hard cash-第112章

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tockings；　and　Julia　bared　her　lovely　arms；　and　blushed　like　a　rose。

Alfred　divined　her　intention。　〃Dear　Julia；〃　he　said；　〃I　won't　let　you：　that　is　too　high　an　honour。　Sarah　can　do　that。〃

But　Julia's　blood　was　up。　〃Sarah？〃　said　she　contemptuously；　〃she　is　too　heavy　handed：　andhold　your　tongue；　I　don't　take　my　orders　from　you；〃　then　more　humbly　to　the　doctor；　〃I　am　a　district　visitor：　I　nurse　all　manner　of　strangers；　and　he　says　I　must　leave　his　poor　suffering　leg　to　the　servants。〃

〃Unnatural　young　monster；〃　said　the　doctor。　〃G'im　a　good　nip。〃

Julia　followed　this　advice　by　handling　Alfred's　swollen　ankle　with　a　tenderness　so　exquisite；　and　pressing　it　with　the　full　sponge　so　softly；　that　her　divine　touch　soothed　him　as　much　or　more　than　the　water。　After　nursing　him　into　the　skies　a　minute　or　two；　she　looked　up　blushing　in　his　face；　and　said　coaxingly；　〃Are　you　mad；　dear　Alfred？　Don't　be　afraid　to　tell　us　the　truth。　The　madder　you　are；　the　more　you　need　me　to　take　care　of　you；　you　know。〃

Alfred　smiled　at　this　sapient　discourse；　and　said　he　was　not　the　least　mad；　and　hoped　to　take　care　of　_her_　as　soon　as　his　ankle　was　well　enough。　This　closed　that　sweet　mouth　of　hers　exceeding　tight；　and　her　face　was　seen　no　more　for　a　while；　but　hid　by　bending　earnestly　over　her　work；　only　as　her　creamy　poll　turned　pink；　the　colour　of　that　hidden　face　was　not　hard　to　divine。

Then　Edward　asked　Alfred　how　in　the　world　he　had　escaped　and　got　into　that　waggon。　The　thing　was　incredible。　〃Mirawculous；〃　said　Dr。　Sampson　in　assent。

〃No；〃　said　Alfred；　〃it　looks　stranger　to　you　than　it　is。　The　moment　I　found　my　pistol　was　gone；　I　determined　to　run。　I　looked　down　and　saw　a　spout　with　a　great　ornamental　mouth；　almost　big　enough　to　sit　on；　and；　while　I　was　looking　greedily　at　it；　three　horses　came　into　the　yard　drawing　a　load　of　hay。　The　waggoner　was　busy　clearing　the　pavement　with　his　wheel；　and　the　waggon　almost　stopped　a　moment　right　under　me。　There　was　a　lot　of　loose　hay　on　the　top。　I　let　myself　down；　and　hung　by　the　spout　a　moment；　and　then　leaped　on　to　the　loose　hay。　Unfortunately　there　were　the　hard　trusses　beneath　it；　and　so　I　got　my　sprain。　Oh；　I　say；　didn't　it　hurt？　However；　I　crept　under　the　hay　and　hid　myself；　and　saw　Wolf's　men　come　into　the　yard。　By…and…by　a　few　drops　of　rain　fell；　and　some　fellows　chucked　down　a　tarpaulin　from　the　loft；　and　nearly　smothered　me：　so　I　cut　a　few　air…holes　with　my　penknife。　And　there　I　lay；　Heaven　knows　how　long：　it　seemed　two　days。　At　last　I　saw　an　angel　at　a　window　I　called　her　by　the　name　she　bears　on　earth：　to　my　joy　she　answered；　and　here　I　am；　as　happy　as　a　prince　among　you　all；　and　devilish　hungry。〃

〃What　a　muff　I　was　not　to　think　of　that；〃　said　Edward；　and　made　for　the　larder。

〃Dear　doctor；〃　said　Julia；　lifting　a　Madonna…like　face　with　swimming　eyes；　〃I　see　no　change　in　him：　he　is　very　brave；　and　daring；　and　saucy。　But　so　he　always　was。　To　be　sure　he　says　extravagant　things；　and　stares　one　out　of　countenance　with　his　eyes：　well；　and　so　he　always　didever　since　_I_　knew　him。〃

〃Mayn't　I　even　_look_　my　gratitude？〃　whined　Alfred。

〃Yes；　but　you　need　not　stare　it。〃

〃It's　your　own　fault；　Miss　Julee；〃　said　Sampson。　〃With　you　fomenting　his　sprain　the　creature's　fomenting　his　own　insensate　passion。　Break　every　bone　in　a　puppy's　body；　and　it's　a　puppy　still；　and　it　doesn't　do　to　spoil　puppies；　as　ye're　spoiling　this　one。　Nlist　me；　ye　vagabin。　Take　yonr　eyes　off　the　lady；　and　look　_me_　in　the　faceif　ye　can：　and　tell　me　how　you　came　to　leave　us　all　in　the　lurch　on　your　wedding　morn。〃

Julia　fired　up。　〃It　was　not　his　fault；　poor　thing；　he　was　decoyed　away　after　that　miserable　money。　Ah；　you　may　laugh　at　me　for　hating　money；　but　have　I　not　good　reason　to　hate　it？〃

〃Whist；　whist；　y'　impetuous　cracter；　and　let　him　tell　his　own　tale。〃

Alfred；　thus　invited；　delivered　one　of　his　calm；　luminous　statements；　which　had　hitherto　been　listened　to　so　coldly　by　one　official　after　another。　But　the　effect　was　mighty　different；　falling　now　on　folk　not　paid　to　pity。　As　for　Dr。　Sampson；　he　bounced　up　very　early　in　the　narrative；　and　went　striding　up　and　down　the　room：　he　was　pale　with　indignation；　and　his　voice　trembled　with　emotion；　and　every　now　and　then　he　broke　in　on　the　well…governed　narrative　with　oaths　and　curses；　and　observations　of　this　kind〃Why　dinnt　ye　kill　um？　I'd　have　killed　um。　I'd　just　have　taken　the　first　knife　and　killed　um。　Man；　our　Liberty　is　our　Life。　Dith　to　whoever　attacks　it！〃

And　so　Edward　coming　in　with　Alfred's　dinner　on　a　tray；　found　the　_soi…disant_　maniac　delivering　his　wrongs　with　the　lofty　serenity　of　an　ancient　philosopher　discussing　the　wrongs　of　another；　Julia　crying　furtively　into　the　tub；　and　the　good　physician　trampling　and　raving　about　the　room；　like　what　the　stoical　narrator　was　accused　of　being。　Edward　stopped；　and　looked　at　them　all　over　the　tray。　〃Well；〃　said　he；　〃if　there's　a　madman　in　the　room；　it　is　not　Hardie。　Ahem。〃

〃Madman？　ye　young　ijjit；〃　roared　the　doctor；　〃he's　no　madder　than　I　am。〃

〃Heaven　forbid；〃　said　Alfred　drily。

〃No　madder　than　_you_　are；　ye　young　Pump。〃

〃That's　an　ungenerous　skit　on　Edward's　profession；〃　objected　the　maniac。

〃Be　quite　now；　chattering；〃　said　the　excited　doctor；　〃I　tell　ye　ye　niver　were　mad；　and　niver　will　be。　It's　just　the　most　heartless　imposture；　the　most　rascally　fraud　I've　ever　caught　the　Mad　Ox　out　in。　I'll　expose　it。　Gimme　pninkpapr。　Man；　they'll　take　y'　again　if　we　don't　mind。　But　I'll　stop　that：　these　ineequities　can　only　be　done　in　the　dark。　I'll　shed　the　light　of　day　on　'em。　Eat　your　dinner；　and　hold　your　tongue　a　minuteif　ye　can。〃　The　doctor　had　always　a　high　sense　of　_Alfred's_　volubility。

He　went　to　work；　and　soon　produced　a　letter　headed；　〃PRIVATE　MADHOUSES。〃　In　this　he　related　pithily　Alfred's　incarceration；　and　the　present　attempt　to　recapture　him；　with　the　particulars　of　his　escape。　〃That　will　interest　th'　enemy；〃　said　he　drily。　He　vouched　for　Alfred's　sanity　at　both　dates；　and　pledged　himself　to　swear　to　it　in　a　court　of　law。　He　then　inquired　what　it　availed　to　have　sent　one　tyrant　to　Phalaris　and　another　to　Versailles　in　defence　of　our　Liberty；　since　after　all　that　Liberty　lies　grovelling　at　the　mercy　of　Dr。　Pill…box　and　Mr。　Sawbones；　and　a　single　designing　relative？　Then　he　drew　a　strong　picture　of　this　free…born　British　citizen　skulking　and　hiding　at　this　moment　from　a　gang　of　rogues　and　conspirators；　who　in　France　and　other　civilised　countries　that　brag　less　of　liberty　than　we　do；　would　be　themselves　flying　as　criminals　from　the　officers　of　justice；　and　he　wound　up　with　a　warm　appeal　to　the　press　to　cast　its　shield　over　the　victim　of　bad　laws　and　foul　practices。　〃In　England；〃　said　he；　〃Justice　is　the　daughter　of　Publicity。　Throughout　the　world　deeds　of　villainy　are　done　every　day　in　kid　gloves：　but；　with　us；　at　all　events；　they　have　to　be　done　on　the　sly！　Here　lies　our　true　moral　eminence　as　a　nation。　Utter　then　your　'fiat　lux；'　cast　the　full　light　of　publicity　on　this　dark　villainy；　and　behold　it　will　wither；　and　your　oppressed　and　injured　fellow…citizen　be　safe　from　that　very　hour。〃

He　signed　it　and　read　it　out　to　them；　or　rather　roared　it。　But　he　had　written　it　so　well　he　could　not　make　it　bad　by　delivery。　Indeed；　he　was　a　masterly　writer　of　English；　you　must　know。　Julia　was　delighted；　but　Alfred　shook　his　head。　〃The　editor　will　not　put　it　in。〃

〃Th'　editor！　D'ye　think　I'm　so　green　as　to　trust　t'　any　one　editor？　D'ye　think　I've　lived　all　these　years　and　not　learned　what　poor　cowardly　things　men　are？　Moral　courage！　where　can　you　find　it？　Except　in　the　dickshinary？　Few　to　the　world　their　honest　thoughts　_avow；_　the　groveller　policy　robs　justice　_now_

　　　　　And　none　but　Sampson　dares　to　lift　a　hond　　　　　　Against　the　curst　corruption　of　the　lond。

Now；　lad；　I'm　off　to　my　printer　with　this。　They　are　working　night　and　day　just　now：　there　will　be　two　hundred　copies　printed　in　half　an　hour。〃

〃And　me；　doctor；〃　said　Julia。　〃Am　poor　I　to　have　no　hand　in　it？　How　cruel　of　you？　Oh　pray；　pray；　pray　let　me　help　a　little。〃

〃Put　on　your　bonnet；　then；　directly；〃　said　he：　〃in　war　never　lose　a　minute。〃

〃But　I　am　so　afraid　they　may　be　lying　in　wait　for　him　outside。〃

〃Then　we'll　give　them　a　good　hiding：　there　are　three　of　us；　all　good　men　and　staunch；〃　said　the　indomitable　doctor。

〃No；　no；〃　said　the　pugnacious　Alfred。　〃Julia　does　not　like　fighting：　I　heard　her　screaming　all　the　time　I　was　defending　myself　on　the　stairs：　let　us　be　prudent：　let　us　throw　dust　in　their　eyes。　Put　me　on　a　bonnet　and　cloak。〃

〃And　a　nice　little　woman　you'll　make；　ye　fathom。〃

〃Oh；　I　can　stoopto　conquer。〃

Julia　welcomed　this　plan　almost　with　glee；　and　she　and　Edward　very　soon　made　a　handsome　brazen…looking　trollop　six　feet　high。　Then　it　had　to　stoop；　and　Edward　and　Julia　helped　it　out　to　the　carriage；　under　the　very　noses　of　a　policeman　and　a　keeper；　who　were　watching　for　Alfred：　seeing　whichoh　frailty　of　woman！the　district　visitor　addressed　it　aloud　as　her　aunt；　and　begged　it　to　take　care：　which　she　afterwards　observed　was　acting　a　falsehood；　and　〃where　was　her　Christianity？〃

Alfred　was　actually　not　recognised：　the　carriage　bowled　away　to　the　great　printing　house；　it　was　on　that　side　the　water。　The　foreman　entered　into　the　thing　with　spirit；　and　divided　the　copy；　small　as　it　was；　among　two　or　three　compositors：　so　a　rough　proof　was　ready　in　an　incredibly　short　time；　the　doctor　corrected　it：　and　soon　they　began　to　work　off　the　copies。　The　foreman　found　them　Mitchell's　newspaper　list；　and　envelopes　by　the　hundred；　and　while　the　copies　were　pouring　in；　all　hands　were　folding　and　addressing　them　to　the　London　and　provincial　editors。　The　office　lent　the　stamps。　The　doctor　drove　Alfred　to　his　own　lodgings；　and　forbade　him　to　reappear　in　Pembroke　Street　until　the　letter　should　come　out　in　the　London　journals。

That　night　the　letters　were　all　posted；　and　at　daybreak　were　flying　north；　south；　east　and　west。　In　the　afternoon　the　letter　came　out　in　four　London　evening　papers；　and　the　next　morning　the　metropolis　and　the　whole　kingdom　were　ringing　with　them；　and　the　full　blaze　of　publicity　burst　upon　this　dark　deed。

Ay；　stout　Sampson；　well　you　knew　mankind；　and　well　you　knew　the　nation　you　lived　in。　Richard　Hardie；　in　the　very　act　of　setting　detectives　to　find　Alfred's　lurking…place；　ran　his　nose　against　this　letter　in　the　_Globe。_　He　collapsed　at　the　sight　of　it；　and　wrote　directly　to　Dr。　Wolf；　enclosing　it　and　saying　that　it　would　be　unadvisable　to　make　any　fresh　attempt。　His　letter　was　crossed　by　one　from　Dr。　Wolf；　containing　Sampson's　thunderbolt　extracted　from　the　_Sun；_　and　saying　that　no　earthly　consideration　should　induce　him　to　meddle　with　Alfred　_now。_　Richard　Hardie　flung　himself　into　the　train；　and　went　down　to　his　brother　at　Clare　Court。

He　was　ill　at　ease。　He　felt　like　some　great　general；　who　has　launched　many　attacks　against　the　foe；　very　successful　at　first；　then　less　successful；　then　repulsed　with　difficulty；　then　repulsed　with　ease；　till　at　last　the　foe　stands　before　him　impregnable。　Then　he　feels　that　ere　long　that　iron　enemy　will　attack　him　in　turn；　and　that　he；　exhausted　by　his　own　onslaughts；　must　defend　himself　how　he　can。　Yet　there　was　a　pause；　he　passed　a　whole　quiet　peaceful　day　with　his　br