hard cash-第106章

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Mrs。　Dodd　was　silent　a　moment；　then；　somewhat　hastily　bade　Mrs。　Archbold　good…bye。　She　told　the　cabman　to　drive　to　an　old　acquaintance　of　ours；　Mr。　Green。　He　had　set　up　detective　on　his　own　account。　He　was　not　at　his　office；　but　expected。　She　sat　patiently　down　till　he　came　in。　They　put　their　heads　together；　and　Green　dashed　down　to　the　asylum　with　a　myrmidon；　while　Mrs。　Dodd　went　into　the　City　to　obtain　leave　of　absence　from　Cross　and　Co。　This　was　politely　declined　at　first；　but　on　Mrs。　Dodd　showing　symptoms　of　leaving　them　altogether；　it　was　conceded。　She　returned　home　with　Edward；　and　there　was　Mr。　Green：　he　had　actually　traced　the　fugitives　by　broken　fences；　and　occasional　footsteps　in　the　side　clay　of　ditches；　so　far　as　to　leave　no　doubt　they　had　got　upon　the　great　south…eastern　road。　Then　Mrs。　Dodd　had　a　female　inspiration。　〃The　Dover　road！　Ah！　my　husband　will　make　for　the　sea。〃

〃I　shouldn't　wonder；　being　a　sailor；〃　said　Green。　〃It　is　a　pleasure　to　work　with　a　lady　like　you；　that　puts　in　a　good　hint。　Know　anything　about　the　other　one；　ma'am？〃

Mrs。　Dodd　almost　started　at　this　off…hand　question。　But　it　was　a　natural　one　for　Green　to　ask。

She　said　gravely；　〃I　do。　To　my　cost。〃

Green's　eye　sparkled；　and　he　took　out　his　note…book。　〃Now　where　is　_he_　like　to　make　for？〃

Mrs。　Dodd　seemed　to　wince　at　the　question；　and　then　turned　her　eyes　inward　to　divine。　The　result　was　she　gave　a　downright　shudder；　and　said　evasively；　〃Being　with　David；　I　hope　and　pray　he　will　go　towards　the　coast。〃

〃No；　no；〃　said　Green；　〃it　won't　do　to　count　on　that　altogether。　How　do　we　know　which　of　the　two　will　lead　the　other？　You　must　please　to　put　Mr。　Dodd　out　of　the　question；　ma'am；　for　a　moment。　Now　we'll　say　No。　2　had　escaped　alone：　where　would　he　be　like　to　run　to？〃

Mrs。　Dodd　thus　pressed；　turned　her　eyes　more　and　more　inward；　and　said　at　last　in　a　very　low　voice；　and　with　a　sort　of　concentrated　horror　〃He　will　come　to　my　house。〃

Mr。　Green　booked　this　eagerly。　The　lady's　emotion　was　nothing　to　him；　the　hint　was　invaluable；　the　combination　interesting。　〃Well；　ma'am；〃　said　he；　〃I'll　plant　a　good　man　in　sight　of　your　door：　and　I'll　take　the　Dover　road　directly　with　my　drag。　My　teeth　weren't　strong　enough　for　the　last　nut　you　gave　me　to　crack：　let　us　try　this　one。　Tom　Green　isn't　often　beat　twice　running。〃

〃I　will　go　with　you；　Mr。　Green。〃

〃Honoured　and　proud；　ma'am。　But　a　lady　like　you　in　my　dog…cart　along　o'　me　and　my　mate！〃

Mrs。　Dodd　waived　this　objection　almost　contemptuously；　she　was　all　wife　now。

It　was　agreed　that　Green　should　drive　round　for　her　in　an　hour。　He　departed　for　the　present；　and　Edward　proposed　to　go　in　the　dog…cart　too；　but　she　told　him　no；　she　wanted　him　at　home　to　guard　his　sister　against　〃the　Wretch。〃　Then　seeing　him　look　puzzled；　〃Consider；　Edward；〃　said　she；　〃he　is　not　like　your　poor　father：　he　has　not　forgotten。　That　advertisement；　Aileen　Aroon；　it　was　from　him；　you　know。　And　then　why　does　he　attach　himself　so　to　poor　papa？　Do　you　not　see　it　is　because　he　is　Julia's　father？　'The　Wretch'　loves　her　still。〃

Edward　from　puzzled　looked　very　grave。　〃What　a　head　you　have　got；　mamma！〃　he　said。　〃I　should　never　have　seen　all　this：　yet　it's　plain　enough　now；　as　you　put　it。〃

〃Yes；　it　is　plain。　Our　darling　is　betrothed　to　a　maniac；　that　maniac　loves　her；　and　much　I　fear　she　loves　him。　Some　new　calamity　is　impending。　Oh；　my　son；　I　feel　it　already　heavy　on　my　heart。　What　is　it　to　be？　Is　your　father　to　be　led　to　destruction；　or　will　that　furious　wretch　burst　in　upon　your　sister；　and　kill　her；　or　perhaps　kill　Mr。　Hard；　if　he　catches　them　together？　What　may　not　happen　now？　The　very　air　seems　to　me　swarming　with　calamities。〃

〃Oh；　I'll　take　care　of　all　that；〃　said　Edward。　And　he　comforted　her　a　little　by　promising　faithfully　not　to　let　Julia　go　out　of　his　sight　till　her　return。

She　put　on　a　plain　travelling…dress。　The　dog…cart　came。　She　slipped　fifty　sovereigns　into　Mr。　Green's　hands　for　expenses；　and　off　they　went　at　a　slapping　pace。　The　horse　was　a　great　bony　hunter　of　rare　speed　and　endurance；　and　his　long　stride　and　powerful　action　raised　poor　Mrs。　Dodd's　hopes；　and　the　rushing　air　did　her　good。　Green；　to　her　surprise；　made　few　inquiries　for　some　miles　on　the　Dover　road；　but　he　explained　to　her　that　the　parties　they　were　after　had　probably　walked　all　night。　〃They　don't　tire；　that　sort；〃　said　Mr。　Green。

At　Dartford　they　got　a　doubtful　intimation；　on　the　strength　of　which　he　rattled　on　to　Rochester。　There　he　pulled　up；　deposited　Mrs。　Dodd　at　the　principal　inn　till　morning；　and　scoured　the　town　for　intelligence。

He　inquired　of　all　the　policemen；　described　his　men；　and　shrewdly　added　out　of　his　intelligence；　〃Both　splashed　and　dirty。〃

No；　the　Bobbies　had　not　seen　them。

Then　he　walked　out　to　the　side　of　the　town　nearest　London；　and　examined　all　the　dealers　in　food。　At　last　he　found　a　baker　who；　early　that　morning；　had　sold　a　quartern　loaf　to　two　tall　men　without　hats；　〃and　splashed　fearful；　〃　he　added；　〃thought　they　had　broken　prison；　but　'twas　no　business　of　mine：　they　paid　for　the　bread　right　enough。〃

On　hearing　they　had　entered　Rochester　hatless；　the　shrewd　Mr。　Green　made　direct　to　the　very　nearest　slop…shop；　and　his　sagacity　was　rewarded：　the　shopkeeper　was　a　chatterbox；　and　told　him　yes；　two　gents　out　on　a　frolic　had　bought　a　couple　of　hats　of　him；　and　a　whole　set　of　sailor's　clothes。　〃I　think　they　were　respectable；　too；　but　nothing　else　would　satisfy　him。　So　the　young　one　he　humoured　him；　and　bought　them。　I　took　his　old　ones　in　exchange。〃

At　that　Green　offered　a　sovereign　for　the　old　clothes　blindfold。　The　trader　instantly　asked　two　pounds；　and　took　thirty　shillings。

Green　now　set　the　police　to　scour　the　town　for　a　gentleman　and　a　common　sailor　in　company；　offered　a　handsome　reward；　and　went　to　bed　in　a　small　inn；　with　David's　clothes　by　the　kitchen　fire。　Early　in　the　morning　he　went　to　Mrs。　Dodd's　hotel　with　David's　clothes；　nicely　dried；　and　told　her　his　tale。　She　knew　the　clothes　directly；　kissed　them；　and　cried　over　them：　then　gave　him　her　hand　with　a　world　of　dignity　and　grace：　〃What　an　able　man！　Sir；　you　inspire　me　with　great　confidence。〃

〃And　you　me　with　zeal；　ma'am；〃　said　the　delighted　Green。　〃Why　I'd　go　through　fire　and　water　for　a　lady　like　you；　that　pays　well；　and　doesn't　grudge　a　fellow　a　bit　of　praise。　Now　you　must　eat　a　bit；　ma'am；　if　it's　ever　so　little；　and　then　we'll　take　the　road；　for　the　police　think　the　parties　have　left　the　town；　and　by　their　night's　work　they　must　be　good　travellers。〃

The　dog…cart　took　the　road；　and　the　ex…hunter　stepped　out　thirteen　miles　an　hour。

Now　at　this　moment　Alfred　and　David　were　bowling　along　ahead　with　a　perfect　sense　of　security。　All　that　first　night；　the　grandest　of　his　life；　Alfred　walked　on　air；　and　drank　the　glorious　exhilarating　breath　of　Freedom。　But；　when　the　sun　dawned　on　them；　his　intoxicating　joy　began　to　be　dashed　with　apprehension：　hatless　and　bemired；　might　they　not　be　suspected　and　detained　by　some　officious　authority？

But　the　slop…shop　set　that　all　right。　He　took　a　double…bedded　room　in　The　Bear；　locked　the　door；　put　the　key　under　his　pillow；　and　slept　till　eleven。　At　noon　they　were　on　the　road　again；　and　as　they　swung　lustily　along　in　the　frosty　but　kindly　air；　Alfred's　chest　expanded；　his　spirits　rose；　and　he　felt　a　man　all　over。　Exhilarated　by　freedom；　youth；　and　motion；　and　a　little　inflated　by　reviving　vanity；　his　heart；　buoyant　as　his　foot；　now　began　to　nurse　aspiring　projects：　he　would　indict　his　own　father；　and　the　doctors；　and　immolate　them　on　the　altar　of　justice　and　publicly　wipe　off　the　stigma　they　had　cast　on　him；　and　meantime　he　would　cure　David　and　restore　him　to　his　family。

He　loved　this　harmless　companion　of　his　cell；　his　danger；　and　his　flight；　loved　him　for　Julia's　sake；　loved　him　for　his　own。　Youth　and　vanity　whispered；　〃I　know　more　about　madness　than　the　doctors；　I　have　seen　it　closer。〃　It　struck　him　David's　longing　for　blue　water　was　one　of　those　unerring　instincts　that　sometimes　guide　the　sick　to　their　cure。　And　then　as　the　law　permits　the　forcible　recapture　of　a　patientwithout　a　fresh　order　or　certificateswithin　fourteen　days　of　his　escape　from　an　asylum；　he　did　not　think　it　prudent　to　show　himself　in　London　till　that　time　should　have　elapsed。　So；　all　things　considered；　why　not　hide　a　few　days　with　David　in　some　insignificant　seaport；　and　revel　in　liberty　and　blue　water　with　him　all　day　long；　and　so　by　associations　touch　the　spring　of　memory；　and　begin　the　cure？　As　for　David；　he　seemed　driven　seaward　by　some　unseen　spur；　he　fidgeted　at　all　delay；　even　dinner　fretted　him；　he　panted　so　for　his　natural　element。　Alfred　humoured　him；　and　an　hour　after　sunset　they　reached　the　town　of　Canterbury。　Here　Alfred　took　the　same　precautions　as　before；　and　slept　till　nine　o'clock。

When　he　awoke；　he　found　David　walking　to　and　fro　impatiently。　〃All　right；　messmate；〃　said　Alfred；　〃we　shall　soon　be　in　blue　water。〃　He　made　all　haste；　and　they　were　on　the　road　again　by　ten；　walking　at　a　gallant　pace。

But　the　dog…cart　was　already　rattling　along　about　thirty　miles　behind　them。　Green　inquired　at　all　the　turnpikes　and　vehicles；　the　scent　was　cold　at　first；　but　warmer　by　degrees；　and　hot　at　Canterbury。　Green　just　baited　his　gallant　horse；　and　came　foaming　on；　and　just　as　the　pair　entered　the　town　of　Folkestone；　their　pursuers　came　up　to　the　cross…roads；　not　five　miles　behind　them。

Alfred　went　to　a　good　inn　in　Folkestone　and　ordered　a　steak；　then　strolled　with　David　by　the　beach；　and　gloried　in　the　water　with　him。　〃After　dinner　we　will　take　a　boat；　and　have　a　sail；〃　said　he。　〃See；　there's　a　nice　boat；　riding　at　anchor　there。〃

David　snuffed　the　breeze　and　his　eye　sparkled；　and　he　said；　〃Wind　due　east；　messmate。〃　And　this　remark；　slight　as　it　was　was　practical；　and　gave　Alfred　great　delight：　strengthened　his　growing　conviction　that　not　for　nothing　had　this　charge　been　thrown　on　him。　He　should　be　the　one　to　cure　his　own　father；　for　Julia's　father　was　his：　he　had　no　father　now。　〃All　right；〃　said　he　gaily；　〃we'll　soon　be　on　blue　water：　but　first　we'll　have　our　dinner；　old　boy；　for　I　am　starving。〃　David　said　nothing　and　went　rather　doggedly　back　to　the　inn　with　him。

The　steak　was　on　the　table。　Alfred　told　the　waiter　to　uncover　and　David　to　fall　to；　while　he　just　ran　upstairs　to　wash　his　hands。　He　came　down　in　less　than　two　minutes；　but　David　was　gone；　and　the　waiter　standing　there　erect　and　apathetic　like　a　wooden　sentinel。

〃Why；　where　is　he？〃　said　Alfred。

〃Gent's　gone　out；〃　was　the　reply。

〃And　you　stood　there　and　let　him？　you　born　idiot。　Which　way　is　he　gone？〃

〃I　don't　know；〃　said　the　waiter　angrily；　〃I　ain't　a　p'liceman。　None　but　respectable　gents　comes　here；　as　don't　want　watching。〃　Alfred　darted　out　and　scoured　the　town；　he　asked　everybody　if　they　had　seen　a　tall　gentleman　dressed　like　a　common　sailor。　Nobody　could　tell　him：　there　were　so　many　sailors　about　the　port；　that　which　in　an　inland　town　would　have　betrayed　the　truant　concealed　him　here。　A　cold　perspiration　began　to　gather　on　Alfred's　brow；　as　he　ran　wildly　all　over　the　place。

He　could　not　find　him；　nor　any　trace　of　him。　At　last　it　struck　him　that　he　had　originally　proposed　to　go　to　Dover；　and　had　spoken　of　that　town　to　David；　though