌途中金字塔式加码，直到1929年春天。他对股票在特定"年龄"会如何表现的伟大发现，使他在股票达到会快速大幅上涨或下跌的"年龄"时能够获取巨额利润。
1927年10月，纽约天气宜人。天气温暖，阳光每天明媚地照耀着。这让罗伯特想起了1926年秋天他去德克萨斯州谢尔曼拜访玛丽的日子。他想到一年内发生的巨大变化，他在市场上赚取的财富，但金钱无法为他心痛带来慰藉。
日子、几周、几个月慢慢流逝，但没有玛丽·斯坦顿的任何消息。她似乎消失了，仿佛被大地吞噬了一般。
他预测的1927年秋冬股市大跌如期而至，他在股票空头方面迅速赚钱。他做空中央钢铁、通用汽车和其他股票。他在10月买入了玉米和小麦，并在年底获得了巨大利润。金钱快速积累，到1927年10月下旬，他已赚取超过30万美元。他一直将玛丽的钱与他自己的分开存放，她最初的400美元现在已超过2万美元。罗伯特继续将她的账户分开；他想尽可能多地赚钱，给玛丽一个惊喜，向她证明在她离开期间他的忠诚和体贴，也证明他对她归来的信心。
罗伯特被称为"华尔街神童"。他的名声传开了，华尔街的老人们谈论着他惊人的成功。罗伯特拒绝接受报纸采访，也拒绝透露任何他在市场运作的方法。他很少去经纪行办公室，朋友也很少。他继续研究他的发明，沃尔特是他唯一的伙伴。沃尔特遇到了一位名叫亨利·沃森的老人，他是华尔街的老手，现已70多岁，曾多次赚取又失去巨额财富，见证过最伟大、最优秀的投机者在华尔街触礁沉没。沃尔特将沃森先生介绍给罗伯特，他对这位老人的回忆非常感兴趣。他告诉罗伯特丹尼尔·德鲁的历史，并让他阅读德鲁的传记，书中展示了德鲁在赚取1300万美元后如何又全部失去，几乎身无分文地死去。他还讲述了丹尼尔·苏利的 history；他如何在棉花市场上赚取1000万到1500万美元，但因违反自然法则，在1904年3月的棉花崩盘几天内失去一切，然后从金融界消失。利弗莫尔，1907年和1908年的神奇小子，如何积累了数百万财富，拥有豪华游艇，又失去一切，经历破产，但后来重振财富。尤金·斯卡尔斯，另一个鲜明的例子，他一度在棉花市场拥有超过一千万美元的账面利润，却全部亏光。艾伦·A·瑞安，在他名声鼎盛之时，如何藐视机遇之神和华尔街的不成文法则，结果他的数百万财富全部损失，不得不经历破产，每100美元仅能偿还约20美分。
沃森先生还告诉罗伯特，杜兰特如何成为汽车巨头，于1908年组建通用汽车公司并取得巨大成功，在战前和战后积累了数百万财富。他在1920年春天股票达到410美元时完全控制着通用汽车，据传身价超过一亿美元。杜兰特非常看好后市，谈论通用汽车会涨得高得多。1920年夏，通货紧缩开始，所有股票迅速下跌。他仍然看涨，一路下跌一路买入通用汽车。该股票曾按十比一拆股，新股在1920年3月价格为42美元（相当于每股420美元），到1920年12月跌至每股14美元，最终在1922年春天跌至8.25美元。他拒绝卖出；事实上，他一路下跌，买进了他的经纪人允许他购买的所有股票。当股票跌至每股15美元时，杜兰特破产了。他超过一亿美元的财富化为乌有。摩根和杜邦家族以据称每股约5美元的价格接管了他的持股，他失去了使他成名的大型集团公司的控制权。后来杜兰特组织了一家新公司，并迅速卷土重来。他重返股市，在1924年至1927年柯立芝的牛市行情中，再次成为通用汽车和其他股票的主导因素，据传赚了五千万或更多。
老人说，杜兰特是极其罕见的例外之一，他在华尔街破产后，在60岁之后还能东山再起。他告诉罗伯特，华尔街是一个起起落落的地方------ mostly downs（ mostly 下跌），而金盆洗手的最佳时机是在你年轻且已经赚到钱的时候。
罗伯特向沃森先生解释说，他不是在猜测和赌博，而是遵循科学，而非依靠人的判断，因为他遵循《圣经》中阐明的周期法则。沃森先生说："我祝你成功，为了你好，我将告诉你我对华尔街大多数失败原因的看法，因为我了解那些赚过最多钱的人的历史，并且 personally 认识他们中的大多数人。自私和贪婪是丹尼尔·德鲁垮台的原因。他对同伴不忠。他的想法是拿到钱并只关心自己，不管伤害了谁。条件变了，而德鲁未能随之改变。结果是他死时身无分文。托马斯·W·劳森，写《疯狂的星期五》（'Friday the 13th'，可能指其著作《疯狂金融》）的人，是华尔街有史以来最大胆的交易者之一，一度可能拥有四到五千万美元。他也几乎是身无分文地死去。劳森一度得到标准石油集团的支持，但在他们帮助他赚取数百万之后却转而反对他们。在我看来，他砍断了喂养他的手，他对曾经是他朋友的人的无情攻击，是他垮台的原因。男人必须忠于职守，不泄露他们从中获利的重大金融交易的秘密。"罗伯特说那就是他的想法。只要一个人忠于他的母亲、他的国家、他的伙伴；最重要的是他的妻子或爱人，成功必定会加冕他的努力。他相信补偿法则；当一个人对他人失信时，他也对自己失信，失败将随之而来。
沃森先生告诉罗伯特，苏利在棉花上赚了钱，在积累了数百万之后，不再专注于棉花，开始交易股票和各种其他商品，这分散了他的注意力，他无法再专注于最初带给他巨大成功的棉花本身。"我可以回顾斯卡尔斯、利弗莫尔、杜兰特、瑞安以及华尔街其他伟人的 history，分析他们的交易，会在他们所有人身上发现一个共同的弱点。他们太分散了。没有专注于一种商品或少数几种特定的股票，而是遍地开花。结果就是他们摊子铺得太大，当一件事开始出错，他们开始亏钱时，他们 invariably（总是）会卖出那些正在赚钱的股票和商品，而保留那些对他们不利的。另一个弱点是，当一个人在华尔街运气转坏时，他继续试图挽回损失，而不是在迹象表明潮流对他不利时立即停止。大多数人在成功的顶峰会失去良好的判断力，被成功冲昏头脑，认为自己绝不会错，拒绝遵循科学或任何人的建议，结果他们继续逆流而上，直到所有的钱都输光。"
"沃森先生，"罗伯特说，"我相信，如果一个人开始为了无私的目的赚钱，他会成功。这就是我要做的。您的经验对我非常宝贵。您对其他男人失败原因的深入了解是一个很好的教训。我非常仔细地研究了《圣经》，因为我相信它是有史以来最伟大的科学著作。它明确地阐述了如何成功的法则。万物都有定时，如果一个人按照时令行事，他就会成功。《圣经》明确说明，并非所有人生来都是先知，也不是生来就是农民、医生或律师，但每个人都可以根据自己的专长，按照时间和地点取得成功。如果人们能遵循《圣经》，知道何时该停止赚钱，守住已有的财富，然后等待另一个时机成熟的季节，他们就能无限期地持续成功。沃森先生，有没有人曾在华尔街赚到大钱并守住它？" "哦，有的，"他回答，"如果规则没有例外，商业就无法继续运转。我可以告诉你几十个例子，但一个突出的例子是已故的E·H·哈里曼，他去世时身价约三亿美元。他可能在其生命的最后三四年里从市场中赚了一亿美元。"罗伯特问："他是怎么做到的？"沃森先生回答："他坚持一类股票------铁路股。他日夜研究它们，从不将注意力转移到其他行业。我相信他拥有某种数学方法，使他能够提前许多个月甚至许多年预测股票。我研究过他的操作和他交易的股票，发现它们非常符合谐波分析法则。他肯定懂得时间和季节，因为他在正确的时间买入，在正确的时间卖出。他为成功付出了巨大的代价，因为他忽视了健康，牺牲一切使他的铁路成功，死时太年轻。这样的人是我们国家繁荣的支柱。这种建设性的天才凤毛麟角，我们需要更多这样的人。人类在投机中最大的敌人是'希望'。他拒绝面对事实，而事实是顽固的东西。希望激励我们前进。它可能是灵魂的锚，但当事实对我们不利时，它在投机中是一个非常脆弱的锚。"
沃森先生告诉罗伯特，他的朋友沃尔特向他讲述了他所有的恋爱经历和玛丽的失踪。他说："我的孩子，你现在对她怀有的伟大爱情正为你提供着通往成功的希望。当那个希望破灭时，你将不得不寻找一个新的希望，否则你无法继续下去。"罗伯特告诉他，玛丽曾说过期待比实现更美好。"罗伯特，"他说，"我想告诉你我的爱情故事。我在华尔街赚取又失去了许多财富，当事情出错，我陷入绝望的深渊，看到最后一美元消失，被繁荣时期的朋友抛弃，那时似乎没有什么值得活下去，没有什么能让我继续奋斗，但总会有一个希望出现，记忆的天使会悄悄降临，我会再次希望有一天，在某个地方，我能找到我的凯蒂。"说到这里，老人的眼睛因泪水而模糊。他从口袋里掏出一个旧钱包，拿出一个小包，慢慢地打开。里面有一个小金框相片。苍老的手颤抖着，他的声音变得微弱，他把相片和一些已经压平保存的褪色花朵递给罗伯特，说："这些花是四十多年前她亲手采摘的。"然后他崩溃了，痛哭起来。罗伯特被这位老人对失散多年的恋人的巨大忠诚深深打动，恳求他讲述更多故事。
老人擦干眼泪，继续讲述------"五十多年前，当我还是个年轻人时，我住在密苏里州圣约瑟夫附近。我在一所乡村校舍上学。凯蒂·拉森是个美丽的年轻女孩。我们一起长大。我真的不知道我是什么时候爱上她的，但我知道在我上学的时候我就爱她，并且一直打算娶她。岁月流逝。我从未告诉凯蒂我的爱。我想当然地认为她知道并理解我爱她并打算娶她。时间流逝，我们经常在一起。从未有过任何麻烦或分歧。我渴望成功，决定在向凯蒂求婚前应该先赚些钱。时间飞快地流逝，我没有像希望的那样成功， finally 有一天我收到了生命中最悲伤的消息------凯蒂结婚了。我意识到她可能一直在等待并希望我表明意图，但我的财务状况拖累了我。我知道这都是我的错。我本应该把我的计划告诉她，请她耐心等待。从那天起，我变成了一个改变的人。我的心碎了，如果没有留下任何希望，我绝不会继续下去，但从那天起，我期望并祈祷有一天我能拥有她，哪怕只有几年或几周，在我垂暮之年。凯蒂婚后搬走了，也许是对她爱的某一天的希望激励我行动。我比以往更加努力地工作。成功加冕了我的努力。我学了医，搬到达拉斯，成为了一名非常成功的医生。在那里我遇到了一个我以为我爱的女人。我们结婚了，看似幸福地生活了几年，但我心中对凯蒂的爱火从未熄灭。我们有了一个小女孩，我给她取名凯蒂，这后来被证明是非常愚蠢的做法。她是我生命的骄傲，我的希望寄托在她身上。 finally 我犯了和许多男人一样的错误。我告诉我的妻子我对凯蒂伟大的爱。从那以后，她对我失去了信心，我们慢慢地疏远了。然后是分居和离婚。我已经积累了相当多的钱，现在非常不快乐，我决定离开达拉斯去纽约，试试投机市场。成功和失败交替跟随，如同潮起潮落。没有一天，当我来到华尔街时，我不希望有一天能再见到凯蒂。那个希望让我活着。我经常试图找到她，但岁月带来了变迁。她搬到了加利福尼亚，我一直无法查明她是死是活。我希望你永远不必经历我所经历的这些年，没有你所爱女人能给予的爱和安慰。你的信念是至高无上的，这将安全地引导你度过难关，即使你永远找不到玛丽，为那个理想而活也是更好的，因为它会使你成为一个更好的人，因为爱总是能激发最好的一面。"
罗伯特对老人的故事非常感兴趣，但也非常遗憾它未能像他和玛丽所希望的那样结局。沃森先生告诉罗伯特，他认为他关于投机的想法非常棒，如果他能够坚持这些想法，不被成功冲昏头脑，他最终将达到最伟大的高度。他引用了吉卜林的《如果》。
（此处插入吉卜林《如果》的经典中文译本，例如：
如果周围之人失去理智，纷纷责难于你，
你仍能保持冷静；
如果众人对你心存猜忌，你仍能自信如常，
并体谅他们的疑虑；
如果你能耐心等待，不急不躁，
遭受欺骗，却不以骗术相报，
遭受憎恨，却不以仇恨回应，
既不装腔作势，也不夸夸其谈；
如果你有梦想，而不为梦主宰；
如果你勤于思考，而不徒逞思辨；
如果你能坦然面对成败，
对这两个骗子一视同仁；
如果你能忍受你曾说过的事实，
被恶棍扭曲用来欺骗愚人，
或看着你倾注一生的事业崩塌，
你能俯身，用破旧的工具将其重建；
如果你能把所有赢来的筹码
都押在一把赌局上，
输光后，能重新开始，
对损失只字不提；
如果你能迫使你的心、神经和体力，
在它们早已衰竭后，仍能为你效劳，
当你一无所有，只剩下意志在呼喊：
"坚持！"
如果你与人群交谈，仍能保持美德，
与王者同行，仍能不卑不亢；
如果仇敌和挚友都不能伤害你；
如果所有人都信赖你，却不过度依赖；
如果你能争分夺秒地
填充那无情的一分钟，
那么，整个世界及其所有都将是你的，
而且------更重要的是------你将成为真正的男子汉，我的孩子！）
他告诉罗伯特，对一个人最大的考验将在达到巨大繁荣阶段时到来。几乎任何人都能承受逆境，但很少有人能承受繁荣。金钱可以买到许多对一个人幸福不必要的东西，并吸引许多会伤害他而不是对他有益的人，以至于大多数人因为太多的金钱和太大的繁荣而开始走下坡路。罗伯特同意这是对的。说对他而言，金钱只是达到目的的手段，他说他想要钱是为了可以帮助他人并造福他的国家。沃森先生告诉他，一旦他的成功广为人知并在纽约站稳脚跟，许多自私的女人会被他吸引，如果他拥有导致许多男人毁灭的弱点，他将迷失。那就是受到漂亮女人奉承的影响。他说："记住，我的孩子，她们是被钱吸引，而不是被人吸引，但很少有男人能在女人和男人簇拥着赞美其成功时保持清醒。我记得我小时候读过的一首诗，部分内容大致是这样的：
'她们簇拥着我，那些高贵的夫人和美女，
向我献上所有伟大成功所必需的皇家敬意；
但她在哪里，我多年前的那位甜心，
她曾支持我，当别人在我身上看不到任何价值时。'
你会发现就是这样的，罗伯特。当金钱消失时，男人会离开你，就像海盗逃离沉船。我劝告你不要信任金钱或男人。继续像你一样，信任上帝，对他保持信心，忠于你的初恋，幸福和成功将是你的回报。"
当老人说完话时，罗伯特注意到他的眼睛变得呆滞，脸颊苍白，手无力地垂在一边。罗伯特冲向他，很快意识到老人病得很重。他急忙请来医生。在让老先生躺在沙发上使他舒适后不久，医生到了。经过匆忙检查，他告诉罗伯特终点临近了。他们决定请一位牧师来，当牧师到达时，老人正紧紧抓着手中的照片。牧师俯身问他是否意识到终点临近，是否已与上帝和好，并补充道："你愿意以基督徒的信心死去吗？"老人突然从沙发上坐起来，仿佛新的力量注入了他虚弱的身体。他举起手，给医生看照片，说："那种信仰能带回我的凯蒂，我唯一真正爱过的女人吗？"医生知道他的力量正在迅速消退，让他再次躺在沙发上。牧师低声对他说着安慰的话，告诉他"神爱世人，甚至将他的独生子赐给他们，叫一切信他的，不至灭亡，反得永生。" 他又问："你相信耶稣基督吗？你愿意接受这信仰吗？" 老人再次回答："那种信仰能带回我的凯蒂吗？" 他的声音越来越弱，医生知道这只有几分钟的事了。牧师再次俯身，慢慢低语："你愿意接受耶稣基督作你的救主，以基督徒的信心死去吗？" 他用颤抖微弱的声音回答："那种信仰能还给我凯蒂，我一生中最伟大的爱吗？" 医生转向牧师说："他去接受他的奖赏了。" "怀着这样的爱，对失散已久的爱如此忠诚和信心，必将在天堂得到奖赏，公正的上帝会将仁慈延伸给这样的灵魂，"牧师说。罗伯特泪流满面。他觉得他不仅失去了一位朋友，而且是一位非常亲爱的朋友，虽然老人的离去带走了他生命中的某些东西，但这个榜样将给他带来巨大的安慰和益处。他知道他会对玛丽忠诚地生活，并且他会像老人一样，无论发生什么，都怀着对玛丽的渴望死去。
CHAPTER XVII
ROBERT turned to the Bible for consolation. Read
every chapter of the Song of Solomon. Was very
much impressed with Chapter 2: 14:
O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret
places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear
thy voice, for sweet is thy voice and thy countenance is comely.
Robert longed to hear Marie's voice and prayed that she
might come forth from her secret hiding place. He
read Chapter 8: 6th and 7th verses:
Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm,
for love is strong as death; jealousy as cruel as the grave;
the coals thereof are coals of fire which have a most vehement
flame.
Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods
drown it; if a man would give all the substance of his house
for love, he would utterly be condemned.
Robert realized that nothing could quench his love and that Marie
was the only remedy for his aching heart.
Turning to Daniel 9: 21, he read:
Yea while I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel
when I had seen in the vision at the beginning being caused
to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.
Robert knew that this indicated that people did fly in
the older days, and that we were now only repeating past
cycles. He read Chapter 12: 4th verse:
Let thou, 0 Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book
even to the time of the end; many shall run to and fro,
and knowledge shall be increased.
Robert thought that we were now nearing the time of
the end because man was running to and fro in fast
automobiles and traveling swiftly thru the air in airplanes; that new discoveries were being made and that
knowledge was increasing. He must hasten his new
invention. He read the 12th verse:
Blesseth is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand
three hundred and five and thirty days.
Robert believed that he understood the cycle and knew
the number of years, months and days referred to in
Daniel's prophecies. Calculated that from March, 1931,
until the end of June, 1932, would be troublesome times
for the United States. Depression, war and panic would
hang over the destinies of his country. Robert had gone
deeply into the Bible study in order to learn more about
the great science of Astrology. From the Bible he
interpreted that he belonged to the tribe of Issachar, the
fifth son of Jacob and that this name indicated price,
reward, recompense. He understood from this that he
would have to pay the price, but he would receive the
reward for his faithfulness and devotion to Marie.
Robert turned to Genesis, Chapter 30, 17th and 18th
verses:
And God hearkened unto Leah, and she conceived and bore
Jacob, the fifth son, and Leah said God hath given me my
hire, because I have given my maiden to my husband; and she
called his name Issachar.
He read Genesis 49: 14 and 15, where Jacob blessed his
12 sons:
Issachar is a strong ass, couching down between two burdens
and he saw that the rest was good and the land, that it was
pleasant; and bowed his shoulders to bear, and became a
servant unto tribute.
Robert knew that this was the description of a man
born in June under the sign Gemini and that he was
born to bear a burden, that he must serve his people
and be a comfort and help to carry their burdens. That
the sign under which he was born was a double-bodied
sign, known as the sign of the twins, that things would
repeat in his life, that he would have many ups and
downs, but that he would reach his reward thru science.
He was anxious to learn of Marie's characteristics from
the Bible and thru Astrology and found that she was
born under the sign Libra, the sign of the balance, ruled
by the Goddess of Love, Venus, which endowed her
with her great beauty. Reading Genesis 29: 32, he found
that Marie belonged to the tribe of Reuben, "And Leah
conceived and bare a son and she called his name Reuben; for she said 'Surely the Lord hath looked upon
my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.' "
The symbol and meaning of this name is "one who sees
the sun," the vision of the sun, and indicates great
intuition, keen perception and power of foresight. Genesis 49: 3-4:
Reuben thou art my first born, my might and the beginning
of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency
of power; unstable as water, thou shalt not excel.
Robert understood that this referred to Marie's character and disposition. She was unstable, changeable and
moody, but he felt that her love was fixed and that
eventually she would return to him. He read all the
books he could get on Astrology and began to understand
why things had happened as they had. It made him a
better philosopher and helped him to bear his sorrows
with greater patience.
Robert continued reading Isaiah 45: 13:
I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct
all his ways: he shall build my city and he shall let go my
captives, not for price, nor reward, saith the Lord of hosts.
This probably meant that the time would come when the
Lord would direct man and that when wars came and
prisoners were made captives, they would be set free without price or reward. It was Robert's idea that this was
the way it should be when love ruled the world.
Robert read Hebrews 11: 3 and 5:
Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed
by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were
not made of things which do appear.
By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death;
and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony that he had pleased
God.
Robert believed that Enoch went away in an airplane
and knew that faith was the great sustaining force, and
that without faith it was impossible to please God, for
he read where it says, "For he that cometh to God must
believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them
that diligently seek him." Robert knew that he had
faith and that that faith would sustain him during
the time of trials and troubles. In Romans 12: 2:
And be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by
the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that
good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Robert knew and understood how to renew his mind and
body because he knew what Jesus meant when he said --
"Destroy this temple and in three days I will build it
up again." He knew that it referred to the temple of
the human body.
Robert read the 9th to 13th verses of the same
Chapter:
Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is
evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one
to another with brotherly love, in honor preferring one another; not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the
Lord, rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation; continuing
instant in prayer.
Robert intended to be patient in tribulations and was
going to be kind and show brotherly love; he would have
faith, hope and pray for the day when he would again
have Marie. Love was the fulfilling of the law and
reward was promised for obedience to that law. The
more he read the Bible the more he was convinced of its
great value and that all of the knowledge and instruction that man needed for any purpose or at any time,
was to be found in that good old book. Robert decided
that he would not only pray without ceasing, but would
spend some of the money that he had made, to try to
find Marie, as no word had ever been received of her up
to this time. He employed a detective agency to make a
search all over the United States.
Mr. Kennelworth left New York and returned to
Texarkana in the latter part of June, 1927. He bought
cotton heavilv on Robert's advice that the Government
report would be very bullish and would have a big
advance during July according to Robert's forecast
earlier in the year. The Government Report on July
9th showed a big decrease in acreage and prices started
to advance again. Robert wrote and telegraphed Mr.
Kennelworth that October cotton would advance to
around 18.50 to 18.75 before there was any important
reaction. On July 16th October cotton crossed 18.50
and Mr. Kennelworth wired Robert as follows:
July 16, 1927
Robert Gordon
69 Wall Street
New York City
CONGRATULATIONS YOUR FORECASTS ARE WONDERFUL HAVE OVER
TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS PROFIT IN COTTON AS SOON
AS YOU GET TIME WORK UP YOUR CYCLE ON PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTIONS AND WRITE ME WHAT THE OUTLOOK IS FOR 1928
J. H. Kennelworth
To which Robert replied:
July 16, 1927.
MY DEAR MR. KENNELWORTH:
Your telegram just received. Am very happy that you
have played the cotton market heavily and are making big
profits. I, too, have made over a hundred thousand dollars.
Will get busy in a few days and work out the cycles for
1928 and let you know what the outlook is as to who will be
elected President.
Walter and I are getting along nicely. I am making good
progress on my plans for the airship. Have employed a detective agency to search all over the United States for Marie.
I am patiently awaiting news of her. Believe she is still alive.
Thanks for your good wishes. With kindest regards, I am
Sincerely yours,
ROBERT GORDON.
好的，这是第十七章的中文翻译：
第十七章
罗伯特转向《圣经》寻求安慰。他阅读了《雅歌》的每一章。第2章第14节给他留下了非常深刻的印象：
我的鸽子啊，你在磐石穴中，在陡岩的隐密处，求你容我得见你的面貌，得听你的声音；因为你的声音柔和，你的面貌秀美。
罗伯特渴望听到玛丽的声音，祈祷她能从她隐藏的秘密地方出来。他阅读了第8章第6和第7节：
求你将我放在你心上如印记，带在你臂上如戳记；因为爱情如死之坚强，嫉恨如阴间之残忍。所发的电光，是火焰的电光，是耶和华的烈焰。
爱情，众水不能息灭，大水也不能淹没；若有人拿家中所有的财宝要换爱情，就全被藐视。
罗伯特意识到没有什么能熄灭他的爱，玛丽是他心痛的唯一解药。
他翻到《但以理书》第9章第21节，读到：
我正祷告的时候，先前在异象中所见的那位加百列，奉命迅速飞来，约在献晚祭的时候，按手在我身上。
罗伯特知道这表明在古代人们确实会飞行，我们现在只是在重复过去的周期。他阅读第12章第4节：
但以理啊，你要隐藏这话，封闭这书，直到末时。必有多人来往奔跑（或作"切心研究"），知识就必增长。
罗伯特认为我们现在正接近末时，因为人类乘坐快速的汽车来回奔跑，乘坐飞机在空中快速旅行；新的发现不断出现，知识正在增长。他必须加快他的新发明。他阅读第12节：
等到一千三百三十五日的，那人便为有福。
罗伯特相信他理解这个周期，知道但以理预言中提到的年、月、日的数目。他计算出从1931年3月到1932年6月底，对美国来说将是麻烦的时期。萧条、战争和恐慌将笼罩他国家的命运。罗伯特深入研究《圣经》，以便更多地了解伟大的占星学科学。他从《圣经》中解读出自己属于以萨迦支派（雅各的第五个儿子），这个名字意味着价格、报酬、补偿。他由此明白他必须付出代价，但他会因对玛丽的忠诚和奉献而获得奖赏。
罗伯特转向《创世记》第30章第17和18节：
神应允了利亚，她就怀孕，给雅各生了第五个儿子。利亚说："神给了我价值，因为我把使女给了我丈夫。"于是给他起名叫以萨迦（就是"价值"的意思）。
他阅读《创世记》第49章第14和15节，那里雅各祝福他的12个儿子：
以萨迦是个强壮的驴，卧在羊圈之中。他以安静为佳，以肥地为美，便低肩背重，成为服苦的仆人。
罗伯特知道这是对六月出生、属于双子座（Gemini）的人的描述，他生来就要背负重担，必须服务他的人民，成为安慰并帮助他们承担负担的人。他出生的星座是一个双体星座，被称为双胞胎的象征，事情在他的生活中会重复，他会有许多起起落落，但他会通过科学获得他的奖赏。他急于从《圣经》和占星学中了解玛丽的特性，发现她出生在天秤座（Libra），那是天平座，由爱神维纳斯主宰，这赋予了她极大的美丽。阅读《创世记》第29章第32节，他发现玛丽属于流便支派，"利亚怀孕生子，就给他起名叫流便（就是"有儿子"的意思），因而说：'耶和华看见我的苦情，如今我的丈夫必爱我。'" 这个名字的象征和意义是"看见太阳的人"，太阳的异象，表示强大的直觉、敏锐的感知力和预见力。《创世记》第49章第3-4节：
流便哪，你是我的长子，是我力量强壮的时候生的，本当大有尊荣，权力超众。但你放纵情欲、滚沸如水，必不得居首位。
罗伯特明白这指的是玛丽的性格和性情。她不稳定、善变且情绪化，但他觉得她的爱是坚定的，最终她会回到他身边。他阅读所有能找到的关于占星学的书籍，并开始理解事情为何如此发生。这使他成为一个更好的哲学家，帮助他以更大的耐心承受他的悲伤。
罗伯特继续阅读《以赛亚书》第45章第13节：
我凭公义兴起古列（原文作"他"），又要修直他一切道路。他必建造我的城，释放我被掳的民，不是为工价，也不是为赏赐。这是万军之耶和华说的。
这可能意味着时候将到，主会指引人，当战争来临，有人被俘为囚时，他们将无需代价或奖赏地被释放。罗伯特认为，当爱统治世界时，事情就应该是这样。
罗伯特阅读《希伯来书》第11章第3和第5节：
我们因着信，就知道诸世界是藉神话造成的。这样，所看见的，并不是从显然之物造出来的。
以诺因着信被接去，不至于见死。人也找不着他，因为神已经把他接去了。只是他被接去以先，已经得了神喜悦他的明证。
罗伯特相信以诺是乘坐飞机离开的，并且知道信心是伟大的支撑力量，没有信心就不可能讨神的喜悦，因为他读到经上说："到神面前来的人，必须信有神，且信他赏赐那寻求他的人。" 罗伯特知道他有信心，这信心将在试炼和麻烦时期支撑他。《罗马书》第12章第2节：
不要效法这个世界。只要心意更新而变化，叫你们察验何为神的善良，纯全可喜悦的旨意。
罗伯特知道并理解如何更新他的心意和身体，因为他知道耶稣说------"你们拆毁这殿，我三日内要再建立起来"时是什么意思。他知道那是指人的身体的殿。
罗伯特阅读同一章的第9到13节：
爱人不可虚假，恶要厌恶，善要亲近。爱弟兄，要彼此亲热。恭敬人，要彼此推让。殷勤不可懒惰。要心里火热。常常服事主。在指望中要喜乐。在患难中要忍耐。祷告要恒切。
罗伯特打算在患难中忍耐，并且要仁慈，显出弟兄之爱；他会有信心、有盼望，并为再次拥有玛丽的那一天祈祷。爱是律法的完全，遵守那律法就有奖赏的应许。他越读《圣经》，就越确信它的巨大价值，并且人为了任何目的或在任何时间所需的所有知识和指导，都可以在那本古老的好书中找到。罗伯特决定他不仅要不住地祷告，还要花一些他赚来的钱去寻找玛丽，因为到目前为止还没有收到任何关于她的消息。他雇用了一家侦探机构在全美国进行搜寻。
肯内尔沃斯先生于1927年6月下旬离开纽约，返回特克萨卡纳。他根据罗伯特的建议大量买入棉花，罗伯特曾告知政府报告将非常利好，并且根据罗伯特年初的预测，七月将会有大幅上涨。7月9日的政府报告显示种植面积大幅减少，价格开始再次上涨。罗伯特写信并电报肯内尔沃斯先生，称十月期棉花在出现任何重要回调之前将上涨至18.50至18.75美分左右。7月16日，十月期棉花突破18.50美分，肯内尔沃斯先生给罗伯特发来如下电报：
1927年7月16日
罗伯特·戈登
纽约市华尔街69号
祝贺 您的预测惊人 棉花利润已超二十万美元 一俟您得空 请研究总统选举周期并函告1928年展望
J·H·肯内尔沃斯
罗伯特回复道：
1927年7月16日
亲爱的肯内尔沃斯先生：
刚收到您的电报。非常高兴您重仓操作棉花市场并获得巨额利润。我也赚了超过十万美元。
几天内我会开始工作，计算出1928年的周期，并告知您前景如何以及谁将当选总统。
沃尔特和我相处得很好。我在飞船计划上进展顺利。已雇用一家侦探机构在全美寻找玛丽。我正在耐心等待她的消息。相信她还活着。
感谢您的祝福。致以最亲切的问候。
您真诚的，
罗伯特·戈登
CHAPTER XVIIIAFTER making his calculations on the Presidential
election in 1928, Robert sent the following Forecast to Mr. Kennelworth:
July 20, 1927.
1928 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
In order to determine the conditions that will prevail during
1928 and who will be elected, we must look up past cycles.
I refer you to Ecclesiastes 3: 15 -- "That which hath been is
now and that which is to be hath already been, and God requireth that which is past."
We know that we are repeating past cycles as referred to in
Ezekiel's Prophecy -- Chapter 20: 46 -- "Son of man set thy
face toward the south, and drop thy word toward the south,
and prophesy against the forest of the south field, and say
to the forest of the south, Hear the word of the Lord, Thus
saith the Lord God, Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee and
it shall devour every green tree in thee and every dry tree,
the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from
the south to the north shall be burned therein."
The troubles in Nicaragua, the destructive floods and storms
which have visited Florida, and the destruction by the floods
along the Mississippi during the past Spring all show that
troubles are starting in the south. We are in a cycle which
will repeat and cause wars which will start from the south
and southwest, probably Mexico. All of these events will have
a great bearing on the Presidential election in 1928, because
war will be in the air and the people will be very much upset.
As referred to in Exodus 32: 17 -- "And when Joshua heard
the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses,
There is a noise of war in the camp." There will be political
wars and revolutionary changes in the United States in 1928.
People will want to choose new leaders. Read Judges 5: 8 --
"They chose new gods; then was war within the gates: was
there a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel?"
The people will need to choose an able leader to prepare for
the great war in the air.
I have made a study of President Coolidge's date of birth,
name and numbers. He is the strongest man that the Republicans have, but he has not wanted to accept the nomination
and will probably not if he can get out of it. He has the
best chance of any Republican for being elected. Along about
March or April, 1928, some important event will happen
which is likely to cause President Coolidge to refuse to accept the nomination. When the convention meets in June or
July there will be long delays, dissatisfaction and fights among
the old Republican leaders as to whom they will nominate.
From the cycle that we are repeating, there is a strong indication that President Coolidge will not be renominated. He
will do something which will cause large financial interests
and moneyed men to withdraw their support from him.
Since God requires that which is past, then past cycles and
events in the history of the United States must repeat. We
look up the names and dates of birth to determine when
certain names or initial letters should repeat. The letter "C"
is one which repeats in events of the United States as shown
by the election of Grover Cleveland the second time in 1892.
President Calvin Coolidge, with the "C" strong in both names,
succeeded President Harding, August 2, 1923, and was elected
in 1924. This was really a repetition of the letter "C" the
same as Cleveland's second election, and in view of the fact
that President Coolidge has served about 6 years, the letter
"C" is not due to repeat its vibration in 1928, but might repeat in 1932 when President Coolidge could possibly be elected
again following the war and troublesome times.
The most favorable letters for the Republican Party which
could repeat in 1928 are B, J, F, and L. In view of the cycle
which indicates war from 1928 to 1932, there is a strong indication that the letter "L" will repeat as it did during the
Civil War when Lincoln was President. This might mean the
nomination of Borah, Butler, Johnson or Lowden. I haven't
the dates of birth of any of these men, therefore, am unable
to say before the nominations take place and we know whom
their opponents will be, whether any of them would be elected
or not.
In regard to the Democratic nomination, the cycle indicates a
strong possibility of victory for the Democrats or a new
party. Governor Alfred Smith is not likely to be nominated
and if nominated would not be elected. The letter "S" has
never appeared in the surname of any president of the United
States, and as we are only due to repeat past events, he has a
very slim chance of being elected.
The letters F, M and R are due to repeat for the Democrats.
This might mean Ford, McAdoo or Reed. According to the
date of birth, cycle and numbers, McAdoo would have a much
better chance of getting the nomination than Smith. Reed
looks stronger than either of them. Governor Smith will continue popular and the possibilities of him being nominated
will look promising until about May, 1928, when there will
be a sudden change of public opinion against him. Support
will be withdrawn and some of the strong Democratic leaders
will turn to other possible candidates. Smith's name will no
doubt come before the convention, but I see no chance of him
being nominated.
There is a strong indication that the man who will be nominated will be a "dark horse," a man probably born in May or
June. Revolutionary changes are indicated. The question of
the 18th Amendment is likely to split both of the old parties.
A farm and labor party or some other political party may
spring up and defeat both of the old parties. The public
will be very much divided and sentiment will be badly mixed
in the summer and fall of 1928.
With the present data in hand and the events that are to
follow the next Presidential election, my judgment is that a
Republican will not be elected. The President who takes
office in March, 1929, will start under very unfavorable conditions similar to those which faced President Wilson at the
time he entered his second term and also conditions will repeat
similar to those that followed the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1861. There will be trouble with foreign countries
over immigration laws. Tariff will be a sore spot and cause
disagreements with foreign countries.
I will have my calculations made up for the stock and commodity markets for 1928 and 1929 soon and when they are
completed will send a copy of them. There will be some big
opportunities for long pull trading in stocks and commodities
during 1928. I want you to be in on the deals with me and
hope I can help you make a million dollars.
ROBERT GORDON.
好的，这是第十八章的中文翻译：
第十八章
在完成对1928年总统选举的计算后，罗伯特将以下预测发送给肯内尔沃斯先生：
1927年7月20日
1928年总统选举预测
为了确定1928年将普遍存在的状况以及谁将当选，我们必须查阅过去的周期。我请您参考《传道书》第3章第15节------"已有的事，后必再有。已行的事，后必再行。日光之下并无新事。岂有一件事人能指着说这是新的？哪知，在我们以前的世代，早已有了。"（注：原文引文为"That which hath been is now and that which is to be hath already been, and God requireth that which is past." 对应和合本译文大意相近，但措辞略有不同，此处按常见理解辅以说明）。
我们知道我们正在重复过去的周期，正如《以西结书》预言中所提到的------第20章第46节（注：在和合本中为21章1-4节左右，章节划分略有不同，内容指向对南方的预言）------"人子啊，你要面向南方，向南方说话，说预言攻击南方田野的树林。对南方的树林说，要听耶和华的话。主耶和华如此说：我必使火在你中间着起，烧灭你中间的一切青树和枯树，猛烈的火焰必不熄灭，从南到北的面孔都被烧焦。"
尼加拉瓜的麻烦、佛罗里达州遭受的破坏性洪水和风暴，以及过去春天密西西比河沿岸洪水造成的破坏，所有这些都表明麻烦正从南方开始。我们正处在一个将重复并引发战争的周期中，这些战争可能始于南方和西南方，也许是墨西哥。所有这些事件都将对1928年的总统选举产生重大影响，因为战争氛围将弥漫，人们将非常不安。正如《出埃及记》第32章第17节所述------"约书亚听见百姓呼喊的声音，就对摩西说："在营里有争战的声音。"" 1928年美国将发生政治斗争和革命性变化。人民将希望选择新的领导人。阅读《士师记》第5章第8节------"他们选择新神，争战的事就临到城门。那时，以色列四万人中岂能见盾牌枪矛呢？" 人民将需要选择一位有能力的领导者，为即将到来的空中大战做准备。
我研究了柯立芝总统的出生日期、姓名和数字。他是共和党人中最强有力的人，但他一直不愿接受提名，如果可能的话，他很可能不会接受。他是所有共和党人中最有机会当选的。大约在1928年3月或4月，会发生某些重要事件，可能导致柯立芝总统拒绝接受提名。当大会在6月或7月召开时，在老牌共和党领导人关于提名谁的问题上，将会出现长时间的拖延、不满和争斗。从我们正在重复的周期来看，有强烈的迹象表明柯立芝总统将不会获得重新提名。他将做出一些事情，导致大的金融利益集团和有钱人撤回对他的支持。
既然神追念已往的事（God requireth that which is past），那么美国历史上的过去周期和事件必定会重复。我们查阅姓名和出生日期，以确定特定的姓氏或首字母应在何时重复。字母"C"是在美国事件中重复出现的字母之一，正如1892年格罗弗·克利夫兰（Grover Cleveland）第二次当选所显示的那样。卡尔文·柯立芝（Calvin Coolidge）总统，两个名字中都有强烈的"C"，于1923年8月2日继哈丁总统之后上任，并于1924年当选。这实际上是字母"C"的重复，与克利夫兰的第二次当选相同，并且鉴于柯立芝总统已任职约6年，字母"C"的振动不太可能在1928年重复，但可能在1932年重复，届时柯立芝总统可能在战争和麻烦时期之后再次当选。
对共和党最有利、并可能在1928年重复的字母是B、J、F和L。鉴于周期表明1928年至1932年将有战争，有强烈迹象表明字母"L"将重复，就像内战时期林肯（Lincoln）担任总统时那样。这可能意味着博拉（Borah）、巴特勒（Butler）、约翰逊（Johnson）或洛登（Lowden）获得提名。我没有这些人的出生日期，因此，在提名发生并且我们知道他们的对手是谁之前，我无法判断他们中是否有人能当选。
关于民主党提名，周期表明民主党或一个新政党有很大可能获胜。阿尔弗雷德·史密斯（Alfred Smith）州长不太可能获得提名，即使获得提名也不会当选。字母"S"从未出现在任何一位美国总统的姓氏中，并且因为我们只注定要重复过去的事件，他当选的机会非常渺茫。
对民主党而言，字母F、M和R注定要重复。这可能意味着福特（Ford）、麦卡杜（McAdoo）或里德（Reed）。根据出生日期、周期和数字，麦卡杜获得提名的机会比史密斯大得多。里德看起来比他们俩都更强。史密斯州长将继续受欢迎，他获得提名的可能性看起来很有希望，直到大约1928年5月，那时公众舆论会突然转向反对他。支持将被撤回，一些强大的民主党领导人将转向其他可能的候选人。史密斯的名字无疑会出现在大会上，但我看不出他有任何获得提名的机会。
有强烈迹象表明，被提名者将是一匹"黑马"（dark horse），很可能出生在5月或6月。预示着革命性的变化。第18条修正案（禁酒令）的问题可能会分裂两个老牌政党。一个农场劳工党或其他某个政党可能会涌现出来，并击败两个老牌政党。公众将非常分裂，情绪在1928年夏秋两季会异常混乱。
根据手头现有的资料以及下一届总统选举后将要发生的事件，我的判断是共和党人不会当选。于1929年3月就职的总统将在非常不利的条件下开始任期，类似于威尔逊总统开始其第二任期时所面临的情况，并且 conditions will repeat similar to those that followed the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1861（情况将重复类似于1861年亚伯拉罕·林肯当选后所发生的情况）。将在移民法问题上与外国发生麻烦。关税将成为一个痛点，并导致与外国产生分歧。
我将很快完成对1928年和1929年股票及商品市场的计算，完成后会寄送一份副本。在1928年期间，股票和商品的长线交易（long pull trading）将有一些巨大的机会。我希望您能与我一起参与这些交易，并希望能帮助您赚取一百万美元。
罗伯特·戈登
CHAPTER XIXDECEMBER, 1927, stocks had been declining for
several weeks. This month stocks declined rapidly and Robert was heavily short. Wheat and corn
advanced. Robert had been on the right side for several
months. Just before Christmas he figured that he would
cover his short stocks and wait for a rally which he
expected would come in January or February. He now
had profits which gave him working capital of over
five hundred thousand dollars, allowing for all the
money that he had spent; so he decided to put more time
in working on his invention, as he was now in position
to spend money enough to develop his first airplane. He
kept in touch every few days with the detective agency,
but no word had been received from Marie. Her parents
had about given up hope that Marie was alive. Robert
wrote them a very encouraging letter because he wanted
to cheer them up at Christmas time. Told them that he
believed Marie was alive and that he had faith in God
and wanted them to have faith and continue to pray for
Marie's return. Informed them of his great financial
success and told them that he had continued to keep
Marie's account separate and had traded very conservatively for her and that she now had over $40,000
which he intended to try to increase and have as a great
surprise for her. Robert sent beautiful Christmas gifts
to them in memory of Marie.
A few days before Christmas there was a big decline
in the stock market. All kinds of unfavorable rumors
were afloat. Business conditions were bad. War clouds
were gathering thick in Europe. Newspapers talked of
the uncertainties in the new year due to the coming
presidential election. The public had lost confidence
and were selling stocks. Robert decided that this was
the time to cash in so he covered a big line of Shorts in
Major Motors, Central Steel and others. This was a
great Christmas for him, financially. From his beginning with 200 bales of cotton in January, 1927, with
a capital of 1,000.00 and 10,000.00 which Mr. Kennelworth gave him later, thru his successful pyramiding
he had made over half a million dollars. He was overjoyed with his success because it would help him now
to complete his airplane and other inventions. His
mind turned back to Christmas, 1926, when he had
bought Marie a beautiful ring with the money he had
saved. At that time he little realized that so much
could happen in one short year. He thought of all he
could do for Marie this year if he only knew where she
was. Decided that he would buy some beautiful presents for her anyway and keep them until she returned to
show her that he was thinking of her on Christmas. He
bought a beautiful diamond ring and a bracelet set with
sapphires and diamonds. When the jeweler delivered
them Robert looked them over and thought of all Marie's
beauty and purity. His faith in her was still supreme.
He was very sad and wept bitterly because he felt more
keenly than ever the need for her. He wanted her to be
with him to share his financial success.
His heart turned to his next dearest friend -- his
mother. He decided to try to make it the happiest
Christmas of her life and bought her every kind of a
present that he thought would make her happy and
comfortable and sent her a check for $5,000.00 to do with
just as she pleased and buy anything she wanted.
Begged her to come to New York to see him soon after
the new year, as he wanted her to see the sights of the
city, and thought the trip would be good for her health.
In the early part of 1928 Robert calculated that war
was inevitable between England and Russia. He figured that the war would start not later than the summer and that many nations would be involved and that
later an attack on the United States would come. His
first airplane was now completed, -- a small one according to the plan laid down by Ezekiel in the Bible. The
plane had four wings and could fly on either one of its
four sides. It had a new motor with 12 cylinders and
could be operated either with gas, electricity or compressed air. He had constructed a wheel within a wheel
so that he could lower his plane and land anywhere he
chose and could rise straight up. One motor had a
propeller in the center of the plane to lift it up while
the other motor started its direct motion. He could
drive his plane backwards or forwards. It was a great
success and the boy wizard of Wall Street was now
hailed as a new Lindbergh of the air. There was an
extra motor built with a collapsible propeller so that he
could shift it from the center of the airplane to the tail,
enabling it to go backward or forward as he willed.
The wings were so arranged that they could either re-
main stationary or be set in motion up or down by
motor. This was a new and valuable feature in the construction of airplanes.
Robert's next invention was to build a silent motor,
or a muffler, which would prevent any sound. He knew
that this would be very useful in war. After he had
completed this invention, tested it and proved it a success, he offered it to the United States Government, but
after the army officers, who knew very little about this
new invention had looked it over, they refused it. Robert then sailed away in his new plane which he had
named "The St. Marie." He visited England, France,
Germany and in the Spring of 1928 made the longest
successful flight to Japan, where he was received with
great honor. Japan was very much interested in his
new plane and in his muffler. The Japanese Government quickly closed a deal and bought his invention for
a large sum of money. Robert felt that probably one
day this invention would be used against his own country in time of war, but knew that the United States
would have to learn a lesson -- that too often in the past
American inventions had been sold to foreign countries
because his own Government would not buy them.
While in Japan Robert was entertained and introduced to many beautiful titled ladies and prominent men,
but he remained loyal to Marie for his great success had
not turned his head. He was still searching for Marie,
always hoping to find her. He returned to New York
in the Summer of 1928 and was now reputed as being
worth more than a million dollars, after making more
successful deals in stocks, cotton and wheat. He had
followed the advice of old Henry Watson and had never
scattered over two or three markets at the same time.
When he had a deal on in cotton or wheat, he stuck to
that until he closed the transaction. When he went into
a stock campaign he stayed out of the commodity
markets. He was meeting with success in every direction, but his longing for Marie continued and the vision
of her beautiful face continued to haunt him.
In May, 1928, Walter received a radiogram from
Robert saying that he was leaving Japan the latter part
of the month and was going to sail "The St. Marie"
back to New York. Walter and Miss Edna Quinton,
the secretary, had followed the newspaper reports of
the great reception tendered Robert by the officials of the
Japanese Government and the report of the large amount
of money they had paid for his noiseless patent for
air planes. Walter was going to graduate in June so
he wrote his father and informed him that Robert was
returning to New York soon with great honors and he
thought it appropriate to have a big celebration for him
when he arrived. As his father was coming to New
York anyway for the graduation exercises, he suggested
that he be there to greet Robert on his triumphant return.
Mr. Kennelworth, who was a member of the Chamber
of Commerce of Texarkana and one of the leading citizens, called a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce, informed them of the phenomenal success of Robert Gordon
who had left Texarkana one year previous an unknown
boy and who was now the most talked of young man
in the world. He had made more than a million dollars
following his own discovery of how to use the laws laid
down in the Bible for foretelling the future course of
cotton, grain and stocks; had built the most marvelous
airplane of the age; invented a muffler to make an airplane noiseless; had driven his own plane, "The St.
Marie" to Japan where he had been received with great
honors and the Japanese Government had bought his
invention for making airplanes silent. Mr. Kennelworth proposed that the leading citizens of Texarkana
go to New York to honor their favorite son on his return. When he had finished talking there was lasting
applause and hurrahs for Robert Gordon. Colonel
Stanton was in the audience. He arose and said that
he heartily endorsed the proposal and would donate
$10,000.00 to the expense fund, that they should go to
New York in a special train to greet the greatest young
man of the age who was born on a farm near Texarkana.
Everyone was in favor of it and the wealthy men all
followed Mr. Stanton in offering large sums of money
in order to make the reception a success. When the
meeting was over, J. H. Kennelworth drove out to the
country home of Amelia Gordon, Robert's mother. Told
her of her boy's success and the plans to meet him in
New York and give him a great reception, inviting her
to go on the special train as a guest of honor. She
thankfully accepted.
On June 9th Robert Gordon's 22nd birthday, the
great reception took place. The special train bearing
the leading citizens of Texarkana arrived, Robert had
landed at the new airport on Governor's Island without
any mishap to his plane. "The St. Marie" had per-
formed perfectly, making the trip from Japan at an
average speed of over 300 miles per hour. Robert received the surprise of his life when he saw his mother
and rushed to her, and after greeting her affectionately
turned to shake hands with Mr. Kennelworth and Walter and seeing Mr. and Mrs. Stanton there was overjoyed and thought sure that Marie had been found.
He rushed to greet her parents and his first words were,
"Where is Marie?" With tears in their eyes, they
informed him that not a word had been received in
regard to her. They proceeded immediately to the Commodore Hotel where the reception committee and the
entire delegation from Texarkana and arranged for a
dinner and celebration. Robert was happy to see all the
prominent business men from Texarkana there to greet
him. Mr. Kennelworth made the address. Told Robert how proud Texarkana was of him; said that this was
the age of the young man and that Robert had demonstrated that he was the greatest young man of his day.
Robert was overwhelmed at this great reception. He
thanked his friends; thanked Mr. Kennelworth, personally, and above all for bringing his dear old mother
to see him; said it was the happiest moment of his life
and that his one regret was that Marie was not there,
but that he still had hope of finding her. When the reception was over and Robert had a few moments alone
with his dear old mother, she said, "My son, do you
remember the dream you had when you were a little boy,
which you told me about? That you were riding a large
bird with white wings across the ocean and how the
foreign countries received you with great honor. My
boy, when you landed today I thought about that dream
and how it had been fulfilled. I hope that all of your
other dreams and ambitions will be realized and that
you will be rewarded with Marie's love, because you
have been faithful and loyal to her."
Robert said, "Mother, I do remember the dream quite
well, and when I was in Japan and they gave me such
great receptions and honored me, I thought of the dream
and I thought of you and how you had taught me how to
read the Bible and I thought of Marie and how I loved
her and felt that I would gladly give all of the honors
just to be with you and Marie alone because your love
and Marie's love mean more to me than everything else
that the world can give."
Walter Kennelworth was graduated from Columbia
College in June and prepared to work with Robert in
the office. Edna Quinton had proved to be a faithful
employee and a valuable aid to Robert. She had taken
care of his business and looked after his financial transactions while he was away. Robert soon went to work,
on a new invention, and perfected a machine to read
the minds of people a short distance away and also a
machine which he named the "Tel-talk." This machine
was made on the principle of the radio; by raising and
lowering it at certain angles it would record all the
conferences in the different buildings in Wall Street.
Robert also used this machine to get reports on all
the conferences of the big manipulators. He knew that
manipulators in Wall Street suspected that in some way
he understood their plans as he was making money too
fast and they were conspiring to find a way to get him
wrong on the market and break him. They changed
their plans often but found that each time Robert was
on the right side of the market. Even his friend Walter knew nothing about Robert's latest invention. He
kept it in a secret room, and no one had ever seen it but
himself. It was a very delicate little machine with
indicators like a compass, delicately balanced and operated by electricity. His success was causing great excitement and schemers wanted to get his secret. They
knew that Edna Quinton had been in his office ever since
he was in New York. She was invited to a dinner at the
Biltmore where she was offered a large sum of money
if she would reveal the secrets of how Robert Gordon
so successfully operated in the market. She told them
frankly that she knew nothing about how he did it,
but if she did know, no amount of money would induce
her to turn traitor to her employer. Edna made up
her mind that when she reached the office the following
morning, she would tell Mr. Gordon just what had happened. Upon reaching the office unusually early she
found Mr. Gordon there. He seemed unusually happy
and she thought that he must have news of Marie. Before she had time to tell him what had happened the
night before, he called her into his secret office, the room
that she had never seen before. There she saw all kinds
of strange instruments which she knew must be some of
his new inventions. He took her to a little machine in
the corner of the room and showed her some peculiar
lines that the machine had recorded on the paper the
night before. He told her that his machine received
the impressions of people's minds and recorded their
thoughts, especially when they were greatly excited or
interested in any matter. He read to her from the
record on the machine in substance exactly what had
been said to her the night before. Then he turned to
the Bible and showed her where it said "Everything
that is concealed will be revealed, and everything that is
covered will be uncovered." Edna was more excited
than she had ever been in her life. She knew that the
machine had revealed the truth. Then said to Mr.
Gordon that she had intended to tell him that morning
just what had happened and hoped that he would believe
that she was loyal to him and had refused to accept a
bribe. He then showed her another record on the machine like a phonograph record which would record
people's thoughts and told her that it indicated just what
she had been thinking about. The machine had read
her mind and recorded her thoughts. He assured her
that he did believe her and trust her. Edna was moved
to tears at this great confidence. She knew that never
before had she been permitted to see this secret room
and while she knew of Robert's great love for Marie, she
felt that this confidence he had placed in her was more
than a matter of business confidence and that he had
some love for her. She had always admired him but
had never thought of loving him. Now she knew that
she did love him.
A few days later Edna had a talk with Walter, because she had known him before Robert came to New
York and it was thru his influence she had secured the
position. She told him what had happened and confided in him her love for Robert. He was happy to
know this and hoped that Robert would fall in love with
her as he believed it would be best for him. Walter
said, "I am not an expert judge of how emotions work
in men and women, but the way for you to find out how
Robert feels toward you is to watch his actions, make
notes of how often he speaks of Marie, of the letters he
writes trying to find her. Continue to be as nice and
kind toward him as you have always been. If in a
few months his interest in the search for Marie wanes,
and he ceases to talk about her, it will be a sure sign that
his mind and heart is turning toward you."
Soon after Walter graduated, Robert called Miss
Quinton into his secret office one morning and told her
he was going to form a new firm under the name of
"Gordon, Kennelworth & Quinton" and that Edna was
to have an interest in the firm, as reward for her faithful service. She was to help with the work on the secret
discoveries. Edna was overjoyed at this and her emotions got the best of her judgment. She flung her arms
around Robert's neck, kissed him, told him he was the
most wonderful man in the world and that she loved
him. He drew himself quickly away from her, sat down
in a chair and stared out the window for several minutes before he spoke. Then he turned toward Miss
Quinton, faced her with a firm but kind face, told her
that she had made a mistake in his actions, that he was
rewarding her for faithfulness and that there was no
sentiment in the matter, that he did not love her, that
he was loyal to his long-lost Marie and would never love
anyone else. Edna hardly knew what to say. She
begged his forgiveness and tendered her resignation.
He told her that he would refuse to accept it; that they
would go right on and work together just the same as in
the past, if she felt that she could and wanted to. She
assured him that she wanted to remain as long as he
wanted her, and that in the future she would always
control her emotions.
Walter Kennelworth had completed a special course
in chemistry at college and was now prepared for work
in the new firm. His father had been following Robert
in the market during the past year and had made a large
amount of money. He presented Walter with $100,-
000.00, part of the profits which he had made out of
the market, with the understanding that the money was
to be used in helping to further Robert's inventions.
In the Fall of 1928, Robert and Walter completed
an invention of Sun-mirrors, whereby they were able to
collect the rays from the sun and produce heat powerful enough to melt down skyscrapers in a few minutes.
With these mirrors and the aid of electricity, they discovered a powerful light ray Robert knew that this was
going to be of great value in the coming war. They
named this machine "The Demon of Death." Miss
Quinton had been very much interested in this machine
during the course of construction, and she named it
"Spit-Fire" because it could send forth such powerful
sparks of fire, destroying instantly any metal that it
touched. They held a conference and agreed that this
new discovery must be kept secret and should never be
used except in the defense of the United States in time
of war and only then if our country was in dire peril
and unable to cope with the enemy. There was one
secret connected with the machine that only Robert
knew. They intended to start to build a giant airship
in a short time equipped with "The Demon of Death."
They figured it would send a powerful death ray 3000
to 5000 miles through space, destroying everything
within a radius of 700 miles. Work was started on the
new machine with all secrecy. It had already been
christened "Marie the Angel of Mercy."
Robert and Walter were making money rapidly in the
cotton market. The war clouds were gathering and
Europe was buying cotton. It had had a big advance
and they were playing the fast moves up and down,
both on the buying and selling sides. There is an old
saying that intimacy breeds contempt, but it did not
prove so with Walter Kennelworth and Edna Quinton.
One beautiful morning in early September, 1928, Robert Gordon stepped into the laboratory and found Edna
in the arms of Walter. He made a hasty exit, but Walter and Edna knew that they had been caught. Robert
was very happy at this discovery because he knew that
it was just the thing Walter needed to stimulate his
ambitions and give him something to work for. He
realized what a wonderful woman Miss Quinton was,
and that she, too, needed inspiration that love alone
could give. That evening he invited Walter to dinner
with him and when they were alone said, "Well, Walter,
the love bug has got you at last." Walter was bashful
at first and didn't want to talk much about it; then he
admitted that it had come on very suddenly when he
and Edna had realized that they were both in love with
each other. Robert told him that it was inevitable and
that now was the time it should start and that it would
be better for both of them. They were business partners and it would make them more happy and successful in their work. Walter asked him if he still had
hopes of finding Marie. Robert told him that he did --
that he would never give up the search.
Everything moved along smoothly after this. Walter
and Edna were happy in their work and the Fall of 1928
rewarded them with a new and wonderful discovery.
They had been able to perfect a machine which would
reflect light in such a way as to make an airplane invisible and this, together with Robert's noiseless invention, solved the problem. He knew now that in time of
war, the plane could be used to sneak upon the enemy
and that they would be unable to see or hear it. After
holding a conference, they decided that this invention,
as well as "The Demon of Death" should not be patented
or offered for sale to any Government, that they would
test it out and keep it a secret. Here Robert's great
generosity showed itself again when he decided that
this invention should be used in time of greatest need for
the benefit of the United States. Walter said, "Robert,
love indeed does make a great man, makes him unselfish,
causes him to think of his country, of his mother, his
sweetheart and everything else before himself. No
wonder you are making a success and always will, because you are doing right."
The completion of the great machine, "The Demon
of Death," which Robert had worked on untiringly day
and night, was a great triumph for him, but his wonderful energy had been exhausted. Walter had noticed
before the machine was completed that Robert looked
tired and worn. His mind lacked its old-time quickness
and he feared for his health. Robert began to reach the
office late and ceased to take an interest in his work.
He was moody and despondent. Thanksgiving Day,
Walter and Edna arranged a big dinner and invited
Robert. He appeared very much worn and ate very little
dinner. Both Walter and Edna noticed that he was
less talkative than ever before. About an hour after
dinner was over Robert fell in a faint. A doctor was
called immediately and after making a careful examination pronounced it a case of nervous breakdown. Said
there must be something preying on his mind or that
he had been under a long strain. Walter explained the
disappearance of Marie and how Robert had worried
over the love affair; his long, strenuous campaigns in
the stock and commodity markets and his work upon
his inventions; that up to a few months previous Robert
had been able to work almost day and night without
showing any fatigue, but that in recent weeks he had
noticed a great change in him. After the doctor had
heard the story of the love affair and Marie's disappearance, he was sure that a long and needed rest was
necessary to restore Robert to his normal health. He
ordered him to remain absolutely quiet and not attempt to look after any of the details of his business.
A few days later Walter persuaded Robert to go to Atlantic City, which he did, and after remaining there and
resting a couple of weeks, he returned apparently well
and showed his old-time strength and vigor. Was
anxious to get back to work and look after his speculative deals in the market.
好的，这是第十九章的中文翻译：
第十九章
1927年12月，股市已下跌数周。本月股票迅速下跌，罗伯特大量做空。小麦和玉米上涨。罗伯特几个月来都站在了市场正确的一边。就在圣诞节前，他判断该回补他的股票空头头寸，并等待他预期将在1月或2月出现的反弹。现在，扣除所有花费后，他的利润给他带来了超过五十万美元的运营资本；因此他决定投入更多时间进行他的发明工作，因为他现在有足够的资金来开发他的第一架飞机。他每隔几天与侦探机构保持联系，但没有收到任何关于玛丽的消息。她的父母几乎已经放弃玛丽还活着的希望。罗伯特给他们写了一封非常鼓舞人心的信，因为他想在圣诞节期间让他们振作起来。告诉他们他相信玛丽还活着，他对上帝有信心，并希望他们也有信心，继续为玛丽的归来祈祷。他告知他们自己巨大的财务成功，并告诉他们他继续将玛丽的账户分开管理，并为她进行了非常保守的交易，她现在拥有超过4万美元，他打算设法增加这笔钱，给她一个巨大的惊喜。罗伯特寄去了精美的圣诞礼物给他们，以纪念玛丽。
圣诞节前几天，股市大幅下跌。各种不利的谣言四处流传。商业状况糟糕。战争的乌云在欧洲密集聚集。报纸谈论着由于即将到来的总统选举而给新年带来的不确定性。公众已失去信心，正在抛售股票。罗伯特断定这是获利了结的时候，于是他回补了在通用汽车、中央钢铁和其他股票上的大量空头头寸。对他来说，这是一个财务上的伟大圣诞节。从1927年1月以200包棉花、1000美元资本起步，加上肯内尔沃斯先生后来给他的1万美元，通过成功的金字塔式加码，他赚取了超过五十万美元。他对自己的成功欣喜若狂，因为这将帮助他现在完成他的飞机和其他发明。他的思绪回到了1926年圣诞节，那时他用攒下的钱给玛丽买了一枚漂亮的戒指。那时他几乎没有意识到在短短一年内会发生这么多事情。他想到了今年他能为玛丽做的一切，如果他知道她在哪里就好了。他决定无论如何都要为她买一些漂亮的礼物，并保存起来直到她回来，向她表明他在圣诞节思念着她。他买了一枚漂亮的钻戒和一个镶有蓝宝石和钻石的手镯。当珠宝商送来时，罗伯特仔细看了看，想起了玛丽所有的美丽和纯洁。他对她的信心仍然是至高无上的。他非常悲伤，痛哭流涕，因为他比以往任何时候都更强烈地感觉到需要她。他希望她和他在一起，分享他的财务成功。
他的心转向了他下一个最亲爱的朋友------他的母亲。他决定尽力让她度过一生中最快乐的圣诞节，给她买了各种他认为会让她快乐和舒适的礼物，并寄给她一张5000美元的支票，随她心意购买任何她想要的东西。恳求她在新年过后尽快来纽约看他，因为他想让她看看这座城市的景色，并认为这次旅行对她的健康有好处。
1928年初，罗伯特计算出英国和俄国之间的战争不可避免。他推断战争最迟将在夏季开始，许多国家将被卷入，随后美国将遭到攻击。他的第一架飞机现已完成------一架根据《圣经》中《以西结书》所述计划建造的小型飞机。这架飞机有四个机翼，可以在其四个侧面中的任何一个上飞行。它有一个新的12缸发动机，可以用汽油、电力或压缩空气操作。他建造了一个轮中轮（wheel within a wheel）的结构，因此可以降低飞机并在任何他选择的地方降落，并且可以垂直上升。一个发动机在飞机中心有一个螺旋桨将其抬起，而另一个发动机则启动其直接运动。他可以驾驶飞机向后或向前飞行。这是一个巨大的成功，这位华尔街的神童现在被誉为航空界的新林德伯格（Lindbergh）。还额外建造了一个带有可折叠螺旋桨的发动机，以便他可以从飞机中心移到尾部，使其能按他的意愿向后或向前飞行。机翼的布置使得它们可以保持静止，也可以通过发动机上下运动。这是飞机制造中的一个新的宝贵特性。
罗伯特的下一个发明是建造一个无声发动机，或者说消音器（muffler），可以阻止任何声音。他知道这在战争中会非常有用。完成这项发明、测试并证明其成功后，他将其提供给美国政府，但在对这项新发明知之甚少的陆军军官们查看之后，他们拒绝了。罗伯特随后驾驶着他命名为"圣玛丽号"（The St. Marie）的新飞机启航。他访问了英国、法国、德国，并在1928年春天成功飞抵日本，完成了当时最长的飞行，在那里他受到了极大的荣誉接待。日本对他的新飞机和他的消音器非常感兴趣。日本政府迅速达成交易，以一大笔钱购买了他的发明。罗伯特觉得也许有一天这项发明会在战争时期被用来对抗他自己的国家，但他知道美国必须吸取一个教训------过去太多美国的发明被卖给外国，因为他自己的政府不愿意购买。
在日本期间，罗伯特受到款待并被介绍给许多美丽的贵族女士和知名人士，但他仍然忠于玛丽，他的巨大成功并没有冲昏他的头脑。他仍在寻找玛丽，总是希望能找到她。他于1928年夏天返回纽约，在股票、棉花和小麦市场上又进行了几笔成功的交易后，据传他的身价已超过一百万美元。他遵循了老亨利·沃森的建议，从未同时分散在两三个市场上。当他在棉花或小麦上有一笔交易时，他会坚持直到交易结束。当他进行股票交易时，他会退出商品市场。他在各个方面都取得了成功，但他对玛丽的渴望持续着，她美丽脸庞的景象继续萦绕着他。
1928年5月，沃尔特收到罗伯特的一封无线电报，说他将于本月下旬离开日本，并将驾驶"圣玛丽号"返回纽约。沃尔特和秘书埃德娜·昆顿小姐一直关注着报纸上关于日本政府官员给予罗伯特盛大接待以及他们为他的飞机无声专利支付巨额资金的报道。沃尔特将于6月毕业，因此他写信给他的父亲，告知他罗伯特即将载誉返回纽约，并认为在他抵达时为他举行一个盛大的庆祝活动是合适的。由于他父亲反正要来纽约参加毕业典礼，他建议父亲在那里迎接罗伯特凯旋归来。
肯内尔沃斯先生是特克萨卡纳商会成员和主要公民之一，他召集了商会会议，向他们通报了罗伯特·戈登非凡的成功，罗伯特一年前离开特克萨卡纳时还是一个默默无闻的男孩，现在是世界上最多被谈论的年轻人。他遵循自己发现的如何运用《圣经》中阐明的法则来预测棉花、谷物和股票未来走势的方法，赚取了一百多万美元；建造了当代最神奇的飞机；发明了使飞机无声的消音器；驾驶他自己的飞机"圣玛丽号"前往日本，在那里他受到了极大的荣誉接待，并且日本政府购买了他的使飞机静音的发明。肯内尔沃斯先生提议特克萨卡纳的主要公民前往纽约，迎接他们引以为豪的儿子（favorite son）归来。他讲话结束后，会场响起了对罗伯特·戈登持久的掌声和欢呼。斯坦顿上校也在听众中。他起身表示衷心赞同这个提议，并愿意捐赠1万美元给费用基金，认为他们应该乘坐专列去纽约迎接这位出生在特克萨卡纳附近农场的当代最伟大的年轻人。每个人都赞成，富人们都效仿斯坦顿先生，提供大笔资金以确保接待成功。会议结束后，J·H·肯内尔沃斯开车前往罗伯特母亲阿米莉亚·戈登的乡间住所。告诉她她儿子的成功以及去纽约迎接他并给予他盛大接待的计划，邀请她作为荣誉嘉宾乘坐专列前往。她感激地接受了。
6月9日，罗伯特·戈登22岁生日那天，盛大的接待活动举行。载着特克萨卡纳主要公民的专列抵达。罗伯特已将他的飞机安全降落在总督岛的新机场。"圣玛丽号"表现完美，从日本飞来的旅程平均速度超过每小时300英里。当罗伯特看到他的母亲时，他收到了生命中最大的惊喜，他冲向母亲，深情地问候她之后，转身与肯内尔沃斯先生和沃尔特握手，看到斯坦顿先生和夫人也在场，他欣喜若狂，以为肯定找到了玛丽。他冲过去问候她的父母，他的第一句话是："玛丽在哪里？"他们眼含泪水地告诉他，没有收到任何关于她的消息。他们立即前往Commodore酒店，接待委员会和特克萨卡纳的整个代表团在那里安排了一场晚宴和庆祝活动。罗伯特很高兴看到所有来自特克萨卡纳的著名商人在那里迎接他。肯内尔沃斯先生发表了讲话。告诉罗伯特特克萨卡纳为他感到多么自豪；说这是一个年轻人的时代，罗伯特已经证明他是他那个时代最伟大的年轻人。罗伯特被这次盛大的接待所淹没。他感谢他的朋友们； personally 感谢肯内尔沃斯先生，尤其感谢他把他亲爱的老母亲带来见他；说这是他一生中最快乐的时刻，他唯一的遗憾是玛丽不在场，但他仍然有找到她的希望。接待结束后，罗伯特有几分钟时间与他亲爱的老母亲独处，她说："我的儿子，你还记得你小时候做过的那个梦吗？你告诉我的那个。说你骑着一只白色翅膀的大鸟飞越海洋，外国如何给予你极大的荣誉。我的孩子，当你今天降落时，我想起了那个梦以及它是如何应验的。我希望你所有其他的梦想和抱负都能实现，并能得到玛丽的爱作为回报，因为你一直对她忠诚。"
罗伯特说："妈妈，我清楚地记得那个梦，当我在日本，他们给予我如此盛大的接待和荣誉时，我想起了那个梦，我想起了您，想起了您如何教我读《圣经》，我想起了玛丽，想起了我多么爱她，我觉得我愿意放弃所有的荣誉，只为了和您以及玛丽在一起，因为您的爱和玛丽的爱对我来说比世界上能给予的任何其他东西都更重要。"
沃尔特·肯内尔沃斯于6月从哥伦比亚学院毕业，准备在办公室与罗伯特一起工作。埃德娜·昆顿已被证明是罗伯特的忠实员工和宝贵助手。在他离开期间，她负责照料他的生意并处理他的金融交易。罗伯特很快开始着手一项新发明，并完善了一种机器，可以读取不远处人们的想法，还有一种他命名为"远程通话机"（Tel-talk）的机器。这台机器是基于无线电原理制造的；通过以特定角度升高和降低它，可以记录下华尔街不同大楼里的所有会谈内容。罗伯特也用这台机器来获取所有大操纵者会议的报告。他知道华尔街的操纵者们怀疑他以某种方式理解了他们的计划，因为他赚钱太快了，他们正密谋想办法让他在市场上出错并击垮他。他们经常改变计划，但每次都发现罗伯特站在了市场的正确一边。甚至他的朋友沃尔特也不知道罗伯特的最新发明。他把它放在一个秘密房间里，除了他自己没人见过它。这是一个非常精致的小机器，带有像罗盘一样的指示器，精巧地平衡并由电力操作。他的成功引起了极大的轰动，阴谋家们想得到他的秘密。他们知道埃德娜·昆顿自从罗伯特来纽约后一直在他的办公室工作。她被邀请到比尔特莫尔酒店（Biltmore）参加晚宴，在那里，如果有人愿意透露罗伯特·戈登如何在市场上如此成功操作的秘密，她将获得一大笔钱。她坦率地告诉他们，她对此一无所知，但如果她知道，任何数量的金钱都不能诱使她背叛她的雇主。埃德娜下定决心，第二天早上到达办公室时，她会把发生的事情告诉戈登先生。当她异常早地到达办公室时，发现戈登先生在那里。他看起来异常高兴，她以为他一定有玛丽的消息了。在她还没来得及告诉他前一天晚上发生的事情之前，他叫她进入他的秘密办公室，那个她从未见过的房间。在那里，她看到了各种奇怪的仪器，她知道这一定是他的一些新发明。他把她带到房间角落里的一台小机器前，向她展示了机器前一天晚上在纸上记录下的一些奇特线条。他告诉她，他的机器接收人们大脑的印象并记录下他们的想法，尤其是当他们非常兴奋或对任何事非常感兴趣的时候。他从机器上的记录中读给她听，内容基本上就是前一天晚上对她说的话。然后他转向《圣经》，指给她看那里说的"掩盖的事，没有不露出来的；隐藏的事，没有不被人知道的。" 埃德娜比她有生以来任何时候都激动。她知道机器揭示了真相。然后她对戈登先生说，她那天早上本就打算告诉他发生的事情，并希望他相信她对他忠诚，并拒绝了贿赂。然后他向她展示了机器上的另一个像留声机唱片一样的记录，可以记录人们的想法，并告诉她这显示了她刚刚在想什么。机器读取了她的心思并记录了她的想法。他向她保证，他确实相信她并信任她。埃德娜被这种巨大的信任感动得流下了眼泪。她知道以前从未被允许进入这个秘密房间，虽然她知道罗伯特对玛丽的深爱，但她觉得他给予她的这种信任不仅仅是商业上的信任，而是他对她也有一些爱意。她一直钦佩他，但从未想过爱他。现在她知道她确实爱他。
几天后，埃德娜与沃尔特进行了一次谈话，因为在罗伯特来纽约之前她就认识他，并且是通过他的影响力她才获得了这个职位。她告诉他发生了什么，并向他吐露了她对罗伯特的爱。他知道后很高兴，并希望罗伯特会爱上她，因为他认为这对罗伯特最好。沃尔特说："我不是判断男女情感的专家，但你要弄清楚罗伯特对你的感觉，方法是观察他的行为，记录他提到玛丽的频率，以及他为了找她而写的信。继续像以往一样对他好和体贴。如果在几个月内，他寻找玛丽的兴趣减退，并且不再谈论她，那将是一个明确的迹象，表明他的心思和心意正转向你。"
沃尔特毕业后不久，一天早上罗伯特把昆顿小姐叫进他的秘密办公室，告诉她他打算以"戈登、肯内尔沃斯和昆顿"（Gordon, Kennelworth & Quinton）的名义成立一家新公司，并且埃德娜将在公司中拥有股份，作为对她忠诚服务的奖励。她将协助进行秘密发现的研究工作。埃德娜对此欣喜若狂，情绪战胜了她的判断力。她伸出双臂搂住罗伯特的脖子，亲吻了他，告诉他他是世界上最了不起的男人，她爱他。他迅速从她身边挣脱开，坐在椅子上，盯着窗外看了几分钟才说话。然后他转向昆顿小姐，以一种坚定但友善的表情面对她，告诉她她误解了他的行为，他奖励她是因为她的忠诚，这其中不涉及感情，他不爱她，他忠于他失散已久的玛丽，并且永远不会爱别人。埃德娜几乎不知道该说什么。她请求他的原谅并提出辞职。他告诉她他不会接受；如果他们觉得可以并且愿意，他们会像过去一样继续一起工作。她向他保证，只要他需要她，她就愿意留下来，并且将来她会始终控制自己的情绪。
沃尔特·肯内尔沃斯已在大学完成了化学专业课程，现在准备在新公司工作。他的父亲在过去一年里一直跟随罗伯特进行市场操作，并赚了一大笔钱。他送给沃尔特10万美元，这是他從市場赚取利润的一部分，条件是这笔钱将用于帮助推进罗伯特的发明。
1928年秋，罗伯特和沃尔特完成了一项太阳镜（Sun-mirrors）的发明，通过它他们能够收集太阳光线并产生足够的热量，在几分钟内熔化摩天大楼。利用这些镜子和电力的辅助，他们发现了一种强大的光射线。罗伯特知道这将在即将到来的战争中具有巨大价值。他们将这台机器命名为"死亡恶魔"（The Demon of Death）。昆顿小姐在建造过程中对这台机器非常感兴趣，她将其命名为"吐火兽"（Spit-Fire），因为它能发出如此强大的火花，瞬间摧毁任何它接触到的金属。他们召开了一次会议，同意这项新发现必须保密，除非在战争时期为保卫美国，并且只有在我们的国家处于极度危险且无法应对敌人时才能使用。这台机器有一个只有罗伯特知道的秘密。他们打算很快开始建造一艘巨型飞艇，配备"死亡恶魔"。他们估计它能将强大的死亡射线发送到3000至5000英里外的太空中，摧毁700英里半径内的一切。新机器的研制工作在极度保密下开始了。它已经被命名为"玛丽，慈悲天使"（Marie the Angel of Mercy）。
罗伯特和沃尔特在棉花市场上迅速赚钱。战争的乌云正在聚集，欧洲正在购买棉花。棉花价格已经大幅上涨，他们利用快速的上下波动进行交易，既做多也做空。有句老话说亲密滋生轻视（intimacy breeds contempt），但这在沃尔特·肯内尔沃斯和埃德娜·昆顿身上并未应验。1928年9月初一个美丽的早晨，罗伯特·戈登走进实验室，发现埃德娜在沃尔特的怀里。他匆忙退出，但沃尔特和埃德娜知道他们被发现了。罗伯特对这一发现感到非常高兴，因为他知道这正是沃尔特需要的东西，可以激励他的雄心，并给他为之奋斗的目标。他意识到昆顿小姐是一位多么出色的女性，她也需要只有爱才能给予的灵感。那天晚上，他邀请沃尔特和他共进晚餐，当他们独处时，他说："嗯，沃尔特，爱情虫终于咬到你了。"沃尔特起初很害羞，不想多谈；然后他承认当他和埃德娜意识到他们彼此相爱时，感情来得非常突然。罗伯特告诉他这是不可避免的，现在是开始的时候了，这对他们俩都更好。他们是商业伙伴，这会使他们在工作中更快乐、更成功。沃尔特问他是否还对找到玛丽抱有希望。罗伯特告诉他他有------他永远不会放弃寻找。
此后一切进展顺利。沃尔特和埃德娜在工作中很快乐，1928年秋天回报给他们一项新的奇妙发现。他们成功完善了一种机器，能够以某种方式反射光线使飞机隐形，这与罗伯特的无声发明一起解决了问题。他现在知道，在战争时期，这架飞机可以用来悄悄接近敌人，而敌人将无法看到或听到它。举行会议后，他们决定这项发明以及"死亡恶魔"都不申请专利或出售给任何政府，他们将对其进行测试并保密。这里，罗伯特再次表现出他的巨大慷慨，他决定这项发明应在最需要的时候用于造福美国。沃尔特说："罗伯特，爱确实造就伟人，使他无私，使他在考虑自己之前先想到他的国家、他的母亲、他的爱人和一切其他事物。难怪你正在成功并且永远会成功，因为你在做正确的事。"
伟大机器"死亡恶魔"的完成对罗伯特来说是一个巨大的胜利，他为此不知疲倦地日夜工作，但他惊人的精力已经耗尽。沃尔特在机器完成之前就注意到罗伯特看起来疲惫不堪。他的思维缺乏往日的敏捷，沃尔特担心他的健康。罗伯特开始迟到办公室，并对工作失去了兴趣。他情绪低落、沮丧。感恩节那天，沃尔特和埃德娜安排了一场盛大的晚餐并邀请了罗伯特。他显得非常疲惫，晚餐吃得很少。沃尔特和埃德娜都注意到他比以往任何时候都沉默寡言。晚餐结束后大约一小时，罗伯特晕倒了。立即请来了医生，仔细检查后宣布是神经衰弱（nervous breakdown）。说一定有什么事情困扰着他的心神，或者他长期处于过度紧张之下。沃尔特解释了玛丽的失踪以及罗伯特如何为这段恋情担忧；他在股票和商品市场上漫长而艰苦的交易活动以及他的发明工作；直到几个月前，罗伯特几乎还能日夜工作而不显疲劳，但最近几周他注意到他发生了巨大变化。医生听完这段恋情和玛丽失踪的故事后，确信需要一次漫长而必要的休息才能使罗伯特恢复健康。他命令他绝对保持安静，不要试图处理任何生意上的细节。几天后，沃尔特说服罗伯特去大西洋城（Atlantic City），他去了，在那里待了两周休息后，他返回时显然已经康复，并展现出了昔日的体力和活力。他急于回去工作并照料他在市场上的投机交易。
CHAPTER XX
AS the end of 1928 neared, war was already raging
in Europe. England and Russia had already
gone to war as Robert had predicted. Complications
were developing quick and fast and war clouds were
gathering. Robert knew that it was only a question of
a short time when the United States with all of its gold
supply, would be attacked and there would be a great
battle in the air. Great progress had been made in aviation. Airplanes were carrying mail at the rate of 300
miles per hour. Passenger lines were now starting all
over the United States. "Marie the Angel of Mercy,"
Robert's great ship, was rapidly nearing completion.
The new 12-cylinder motor had been tested and the
engineers had estimated that they would attain a speed
of 1000 miles per hour. Robert was elated over the
success and knew that he would now be prepared to
help his country in time of its greatest need. He had
been working early and late and the interest in his work
had kept his mind off Marie. Yet not a day passed
but what he made some inquiries or had his detectives
chase some clew which he hoped would lead to the discovery of Marie, but all efforts were in vain. No news
had ever been heard of her.
With the great progress in radio messages thru the
air, and radiograms, Robert knew that in time of war,
secret communications would be necessary. Spies could
steal codes, and messages sent over the radio could be
interpreted; therefore, one of the great needs for the war
in the air would be a way to communicate without detection. He finally succeeded in completing what he
called "The Pocket Radio." It was no larger than a
watch and worked on the same principle of his machine
for recording the thoughts of people, only the instrument had to be used by two people who understood how
to work it, because the positive radio was carried in
one man's pocket and the negative in the other and by
pressing the stem, it could be changed from positive into
negative. No sound was transmitted thru the air. The
machine could be operated by certain motions of the
fingers on a little push button which recorded symbols
on the other machine that would reveal the message
sent. The Pocket Radio made it possible to convey
any message without any possibility of detection because only the person sending the message and the one
receiving it could understand or know anything about
it. This was better than wireless or any other radio
discovery up to this time. Robert tested the machine
out by leaving one instrument in Walter's pocket, he
himself going to Chicago and conveying messages which
Walter was able to get without any trouble. He could
either speak into this little Pocket Radio and convey
the sound without anyone else being able to take it from
the air, or use it to convey thoughts or emotions. The
test proved perfect and Robert knew that he had another
great discovery which would be of great value to his
Government in time of war. He decided to keep this a
secret and have it ready to aid the United States at a
time when they would need it most.
Robert figured that there would be a big bull campaign in cotton during 1929 so he had started buying
early in the year, expecting a big advance later. He
had also forecast the rapid advance of certain classes
of stocks. During 1928 he had closed a successful bear
campaign in Major Motors and was still holding his
Right Aeroplane stock, which had continued to advance,
and he figured that it would have a big rise during 1929.
His fortune was piling up rapidly, despite all the money
he was spending on his new inventions. The new ship
"Marie, the Angel of Mercy," was now about perfected,
but Robert intended that this should never be made
known to the public until he had it in perfect working
order and it was a success beyond doubt.
After preparing his campaign for the market and
buying stocks and cotton for the big advance, Walter
noticed a great change in Robert. His health began to
fail again, and now that he had achieved great success
and completed such wonderful inventions, without
Marie to comfort him he would probably break down in
health and give up. Robert had ceased to talk much
about Marie. His interest in the future was waning.
Walter and Edna, who were still as much in love as
ever, often discussed Robert's physical condition. They
decided to encourage him to go away for a long-needed
rest. Walter had a talk with Robert in the middle of
January, 1929, but Robert didn't show much interest
or any desire to travel. A short time after this, Robert
appeared at the office one morning looking more haggard
and worn than ever. He called Walter and Edna into
the office, told them that he had had a very peculiar
dream the night before, that he had dreamed that he had
gone to Paris and suddenly met Marie. He was so
strongly impressed with the dream that he decided to
leave at once. Told Walter to give the mechanics instructions to put his old ship "The St. Marie" in shape
to sail at once.
It was a matter of only a couple of days until they
reported that "The St. Marie" was in perfect shape and
could stand a trip around the world. There was to be
a great convention of all the nations on aviation in Paris
and Robert decided that he wanted to be there for it, but
the main incentive for the trip was his dream. Robert
had no trouble in securing letters of introduction to
prominent people in London and Paris. When he said
good-bye to Walter and Edna, they wished him Godspeed, told him that they hoped his dream would become a reality and that he would find Marie, but they
knew that he was not the same Robert of old. He acted
as tho his spirit was broken. On the morning of February 2nd, 1929, Robert started his flight to Paris and
arrived there promptly in the evening and went to visit
some friends and acquaintances. After talking over
the war situation and his forecasts of the great war yet
to come, he decided to visit friends in London. England
and Russia were waging their battles in the air and
doing very little land fighting. Despite the good start
that England had made, Russia and her allies were getting the best of the victory. Robert found London very
uninteresting. Up to this time he had heard nothing of
Marie and decided to return to Paris.
On a beautiful sunhiny morning in the latter part of
Feburary, 1929, Robert was walking down a prominent
business street in Paris with no special objective in
mind. He was feeling sick and gloomy and was walking
with his head down, looking at the street. Suddenly he
saw a form approaching very closely, and like a flash,
a woman quickly passed him. He was sure it was
Marie. His heart was in his throat. He turned around
quickly to follow her but she had disappeared. Just as
she passed him she dropped a letter on the street and he
picked it up, put it in his pocket and rushed on down
the street, hoping to find her, but after exhausting himself running around, fighting his way thru the crowds,
without a glimpse of her, he decided to open the letter.
When he opened it it was written in a foreign language
which he did not understand. He was not sure whether
it was Marie's handwriting or not. His first thought
was to go immediately to an interpreter and have the
letter read. On second thought, he decided that it might
be something confidential and that he would go to an
old friend who lived in Paris and ask him to interpret
the letter. Robert called on Louis Renan, stated the circumstance of his meeting Marie on the street and told
him about the letter she dropped. His friend gladly
consented to read the letter. Robert handed it to him
and he glanced over it; handed it back to Robert without
a word, told him to get out of his house immediately and
never darken the door again. Robert begged for an
explanation but in vain. His friend was angry and
determined and pushed Robert out of the door. Robert
walked slowly back to his hotel, disappointed, mystified,
and heart-broken. What could be the meaning of this
letter? Why should his friend offer no explanation as
to what it contained? Had he really met Marie and was
the letter from her? One thing he knew, he must find
out what this mysterious letter contained. He decided
the next best plan was to go to an interpreter, so he
inquired at the hotel the name of an interpreter and was
informed where he could get any language interpreted.
He called at the address, explained his mission to the
manager and turned over the letter. In a few minutes
the manager returned, handed him the letter, told him
there was the door, please get out and ask no questions.
Robert again begged for some explanation but the man
was defiant and refused to make any comment.
Robert returned to his hotel to think matters over.
He bought a paper and looked over the news from New
York and market reports. He saw that cotton and stocks
were advancing as he expected, but money-making now
was of no interest to him when he at last thought that
he had found where Marie was. He decided to place
a personal notice in all the papers in Paris, telling Marie
that he had passed her on the street, had found the letter, was unable to get it interpreted, and beg her to
communicate with him at once. He placed the notice in
the papers that afternoon. Received an invitation from
some acquaintances in Paris to dine with them and go
to a ball. He wanted to refuse the invitation because he
did not feel equal to the occasion, but they insisted that
it would do him good and begged him to come along.
Robert had been so disappointed about the mysterious
letter and the sudden loss of Marie after he had seen
her, that he decided to say nothing about the incident
to his friends. After dinner was over, they chatted with
Robert, and he seemed more cheerful. They told Robert
of the Aviators' Costume Ball to take place in the Hotel
Lafayette that night and asked him to go along. Robert tried to beg off and made the excuse that he had no
costume for this occasion, but they told him that they
had already ordered one for him and there was no getting out of it -- he had to go, so finally he consented.
When they arrived at the hotel and entered the ballroom, Robert's friends, who knew of his great fame in
New York and his success in speculative markets, were
anxious to introduce him to the prominent men and
women of Paris. Aviators were there from all over the
world. They had come for the great convention. Each
country was competing for the grand prize for the most
efficient airplane and the best one suited for war purposes. They asked Robert if he did not have a plane to
enter or if he could not demonstrate something with
"The St. Marie." He told them that his health was
not good and that he was not interested in entering a
plane at this time. The ballroom was decorated with
everything connected with airplanes. Miniature planes
were flying around the room, circling up and down from
the ceilings. It was a gorgeous display and while it was
dazzling to others, Robert paid very little attention to
it. His friends, in order to please him and get him
interested, had the radio tuned into New York and were
getting music from the Biltmore. The dance started.
Robert watched but was very little interested. His
friends invited him to dance but he refused. He had
no thoughts of anything but Marie. As he was sitting,
watching the dancers whirl around the floor, suddenly
he looked across the hall and again he saw Marie dressed
like an eagle, queen of the air. He made a mad rush
thru the crowd to the other side of the hall and when
he got there, he could see no Marie. The ordeal was
too much for him. He fell unconscious on the floor.
Friends rushed to his assistance and after reviving him,
he explained to them that he had seen Marie again and
asked them to find her and bring her to him. After
investigation, they told him that there was no one there
by that name and that none of the ladies had left the
ballroom. They brought them all before him and introduced him, but Marie was not among them. Robert
was not only sick at heart but sick physically, and his
friends realized it and called a nerve specialist, Dr.
Descartes. Robert explained what had happened, about
meeting Marie on the street and about seeing her at the
ball, altho he said nothing about the mysterious letter
to the Doctor. The Doctor, after examining him, told
his friends he thought that he was suffering from mental
delusions -- that he had probably had this woman on his
mind so long and after dreaming he had met her on a
street in Paris, had hoped so strongly that he would
meet her, he had brought himself to believe that she was
there and had really thought that he had seen her, both
on the street and in the ballroom, but it was probably an
optical delusion and after he got better he would realize
that he hadn't seen Marie.
Several days passed before Robert fully recovered.
In the meantime, he had become quite friendly with
Dr. Descartes and told him a great deal about his his-
tory. The Doctor was very much interested and had
a great desire to help him. Robert finally decided to
confide in him about the mysterious letter. The Doctor
had a brother in New York and was going to give Robert
a letter of introduction to him upon his return. While
they were on the subject of the letter of introduction,
Robert told him about the mysterious letter and the
Doctor agreed to get a friend of his who could interpret
it, to read the letter for him. Robert was very happy
because he thought that if he could get the meaning of
the letter it would throw some light on what the trouble
was with Marie. While he had been sick, his mind had
wandered and he had imagined all kinds of things, and
for a few moments, doubted Marie. He even thought
that she might have turned out to be a bad woman and
was now in Paris, having a gay time, but as soon as
his mind returned to its normal state, his old faith in
Marie returned, and he loved her as of old and believed
that she could do no wrong.
The next day Dr. Descartes called, took Robert with
him in his car to his friend who was an interpreter.
Robert handed him the letter and, after looking it over,
he handed the letter back to Robert, turned to the
Doctor, and said, "Have you no more respect for my
friendship than to insult me in a manner like this. Begone, and never let me see you in my house again."
The Doctor begged for an explanation and Robert offered his apologies, saying it was all his fault and the
Doctor was only trying to aid him, but the man refused
to discuss the matter and they hurried away. When
they got in the car, Dr. Descartes knew that the shock
was too much for Robert so he drove him immediately
to the hotel without discussing the mysterious letter.
After he had gotten him in his room and made him comfortable, he begged Robert not to worry about the letter,
told him that he would think the matter over and call
and see him the next day.
Robert was very much worried. His hope was fast
giving way to despair. He again realized that hope
deferred maketh the heart grow sick. He thought of
Henry Watson's story and wondered if he would have
to go thru life and die without ever again seeing Marie.
Dr. Descartes called the following day and was very
solicitous of Robert's welfare. Told him to forget the
incident about the letter and advised Robert to try to
get it interpreted when he returned to New York. Robert told him more about Marie's disappearance and
showed him the note that Marie had placed in his pocket
on the train to St. Louis. The Doctor read it and said
it certainly left room for hope, and while it was mysterious, he felt that Marie fully intended at some time
to come back to him. Robert had received no reply
to his personal notices in the Paris newspapers and decided to return to New York in a few days.
In the early part of March a lot of the aviators were
returning from Paris to New York after the convention
and Robert decided to go home with them. They insisted that he was not physically able to sail "The St.
Marie" alone and sent a pilot along with him. The trip
was uneventful and on March 5th Robert arrived in
New York. On his arrival he went immediately to his
office and laboratories where he found Walter and Edna
glad to see him. They told him that he looked much
improved in health. He related all his experiences in
Paris and the mysterious letter. Walter was very much
amazed and at a loss to understand it all. He could not
understand, if Marie had dropped the letter and
had really seen Robert on the street and at the ball,
why she would not answer his personal notices in the
papers and at least clear up the mystery of her disappearance. Robert decided to go immediately to an interpreter in New York and see if he could get the mysterious letter read. After handing it to the man who
spoke about ten different languages, the interpreter
handed it back to him and stated in a firm, gentlemanlike manner that he would like him to please leave the
office immediately and never return. Robert went at
once to his office and told Walter and Edna what had
happened. They talked it over and advanced all kinds
of theories about what the letter might contain, and
asked Robert if any of the interpreters had ever given
any information or stated whether they could read the
letter or not. Robert told them they had not. Edna
thought that probably the letter contained a message to
the interpreter not to give any information or to reveal
what it contained to Robert or anyone else. Walter
thought if this were the case, that some of the interpreters
who seemed to be insulted by it, would have immediately
destroyed the letter instead of handing it back to him.
The more theories they advanced, the less plausible the
mystery seemed. Robert decided to write to a famous astrologer in Canada whom he had heard of. He sent
along his date of birth, telling him the history of the
case, to see if he could give him any light on the subject,
telling the astrologer that he would pay $50,000.00 or
more if necessary, if he could solve the problem and tell
him what the letter contained and how to get it interpreted or give him any information leading to the whereabouts of Marie. The astrologer answered as follows
after making the calculation from Robert's date of
birth:
While it is a very peculiar case, the events were not accidents at all but the result of Natural Law. The young lady
still lives and I believe will again come into your life three
or four years later. The great trouble was that on the day
she disappeared, Mercury, your ruling planet, applied to
an evil aspect of Uranus, the great eccentric, revolutionary,
mysterious planet, and this indicated disappointment, trouble
and delays, over letters or writings and the letters would be
mysterious and hard to understand. In view of the fact that
Jupiter, Mars, and Mercury, as well as Venus, were all changing signs just around the time she disappeared, it meant that
there would be many changes and long delays before the
mystery would be solved, that there was great danger of letters being lost or miscarried, and that it was possible that
she may have written you letters which never reached you.
Neptune has much to do with the sea and its mysteries and as
it strongly influences the city of Paris, her appearance there
would be shrouded in mystery and there would be much that
could not be explained. It is very doubtful if you will get any
explanation or interpretation of the mysterious letter. There
is something visionary about it, or the appearance of Marie
may have been a spiritual apparition.
If you will visit cities near beautiful watering places in the
South or Southwest, and could come in contact with an honest
spiritualist or clairvoyant, it may be of some benefit and help
in some way to solve the mystery. In view of the condition
of your health and the planet Saturn is afflicting you, it
would be advisable to spend the balance of the Winter and
early part of the Spring in a tropical climate. Florida would
be especially good for you and might bring favorable results
in more ways than one. If you will give me time to figure
on your horoscope and have patience I will guarantee to tell
you the time that you will find Marie. The progressed Mars
is traveling toward a conjunction of Venus, the Goddess of
Love, and when this is completed she will probably come back
into your life.
好的，这是第二十章的中文翻译：
第二十章
随着1928年底临近，战争已在欧洲激烈进行。正如罗伯特所预测的，英国和俄国已经开战。复杂局势迅速发展，战争的乌云正在聚集。罗伯特知道，这只是个时间问题，美国及其所有的黄金储备将遭到攻击，并将发生一场大规模的空中战役。航空业取得了巨大进步。飞机正以每小时300英里的速度运送邮件。客运航线如今已遍布美国。罗伯特的巨舰"玛丽，慈悲天使号"正迅速接近完工。新的12缸发动机已经过测试，工程师们估计其速度将达到每小时1000英里。罗伯特对成功感到欢欣鼓舞，他知道现在他已做好准备，在国家最需要的时候提供帮助。他一直早起晚睡地工作，对工作的兴趣使他暂时不去想玛丽。然而，没有一天他不进行一些查询或让他的侦探追踪某些线索，他希望能借此找到玛丽，但所有的努力都是徒劳。没有听到任何关于她的消息。
随着空中无线电信息和无线电报的巨大进步，罗伯特知道在战争时期，秘密通讯将是必要的。间谍可能窃取密码，通过无线电发送的信息可能被破译；因此，空中战争的一大需求将是一种不被察觉的通讯方式。他终于成功完成了他称之为"袖珍无线电"（The Pocket Radio）的装置。它不比一块手表大，工作原理与他记录人们想法的机器相同，只是这个仪器必须由两个懂得如何操作的人使用，因为正极无线电放在一个人的口袋里，负极在另一个人那里，通过按压柄头，可以从正极转换为负极。没有声音通过空气传输。该机器可以通过手指在一个小按钮上的特定动作来操作，按钮会在另一台机器上记录下符号，从而揭示发送的信息。袖珍无线电使得传递任何信息而不被发现的任何可能性成为可能，因为只有发送信息的人和接收信息的人能够理解或知晓其内容。这比无线电报或任何其他迄今的无线电发现都要好。罗伯特通过将一个仪器留在沃尔特的口袋里来测试这台机器，他自己则前往芝加哥传递信息，沃尔特能够毫无困难地接收。他既可以对着这个小袖珍无线电说话传递声音，而其他任何人都无法从空中截取，也可以用其传递想法或情感。测试证明是完美的，罗伯特知道他有了另一项伟大发现，这将在战争时期对他的政府具有巨大价值。他决定对此保密，并准备好在美国最需要的时候援助他们。
罗伯特推断1929年棉花将会有一次大牛市行情，因此他在年初很早就开始买入，预期后期会大幅上涨。他还预测了某些类别的股票会快速上涨。在1928年期间，他成功结束了在通用汽车上的空头行情，并且仍然持有他的Right Aeroplane（右翼飞机？或公司名）股票，该股持续上涨，他预计其在1929年会有大幅上涨。尽管他在新发明上花费了所有资金，他的财富仍在迅速积累。新船"玛丽，慈悲天使号"现在已近乎完善，但罗伯特打算在使其达到完美工作状态且毫无疑问取得成功之前，绝不向公众公开。
在准备好市场操作计划并为大涨买入股票和棉花之后，沃尔特注意到罗伯特发生了巨大变化。他的健康状况再次开始下降，如今他已取得巨大成功并完成了如此奇妙的发明，但没有玛丽安慰他，他可能会身体垮掉并放弃。罗伯特已不再多谈玛丽。他对未来的兴趣正在减退。沃尔特和埃德娜仍然深爱着对方，他们经常讨论罗伯特的身体状况。他们决定鼓励他出去进行一次早就需要的休息。1929年1月中旬，沃尔特与罗伯特进行了一次谈话，但罗伯特没有表现出多大兴趣或任何旅行的欲望。此后不久，一天早上罗伯特出现在办公室，看起来比以往更加憔悴和疲惫。他把沃尔特和埃德娜叫进办公室，告诉他们他前一天晚上做了一个非常奇怪的梦，梦见自己去了巴黎并突然遇到了玛丽。这个梦给他留下的印象如此深刻，以至于他决定立刻动身。告诉沃尔特指示机械师们将他原来的船"圣玛丽号"准备好，以便立即启航。
只用了两天时间，他们就报告说"圣玛丽号"状态完美，可以进行环球旅行。巴黎将举行一次所有国家参加的航空大会，罗伯特决定要去参加，但此行的主要动力是他的梦。罗伯特毫不费力地获得了写给伦敦和巴黎知名人士的介绍信。当他向沃尔特和埃德娜告别时，他们祝他一路平安（Godspeed），告诉他他们希望他的梦想成真，能找到玛丽，但他们知道他已不是过去的那个罗伯特了。他的行为举止仿佛精神已垮。1929年2月2日早晨，罗伯特开始了他的巴黎之行，并于当晚准时抵达，他去拜访了一些朋友和熟人。在讨论了战争局势以及他对即将到来的大战的预测后，他决定去伦敦拜访朋友。英国和俄国正在空中展开战斗，地面战斗很少。尽管英国开局良好，但俄国及其盟国正在取得胜利的优势。罗伯特发现伦敦非常无趣。到目前为止，他没有听到任何关于玛丽的消息，于是决定返回巴黎。
1929年2月下旬一个阳光明媚的早晨，罗伯特走在巴黎一条繁华的商业街上，漫无目的。他感到不适和忧郁，低着头看着街道走路。突然，他看到一个身影非常靠近地走来，像一道闪光，一个女人迅速从他身边经过。他确信那是玛丽。他的心提到了嗓子眼。他迅速转身去追她，但她已经消失了。就在她经过他时，她把一封信掉在了街上，他捡起信，放进口袋，然后冲向前方街道，希望能找到她，但在四处奔跑、挤过人群、精疲力竭仍未瞥见她之后，他决定打开那封信。当他打开它时，信是用一种他不懂的外语写的。他不确定这是否是玛丽的笔迹。他的第一个想法是立即去找一位翻译把信读出来。转念一想，他觉得这可能涉及机密，于是决定去找一位住在巴黎的老朋友，请他翻译这封信。罗伯特拜访了路易斯·雷南（Louis Renan），陈述了他在街上遇到玛丽的情况，并告诉了他关于她掉落的信的事。他的朋友欣然同意读信。罗伯特把信递给他，他扫了一眼；一言不发地把信递还给罗伯特，叫他立刻离开他的房子，永远不要再登门。罗伯特请求解释，但徒劳无功。他的朋友很生气，态度坚决，把罗伯特推出了门。罗伯特慢慢地走回酒店，感到失望、困惑和心碎。这封信可能意味着什么？为什么他的朋友不对信的内容作任何解释？他真的遇到了玛丽吗？这封信是她写的吗？有一件事他知道，他必须弄清楚这封神秘的信里写了什么。他决定下一个最佳方案是去找一位翻译，于是他在酒店询问了一位翻译的名字，并得知在哪里可以翻译任何语言。他按地址找去，向经理说明来意，并交出了信。几分钟后，经理回来，把信还给他，指着门请他出去，不要问任何问题。罗伯特再次请求一些解释，但那人态度轻蔑，拒绝作出任何评论。
罗伯特回到酒店思考这件事。他买了一份报纸，浏览来自纽约的新闻和市场报告。他看到棉花和股票如他预期的那样上涨，但当他最终以为找到了玛丽的下落时，赚钱对他来说已毫无兴趣。他决定在巴黎的所有报纸上刊登一则私人启事，告诉玛丽他在街上与她擦肩而过，找到了那封信，无法找人翻译，恳请她立刻与他联系。那天下午他就在报纸上登了启事。他收到巴黎一些熟人的邀请，共进晚餐并参加一个舞会。他想拒绝邀请，因为他觉得自己状态不佳，但他们坚持说这对他有好处，恳求他一起去。罗伯特对那封神秘的信以及见到玛丽后又突然失去她感到非常失望，他决定不对朋友们提及这件事。晚餐结束后，他们与罗伯特聊天，他看起来开朗了一些。他们告诉罗伯特当晚在拉斐特酒店（Hotel Lafayette）将举行一场飞行员化装舞会（Aviators' Costume Ball），并请他一起去。罗伯特试图推脱，借口说他没有适合这种场合的服装，但他们告诉他他们已经为他订好了一套，没法推脱------他必须去，最终他同意了。
当他们到达酒店进入舞厅时，罗伯特的朋友们知道他在纽约的巨大名声和在投机市场上的成功，急于将他介绍给巴黎的知名人士。来自世界各地的飞行员们齐聚于此。他们是为这次大会而来的。每个国家都在角逐最高效、最适合战争用途飞机的大奖。他们问罗伯特是否没有飞机参赛，或者是否不能用"圣玛丽号"展示一下。他告诉他们他健康状况不佳，目前对参赛不感兴趣。舞厅用与飞机有关的一切装饰着。微型飞机在房间里飞来飞去，从天花板上盘旋上下。这是一个华丽的展示，虽然对其他人来说令人眼花缭乱，但罗伯特却很少注意。为了取悦他并引起他的兴趣，他的朋友们将收音机调到了纽约，接收来自比尔特莫尔酒店的音乐。舞会开始了。罗伯特看着，但没什么兴趣。他的朋友们邀请他跳舞，但他拒绝了。他除了玛丽什么也不想。当他坐着观看舞者在地板上旋转时，突然他望向大厅对面，再次看到了玛丽，她打扮得像一只鹰，空中的女王。他发疯似的穿过人群冲到大厅的另一边，当他到达那里时，却看不到玛丽。这番折磨对他来说太沉重了。他昏倒在地上。朋友们冲过来帮助他，在他苏醒后，他向他们解释他又看到了玛丽，请求他们找到她并带她来见他。经过调查，他们告诉他那里没有叫那个名字的人，也没有任何女士离开舞厅。他们把所有人都带到他面前介绍给他，但玛丽不在其中。罗伯特不仅心里难受，身体也不适，他的朋友们意识到了这一点，叫来了一位神经科专家笛卡尔医生（Dr. Descartes）。罗伯特解释了发生的事情，关于在街上遇到玛丽和在舞会上看到她，尽管他没有向医生提及那封神秘的信。医生在检查后告诉他的朋友们，他认为罗伯特患有精神幻觉（mental delusions）------他可能心里想着这个女人太久了，在梦到在巴黎街上遇到她之后，又如此强烈地希望会遇到她，以至于使自己相信她就在那里，并真的以为在街上和舞厅都看到了她，但这很可能是一种视觉错觉（optical delusion），等他好一些后，他会意识到他并没有看到玛丽。
几天后，罗伯特才完全恢复。在此期间，他与笛卡尔医生变得相当友好，并告诉了他很多自己的经历。医生非常感兴趣，并非常渴望帮助他。罗伯特最终决定向他吐露那封神秘信件的事。医生有个兄弟在纽约，打算在罗伯特返回时给他一封介绍信。当他们谈到介绍信的话题时，罗伯特告诉了他关于那封神秘信的事，医生同意找他的一位能翻译的朋友为他读信。罗伯特非常高兴，因为他觉得如果能知道信的含义，就能对玛丽遇到的麻烦有所了解。在他生病期间，他的思绪飘忽不定，想象了各种各样的事情，甚至一度怀疑过玛丽。他甚至认为她可能变成了一个坏女人，现在在巴黎过着放荡的生活，但只要他的心智恢复正常，他对玛丽旧有的信心就回来了，他像过去一样爱她，并相信她不会做错事。
第二天，笛卡尔医生来访，开车带罗伯特去见他的翻译朋友。罗伯特把信递给他，他看完后，把信递还给罗伯特，转向医生说："你就这么不尊重我们的友谊，用这种方式侮辱我吗？滚出去，别再让我在我家里看到你。"医生请求解释，罗伯特也表示道歉，说全是他的错，医生只是想帮助他，但那人拒绝讨论此事，他们匆忙离开了。当他们上车后，笛卡尔医生知道这个打击对罗伯特来说太大了，于是他立即开车送他回酒店，没有讨论那封神秘的信。他把罗伯特安顿到房间让他舒服下来后，恳求罗伯特不要为那封信担心，告诉他他会考虑这件事，第二天再来看他。
罗伯特非常担心。他的希望正迅速被绝望取代。他再次体会到"所盼望的迟延未得，令人心忧"（hope deferred maketh the heart grow sick）。他想起了亨利·沃森的故事，想知道自己是否必须度过余生至死都再也见不到玛丽。笛卡尔医生第二天来访，非常关心罗伯特的福祉。叫他忘记关于那封信的事，并建议罗伯特回到纽约后试着找人翻译。罗伯特告诉他更多关于玛丽失踪的事，并给他看了玛丽在去圣路易斯的火车上放在他口袋里的那张字条。医生读了之后说这确实留有希望的余地，虽然很神秘，但他觉得玛丽完全有意在某个时候回到他身边。罗伯特在巴黎报纸上登的私人启事没有收到任何回复，他决定几天后返回纽约。
三月初，大会结束后，许多飞行员从巴黎返回纽约，罗伯特决定和他们一起回家。他们坚持认为他的身体状况不适合独自驾驶"圣玛丽号"，并派了一名飞行员陪同他。旅程平安无事，3月5日罗伯特抵达纽约。抵达后，他立即前往他的办公室和实验室，沃尔特和埃德娜很高兴见到他。他们告诉他他的健康状况看起来好多了。他讲述了他在巴黎的所有经历以及那封神秘的信。沃尔特非常惊讶，并无法理解这一切。他不明白，如果玛丽掉了那封信，并且真的在街上和舞会上看到了罗伯特，为什么她不回复他在报纸上的私人启事，至少澄清她失踪的谜团。罗伯特决定立刻去纽约找一位翻译，看看能否读懂那封神秘的信。在把信递给一位能说大约十种不同语言的人之后，翻译把信还给他，并以一种坚定、绅士般的语气表示请他立刻离开办公室，不要再回来。罗伯特立刻回到办公室，告诉沃尔特和埃德娜发生了什么。他们讨论了此事，并就信的内容提出了各种推测，并问罗伯特是否有任何翻译曾提供任何信息或说明他们是否能读懂那封信。罗伯特告诉他们没有。埃德娜认为可能信中包含给翻译的信息，要求不要向罗伯特或任何其他人提供任何信息或透露其内容。沃尔特认为，如果情况是这样，一些似乎因此受到侮辱的翻译会立刻销毁这封信，而不是把它还给他。他们提出的推测越多，这个谜团似乎就越不合理。罗伯特决定写信给一位他听说过的加拿大著名占星家。他寄去了自己的出生日期，讲述了事情的经过，看他是否能对此事提供任何启示，并告诉占星家，如果他能够解决问题，告诉他信里包含了什么，如何找人翻译，或者提供任何能找到玛丽下落的信息，他愿意支付5万美元或更多（如有必要）。占星家根据罗伯特的出生日期进行计算后回复如下：
虽然这是一个非常特殊的案例，但这些事件绝非偶然，而是自然法则的结果。那位年轻女士仍然活着，我相信三四年后会再次出现在你的生活中。最大的麻烦在于她失踪那天，你的主宰行星水星（Mercury）与天王星（Uranus）------这颗代表古怪、革命、神秘的大行星------形成了不利相位（evil aspect），这预示着与信件或文书有关的失望、麻烦和延迟，而且这些信件会神秘难懂。鉴于木星（Jupiter）、火星（Mars）、水星（Mercury）以及金星（Venus）都在她失踪前后转换星座（changing signs），这意味着在谜团解开之前会有许多变化和漫长的延迟，信件丢失或误投的风险很大，并且有可能她给你写过信但你从未收到。海王星（Neptune）与海洋及其奥秘有很大关系，并且它强烈影响着巴黎市，她在巴黎的出现将会笼罩在神秘之中，会有许多无法解释的事情。你能否得到对这封神秘信件的任何解释或翻译，非常值得怀疑。这其中有些虚幻的成分（visionary），或者玛丽的出现可能是一种灵体显现（spiritual apparition）。
如果你能造访南部或西南部靠近美丽水滨（watering places）的城市，并能接触到一位诚实的通灵者（spiritualist）或灵视者（clairvoyant），或许会有所裨益，并可能以某种方式帮助解开谜团。考虑到你的健康状况以及土星（Saturn）正对你造成困扰（afflicting you），建议你在热带气候中度过冬季剩余的时间和早春时节。佛罗里达对你尤其有益，可能会在多方面带来有利的结果。如果你能给我时间推算你的星盘（horoscope）并有耐心，我保证能告诉你找到玛丽的时间。推进的火星（progressed Mars）正趋向与爱神金星（Venus）合相（conjunction），当这一相位完成时，她很可能将重新回到你的生活中。
CHAPTER XXI
ROBERT was very much encouraged by this letter
because he had great confidence in Astrology and
in this man's ability. He decided to go immediately
to Florida for a rest and visit all the beautiful spots
and watering places that he could find, hoping to get
some news of Marie. Going directly to Palm Beach,
Florida, he met some friends of Conan Doyle's who
were very much interested in spiritualism. They told
him that a famous spiritualist, Lady Bersford from
England, had been there, and that they believed she
could help solve the problem. Robert asked where he
could find her and was told that she had gone to Ocala,
Florida, to visit Silver Springs and investigate the
legend of Silver Springs, the story about a beautiful
young girl who drowned herself in the Springs.
A LEGEND
(The following story combines the accuracies of fact
with the romance of fiction. Aunt Silly lived at Silver
Springs until her death, about sixteen years ago, and
was seen by many who visited the Springs. It is from
the gifted pen of Mrs. Maley Bainbridge Crist):
Near Florida's celebrated Silver Springs lives an old negress,
known to the entire surrounding country as "Aunt Silly,"
whose claim to being 110 years old is borne out by her ap-
pearance. Aunt Silly is wrinkled and decrepit, and the wool
peeping from her bandanaed head is white as snow, while the
blackness and weirdness of her face is intensified by a heavy
crop of snow-white beard. As long as the oldest citizen of
Ocala can remember Aunt Silly has looked just as ancient as
she does now; identified always with Silver Springs, and
hobbling about them from morning until night, leaning upon
her short, thick staff.
That she was a participant in a tragedy is known only to a
very few of Ocala's oldest citizens, and seldom referred to by
any of them. In the near vicinity of Ocala, when first it was
settled, stood a splendid old mansion owned by Capt. Harding
Douglass, a South Carolinian of considerable wealth. His only
child was a son, who, with his mother's beauty of countenance,
had inherited her tender, shrinking nature, and, like herself,
was a slave to the old man's iron will. In the beautiful little
City of Ocala lived Bernice Mayo, whose blond beauty won,
at first sight, the heart of Claire Douglass. Although of Virginia ancestry, Bernice was a true child of the "Land of
Flowers," passionate and impulsive. Her eyes were blue and
clear as the waters of Lake Munroe, beside which she had
spent her childhood, in the fair little City of Sanford. Her
hair was as golden as Florida's own sunshine, and Florida's
tropical splendor ran riot in her blood. For six months Bernice Mayo and Claire Douglass were constant companions, and
Silver Springs was their favorite resort. For half a day at
a time they would drift about on the bosom of the splendid,
placid curiosity of nature.
Bernice seemed never to tire of going into the depths of the
subterranean world. "If I were a mermaid, Claire," she would
say, "and lived in yon crystal cavern, and some fair day I
should wander forth among the palmettos and mosses of the
springs, and, sitting on yonder ledge of rocks, should 'comb
my golden hair with a shell,' and your boat should come drifting by, and you were to see me in the water beneath, would
you love me well enough to plunge, plunge to the depths beneath to woo me?" Then would Claire stop her merry chatter
with his kisses, and pledge to her his eternal love as they
drifted over the transparent mirror of water, pausing now
and then to study the rocks and shells, the mosses, palmettos,
the fish, which were as visible eighty feet below the transparent water as were the trees and woodland about them.
There is nothing fairer than Ocala's "Lover's Lane," and yet
no spot held for these young people the attraction of Silver
Springs, their constant trysting place. But there came a fatal
day, destined to separate them. A day wherein Claire Douglass declared to his father his love for beautiful, penniless
Bernice Mayo, and his determination to make her his wife.
Stormily, his father vowed it should never be, and secretly
planned a separation.
When Claire Douglass had been speedily dispatched abroad
on important business for his father, then it was that Bernice
learned the truth, and her proud, delicate nature lay crushed
and bleeding beneath the cruel blow and still more cruel separation.
Vainly she strove to rally; all life seemed but an empty
blank to her. A year dragged wearily by, and the scenes frequented by merry Bernice Mayo knew her no more. Paler
and thinner she daily grew. Fragile, she was, as the white
blossoms of her well-loved springs. The little chain of gold
that Claire had locked on her arm would have slipped across
the wasted, transparent hand, but for the ribbon that held its
links. One day (her last upon earth) the girl, by dint of
desperate energy, crept to Silver Springs. Even Aunt Silly
was unprepared for the white, emaciated little creature who
tottered into her cabin and fell fainting in her arms. Consciousness soon returned, but it was apparent even to the old
black woman that death had set its gray, unmistakable seal
upon the young face.
"Aunt Silly," gasped the girl, "I have come to you to die,
and you must obey my last request; the grave divulges no
secrets. Ere tonight's sun sets I shall be in heaven. This
separation from the man I love has been my death, but in that
death we shall be united. I have asked God, and He has heard
me. But you, Aunt Silly, you must obey my request. You love
me; you will do as I ask. Tonight when the moon comes out,
row my bodv to Boiling Springs, and bury me there. You
know the spot -- make no mistake. Do this, and God will attend
to the rest."
"Good Gord A'mighty, chile, you think Aunt Silly am gwine
tote dade body off in the lonesomely night?" asked the old
woman, her very teeth chattering with the superstitious fear
peculiar to her race. The girl realized the risk of her plan
being thwarted, and raising herself to a sitting posture she
seized the old woman's hands and fixed her dying eyes full
on her face.
"Aunt Silly," she gasped, "I am a dying woman; I am very
near to God; I have talked with Him, and He has answered
me. My will has been crushed in life, I swear it shall not in
death. Before twenty-four hours Claire Douglass shall join
me in the crystal cavern of Silver Springs. If you do not
grant my request every spirit of evil shall surround you.
Palsied and blind you shall grow, and deaf -- deaf to every
sound but the ghosts of the dead, which shall pursue you by
day and haunt you by night. Do you swear to obey my dying
request, or will you refuse me, and reap the prophecy of a
dying woman, which shall rest upon your cowardly head for
refusing to obey God's will?"
The old woman was shaking like an aspen. Her eyes protruded with fear, and great beads of perspiration rolled down
her cheeks. The strength of the dying girl's will had prevailed, and the old woman answered: "I promises, honey; I
promises."
It was a solemn and awful sight that night, witnessed alone
by God and nature; the boat, which drifted down Silver
Springs in the moonlight, bearing its two strange occupants --
the one weird, bent, grotesque; the other, so silent, so white,
so pathetic, in its dead loveliness. Not a leaf was stirring,
not a sound heard, but the splash, splash of the old woman's
oars, as her boat, with its strange, beautiful burden, drifted
over the curious, transparent body of water; drifted until it
reached Boiling Springs, then veered about and stood still.
Gently and easily, as if it had been a babe, the old woman
lifted the little body. Something of her fear had departed
in the placid smile of the dead face. Tears rolled down her
dusky face as she bent forward in obedience to the girl's curious request. For a moment the body rocked to and fro on
the bosom of the water, upon which its happiest moments had
been spent. The dead face smiled, and the wealth of hair
gleamed in the moonlight like a sheen of gold. Every pebble
was visible in the depths below. Suddenly, as if by magic,
the body began sinking. The boiling of the spring had ceased,
showing a peculiar little fissure in the rock from whence all
the strange body of water came. The fissure slowly divided,
received the dead body and closed again, shutting every vestige
of it from view.
"Gord A'mighty, dat chile a angel sho' nuff. She mus'
done talked to de Lawd; she knowed how all dat gwine to be,"
muttered the old woman, as she rowed back to her cabin in the
moonlight.
A mocking-bird on the opposite shore sent forth a flood of
silvery melody. "Hear dat now," muttered Aunt Silly; "dat
bird done sendin' forth de weddin' song o' de bridegroom.
Come on, Claire Douglass, yo' little bride am waitin' for you
more pacifyin' den she waited many a long day."
The day following the death of Bernice Mayo was one
never to be forgotten by the citizens of Ocala. Claire Douglass had just returned after a year's absence. He found his
beautiful cousin (whom his father desired to become his wife)
a guest at the home of his parents.
"Claire," said his father as they lingered over the breakfast table, "I have a fine, new skiff at Silver Springs, and I
wish you to take your cousin for a row this morning; and,
by the permission of you young people, I shall make one of
your party."
"Delightful, uncle," cried the girl; and Claire, while he
turned a trifle pale at the thought of returning to the spot
where all that had given color to his life had transpired,
could only acquiesce.
Claire Douglass looked unusually handsome as the party
drifted down Silver Springs in the April sunshine, but there
was a curious pallor on his face, and the uncle and niece were
left to carry on all the conversation. What a contrast the
blooming girl in April sunshine bore to the one in the solemn
moonlight, who had drifted over the same water the evening
before! As the skiff neared Boiling Springs the party noted
a little boat hovering over it. The boat was rowed by Aunt
Silly; and its other occupant was an old woman, whose eyes
were swollen with weeping. The skiff paused beside the little
rowboat, and the occupants of each gazed into the curious,
transparent depths below.
Suddenly the niece cried out, "Oh, see, that looks like a
hand; a little human hand!" Plainer and more visible it
grew, the little white hand with its gold chain locked above the
slender wrist. Ah, little band, Claire Douglass would have
known you among ten thousand hands! His face was white
as death and he gasped as though choking. All were intent
upon the scene below. Suddenly the boiling of the water
ceased, and out upon a rock in its transparent depths, like a
broken, beautiful lily, lay Bernice Mayo, her golden hair
floating on the sand, her dead face smiling placidly, as if at
last a halo of peace had descended upon the tired spirit, and
the broken heart had found rest. With a wild cry that pierced
even the heart of the mother, who for the last time in life
gazed upon the dead face of her child, Claire Douglass dashed
overboard, diving deeper, ever deeper, until he caught in his
arms the little figure of his dead love.
Then once more the rock divided and closed, shutting from
view forever the lovers, who lay locked in each other's embrace. And again the water whirled and boiled in its mad
fury, as if to defy the puny will of him who would have
separated what God had joined together.
As for the first time the secret bridal chamber of Silver
Springs has been made known to the world, it will be interesting to its future visitors, as they approach that part of it
known as "Boiling Springs," to note in the whir of the water
beneath (the only part of the water not perfectly placid)
the constant shower of tiny, pearl-like shells poured forth
from the fissure in the rock, and which Aunt Silly says are
the jewels the angels gave Bernice Mayo upon her wedding
morning when her lover joined her in their fairy palace in
Silver Springs. There is, too, a curious flower growing in
the springs -- a flower with leaf like a lily, and a blossom
shaped like an orange blossom. Its peculiar waxy whiteness
and yellow petals are like Bernice Mayo's face and hair, Aunt
Silly says, and she calls them "Bernice Bridal Wreath."
There is a legend among the young people of Ocala that a
woman presented with one of these blossoms will become a
bride ere the close of the year.
好的，这是第二十一章的中文翻译：
第二十一章
这封信让罗伯特大受鼓舞，因为他非常信任占星学以及此人的能力。他决定立刻前往佛罗里达休息，并走访所有他能找到的美丽景点和水滨胜地，希望能得到一些关于玛丽的消息。他直接去了佛罗里达的棕榈滩（Palm Beach），在那里遇到了柯南·道尔（Conan Doyle）的一些对招魂术（spiritualism）非常感兴趣的朋友。他们告诉他一位著名的招魂师，来自英国的伯斯福德夫人（Lady Bersford）曾到过那里，并且他们相信她能帮助解决这个问题。罗伯特询问在哪里可以找到她，被告知她已去了佛罗里达的奥卡拉（Ocala），参观银泉（Silver Springs）并调查关于银泉的传说------一个关于一位美丽年轻女孩在泉中溺亡的故事。
一个传说
（以下故事结合了事实的准确性与小说的浪漫色彩。西莉阿姨（Aunt Silly）直到大约十六年前去世都住在银泉，许多到访银泉的人都见过她。这个故事出自才华横溢的马利·班布里奇·克里斯特夫人（Mrs. Maley Bainbridge Crist）之手）：
在佛罗里达著名的银泉附近，住着一位老黑人妇女，周围整个地区的人都称她为"西莉阿姨"，她声称自己110岁，其外貌也印证了这一点。西莉阿姨满脸皱纹，衰老不堪，从她包头巾的脑袋里窥见的头发像雪一样白，而浓密的一茬雪白胡子更凸显了她面庞的黝黑与怪异。在奥卡拉最年长的市民记忆中，西莉阿姨看起来就一直像现在这样古老；她总是与银泉联系在一起，从早到晚倚着她那短粗的手杖在泉边蹒跚而行。
只有奥卡拉极少数最年长的市民知道她曾参与过一场悲剧，而且他们中也很少有人提及。在奥卡拉刚建立时，其近郊矗立着一座宏伟的古老宅邸，属于哈丁·道格拉斯船长（Capt. Harding Douglass），一位相当富有的南卡罗来纳人。他唯一的孩子是个儿子，继承了他母亲容貌的美丽和她温柔、怯懦的天性，并且像她一样，是他父亲钢铁意志的奴隶。在美丽的小城奥卡拉，住着伯尼斯·梅奥（Bernice Mayo），她金色的美貌一眼就俘获了克莱尔·道格拉斯（Claire Douglass）的心。尽管祖先是弗吉尼亚人，伯尼斯却是"花卉之州"（指佛罗里达）真正的孩子，热情而冲动。她的眼睛像门罗湖（Lake Munroe）的湖水一样湛蓝清澈，她在湖边的美丽小城桑福德（Sanford）度过了童年。她的头发如佛罗里达的阳光般金黄，佛罗里达的热带华美在她血液中奔流。六个月来，伯尼斯·梅奥和克莱尔·道格拉斯形影不离，银泉是他们最喜爱的地方。他们常常一次半天，漂流在这片壮丽、宁静的自然奇观的水面上。
伯尼斯似乎对深入那个地下世界的深处从不厌倦。"如果我是一条美人鱼，克莱尔，"她会说，"住在那边水晶般的洞穴里，某个晴朗的日子，我漫步到泉边的棕榈丛和苔藓中，坐在那边的岩架上，'用贝壳梳理我金色的头发'，而你的船漂流而过，你在水中看到下方的我，你会足够爱我，为我潜入，潜入深处来追求我吗？"这时，克莱尔会用吻止住她欢快的喋喋不休，并在他们漂流过这面透明的"水镜"时，向她许下永恒的爱意，不时停下来研究岩石和贝壳、苔藓、棕榈树、鱼类，它们在透明水下八十英尺处如同他们周围的树木和林地一样清晰可见。没有什么比奥卡拉的"情人巷"（Lover's Lane）更美了，然而对这对年轻人来说，没有哪个地方比得上银泉的吸引力，那是他们不变的幽会地点。但是，一个灾难性的日子到来了，注定要将他们分开。那天，克莱尔·道格拉斯向父亲宣告了他对美丽却身无分文的伯尼斯·梅奥的爱，以及要娶她为妻的决心。他父亲暴怒地发誓绝不允许，并秘密策划了分离。
当克莱尔·道格拉斯被迅速派往国外为他父亲处理重要事务后，伯尼斯才得知真相，她骄傲而敏感的天性在这残酷的打击和更加残酷的分离下被击得粉碎，淌着血。
她徒劳地努力振作；对她而言，所有生活似乎都成了一片空白。一年时间沉闷地拖过，曾经常见快乐伯尼斯·梅奥身影的地方再也见不到她了。她日益苍白消瘦。她脆弱得如同她钟爱的泉水上的白色花朵。克莱尔锁在她手臂上的那条小金链，若不是有丝带系住链环，早已从她消瘦透明的手上滑落。一天（她在地球上的最后一天），女孩凭着绝望的力气，爬到了银泉。甚至连西莉阿姨也没料到这个苍白、瘦弱的小东西会踉跄着走进她的小屋，晕倒在她怀里。意识很快恢复了，但即使对老黑妇人来说也显而易见，死亡已将其灰色、确凿无疑的印记盖在了这张年轻的脸上。
"西莉阿姨，"女孩喘着气说，"我来你这里死，你必须答应我最后的请求；坟墓不会泄露秘密。今晚日落之前，我将在天堂。与我所爱之人的分离要了我的命，但在那死亡中我们将团聚。我祈求过上帝，祂已垂听。但是你，西莉阿姨，你必须服从我的请求。你爱我；你会按我要求的做。今晚月亮出来时，用船载着我的身体去沸腾泉（Boiling Springs），把我葬在那里。你知道那地方------别弄错。这样做，上帝会处理其余的事。"
"老天爷啊，孩子，你觉得西莉阿姨要在那孤零零的晚上运送死尸吗？"老妇人问道，她的牙齿因她种族特有的迷信恐惧而格格作响。女孩意识到计划有被挫败的风险，挣扎着坐起来，抓住老妇人的手，将她垂死的眼睛紧紧盯在对方的脸上。
"西莉阿姨，"她喘着气说，"我是个快死的女人；我非常接近上帝；我和祂谈过，祂已回答了我。我的意志在生前被粉碎了，我发誓在死后绝不会。二十四小时内，克莱尔·道格拉斯将在银泉的水晶洞穴里与我会合。如果你不答应我的请求，所有邪灵都将包围你。你会变得瘫痪、失明，并且耳聋------除了死者的鬼魂，什么声音都听不见，它们会在白天追捕你，在夜晚缠着你。你是发誓服从我垂死的请求，还是拒绝我，并承受一个垂死女人的预言？因你懦弱地拒绝服从上帝的旨意，这预言将落在你头上？"
老妇人像白杨树一样颤抖。她的眼睛因恐惧而凸出，大颗的汗珠从脸颊滚落。垂死女孩意志的力量占了上风，老妇人回答道："我答应，宝贝；我答应。"
那天晚上是一个庄严而可怕的景象，只有上帝和自然见证；小船在月光下漂下银泉，载着它的两位奇特乘客------一个怪异、驼背、古怪；另一个如此寂静、如此苍白，在其死去的可爱中又如此凄婉。没有一片树叶摇动，除了老妇人船桨的溅水声，听不到任何声音，她的小船载着那奇特而美丽的负担，漂流过这片奇特、透明的水体；一直漂到沸腾泉，然后转向停住。老妇人像抱起一个婴儿般轻柔地将那小小的身躯抱起。死者脸上平静的微笑驱散了她的一些恐惧。当她俯身服从女孩那奇怪的请求时，泪水从她黝黑的脸上滚落。有一瞬间，身体在它度过最快乐时光的水面上来回摇晃。死去的脸微笑着，浓密的头发在月光下像一层金光般闪烁。下方深处的每一颗鹅卵石都清晰可见。突然，像变魔术一样，身体开始下沉。泉水的沸腾停止了，露出岩石上一个奇特的小裂缝，所有奇特的水体都从那里涌出。裂缝慢慢分开，接纳了尸体后又合拢了，将它的每一丝痕迹都隔绝在视野之外。
"老天爷，那孩子肯定是个天使。她准是和上帝谈过；她知道所有这一切会怎样发生，"老妇人嘟囔着，在月光下划船返回她的小屋。
对岸一只模仿鸟（mocking-bird）发出银铃般的悦耳鸣叫。"听听，"西莉阿姨嘟囔着；"那鸟儿在唱新郎的婚礼歌呢。来吧，克莱尔·道格拉斯，你的小新娘正比以往漫长日子里等待得更平静地等着你呢。"
伯尼斯·梅奥死后的那一天是奥卡拉市民永远难忘的一天。克莱尔·道格拉斯刚在外一年后返回。他发现他美丽的表妹（他父亲希望成为他妻子的人）是他父母家的客人。
"克莱尔，"早餐桌上他们迟迟未离席时他父亲说，"我在银泉有一艘很好的新小艇，我希望你今天早上带你表妹去划船；并且，经你们年轻人允许，我将加入你们。"
"太好了，叔叔，"女孩喊道；而克莱尔，虽然一想到要回到那个赋予他生命色彩的一切曾发生的地方，脸色就有点苍白，也只能默许。
当这一行人在四月的阳光下漂下银泉时，克莱尔·道格拉斯看起来异常英俊，但他脸上有一种奇怪的苍白，叔侄女俩只得负责所有的谈话。四月阳光下的明媚女孩，与前一天晚上庄严月光下漂流过同一片水域的女孩，形成了多么鲜明的对比啊！当小艇靠近沸腾泉时，这行人注意到一条小船在那里徘徊。小船由西莉阿姨划着；另一位乘客是一位老妇人，眼睛哭得红肿。小艇停在小划船旁边，两艘船上的人都凝视着下方奇特、透明的深处。
突然，侄女叫起来："哦，看，那看起来像一只手；一只小小的人手！"它变得越来越清晰可见，那只小白手，细手腕上方锁着一条金链。啊，小手链，克莱尔·道格拉斯在一万只手中也能认出你！他的脸死一般苍白，他喘着气，仿佛窒息一般。所有人都专注于下方的景象。突然，水的沸腾停止了，在透明的深处，一块岩石上，像一朵破碎的美丽百合花，躺着伯尼斯·梅奥，她的金发漂浮在沙子上，她死去的脸上带着平静的微笑，仿佛最终一圈和平的光环已降临在这疲惫的灵魂上，破碎的心找到了安息。随着一声狂野的哭喊------这哭喊甚至刺痛了那位母亲的心，她生命中最后一次凝视着她孩子死去的脸庞------克莱尔·道格拉斯冲过船舷，越潜越深，直到他双臂抱住了他死去的爱人的小小身影。
然后岩石再次分开又合拢，将这对紧紧相拥的恋人永远隔绝在视野之外。泉水再次疯狂地旋转沸腾，仿佛在蔑视那试图分开上帝结合之人的微弱意志。
由于银泉的秘密新娘房首次为世人所知，这对未来的游客来说将会很有趣，当他们接近被称为"沸腾泉"的那部分时，可以注意到水下（唯一不完全平静的水域）持续喷涌出如珍珠般微小贝壳的漩涡，西莉阿姨说这些是天使在伯尼斯·梅奥的新婚早晨赐予她的珠宝，当时她的爱人来到银泉他们的仙境宫殿与她相会。泉中还生长着一种奇特的花------一种叶子像百合，花朵形状像橙花的花。西莉阿姨说，它奇特的蜡质白色和黄色花瓣像伯尼斯·梅奥的脸和头发，她称它们为"伯尼斯新娘花环"（Bernice Bridal Wreath）。在奥卡拉的年轻人中有一个传说，被赠予其中一朵花的女人将在年底前成为新娘。
CHAPTER XXII
ROBERT was greatly impressed with this story and
what they told him about the wonderful powers
of Lady Bersford. After consulting with his friends,
he decided to go immediately to Silver Springs to see
her. On Sunday morning about 10 o'clock he boarded
a local airplane for Silver Springs and arrived in the
afternoon. It was a fitting setting for the scene. The
day was beautiful, the sunshine at its best. Robert had
watched the plane as it flew swiftly across the country.
He had viewed the many beautiful orange groves and
thought of the wonderful work of the hand of Nature
in painting beauty grander than any hand of man could
ever do. Here he thought of something that he would
write of Marie in contrast to her beauty.
After thoughts of Marie's beauty had flitted thru
Robert's brain and his dream and hope for Marie had
revived, he was feeling hopeful and enthusiastic. Lady
Bersford upon receiving the letter of introduction from
her friends greeted Robert with unusual courtesy. He
told his story. She listened attentively and when he had
finished telling her about the mysterious letter, she said
that there was an interpreter at the hotel who understood most any foreign language and that she was sure
he could interpret the letter. Robert was elated because Lady Bersford showed such a great interest and
desire to help him. He related all the obstacles he had
met with in trying to get the letter interpreted before,
and had almost lost hope of ever getting it interpreted.
She assured him that her friendship with the interpreter
would at this time bring results.
Robert was anxious to see Silver Springs and Lady
Bersford was anxious for him to go and see it immediately and said that after their return she would see the
interpreter and get the mysterious letter read. They
went to the Springs and slowly rode out on the beautiful
waters. Robert had heard the story and when the boat
slowly came to a stop over "The Bridal Chamber" and
he saw the face of a beautiful woman in the rocks his
heart almost failed him. He thought of the sorrows
he had gone thru and wondered if such a fate might
have been Marie's. The beautiful waters reflected the
most radiant colors Robert had ever seen in his life.
He secretly prayed the greatest prayer of his life, that
he might meet Marie here and with all of her beauty,
where they could enjoy the beauty of nature together.
When he looked thru the transparent waters into the
bridal chamber, it brought him back to Sunday morning, June 5, 1927, when he had expected to marry
Marie. Tears streamed down his cheeks and Lady Bersford realizing the situation and knowing that she could
say little, remained in silence until Robert's emotions
had passed. Then she told of her admiration for his
love and devotion to Marie and said that a scene like
this, painted by the hand of Nature was calculated to
melt the heart of the most cold-blooded man on earth.
Robert asked the man who was rowing the boat to row
back to the place where the face of the spirit bride
showed in the water and as he looked down at the face
again, he thought of Marie and this is what he said:
"Most beautiful face in all the world, best beloved eyes
that inspired the best in me, the days pass by on leaden
wings, when only in memory your dear eyes shine for
me." Somehow the beautiful waters and the scenery
inspired a new hope in Robert, for love must ever inspire hope in man when his faith in a woman keeps
the lovelight burning on the altar of his heart.
Robert and Lady Bersford returned to the hotel.
After dinner, Lady Bersford met Robert and told him
that she had found the interpreter and he had agreed
to read the mysterious letter that evening. Robert,
having met with so many disappointments, felt that he
must make sure this time he would get the letter read.
He met the interpreter, went over the whole story with
him, told him that no matter what the letter contained,
good or bad, he must know the truth and nothing but
the truth. Said he would pay any sum that the interpreter might name, and pay it in advance, if he
would agree to read the letter regardless of what it contained. His plea was so earnest that the interpreter
saw that his heart was breaking and told him that no
amount of money would influence him as much to read
the letter as the desire to relieve an honest, loyal heart
which was breaking for a great love. Such men as he
was our country's need in time of peril and such loyalty
and devotion to a woman was found in but few men;
that it seemed more divine than real, and that he would
interpret the letter gladly and willingly. When Robert
was fully assured at this time that there would be no
disappointment, he was supremely happy. He grabbed
the hand of Lady Bersford, thanked her, and fell upon
his knees before the interpreter and thanked him in
advance for his promise to interpret the letter.
"Now let us delay no longer," said the interpreter,
"give me the letter and I will read it." Robert had
always carried the letter in a wallet in his pocket, never
letting it get out of his possession. Had it carefully
folded up in some other papers. He pulled forth the
wallet from his pocket, opened it up and looked for the
letter. It was not there. He searched the wallet carefully but there was no mistake about it. The letter was
gone. The disappointment was another great blow to
him. He talked the matter over with the interpreter
and Lady Bersford and was at a loss to understand how
the letter could have disappeared from his pocket. Was
sure that he had it when he was in Palm Beach. He
telegraphed the hotel in Palm Beach and after making a
search, they reported that they were unable to find the
letter. Lady Bersford realized the keen disappointment
that the loss of this mysterious letter had brought Robert,
so she told him that she would use her spiritual powers
every way possible to solve the mystery of the letter and
try to help him find Marie, and that if he would leave
her alone in silence that night, the following day she
would report to him the information she received.
Robert arose early the next morning and decided that
he would go to Silver Springs and see this beautiful
spot just as the sun was rising. It was a beautiful morning and he rode out upon the waters, listened to the
songs of the birds, watched the beautiful fish running
to and fro in the clear waters. He again thought of the
story of the spirit bride whom the legend said appeared
upon the waters on moonlight nights. His mind went
back to the fishing trip at Spirit Lake, Arkansas. He
thought of the story of Spirit Lake and how he was impressed as a child with that story. Now it seemed more
vivid and real. His mind reverted back to the death
of Henry Watson and he thought "Is it my fate to visit
places and to hear stories of tragedy and disappointment of lovers, and in the end, will my fate be like
theirs? Must I sink into the waters of forgetfulness
without ever again seeing the best beloved face in all
the world, Marie's? After all, is it line Henry Watson
said: 'Hope is but an anchor to the soul, but facts
are stubborn things and we must face them?' " For a
moment, Robert felt that he had been clinging to hope
all these years and he was almost ready to bid hope
depart and leave him alone to facts, but even then he
knew that if hope should depart and not hold aloft a
light of Marie's love, he at that moment would follow
the course of the lover of the spirit bride and go overboard, to be swallowed up in the beautiful waters, to
release his spirit, that it might soar away to find Marie.
The man who was rowing the boat, noticed that Robert
had fallen into a death-like silence. He asked him if
he was ready to return. Robert awakened as if by a
shot and said "Yes."
好的，这是第二十二章的中文翻译：
第二十二章
这个故事以及他们告诉他的关于伯斯福德夫人（Lady Bersford）非凡能力的事情给罗伯特留下了深刻印象。在与朋友们商议后，他决定立刻前往银泉（Silver Springs）见她。星期天早上大约10点钟，他登上一架前往银泉的本地飞机，下午抵达。这里的场景十分应景。天气美好，阳光灿烂。罗伯特注视着飞机快速飞越乡村。他看到了许多美丽的柑橘林，想到了自然之手描绘出的比任何人类之手所能做到的都更壮丽的奇妙作品。在这里，他想到了他要为玛丽写些东西，来对比她的美丽。
当关于玛丽美丽的思绪掠过罗伯特的脑海，他对玛丽的梦想和希望重新燃起时，他感到充满希望和热情。伯斯福德夫人收到她朋友的介绍信后，以异常客气的态度迎接了罗伯特。他讲述了自己的故事。她专注地听着，当他说完关于那封神秘信件的事后，她说酒店里有一位翻译懂得几乎任何外语，她确信他能翻译这封信。罗伯特兴高采烈，因为伯斯福德夫人表现出如此大的兴趣并渴望帮助他。他叙述了之前试图翻译这封信时遇到的所有障碍，几乎已经对能否翻译它不抱希望了。她向他保证，她与翻译的友谊这次会带来结果。
罗伯特急于看到银泉，而伯斯福德夫人也急于让他立刻去看看，并说等他们回来后，她会去见翻译，让人读懂那封神秘的信。他们去了银泉，在美丽的水面上缓缓乘船游览。罗伯特听过那个故事，当小船慢慢停在"新娘房"（The Bridal Chamber）上方，他看到岩石中一张美丽女人的脸庞时，他的心几乎停止了跳动。他想起了自己所经历的悲伤，想知道玛丽的命运是否也可能如此。美丽的水面反射出罗伯特一生中所见过的最绚丽的色彩。他暗自祈祷了他一生中最重大的祈祷，希望他能在这里遇见玛丽，拥有她全部的美貌，他们可以一起享受自然之美。当他透过透明的湖水望向新娘房时，这将他带回到了1927年6月5日那个星期天的早晨，那天他本该与玛丽结婚。泪水从他的脸颊流下，伯斯福德夫人意识到情况，知道她几乎无法说什么，于是保持沉默，直到罗伯特的情绪平复。然后她表达了对他的爱以及对玛丽忠诚的钦佩，并表示像这样由自然之手描绘的场景，足以融化世上最冷血男人的心。罗伯特请划船的人将船划回水中灵体新娘脸庞显现的地方，当他再次低头看向那张脸时，他想起了玛丽，他说出了这样的话："全世界最美丽的脸庞，最亲爱的眼眸，激发了我心中最美好的部分，日子沉重地流逝，只有在记忆中你亲爱的眼眸为我闪耀。" 不知何故，美丽的湖水和景色给罗伯特带来了新的希望，因为当他对一个女人的信念保持着他心坛上爱之光燃烧时，爱必定永远给人带来希望。
罗伯特和伯斯福德夫人返回酒店。晚餐后，伯斯福德夫人见到罗伯特，告诉他她找到了翻译，并且他同意当晚阅读那封神秘的信。罗伯特遭遇过如此多的失望，觉得这次必须确保信能被读到。他见到了翻译，向他讲述了整个故事，告诉他无论信的内容是好是坏，他必须知道真相，而且是唯一的真相。他说他愿意支付翻译提出的任何金额，并且提前支付，只要他同意无论如何都读这封信。他的恳求如此诚挚，翻译看出他的心正在破碎，并告诉他，任何金额的金钱都不如他想要安慰一颗为伟大爱情而破碎的诚实、忠诚之心的愿望更能促使他读这封信。像他这样的人是国家危难之时所需要的人，而对一个女人如此忠诚和奉献在男人中实属罕见；这似乎更神圣而非真实，他会高兴且自愿地翻译这封信。当罗伯特这次完全确信不会再有失望时，他无比快乐。他抓住伯斯福德夫人的手感谢她，并跪在翻译面前，提前感谢他承诺翻译这封信。
"现在我们别再耽搁了，"翻译说，"把信给我，我来读。"罗伯特一直把信放在口袋里的皮夹中，从未让它离开过身边。它被小心地和其他一些文件叠放在一起。他从口袋里掏出皮夹，打开它寻找那封信。信不在那里。他仔细地翻找皮夹，但毫无疑问。信不见了。这次失望对他又是沉重一击。他与翻译和伯斯福德夫人讨论了此事，无法理解信怎么会从他的口袋里消失。他确信在棕榈滩时还有这封信。他给棕榈滩的酒店发了电报，经过搜寻，他们报告说找不到那封信。伯斯福德夫人意识到丢失这封神秘信件给罗伯特带来的深切失望，于是她告诉他，她会尽一切可能运用她的灵媒能力来解开信件的谜团，并尽力帮助他找到玛丽，并且如果他那晚能让她独自安静待着，第二天她会把她得到的信息告诉他。
罗伯特第二天一早起床，决定在太阳刚刚升起时去银泉看看这个美丽的地方。这是一个美丽的早晨，他乘船来到水面上，听着鸟儿的歌声，看着美丽的鱼儿在清澈的水中游来游去。他又想起了那个灵体新娘的故事，传说中说她在月夜会出现在水面上。他的思绪回到了阿肯色州灵湖（Spirit Lake）的钓鱼之旅。他想起了灵湖的故事，以及他小时候对那个故事印象多么深刻。现在它似乎更加鲜明和真实了。他的思绪又回到了亨利·沃森的去世，他想"我的命运就是造访这些地方，听到恋人们悲剧和失望的故事，而最终，我的命运会像他们一样吗？我必须沉入遗忘之水，再也见不到全世界最亲爱的脸庞，玛丽的脸庞吗？归根结底，是否正如亨利·沃森所说：'希望不过是灵魂的锚，但事实是顽固的东西，我们必须面对它们？'" 有一刻，罗伯特觉得这些年来他一直紧抓着希望，他几乎准备告别希望，让他独自面对事实，但即使在那时，他也知道，如果希望离去，不再高举玛丽爱之光，他那一刻就会效仿那位灵体新娘的恋人，跳入水中，被美丽的湖水吞没，释放他的灵魂，让它翱翔而去寻找玛丽。划船的人注意到罗伯特陷入了死一般的沉默。他问他是否准备返回。罗伯特仿佛被枪声惊醒般说道："是的。"
CHAPTER XXIII
He drove back to the hotel, found Lady Bersford
awaiting him. He ate his breakfast hurriedly
and retired to a secret corner in the hotel where they
would be alone and he could hear what Lady Bersford
had gathered from the spirit world the night before.
Her first words when he entered the room were, "Mr.
Gordon, I have good news for you and I know that you
can depend on it. Last night a spirit appeared that I
had never seen or heard before. It was an Indian girl,
named 'Laughing Waters,' who said she was the daughter of Chief Okeehumkee who once lived near Silver
Springs and on account of the loss of her lover had
drowned herself in the Springs. At this point Lady
Bersford handed Robert Gordon a booklet on Silver
Springs containing a legend about the death of Laughing Waters. and he read it hastily.
AN INDIAN LEGEND
A long time ago when Okeehumkee was king over the tribes
of Indians who roamed and hunted around the Southwestern
lakes, an event occurred which filled many hearts with horror.
The king had a daughter whose rare beauty was the pride of
the old man's life, and an idol of the braves. She was a
coveted prize. Chiefs and warriors vied with each other as
to who should present the most valuable gift, when her hand
was sought from the king, her father. But the daughter had
already seen and loved Chuleotah, the renewed chief of a tribe,
which dwelt among the wild groves of Silver Springs. But
it was a sad truth that between the old chief and the young
chief, and their tribes, there had long been a deadly feud.
They were enemies. When Okeehumkee learned that Chuleotah had gained the affections of his beloved child, not many
weeks passed away before the noble Chuleotah was slain. Slain,
too, by the father. Dead! Her lover dead! Poor child.
Will she return to the paternal lodge and dwell among her
people while her father's hand is stained with the drippings
of her lover's scalp? No. She hurries away to the wellknown fountain. It was a favorite spot, where herself and
Chuleotah met on the glassy bottom of the Springs. The
pale ghost of Chuleotah stands beckoning her to come. All
was still save the night winds that sighed and moaned thru
the lofty pines. Then came the girl to the side of the Springs.
For a moment she paused upon the edge of the Springs, then
met her palms above her head, and, with a wild leap, she fell
into the whelming waves. She had gone to one of those
enchanted isles, far out in the Western Seas, where the maiden
and her lover are united, and where both have found another
Silver Springs.
Lady Bersford said that Laughing Waters' spirit
told her that after she drowned herself and her spirit
was released, she had been very happy in finding others
who met disappointment in love and helping to relieve
their sufferings and bring about an understanding and
reunite the separated. Laughing Waters said: "Marie
is still alive and for mysterious reasons is keeping in
hiding from her parents and everyone else, but her love
is as strong as the Rock of Gibraltar, and she will keep
her promise to return to Robert when he needs her
most. It was the spirit of Marie that Robert saw on the
streets in Paris. Marie was not there and never had
been, but Robert loved her so much and longed for her
until Marie's spirit, which had always been closely in
touch with Robert, was able to leave her body and appear to comfort him. It was Marie's spirit he saw at
the ballroom. She was not there at all. It occurred
because Robert needed some hope and encouragement
to go on and wait until the proper time when Marie
would return to him. The mysterious letter never existed. It was a delusion and a power of the subconscious mind. This power is known and understood by
the adepts of India. Some of my tribe knew how to
project the subconscious mind, or spirit, as some called
it, anywhere they desired. Robert's subconscious mind
had received impressions so long and he had hoped and
desired so long for a letter from Marie, that when her
spirit appeared he expected a message, a letter, or some
communication, and he really thought she dropped a
letter. This power so strongly impressed the subconscious mind that he was able to make other people feel,
believe and see the letter, but of course they could not
read or interpret it, because there was no letter or written message and that is why they all acted so strangely
about it. When Robert at last met you, a spiritualist
and an unselfish woman, and the interpreter, an honest,
unselfish man refusing to accept any amount of money
to read the mysterious letter, I knew that no letter ever
existed and removed the impression from Robert's subconscious mind and when he went to look for the letter,
of course it was not there, and never was because it
only existed in his subconscious mind."
After this, Robert was much more cheerful and hopeful. His own mind told him that he was at last on the
right track. He thought of the laws laid down in the
Bible; remembered what Jesus said when they asked
him for a sign that the Son of man would remain three
days and three nights in the heart of the earth, then
rise and ascend to heaven. Robert knew the meaning
of this. He knew that sorrows, sufferings and disappointment had to come before joy and happiness; for
every day of sunshine comes a night of darkness, for
every aching in the heart there is a returning flow.
That all the laws of Nature taught the eternal law of
action and reaction. He took great comfort in this;
knew that the promise was laid down in the Bible of
great reward for love and faithfulness and he felt very
happy because he believed "Laughing Waters'" story
that Marie would come into his life again.
Robert remained a few days longer at Silver Springs.
Enjoyed being with Lady Bersford and told her of his
understanding of the Bible and natural laws. She said
that the pure, clean life he had led was what had
brought him in contact with the spirits that had revealed to him the truth. Many seances were held with
"Laughing Waters," who was very fond of Robert and
anxious to help him all she could. She said that Robert
had a love the same as she had, that he had rather die
than give up Marie, but that he would attain the greatest honor of any man on earth except Jesus Christ, because he was following the law of love and that law
would bring to him his own Marie and he would spend
many happy years with her. She told him that the
great Chief whose spirit was with her, had confirmed all
she had told them.
When Robert prepared to depart from Silver Springs,
his heart was filled with gratitude, for Lady Bersford
and all she had done for him. He wanted to pay her
for her services and if she would name the amount, he
would write a check for it. She explained that she was
a very wealthy woman, with a large estate in England;
that she had gone into this work at the solicitation of
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, for the good that she could do
for others and not for any monetary consideration. Her
reward for being unselfish and trying to help him was
his appreciation, she said. This attitude on the part of
Lady Bersford was a great comfort to Robert and gave
him more faith in the Bible. He knew that the law
that "whatsoever a man soweth, he shall also reap" was
a divine law and a natural law, that no man could break
it or evade it, and that his reward was just as sure as
the law was inevitable. He had read Emerson's "Essay
on Compensation," and strongly believed that. He said
to Lady Bersford, "Your reward is sure, because you
are doing right, giving out the best you can to help
others, and only good will return to you."
Lady Bersford said, "Thank you very much, Mr.
Gordon, I have enjoyed our visits and hope that we
will meet again some time. May I ask where you are
going from here?" "I am going direct to New York
as I have important business matters to look after
there," he replied. "Mr. Gordon, you don't look
strong," she said. "It seems to me you need to take
more care of your health and have more rest. I am
going from here to Sebring, Florida. Have heard so
many stories of this wonderful place that I want to
go there to recoup my health." "Is it a health resort?"
asked Robert. Lady Bersford said, "I understand there
is a sunshine sanitarium there. They teach you how
to eat and play. The water is the finest in the State
of Florida; in fact, one of the few places in Florida
where you can get good drinking water. The climate is
ideal. Lake Jackson, one of the most beautiful lakes
in the State is near there, as well as many others. I am
told the fishing and boating is fine. The Kissimmee
River is near there. This beautiful river is associated
with songs and stories of the Southland and I am
anxious to see it. I met some friends in England who
spent the past winter at Sebring and they were enthusiastic over the place. They had regained their health
and felt that it was the place Ponce de Leon was looking
for when he made his search to find the fountain of
youth. They said that Sebring had more sunshine than
any other place in Florida. I made up my mind that
I would never leave Florida before I visited this wonderful spot and see what it would do for my health."
Robert was very much impressed with Lady Bersford's report on Sebring and decided that it must be
the ideal place for a tired businessman to go and enjoy
the sports and recoup his health. It took very little
persuading on the part of Lady Bersford to get Robert
to go to Sebring with her.
On March 27th, Lady Bersford and Robert Gordon
arrived in Sebring, Florida. They found everything
just as had been described by her friends. The climate
was ideal, fishing good. Robert enjoyed the golf links
and his health began to improve a few days after he
arrived. Time went by rapidly and a month was gone
before Robert knew it. He had regained health so
rapidly that he felt he had indeed found the Fountain
of Youth. Having been born on the farm, he loved
nature. The beautiful scenery around Sebring delighted
him; made him forget his troubles and caused him to
be more hopeful of the future. He dreamed of the day
when Marie might return to him, and he could take her
to Florida to see beautiful Silver Springs, then to
Sebring to see all the beautiful lakes and the Kissimmee
River. If her health should ever be bad, that would
be the place to restore her and she would enjoy the
surrounding country as he had.
好的，这是第二十三章的中文翻译：
第二十三章
他驱车返回酒店，发现伯斯福德夫人正在等他。他匆忙吃完早餐，然后退到酒店一个隐秘的角落，那里只有他们两人，他可以听听伯斯福德夫人前一晚从灵界收集到了什么。
他走进房间时，她说的第一句话是："戈登先生，我有好消息告诉你，我知道你可以信赖它。昨晚出现了一个我从未见过或听过的灵魂。那是一个印第安女孩，名叫'笑水'（Laughing Waters），她说自己是曾住在银泉附近的奥基洪基酋长（Chief Okeehumkee）的女儿，因为失去爱人而投泉自尽。" 说到这里，伯斯福德夫人递给罗伯特·戈登一本关于银泉的小册子，里面有一个关于"笑水"之死的传说，他匆匆读了起来。
一个印第安传说
很久以前，当奥基洪基还是统治着在西南部湖泊周围游猎的印第安部落的国王时，发生了一件让许多人心怀恐惧的事件。国王有一个女儿，她罕见的美貌是这位老人一生的骄傲，也是勇士们崇拜的偶像。她是众人觊觎的奖赏。当向她的父亲国王求娶她时，酋长和勇士们竞相献上最贵重的礼物。但女儿已经见到并爱上了丘利奥塔（Chuleotah），他是一个居住在银泉野生丛林中的部落的著名酋长。但可悲的事实是，老酋长和年轻酋长以及他们的部落之间，长期以来存在着深仇大恨。他们是敌人。当奥基洪基得知丘利奥塔赢得了她心爱孩子的感情后，没过几个星期，高贵的丘利奥塔就被杀害了。而且是被（她的）父亲杀害的。死了！她的爱人死了！可怜的孩子。她父亲的手沾满了她爱人头皮滴下的鲜血，她还会回到父亲的住所，住在族人中间吗？不。她急忙赶往那熟悉的泉边。那是她和丘利奥塔曾在泉水如镜的底部相会的钟爱之地。丘利奥塔苍白的幽灵站在那儿招手让她过去。万籁俱寂，只有夜风在高大的松树间叹息呻吟。随后，女孩来到了泉边。她在泉边停顿了片刻，然后双手在头顶合十，随着纵身一跃，投入了汹涌的波涛中。她去了西方海域远处的一个 enchanted isles（魔岛），在那里少女和她的爱人团聚了，并且他们都找到了另一个银泉。
伯斯福德夫人说，"笑水"的灵魂告诉她，在她投水自尽、灵魂获得释放后，她非常快乐地帮助那些在爱情中遭遇失望的人，缓解他们的痛苦，促成理解，让分离的人重聚。"笑水"说："玛丽仍然活着，并且由于神秘的原因，一直躲藏着，不让她的父母和任何其他人知道，但她的爱如直布罗陀岩石般坚固，她将信守承诺，在罗伯特最需要她的时候回到他身边。罗伯特在巴黎街上看到的是玛丽的灵魂。玛丽本人并不在那里，也从未去过，但罗伯特如此爱她、渴望她，以至于玛丽的灵魂（一直与罗伯特紧密相连）能够离开她的身体显现出来安慰他。他在舞厅看到的也是玛丽的灵魂。她本人根本不在那里。发生这一切是因为罗伯特需要一些希望和鼓励来继续坚持下去，等待直到合适的时候玛丽回到他身边。那封神秘的信从未存在过。那是一种错觉，是潜意识（subconscious mind）的力量。这种力量被印度的大师（adepts）所知晓和理解。我部落中的一些人知道如何投射潜意识，或者有些人称之为灵魂，到任何他们想去的地方。罗伯特的潜意识接收印象太久了，他如此长久地希望和渴望收到玛丽的来信，以至于当她的灵魂显现时，他期待着一个信息、一封信或某种通讯，他真的以为她掉了一封信。这种力量如此强烈地印刻在潜意识中，以至于他能让其他人感觉到、相信并看到那封信，但他们当然无法阅读或解释它，因为根本不存在信或书面信息，这就是为什么他们对此都表现得如此奇怪。当罗伯特最终遇到了你------一位招魂师和无私的女性，以及那位拒绝接受任何金钱来阅读神秘信件、诚实无私的翻译时，我知道从未有过这样一封信，于是从罗伯特的潜意识中移除了这个印象，当他去找信时，信当然不在那里，也从未存在过，因为它只存在于他的潜意识中。"
此后，罗伯特变得更加开朗和充满希望。他自己的理智告诉他，他终于走上了正确的道路。他想起了《圣经》中阐明的法则；记得当人们向耶稣求一个征兆（ sign ）时，耶稣说人子将在地心（heart of the earth）停留三天三夜，然后复活升天。罗伯特明白其中的含义。他知道悲伤、痛苦和失望必须先于欢乐和幸福而来；有多少个阳光普照的白昼，就有多少个黑暗的夜晚，心有多少次伤痛，就有多少次回流（returning flow）。自然界的所有法则都教导着作用与反作用的永恒法则（eternal law of action and reaction）。他从中得到了巨大的安慰；知道《圣经》中许诺了对爱与忠诚的巨大回报，他感到非常快乐，因为他相信"笑水"所说的玛丽会再次进入他生活的故事。
罗伯特在银泉又多待了几天。他很享受与伯斯福德夫人在一起的时光，并告诉了她他对《圣经》和自然法则的理解。她说，他所过的纯洁、干净的生活正是使他能够接触到那些向他揭示真理的灵魂的原因。他们与"笑水"举行了多次降神会（seances），"笑水"非常喜欢罗伯特，并渴望尽她所能帮助他。她说罗伯特拥有和她一样的爱，他宁死也不愿放弃玛丽，但他将获得世上除耶稣基督之外任何男人所能获得的最高荣誉，因为他遵循着爱的法则，而那法则将把他自己的玛丽带给他，他将与她共度许多幸福的岁月。她告诉他，那位与她灵魂同在的伟大酋长已经证实了她告诉他们的一切。
当罗伯特准备离开银泉时，他的心中充满了对伯斯福德夫人以及她为他所做的一切的感激。他想支付她的服务费用，如果她说出金额，他会开一张支票。她解释说，她是一位非常富有的女性，在英格兰拥有大笔地产；她是在阿瑟·柯南·道尔爵士（Sir Arthur Conan Doyle）的恳请下从事这项工作的，是为了能造福他人，而非为了任何金钱报酬。她说，她无私并试图帮助他所得到的回报就是他的感激。伯斯福德夫人的这种态度对罗伯特是巨大的安慰，并让他对《圣经》有了更多的信心。他知道"人种的是什么，收的也是什么"（whatsoever a man soweth, he shall also reap）这条法则是一条神圣的法则，也是一条自然法则，无人能打破或逃避它，他的回报就像这法则本身一样必然会发生。他读过爱默生（Emerson）的《论补偿》（Essay on Compensation），并深信不疑。他对伯斯福德夫人说："您的回报是确定的，因为您在做正确的事，尽您所能付出最好的去帮助他人，只有善会回报给您。"
伯斯福德夫人说："非常感谢您，戈登先生，我很享受我们的相聚，希望我们以后能再见面。我能问一下您从这里要去哪里吗？""我直接回纽约，因为那里有重要的生意事务需要处理，"他回答道。"戈登先生，您看起来身体并不强壮，"她说。"在我看来，您需要更加注意健康，需要更多休息。我将从这里去佛罗里达的塞布林（Sebring）。听过太多关于这个奇妙地方的故事，我想去那里恢复健康。""那里是疗养胜地吗？"罗伯特问。伯斯福德夫人说："我了解到那里有一家阳光疗养院（sunshine sanitarium）。他们教你怎么吃怎么玩。那里的水是佛罗里达州最好的；事实上，是佛罗里达少数几个能喝到好饮用水的地方之一。气候理想。杰克逊湖（Lake Jackson），州内最美丽的湖泊之一，就在附近，还有许多其他湖泊。我听说那里钓鱼和划船都很棒。基西米河（Kissimmee River）也在附近。这条美丽的河流与南方的歌曲和故事联系在一起，我渴望去看看它。我在英格兰遇到一些朋友，他们去年冬天在塞布林度过，他们对那个地方充满热情。他们恢复了健康，觉得那里就是庞塞·德莱昂（Ponce de Leon）寻找青春之泉（fountain of youth）时所要找的地方。他们说塞布林的阳光比佛罗里达任何其他地方都多。我下定决心，在造访这个奇妙的地方、看看它对我的健康有何好处之前，我绝不离开佛罗里达。"
伯斯福德夫人关于塞布林的报告给罗伯特留下了深刻印象，他断定那一定是疲惫的商人去享受运动、恢复健康的理想之地。几乎没费伯斯福德夫人什么口舌，罗伯特就决定和她一起去塞布林。
3月27日，伯斯福德夫人和罗伯特·戈登抵达佛罗里达州的塞布林。他们发现一切都正如她的朋友们所描述的那样。气候宜人，钓鱼活动很棒。罗伯特喜欢那里的高尔夫球场，到达几天后他的健康就开始改善。时间飞逝，罗伯特还没察觉一个月就过去了。他健康恢复得如此之快，以至于他觉得他真的找到了青春之泉。由于出生在农场，他热爱自然。塞布林周围美丽的景色使他愉悦；让他忘记了烦恼，使他对未来更加充满希望。他梦想着有一天玛丽可能会回到他身边，他可以带她去佛罗里达看美丽的银泉，然后去塞布林看所有美丽的湖泊和基西米河。如果她的健康曾有不佳，那里将是使她恢复的地方，她也会像他一样享受周围的乡村风光。