jg.thefirm-第6部分

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ed　with　fried　okra　and　boiled　squash。
　　〃She　laid　off　the　grease　today；〃　Mr。　Lambert　observed。
　　〃It's　delicious；〃　Mitch　said。
　　〃Is　your　system　accustomed　to　grease？〃
　　〃Yes。　They　cook　this　way　in　Kentucky。〃
　　〃I　joined　this　firm　in　1955；〃　Mr。　McKnight　said；　〃and　I　e　from　New　Jersey；　right？　Out　of　suspicion；　I　avoided　most　Southern　dishes　as　much　as　possible。　Everything　is　battered　and　fried　in　animal　fat；　right？　Then　Mr。　Bendini　decides　to　open　up　this　little　caf6。　He　hires　Jessie　Frances；　and　I've　had　heartburn　for　the　past　twenty　years。　Fried　ripe　tomatoes；　fried　green　tomatoes；　fried　eggplant；　fried　okra；　fried　squash；　fried　anything　and　everything。　One　day　Victor　Milligan　said　too　much。　He's　from　Connecticut；　right？　And　Jessie　Frances　had　whipped　up　a　batch　of　fried　dill　pickles。　Can　you　imagine？　Fried　dill　pickles！　Milligan　said　something　ugly　to　Roosevelt　and　he　reported　it　to　Jessie　Frances。　She　walked　out　the　back　door　and　quit。　Stayed　gone　for　a　week。　Roosevelt　wanted　to　work；　but　she　kept　him　at　home。　Finally；　Mr。　Bendini　smoothed　things　over　and　she　agreed　to　return　if　there　were　no　plaints。　But　she　also　cut　back　on　the　grease。　I　think　we'll　all　live　ten　years　longer。〃
　　〃It's　delicious；〃　said　Lamar　as　he　buttered　another　roll。
　　〃It's　always　delicious；〃　added　Mr。　Lambert　as　Roosevelt　walked　by。　〃Her　food　is　rich　and　fattening；　but　we　seldom　miss　lunch。〃
　　Mitch　ate　cautiously；　engaged　in　nervous　chitchat　and　tried　to　appear　pletely　at　ease。　It　was　difficult。　Surrounded　by　eminently　successful　lawyers；　all　millionaires；　in　their　exclusive；　lavishly　ornamented　dining　suite；　he　felt　as　if　he　was　on　hallowed　ground。　Lamar's　presence　was　forting；　as　was　Roosevelt's。
　　When　it　was　apparent　Mitch　had　finished　eating；　Oliver　Lambert　wiped　his　mouth；　rose　slowly　and　tapped　his　tea　glass　with　his　spoon。　〃Gentlemen；　could　I　have　your　attention。〃
　　The　room　became　silent　as　the　twenty　or　so　partners　turned　to　the　head　table。　They　laid　their　napkins　down　and　stared　at　the　guest。　Somewhere　on　each　of　their　desks　was　a　copy　of　the　dossier。　Two　months　earlier　they　had　voted　unanimously　to　make　him　their　number　one　pick。　They　knew　he　ran　four　miles　a　day；　did　not　smoke；　was　allergic　to　sulfites；　had　no　tonsils；　had　a　blue　Mazda；　had　a　crazy　mother　and　once　threw　three　interceptions　in　one　quarter。　They　knew　he　took　nothing　stronger　than　aspirin　even　when　he　was　sick；　and　that　he　was　hungry　enough　to　work　a　hundred　hours　a　week　if　they　asked。　They　liked　him。　He　was　good…looking；　athletic…looking；　a　man's　man　with　a　brilliant　mind　and　a　lean　body。
　　〃As　you　know；　we　have　a　very　special　guest　today；　Mitch　McDeere。　He　will　soon　graduate　with　honors　from　Harvard…〃
　　〃Hear！　Hear！〃　said　a　couple　of　Harvard　alumni。
　　〃Yes；　thank　you。　He　and　his　wife；　Abby；　are　staying　at　the　Peabody　this　weekend　as　our　guests。　Mitch　will　finish　in　the　top　five　out　of　three　hundred　and　has　been　heavily　recruited。　We　want　him　here；　and　I　know　you　will　speak　to　him　before　he　leaves。　Tonight　he　will　have　dinner　with　Lamar　and　Kay　Quin；　and　then　tomorrow　night　is　the　dinner　at　my　place。　You　are　all　expected　to　attend。〃　Mitch　smiled　awkwardly　at　the　partners　as　Mr。　Lambert　rambled　on　about　the　greatness　of　。　When　he　finished；　they　continued　eating　as　Roosevelt　served　bread　pudding　and　coffee。
　　Kay's　favorite　restaurant　was　a　chic　East　Memphis　hangout　for　the　young　affluent。　A　thousand　ferns　hung　from　everywhere　and　the　jukebox　played　nothing　but　early　sixties。　The　daiquiris　were　served　in　tall　souvenir　glasses。
　　〃One　is　enough；〃　Kay　warned。
　　〃I'm　not　much　of　a　drinker。〃
　　They　ordered　the　quiche　of　the　day　and　sipped　daiquiris。
　　〃Does　Mitch　drink？〃
　　〃Very　little。　He's　an　athlete　and　very　particular　about　his　body。　An　occasional　beer　or　glass　of　wine；　nothing　stronger。　How　about　Lamar？〃
　　〃About　the　same。　He　really　discovered　beer　in　law　school；　but　he　has　trouble　with　his　weight。　　frowns　on　drinking。〃
　　〃That's　admirable；　but　why　is　it　their　business？〃
　　〃Because　alcohol　and　lawyers　go　together　like　blood　and　vampires。　Most　lawyers　drink　like　fish；　and　the　profession　is　plagued　with　alcoholism。　I　think　it　starts　in　law　school。　At　Vanderbilt；　someone　was　always　tapping　a　keg　of　beer。　Probably　the　same　at　Harvard。　The　job　has　a　lot　of　pressure；　and　that　usually　means　a　lot　of　booze。　These　guys　aren't　a　bunch　of　teetotalers；　mind　you；　but　they　keep　it　under　control。　A　healthy　lawyer　is　a　productive　lawyer。　Again；　profits。〃
　　〃I　guess　that　makes　sense。　Mitch　says　there's　no　turnover。〃
　　〃It's　rather　permanent。　I　can't　recall　anyone　leaving　in　the　seven　years　we've　been　here。　The　money's　great　and　they're　careful　about　whom　they　hire。　They　don't　want　anyone　with　family　money。〃
　　〃I'm　not　sure　I　follow。〃
　　〃They　won't　hire　a　lawyer　with　other　sources　of　ine。　They　want　them　young　and　hungry。　It's　a　question　of　loyalty。　If　all　your　money　es　from　one　source；　then　you　tend　to　be　very　loyal　to　that　source。　　demands　extreme　loyalty。　Lamar　says　there's　never　talk　of　leaving。　They're　all　happy；　and　either　rich　or　getting　that　way。　And　if　one　wanted　to　leave；　he　couldn't　find　as　much　money　with　another　firm。　They'll　offer　Mitch　whatever　it　takes　to　get　you　down　here。　They　take　great　pride　in　paying　more。〃
　　〃Why　no　female　lawyers？〃
　　〃They　tried　it　once。　She　was　a　real　bitch　and　kept　the　place　in　an　uproar。　Most　women　lawyers　walk　around　with　chips　on　their　shoulders　looking　for　fights。　They're　hard　to　deal　with。　Lamar　says　they're　afraid　to　hire　one　because　they　couldn't　fire　her　if　she　didn't　work　out；　with　affirmative　action　and　all。〃
　　The　quiche　arrived　and　they　declined　another　round　of　daiquiris。　Hundreds　of　young　professionals　crowded　under　the　clouds　of　ferns；　and　the　restaurant　grew　festive。　Smokey　Robinson　sang　softly　from　the　jukebox。
　　〃I've　got　a　great　idea；〃　Kay　said。　〃I　know　a　realtor。　Let's　call　her　and　go　look　at　some　houses。〃
　　〃What　kind　of　houses？〃
　　〃For　you　and　Mitch。　For　the　newest　associate　at　Bendini；　Lambert　&　Locke。　She　can　show　you　several　in　your　price　range。〃
　　〃I　don't　know　our　price　range。〃
　　〃I'd　say　a　hundred　to　a　hundred　and　fifty　thousand。　The　last　associate　bought　in　Oakgrove；　and　I'm　sure　he　paid　something　like　that。〃
　　Abby　leaned　forward　and　almost　whispered；　〃How　much　would　the　monthly　payments　be？〃
　　〃I　don't　know。　But　you'll　be　able　to　afford　it。　Around　a　thousand　a　month；　maybe　a　little　more。〃
　　Abby　stared　at　her　and　swallowed　hard。　The　small　apartments　in　Manhattan　were　renting　for　twice　that。　〃Let's　give　her　a　call。〃
　　As　expected；　Royce　McKnight's　office　was　a　power　one　with　a　great　view。　It　was　in　one　of　the　prized　corners　on　the　fourth　floor；　down　the　hall　from　Nathan　Locke。　Lamar　excused　himself；　and　the　managing　partner　asked　Mitch　to　have　a　seat　at　a　small　conference　table　next　to　the　sofa。　A　secretary　was　sent　for　coffee。
　　McKnight　asked　him　about　his　visit　so　far；　and　Mitch　said　he　was　quite　impressed。
　　〃Mitch；　I　want　to　nail　down　the　specifics　of　our　offer。〃
　　〃Certainly。〃
　　〃The　base　salary　is　eighty　thousand　for　the　first　year。　When　you　pass　the　bar　exam　you　receive　a　five…thousand…dollar　raise。　Not　a　bonus；　but　a　raise。　The　exam　is　given　sometime　in　August　and　you'll　spend　most　of　your　summer　reviewing　for　it。　We　have　our　own　bar　study　courses　and　you'll　receive　extensive　tutoring　from　some　of　the　partners。　This　is　done　primarily　on　firm　time。　As　you　know；　most　firms　put　you　to　work　and　expect　you　to　study　on　your　own　time。　Not　us。　No　associate　of　this　firm　has　ever　flunked　the　bar　exam；　and　we're　not　worried　about　you　breaking　with　tradition。　Eighty　thousand　initially；　up　to　eighty…five　in　six　months。　Once　you've　been　here　a　year；　you'll　be　raised　to　ninety　thousand；　plus　you'll　get　a　bonus　each　December　based　on　the　profits　and　performance　during　the　prior　twelve　months。　Last　year　the　average　bonus　for　associates　was　nine　thousand。　As　you　know；　profit　sharing　with　associates　is　extremely　rare　for　law　firms。　Any　questions　about　the　salary？〃
　　〃What　happens　after　the　second　year？〃
　　〃Your　base　salary　is　raised　about　ten　percent　a　year　until　you　bee　a　partner。　Neither　the　raises　nor　the　bonuses　are　guaranteed。　They　are　based　on　performance。〃
　　〃Fair　enough。〃
　　〃As　you　know；　it　is　very　important　to　us　that　you　buy　a　home。　It　adds　stability　and　prestige　and　we're　very　concerned　about　these　things；　especially　with　our　associates。　　provides　a　low…interest　mortgage　loan；　thirty　years；　fixed　rate；　nonassumable　should　you　decide　to　sell　in　a　few　years。　It's　a　one…shot　deal；　available　only　for　your　first　home。　After　that　you're　on　your　own。〃
　　〃What　kind　of　rate？〃
　　〃As　low　as　possible　without　running　afoul　with　the　IRS。　Current　market　rate　is　around　ten；　ten　and　a　half。　We　should　be　able　to　get　you　a　rate　of　seven　to　eight　percent。　We　represent　some　banks；　and　they　assist　us。　With　this　salary；　you'll　have　no　trouble　qualifying。　In　fact；　　will　sign　on　as　a　guarantor　if　necessary。〃
　　〃That's　very　generous；　Mr。　McKnight。〃
　　〃It's　important　to　us。　And　we　don't　lose　any　money　on　the　deal。　Once　you　find　a　house；　our　real　estate　section　handles　everything。　All　you　have　to　do　is　move　in。〃