The House That Shadows Built (1928)

THE ORPHAN OF RICSE 21 “Wait until your year is out,” he said. Plainly, he believed that by then Adolph might get over the notion. Whereupon Adolph fell into a melancholy decline; half genuine, half assumed. The Blau daughters, who regarded this quiet little apprentice boy as a brother and who had themselves a dime-novel picture of America, threw in their powerful influence on his side. At last, Herman Blau gave a reluctant consent. Adolph might go — and whenever he wished. The next and harder obstacle was his uncle and guardian. Adolph knew Ignatz Zukor, farmer, shopkeeper, and miller, for a stiff-necked and conservative man. He would need special treatment. Adolph scribbled for days in composing a letter which would begin the process of melting him. In this little masterpiece, he not only recited his reasons for wanting to emigrate, but he exaggerated his miseries and introduced sinister, insincere hints at self-destruction. The first sentence of Ignatz Zukor’s hasty answer had an emotional tone which indicated that the plot was working. “My dear Nephew,” it began. “You always seemed a sensible boy. Therefore I am astounded. . . .” However, there was no hurry. “Let us look into the matter. Let us write to Dr. Gustavus Liebermann.” Gustavus was a cousin of Adolph’s who had gone to New York and established a practice on Lexington Avenue. Nothing to do now but wait.