hard cash-第103章

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't　work。〃

〃Would　to　Heaven　I　could；　Robin；　another　night　or　two　in　the　noisy　ward　will　drive　me　mad；　I　think。〃

〃Well；　sir；　I'll　tell　you　what　you　do：　which　we　all　have　to　do　it　at　odd　times：　hold　a　candle　to　the　devil：　here　she　comes：　I　think　she　is　everywhere　all　at　one　time。〃　The　Robin　then　sauntered　away；　affecting　nonchalance：　and　Alfred　proceeded　to　hold　the　candle　as　directed。　〃Mrs。　Archbold；〃　said　he　timidly　rising　from　his　seat　at　her　approach。

〃Sir；〃　said　she　haughtily；　and　affecting　surprise。

〃I　have　a　favour　to　ask　you；　madam。　Would　you　be　so　kind　as　to　let　me　go　back　to　my　room？〃

〃What；　you　have　found　I　am　not　so　powerless　as　you　thought！〃

〃I　find　myself　so　weak；　and　you　so　powerful　thatyou　can　afford　to　be　generous。〃

〃I　have　no　more　power　over　you　than　you　have　over　me。〃

〃I　wish　it　was　so。〃

〃I'll　prove　it；〃　said　she。　〃Who　has　got　the　key　of　your　room？　Hayes？〃　She　whistled；　and　sent　for　him；　and　gave　him　the　requisite　order　before　Alfred。　Alfred　thanked　her　warmly。

She　smiled；　and　went　away　disposed　to　change　her　tactics；　and；　having　shown　him　how　she　could　torment；　try　soothing　means；　and　open　his　heart　by　gratitude。

But　presently　looking　out　of　her　window　she　saw　the　Robin　and　him　together；　and　somehow　they　seemed　to　her　subtle；　observant　eyes；　to　be　plotting。　The　very　suspicion　was　fatal　to　that　officer。　His　discharge　was　determined　on。　Meantime　she　set　her　spies　to　watch　him；　and　tell　her　if　they　saw　or　heard　anything。

Now　Mrs。　Archbold　was　going　out　to　tea　that　evening；　and；　as　soon　as　ever　this　transpired；　the　keepers　secretly　invited　the　keeperesses　to　a　party　in　the　first…class　patients　drawing…room。　This　was　a　rare　opportunity；　and　the　Robin　and　Garrett　put　their　heads　together　accordingly。

In　the　dusk　of　the　evening　the　Robin　took　an　opportunity　and　slipped　a　new　key　of　the　back　gate　into　Alfred's　hand；　and　told　him　〃the　trick　was　to　be　done　that　very　night：〃　he　was　to　get　Thompson　to　go　to　bed　early；　and；　instead　of　taking　off　his　clothes；　was　to　wait　in　readiness。　〃We　have　been　plying　Hayes　already；　〃　said　the　Robin；　〃and；　as　soon　as　_she_　is　off；　we　shall　hocuss　him；　and　get　the　key；　and；　while　they　are　all　larking　in　the　drawing…room；　off　you　go　to　Merrimashee。〃

〃Oh；　you　dear　Robin！　You　have　taken　my　breath　away。　But　how　about　Vulcan？〃

〃Oh；　we　know　how　to　make　him　amiable：　a　dog…fancier；　a　friend　of　mine；　has　provided　the　ondeniable　where　dogs　is　concerned：　whereby　Garrett　draws　the　varmint　into　the　scullery；　and　shuts　him　in；　while　I　get　the　key　from　the　other。　_It's_　all　right。〃

〃Ah；　Robin；〃　said　Alfred；　〃it　sounds　too　good　to　be　true。　What？　this　my　last　day　here！〃

The　minutes　seemed　to　creep　very　slowly　till　eight　o'clock　came。　Then　he　easily　persuaded　David　to　go　to　bed；　Hayes　went　up　and　unlocked　the　door　for　them：　it　closed　with　a　catch…lock。　Hayes　was　drunk；　but　full　of　discipline；　and　insisted　on　the　patients　putting　out　their　clothes；　so　Alfred　made　up　a　bundle　from　his　portmanteau；　and　threw　it　out。　Hayes　eyed　it　suspiciously；　but　was　afraid　to　stoop　and　inspect　it　closer：　for　his　drunken　instinct　told　him　he　would　pitch　on　his　head　that　moment：　so　he　retired　grumbling　and　dangling　his　key。

At　the　end　of　the　corridor　he　met　Mrs。　Archbold　full　dressed；　and　with　a　candle　in　her　hand。　She　held　the　candle　up　and　inspected　him；　and　a　little　conversation　followed　that　sobered　Mr。　Hayes　for　a　minute　or　two。

Mrs。　Archbold　was　no　sooner　gone　to　her　little　tea…party　than　all　the　first…class　ladies　and　gentlemen　were　sent　to　bed　to　get　a　good　sleep　for　the　good　of　their　health；　and　the　keepers　and　keeperesses　took　their　place　and　romped；　and　made　such　a　row；　sleep　was　not　easy　within　hearing　of　them。　They　sat　on　the　piano；　they　sang　songs　to　a　drum　accompaniment　played　on　the　table；　they　danced；　drank；　flirted；　and　enjoyed　themselves　like　schoolboys。　Hayes　alone　was　gloomy　and　morose：　so　the　Robin　and　Garrett　consoled　him；　drank　with　him；　and　soothed　him　with　the　balm　of　insensibility：　in　which　condition　they　removed　him　under　charitable　pretences；　and　searched　his　pockets　in　the　passage　for　the　key　of　Alfred's　room。

To　their　infinite　surprise　and　disappointment　it　was　not　upon　him。

The　fact　is；　Mrs。　Archbold　had　snatched　it　from　him　in　her　wrath；　and　put　it　in　her　own　pocket。　How　far　her　suspicions　went；　how　much　her　spies　had　discovered；　I　really　don't　know；　but　somehow　or　other　she　was　uneasy　in　her　mind；　and；　seeing　Hayes　in　such　a　state；　she　would　not　trust　him　during　her　absence；　but　took　the　key　away　with　her。

The　Robin　and　Garrett　knew　nothing　of　this；　and　were　all　abroad；　but　they　thought　Rooke　must　have　the　key；　so　they　proceeded　to　drink　with　him；　and　were　just　about　to　administer　a　really　effective　soporific　in　his　grog；　when　they　and　all　the　merry　party　were　suddenly　startled　by　violent　ringing　at　the　bell；　and　thundering　and　halloaing　at　the　hall　door。　The　men　jumped　to　their　feet　and　balanced　themselves；　and　looked　half　wild；　half　stupid。　The　women　sat；　and　began　to　scream：　for　they　had　heard　a　word　that　has　terrors　for　us　all：　peculiar　terrors　for　them。

This　alarm　was　due　to　a　personage　hitherto　undervalued　in　the　establishment。

Mr。　Francis　Beverley　had　been　THINKING。　So　now；　finding　all　the　patients　boxed　up；　and　their　attendants　romping　in　the　drawing…room；　he　lighted　seven　fires；　skilfully　on　the　whole；　for　practice　makes　perfect；　but；　singular　oversight；　he　omitted　one　essential　ingredient　in　the　fire；　and　that　was　the　grate。

To　be　plain；　Mr。　Francis　made　seven　bonfires　of　bed…curtains；　chairs；　and　other　combustibles　in　the　servants'　garrets；　lighted　them　contemporaneously；　and　retired　to　the　basement；　convinced　he　had　taken　the　surest　means　to　deliver　his　friend　out　of　Drayton　House：　and　with　a　certain　want　of　candour　that　characterises　the　weak；　proceeded　to　black　his　other　bad　master's　shoes　with　singular　assiduity。

There　was　no　wind　to　blow　the　flame；　but　it　was　a　clear　frost；　and　soon　fiery　tongues　shot　out　of　three　garret…windows　into　the　night；　and　lurid　gleams　burnished　four　more；　and　the　old　house　was　burning　merrily　overhead；　and　ringing　with　hilarity　on　the　first　floor。

But　the　neighbours　saw；　pointed；　wondered；　comprehended；　shouted；　rang；　knocked；　and　surged　round　the　iron　gate。　〃Fire！　fire！　fire！〃　and　〃Fire！〃　went　down　the　road；　and　men　on　horseback　galloped　for　engines；　and　the　terror…stricken　porter　opened　and　the　people　rushed　in　and　hammered　at　the　hall　doors；　and　when　Rooke　ran　down　and　opened；　〃Fire！〃　was　the　word　that　met　him　from　a　score　of　eager　throats　and　glittering　eyes。

〃Fire！　Where？〃　he　cried。

〃Where！　Why；　_you_　are　on　fire。　Blazing！〃

He　ran　out　and　looked　up　at　the　tongues　of　flame　and　volleys　of　smoke。　〃Shut　the　gate；〃　he　roared。　〃Call　the　police。　Fire！　fire！〃　And　he　dashed　back；　and　calling　to　the　other　keepers　to　unlock　all　the　doors　they　had　keys　of；　ran　up　to　the　garrets　to　see　what　could　be　done。　He　came　out　awe…stricken　at　what　he　saw。　He　descended　hastily　to　the　third　floor。　Now　the　third　floor　of　that　wing　was　occupied　principally　by　servants。　In　fact；　the　only　patients　at　that　time　were　Dodd　and　Alfred。　Rooke　called　to　the　men　below　to　send　Hayes　up　to　No。　75　with　his　key　directly；　he　then　ran　down　to　the　next　floorof　which　he　had　keysand　opened　all　the　doors；　and　said　to　the　inmates　with　a　ghastly　attempt　at　cheerfulness；　belied　by　his　shaking　voice；　〃Get　up；　gentlemen；　there　is　a　ball　and　supper　going　on　below。〃　He　was　afraid　to　utter　the　word　〃fire〃　to　them。　The　other　keepers　were　as　rapid；　each　on　his　beat；　and　soon　the　more　rational　patients　took　the　alarm　and　were　persuaded　or　driven　out　half…dressed　into　the　yard；　where　they　cowered　together　in　extremity　of　fear；　for　the　fire　began　to　roar　overhead　like　a　lion；　and　lighted　up　the　whole　interior　red　and　bright。　All　was　screaming　and　confusion；　and　then　came　a　struggle　to　get　the　incurable　out　from　the　basement　story。　There　was　no　time　to　handcuff　them。　The　keepers　trusted　to　the　terror　of　the　scene　to　cow　them；　and　so　opened　the　doors　and　got　them　out　anyhow。　Wild；　weird　forms；　with　glaring　eyes　and　matted　hair；　leaped　out　and　ran　into　the　hall；　and　laughed；　and　danced；　and　cursed　in　the　lurid　reflection　of　the　fires　above。　Hell　seemed　discharging　demons。　Men　recoiled　from　them。　And　well　they　did；　for　now　the　skylight　exploded；　and　the　pieces　fell　tinkling　on　the　marble　hall　fast　as　hail。　The　crowd　recoiled　and　ran；　but　those　awful　figures　continued　their　gambols。　One　picked　up　the　burning　glass　and　ground　it　in　his　hands　that　bled　directly：　but　he　felt　neither　burn　nor　cut。　The　keepers　rushed　in　to　withdraw　them　from　so　dangerous　a　place：　all　but　one　obeyed　with　sudden　tameness：　that　one　struggled　and　yelled　like　a　demon。　In　the　midst。　of　which　fearful　contest　came　a　sudden　thundering　at　a　door　on　the　third　floor。

〃What　is　that？〃　cried　Rooke。

〃It　is　Mr。　Hardie；〃　screamed　the　Robin。　〃You　have　left　him　locked　in。〃

〃I　told　Hayes　to　let　him　out　long　ago。〃

〃But　Hayes　hasn't　got　the　key。　You've　got　it。〃

〃No；　no。　I　tell　you　Hayes　has　got　it。〃

〃No；　no！　Murder！　murder！　They　are　dead　men。　Run　for　Mrs。　Archbold；　somebody。　Run！　Here；　hammers；　hammers！　for　God's　sake；　come　and　help　me；　break　the　door。　Oh；　Rooke；　Rooke！〃

〃As　I'm　a　man　Hayes　has　got　the　key；〃　cried　Rooke；　stamping　on　the　ground；　and　white　with　terror。

By　this　time　Garrett　had　got　a　hammer；　and　he　and　Wales　rushed　wildly　up　the　stairs　to　batter　in　the　strong　door　if　they　could。　They　got　to　the　third　floor；　but　with　difficulty；　the　smoke　began　to　blind　them　and　choke　them；　and　fiery　showers　fell　on　them；　and　drove　them　back　smarting　and　choking。　Garrett　sank　down　gasping　at　the　stair…foot。　Wales　ran　into　the　yard　uttering　pitiful　cries；　and　pointing　wildly　upwards；　but　before　he　got　there；　a　hand　had　broken　through　the　glass　of　a　window　up　in　the　third　floor；　the　poor　white　hand　of　a　perishing　prisoner；　and　clutched　the　framework　and　tore　at　it。

At　this　hand　a　thousand　white　faces　were　now　upturned　amid　groans　of　pity　and　terror；　such　as　only　multitudes　can　utter。　Suddenly　those　anxious　faces　and　glistening　eyes　turned　like　one；　for　an　attempt；　wild　and　unintelligible；　but　still　an　attempt；　was　about　to　be　made　to　save　that　hand　and　its　owner　out　of　the　very　jaws　of　death。

Now　amongst　the　spectators　was　one　whose　life　and　reason　were　at　stake　on　that　attempt。


Mrs。　Dodd　was　hurrying　homeward　from　this　very　neighbourhood　when　the　fire　broke　out。　Her　son　Edward　was　coming　at　nine　o'clock　to　tea；　and；　better　still；　to　sleep。　He　was　leaving　the　fire　brigade。　It　had　disappointed　him；　he　found　the　fire…escape　men　saved　the　lives；　the　firemen　only　the　property。　He　had　gone　into　the　business　earnestly　too；　he　had　invented　a　thing　like　a　treble　pouch　hook；　which　could　he　fastened　in　a　moment　to　the　end　of　a　rope；　and　thrown　into　the　window；　and　would　cling　to　the　bare　wall；　if　there　was　nothing　better；　and　enable　him　to　go　up　and　bring　life　down。　But　he　had　never　got　a　chance　to　try　it；　and；　_per　contra；_　he　was　on　the　engine　when　they　went　tearing　over　a　woman　and　broke　her　arm　and　collar…bone　in　the　Blackfriars　Road；　and　also　when　they　went　tearing　over　their　own　fire…dog；　and　crippled　him。　All　this　seemed　out　of　character；　and　shocked　Edward