hard cash-第102章
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son yard？ He began to go alone！ to turn impatiently from the petty troubles and fathomless egotism of those afflicted persons he had hitherto forced his sore heart to pity。 Pale； thin； and wo…begone； he walked the weary gravel； like the lost ones in that Hall of Eblis whose hearts were a devouring fire。 Even an inspector with a naked eye would no longer have distinguished him at first sight from a lunatic of the unhappiest class； the melancholiac。
〃Ipse suum cor edens hominum vestigia vitans。〃
Mrs。 Archbold looked on and saw this sad sight； not with the pity it would once have caused； but with a sort of bitter triumph lightened by no pleasure； and darkened by the shadow of coming remorse。 Yet up to this time she had shown none of that inconstancy of purpose which marks her sex； while she did go far to justify the poet's charge：
〃Nor Hell a fury like a woman scorned。〃
Rooke had a hint to provoke Alfred to violence such as would justify them in subjecting so popular a patient to bodily restraint； composing draughts； and other quick maddeners。 Rooke entered into the game zealously from two motives； he was devoted to Mrs。 Archbold； and he hated Alfred； who had openly defied him； and mortified his vanity about Frank Beverley。
One Saturday Alfred was ordered out to walk with Rooke and Hayes and Vulcan。 He raised no objection： suspected； felt homicidal； suppressed the impulse； and by this self…command he got time to give that letter to Beverley with instructions。
But； all the walk； he was saying to himself that Julia was in the house； and he was kept away from her； and a rival with her； this made him sicken and rage by turns。 He came back in a state verging on fury。
On entering the yard poor Beverley； who had done his bit of cunning； and by reaction now relapsed into extra simplicity； came running； and said； 〃I've done it； she has got it。〃
〃What have you done？ Who has got what？〃 cried Rooke。
〃Don't tell； Frank。〃
〃If you don't I'll shake your life out； ye young blackguard；〃 cried Rooke； seizing him and throttling him till he was black in the face。
Alfred's long…pent fury broke out： he gnashed his teeth and dashed his fist in Rooke's face。
Rooke staggered back and bellowed with pain and anger； then rushing at him incautiously； received a stinger that staggered him； and nearly closed his right eye。 He took the hint； and put himself in a posture that showed he was skilled in the art of self…defence。 He stopped two blows neatly； and returned a heavy one upon the ribs。 Alfred staggered back some steps； but steadied himself； and； as Rooke rushed in too hastily to improve his advantage； caught him heavily on the other eye； but lost his own balance a little； which enabled Rooke to close； then came a sharp short rally of re…echoing blows； and Rooke； not to be denied； got hold of his man； and a wrestling bout ensued； in which Alfred being somewhat weakened by misery and broken rest； Rooke's great weight and strength enabled him； after a severe struggle； to fall with his antagonist under him； and knock the breath out of his body for the moment。 Then Hayes； who had stood prudently aloof； came in and helped handcuff him。 They could not walk up and down him for the Robin； who stood by with a professional air to see fair play。
〃Ah； cold iron is your best chance；〃 he said satirically。 〃Never you mind； sir： you hit quick and well： I'd back _you_ at long odds in the ring： both his peepers are in deep mourning。〃 He added； 〃A cow can beat a man wrestling。〃
When Alfred was handcuffed they turned him loose。 It soon transpired； however； that he was now a dangerous maniac （Formula） and to be confined in the noisy ward。
On hearing this he saw the trap he had fallen into； saw and trembled。 He asked himself what on earth he should do； and presently the saying came back to him； 〃And this is the highest stroke of art； to turn evil into good。〃 He argued thus： Wolf's love of money is my great evil； he will destroy me for money； do anything for money。 Then suppose I offer him money to be honest。 He begged an interview with Dr。 Wolf on business。 This was accorded at once。 He asked the doctor plump whether he received a large sum to detain him under pretence of insanity。
〃Not very； considering the trouble you sometimes give； Mr。 Hardie；〃 was the dry reply。
〃Well； then； Justice shall outbid rascality for once。 I am a sane man； and you know it； a man of my word； and you know it。 I'll give you a thousand pounds to let me out of this place。〃
Dr。 Wolf's eyes sparkled。
〃You shall have any bond or security you like； and the money within a week of my deliverance。〃
Dr。 Wolf said he should be delighted to do it； if he could conscientiously。
At this piece of hypocrisy Alfred's cheek reddened； and he could not speak。
〃Well； well； I do see a great change in you for the better；〃 said Dr。 Wolf。 〃If； as I suspect； you are convalescent； I will part with you without a thousand pounds or a thousand pence。
Alfred stared。 Had he mistaken his man？
〃I'll tell you what； though；〃 said the smooth doctor。 〃I have got two pictures； one by Raphael； one by Correggio。〃
〃I know them；〃 said the quick…witted Alfred； 〃they are worth more than a thousand pounds。〃
〃Of course they are； but I would take a thousand pounds from you。〃
〃Throw me in my liberty； and I'll make it guineas。〃
〃We will see about that。〃 And with this understanding the men of business parted。 Dr。 Wolf consulted Mrs。 Archbold then and there。
〃Impossible；〃 said she； 〃the law would dissolve such a bargain； and you would be exposed and ruined。〃
〃But a thousand pounds！〃 said the poor doctor。
〃Oh； he offered me more than that；〃 said Mrs。 Archbold。
〃You don't mean to say so； when was that？〃
〃Do you remember one Sunday that I walked him out； to keep clear of Mrs。 Dodd？ Have you not observed that I have not repeated the experiment？〃
〃Yes。 But I really don't know why。〃
〃Will you promise me faithfully not to take any notice if I tell you？〃
The doctor promised。
Then she owned to him with manifest reluctance that Alfred had taken advantage of her kindness； her indiscretion； in walking alone with him； and made passionate love to her。 〃He offered me not a thousand pounds；〃 said she； 〃but his whole fortune； and his heart； if I would fly with him from _these odious walls；_ that was his expression。〃
Then seeing out of a corner of her eye that the doctor was turning almost green with jealousy； this artist proceeded to describe the love scene between her and Alfred； with feigned hesitation； yet minute detail。 Only she inverted the parts： Alfred in her glowing page made the hot love； she listened abashed； confused； and tried all she could think of to bring him to better sentiments。 She concluded this chapter of history inverted with a sigh； and said； 〃So now he hates me； I believe； poor fellow。〃
〃Do you regret your refusal？〃 asked Dr。 Wolf uneasily。
〃Oh no； my dear friend。 Of course； my judgment says that few women at my age and in my position would have refused。 But we poor women seldom go by our judgments。〃 And she cast a tender look down at the doctor's feet。
In short； she worked on him so； that he left Alfred at her disposition； and was no sooner gone to his other asylum six miles off； than the calumniated was conducted by Hayes and Rooke through passage after passage； and door after door； to a wing of the building connected with the main part only by a covered way。 As they neared it； strange noises became audible。 Faint at first； they got louder and louder。 Singing； roaring； howling like wolves。 Alfred's flesh began to creep。 He stopped at the covered way： he would have fought to his last gasp sooner than go further； but he was handcuffed。 He appealed to the keepers； but he had used them both too roughly： they snarled and forced him on； and shut him into a common flagged cell； with a filthy truckle…bed in it； and all the vessels of gutta…percha。 Here he was surrounded by the desperate order of maniacs he at present scarcely knew but by report。 Throughout that awful night he could never close his eyes for the horrible unearthly sounds that assailed him。 Singing； swearing； howling like wild beasts！ His right…hand neighbour reasoned high of faith and works； ending each pious argument with a sudden rhapsody of oaths and never slept a wink。 His left…hand neighbour alternately sang； and shouted； 〃Cain was a murderer； Cain was a murderer；〃 and howled like a wolf； making night hideous。 His opposite neighbour had an audience； and every now and then delivered in a high nasal key； 〃Let us curse and pray；〃 varying it sometimes thus： 〃Brethren； let us work double tides。〃 And then he would deliver a long fervent prayer； and follow it up immediately with a torrent of blasphemies so terrific； that coming in such a contrast they made Alfred's body wet with perspiration to hear a poor creature so defy his Creator。 No rest； no peace。 When it was still； the place was like the grave； and ever and anon； loud； sharp； tremendous； burst a thunderclap of curses； and set those poor demented creatures all yelling again for half…an…hour； making the tombs ring。 And at clock…like intervals a harmless but dirty idiot； who was allowed to roam the ward； came and chanted through the keyhole； 〃Everything is nothing； and nothing is everything。〃
This was the only observation he had made for many years。
His ears assailed with horrors； of which you have literally no conception； or shadow of a conception； his nose poisoned with ammoniacal vapours； and the peculiar wild…beast smell that marks the true maniac； Alfred ran wildly about his cell trying to stop his ears； and trembling for his own reason。 When the fearful night rolled away； and morning broke； and he could stand on his truckle…bed and see the sweet hoar…frost on a square yard of grass level with his prison bars； it refreshed his very soul； and affected him almost to tears。 He was then； to his surprise； taken out； and allowed to have a warm bath and to breakfast with David and the rest； but I suspect it was done to watch the effect of the trial he had been submitted to。 After breakfast； having now no place to go； he lay on a bench； and there exhausted nature overpowered him； and he fell fast asleep。
Mrs。 Archbold came by on purpose； and saw him。 He looked very pale and peaceful。 There was a cut on his forehead due to Rooke's knuckles。 Mrs。 Archbold looked down； and the young figure and haughty face seemed so unresisting and peaceful sad； she half relented； and shed some bitter tears。 That did not； however； prevent her setting her female spies to watch him more closely than ever。
He awoke cold but refreshed； and found little Beverley standing by him with wet eyes。 Alfred smiled and held out his hand like a captive monarch to his faithful vassal。 〃They shan't put you in the noisy ward again；〃 sobbed Frank。 〃This is your last night here。〃
〃Hy； Frank； you rascal； my boots！〃 roared Rooke from an open window。
〃Coming； sircoming！〃
Alfred's next visitor was the Robin。 He came whispering； 〃It is all right with Garrett； sir； and he has got a key of the back gate； but you must get back to your old room； or we can't work。〃
〃Would to Heaven I could； Robin； another night or two in the noisy ward will drive me m
