hard cash-第109章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


oble　with　it　all。　I　liked　him：　he　was　a　man　that　showed　you　his　worst；　and　let　you　find　his　best　out　by　degrees。　He　hated　to　be　beat：　but　that's　no　crime。　He　was　a　beautiful　oar；　and　handled　his　mawleys　uncommon；　he　sparred　with　all　the　prizefighters　that　came　to　Oxford；　and　took　punishment　better　than　you　would　think；　and　a　wonderful　quick　hitter；　Alec　Reed　owned　that。　Poor　Taff　Hardie！　And　when　I　think　that　God　has　overthrown　his　powerful　mind；　and　left　me　mine；　such　as　it　is！　But　the　worst　is　my　having　gone　on　calling　him　'the　Wretch'　all　this　time：　and　nothing　too　bad　for　him。　I　ought　to　be　ashamed　of　myself。　It　grieves　me　very　much。　'When　found　make　a　note　on；'　never　judge　a　fellow　behind　his　back　again。

Arrived　at　the　station；　he　inquired　whether　his　friend　had　called　again；　and　was　answered　in　the　negative。　He　waited　a　few　minutes；　and　then；　with　the　superintendent's　permission；　wrote　a　note　to　Alfred；　inviting　him　to　dine　at　Simpson's　at　six；　and　left　it　with　the　fireman。　This　done；　he　was　about　to　return　home；　when　another　thought　struck　him。　He　got　a　messenger；　and　sent　off　a　single　line　to　Dr。　Wolf；　to　tell　him　Alfred　Hardie　would　be　at　Simpson's　at　seven　o　clock。

But；　when　the　messenger　was　gone；　he　regretted　what　he　had　done。　He　had　done　it　for　Alfred's　good；　but　still　it　was　treason。　He　felt　unhappy；　and　wended　his　way　homeward　disconsolately；　realising　more　and　more　that　he　had　not　brains　for　the　difficulties　imposed　upon　him。

On　entering　Pembroke　Street　he　heard　a　buzz。　He　looked　up；　and　saw　a　considerable　crowd　collected　in　a　semicircle。　〃Why　that　is　near　our　house；〃　he　said；　and　quickened　his　steps。

When　he　got　near　he　saw　that　all　the　people's　eyes　were　bent　on　No。　66。

He　dashed　into　the　crowd。　〃What　on　earth　is　the　matter？〃　he　cried。

〃The　matter？　Plenty's　the　matter；　young　man；〃　cried　one。

〃Murder's　the　matter；〃　said　another。

At　that　he　turned　pale　as　death。　An　intelligent　man　saw　his　violent　agitation；　and　asked　him　hurriedly　if　he　belonged　to　the　house。

〃Yes。　For　mercy's　sake；　what　is　it？〃

〃Make　way　there！〃　shouted　the　man。　〃He　belongs。　Sir；　a　madman　has　broke　loose　and　got　into　your　house。　And　I'm　sorry　to　say　he　has　just　killed　two　men。〃

〃With　a　pistol；〃　cried　several　voices；　speaking　together。



CHAPTER　XLV

ALFRED　HARDIE　spent　three　days　writhing　in　his　little　lodging。　His　situation　had　been　sadder；　but　never　more　irritating。　By　right　possessor　of　thousands；　yet　in　fact　reduced　to　one　suit；　two　shirts；　and　half…a…crown：　rich　in　intellect；　yet　hunted　as　a　madman：　affianced　to　the　loveliest　girl　in　England；　yet　afraid　to　go　near　her　for　fear　of　being　torn　from　her　again；　and　for　ever。　All　this　could　last　but　one　week　more；　but　a　week's　positive　torture　was　no　trifle　to　contemplate；　with　a　rival　at　his　Julia's　ear　all　the　time。　Suppose　she　should　have　been　faithful　all　these　months；　but　in　this　last　week　should　he　worn　out　and　give　herself　to　another：　such　things　had　been　known。　He　went　to　Lincoln's　Inn　with　this　irritating　fear　tearing　him　like　a　vulture。　Mr。　Compton　received　him　cheerfully；　and　told　him　he　had　begun　operations　in　Hardie　_versus_　Hardie：　had　written　to　Thomas　Hardie　two　days　ago；　and　inquired　his　London　solicitor；　and　whether　that　gentleman　would　accept　service　of　the　writ　in　Hardie　_versus_　Hardie。

〃To　Thomas　Hardie？　Why；　what　has　he　to　do　with　it？〃　asked　Alfred。

〃He　is　the　defendant　in　the　suit。〃　Then　seeing　amazement　and　incredulity　on　Alfred's　face；　he　explained　that　the　Commissioners　of　Lunacy　had　treated　him　with　great　courtesy；　had　at　once　furnished　him　with　copies；　not　only　of　the　order　and　certificates；　but　of　other　valuable　documents。　〃And　there；〃　said　he；　〃lies　the　order；　signed　by　Thomas　Hardie；　of　Clare　Court；　Yorkshire。〃

〃Curse　his　impudence；〃　cried　Alfred　in　a　fury；　〃why；　sir；　he　is　next　door　to　an　idiot　himself。〃

〃What　does　that　matter？　Ah；　now；　if　I　had　gone　in　a　passion　and　indicted　him；　there　would　be　a　defence　directly；　'no　malice；　defendant　being　_non　compos。'_　Whereas；　by　gently；　quietly　suing　him；　even　if　he　was　a　lunatic；　we　would　make　him　or　his　estate　pay　a　round　sum　for　falsely　imprisoning　a　sane　Briton。　By…the…by；　here　is　counsel's　opinion　on　your　case；〃　and　he　handed　him　a　short　opinion　of　a　distinguished　Queen's　Counsel；　the　concluding　words　of　which　were　these：

3。　If　the　certificates　and　order　are　in　legal　form；　and　were　made　and　given　_bona　fide；_　no　action　lies　for　the　capture　or　detention　of　Mr。　Hardie。

〃Why　it　is　dead　against　me；〃　said　Alfred。　〃There　goes　the　one　rotten　reed　you　had　left　me。〃

〃Singularly　dead；〃　said　the　attorney　coolly；　〃he　does　not　even　say　'I　am　of　opinion。'　He　is　in　great　practice；　and　hardworked：　in　his　hurry　he　has　taken　up　the　Lunacy　Acts；　and　has　forgotten　that　the　rights　of　sane　Englishmen　are　not　the　creatures　of　these　little　trumpery　statutes。　No；　thank　you；　our　rights　are　centuries　older；　and　prevail　wherever；　by　good　luck；　the　statutes　of　the　realm　are　silent；　now　they　are　all　silent　about　incarcerating　sane　men。　Besides；　he　gives　no　cases。　What　is　an　opinion　without　a　precedent？　A　lawyer's　guess。　I　thought　so　little　of　his　opinion　that　I　sent　the　case　to　a　clever　junior；　who　has　got　time　to　think　before　he　writes。〃　Colls　entered　soon　after　with　the　said　junior's　opinion。　Mr。　Compton　opened　it；　and　saying；　〃Now　let　us　see　what　he　says；〃　read　it　to　Alfred。　It　ran　thus：


〃There　was　clearly　a　right　of　action　under　the　common　law　and　it　has　been　exercised。　_Anderdon　v。　Brothers；　Paternoster　v。　Wynn；_　&c。　Such　a　right　can　only　be　annulled　by　the　express　terms　of　a　statute：　now　the　8　and　9　Victoria；　cap。　100；　sect。　99；　so　annuls　it　as　against　the　madhouse　proprietor　only。　That；　therefore；　is　the　statutory　exception；　and　tends　to　confirm　the　common　right。　If　the　facts　are　as　represented　（on　which；　of　course；　I　can　form　no　opinion）；　Mr。　Hardie　can　safely　sue　the　person　who　signed　the　order　for　his　alleged　false　imprisonment。

〃I　agree　with　you　that　the　usual　course　by　praying　the　Court　of　Chancery　for　a　Commission　de　Lunatico　Inquirendo；　is　timorous；　and　rests　on　prejudice。　Plt。；　if　successful；　is　saddled　with　his　own　costs；　and　sometimes　with　Deft。's；　and　obtains　no　compensation。　It　seems　clear　that　a　jury　sitting　at　Nisi　Prius　can　deal　as　well　with　the　main　fact　as　can　a　jury　sitting　by　the　order　of　the　Chancellor；　and　I　need　not　say　the　costs　will　go　with　their　verdict；　to　say　nothing　of　the　damages；　which　may　be　heavy。　On　the　other　hand；　an　indictment　is　hazardous；　and　I　think　you　can　lose　nothing　by　beginning　with　the　suit。　By　having　a　shorthand　writer　at　the　trial；　you　may　collect　materials　for　an　indictment；　and　also　feel　the　pulse　of　the　court；　you　can　then　confer　upon　the　evidence　with　some　counsel　better　versed　in　criminal　law　than　myself。　_My_　advice　is　to　sue　Thomas　Hardie；　and　declare　in　Tort。

〃（Signed）　BARROW。


_〃N。B。_I　have　been　thus　particular；　because　Hardie　_v。_　Hardie　（if　carried　to　a　verdict）　will　probably　be　a　leading　case。〃


〃Who　shall　decide　when　counsel　disagree？'　inquired　Alfred　satirically。

〃That　depends　on　where　they　do　it。　If　in　court；　the　judge。　If　here；　the　attorney。〃

You　appear　sanguine；　Mr。　Compton；〃　said　Alfred；　〃perhaps　you　would　not　mind　advancing　me　a　little　money。　I've　only　half…a…crown。〃

〃It　is　all　ready　for　you　in　this　drawer；〃　said　Compton　cheerfully。　〃See　thirty　sovereigns。　Then　you　need　not　go　to　a　bank。〃

〃What；　you　knew　I　should　borrow？〃

〃Don't　all　my　clients　begin　by　bleeding　_me？_　It　is　the　rule　of　this　office。〃

〃Then　why　don't　you　give　up　business？〃

〃Because　I　bleed　the　opposite　attorney's　client　a　pound　or　two　more　than　my　own　bleeds　me。〃

He　then　made　Alfred　sign　a　promissory　note　for　the　thirty　pounds：　advised　him　to　keep　snug　for　one　week　more；　and　promised　to　write　to　him　in　two　days；　and　send　Thomas　Hardie's　answer。　Alfred　left　his　address　and　went　from　Mr。　Compton　a　lighter　man。　Convinced　of　his　courage　and　prudence；　he　shifted　one　care　off　his　own　shoulders：　and　thought　of　love　alone。

But；　strange　as　it　may　appear；　two　cares　are　sometimes　better　for　a　man　than　one。　Alfred；　having　now　no　worry　to　divert　him　from　his　deeper　anxiety；　was　all　love　and　jealousy；　and　quite　overbalanced：　the　desire　of　his　heart　grew　so　strong　it　overpowered　alike　his　patience　and　his　prudence。　He　jumped　into　a　cab；　and　drove　to　all　the　firemen's　stations　on　the　Surrey　side　of　the　river；　inquiring　for　Edward。　At　last　he　hit　upon　the　right　one；　and　learned　that　Julia　lived　in　Pembroke　Street；　number　unknown。　He　drove　home　to　his　lodgings；　bought　some　ready…made　clothes；　and　dressed　like　a　gentleman：　then　told　the　cabman　to　drive　to　Pembroke　Street。　He　knew　he　was　acting　imprudently；　but　he　could　not　help　it。　And；　besides；　Mr。　Compton　had　now　written　to　his　uncle；　and　begun　the　attack：　that　would　surely　intimidate　his　enemies；　and　turn　their　thoughts　to　defence；　not　to　fresh　offence。　However；　catching　sight　of　a　gunsmith's　shop　on　the　way；　he　suddenly　resolved　to　arm　himself　on　the　bare　chance　of　an　attack。　He　stopped　the　cab；　went　in　and　bought　a　double…barrelled　pistol；　with　powder…flask；　bullets；　wads；　and　caps　complete。　This　he　loaded　in　the　cab；　and　felt　quite　prudent　after　it。　The　prudence　of　youth！

He　paid　off　the　cab　in　Pembroke　Street；　and　set　about　the　task　of　discovering　Julia。　He　inquired　at　several　houses；　but　was　unsuccessful。　Then　he　walked　slowly　all　down　the　street；　looking　up　at　all　the　windows。　And　I　think；　if　he　had　done　this　the　day　before；　he　might　have　seen　her；　or　she　him：　she　was　so　often　at　the　window　now。　But　just　then　she　had　company　to　keep　her　in　order。

He　was　unlucky　in　another　respect。　Edward　came　out　of　No。　66　and　went　up　the　street；　when　he　himself　was　going　down　it　not　so　very　many　yards　off。　If　Alfred's　face　had　only　been　turned　the　other　way　he　would　have　seen　Edward；　and　all　would　have　gone　differently。

The　stoutest　hearts　have　their　moments　of　weakness　and　deep　dejection。　Few　timings　are　more　certain；　and　less　realised　by　ordinary　men　than　this；　from　Palissy　fighting　with　Enamel　to　Layard　disinterring　a　city；　this　thing　is　so。

Unable　to　find　Julia　in　the　very　street　she　inhabited；　Alfred　felt　weak　against　fate。　He　said　to　himself；　〃If　I　find　her；　I　shall　perhaps　wish　I　had　never　sought　her。〃

In　his　hour　of　dejection　stern　reason　would　be　heard；　and　asked　him　whether　all　Mrs。　Archbold　had　said　could　be　pure　invention；　and　he　was　obliged　to　confess　that　was　too　unlikely。　Then　he　felt　so　sick　at　heart　he　was　half　minded　to　turn　and　fly　the　street。　But　there　was　a　large　yard　close　by　him；　entered　by　a　broad　and　lofty　gateway　cut　through　one　of　the　houses。　The　yard　belonged　to　a　dealer　in　hay：　two　empty　waggons　were　there；　but　no　men　visible；　being　their　dinner…time。　Alfred　slipped　in　here；　and　sat　down　on　the　shaft　of　a　waggon；　and　let　his　courage　ooze。　He　sighed；　and　sighed；　and　feared　to　know　his　fate。　And　so　he　sat　with　his　face　in　his　hands　unmanned。

Presently　a　strain　of　music　broke　on　his　ear。　It　seemed　to　come　from　the　street。　He　raised　his　head　to　listen。　He　coloured；　his　eyes　sparkled；　he　stole　out　on　tiptoe　with　wondering；　inquiring　face　into　the　street。　Once　there；　he　stood　spell…bound；　thrilling　from　his　heart；　that　seemed　now　on　fire；　to　his　fingers'　ends。　F