hard cash-第119章

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He　wrote　off　to　the　prefect　of　police　at　Boulogne；　and　in　four　days　received　an　answer　headed　〃Information　in　the　interest　of　families。〃　The　prefect　informed　him　there　had　been　no　railway　accident：　but　that　the　Sieur　Speers；　English　subject；　had　really　hurt　his　leg　getting　out　of　a　railway　carriage　six　weeks　ago；　and　had　kept　his　room　some　days；　but　he　had　been　cured　some　weeks；　and　going　about　his　business；　and　made　an　excursion　to　Paris。

On　this　Compton　offered　Sampson　the　shilling。　But　he　declined　to　take　it。　〃The　lie　was　self…evident；〃　said　he；　〃and　here's　a　judge　wouldn't　see't；　and　an　attorney　couldn't。　Been　all　their　lives　sifting　evidence；　too。　Oh　the　darkness　of　the　profissional　mind！〃

The　next　term　came。　Mr。　Compton　delivered　the　briefs　and　fees；　subpoenaed　the　witnesses；　&c。；　and　Alfred　came　up　with　a　good　heart　to　get　his　stigma　removed　by　twelve　honest　men　in　the　light　of　day：　but　first　one　case　was　taken　out　of　its　order　and　put　before　him；　then　another；　till　term　wore　near　an　end。　Then　Messrs。　Heathfield　applied　to　another　judge　of　the　court　for　a　postponement。　Mr。　Richard　Hardie；　plaintiff's　father；　a　most　essential　witness；　was　ill　at　Clare　Court。　Medical　certificate　and　letter　herewith。

Compton　opposed。　Now　this　judge　was　a　keen　and　honourable　lawyer；　with　a　lofty　hatred　of　all　professional　tricks。　He　heard　the　two　attorneys；　and　delivered　himself　to　this　effect；　only　of　course　in　better　legal　phrase：　〃I　shall　make　no　order。　The　defendant　has　been　here　before　on　a　doubtful　affidavit。　You　know；　Mr。　Heathfield；　juries　in　these　cases　go　by　the　plaintiff's　evidence；　and　his　conduct　under　cross…examination。　And　I　think　it　would　not　be　just　nor　humane　to　keep　this　plaintiff　in　suspense；　and　_civiliter　mortuum；_　any　longer。　You　can　take　out　a　commission　to　examine　Richard　Hardie。〃

To　this　Mr。　Compton　nailed　him；　but　the　commission　took　time；　and　while　it　was　pending；　Mr。　Heathfield　went　to　another　judge　with　another　disabled　witness：　Peggy　Black。　That　naive　personage　was　nursing　her　deceased　sister's　childrenin　an　affidavit：　and　they　had　scarlatinasurgeon's　certificate　to　that　effect。　Compton　opposed；　and　pointed　out　the　blot。　〃You　don't　want　the　children　in　the　witness…box；〃　said　he：　〃and　we　are　not　to　be　robbed　of　our　trial　because　one　of　your　witnesses　prefer　nursing　other　people's　children　to　facing　the　witness…box。〃

The　judge　nodded　assent。　〃I　make　no　order；〃　said　he。

Mr。　Heathfield　went　out　from　his　presence　and　sent　a　message　by　telegraph　to　Peggy　Black。　〃You　must　have　Scar。　yourself；　and　telegraph　the　same　at　once：　certificate　by　post。〃

The　accommodating　maiden　telegraphed　back　that　she　had　unfortunately　taken　scarlatina　of　the　children：　medical　certificate　to　follow　by　post。　Four　judges　out　of　the　five　were　now　awake　to　the　move。　But　Mr。　Heathfield　tinkered　the　hole　in　his　late　affidavit　with　Peggy's　telegram；　and　slipped　down　to　Westminster　to　the　chief　judge　of　the　court；　who　had　had　no　opportunity　of　watching　the　growth　and　dissemination　of　disease　among　Deft。's；　witnesses。　Compton　fought　this　time　by　counsel　and　with　a　powerful　affidavit。　But　luck　was　against　him。　The　judge　had　risen　to　go　home：　he　listened　standing；　Compton's　counsel　was　feeble；　did　not　feel　the　wrong。　How　could　he？　Lawyers　fatten　by　delays　of　justice；　as　physicians　do　by　tardy　cure。　The　postponement　was　granted。

Alfred　cursed　them　all；　and　his　own　folly　in　believing　that　an　alleged　lunatic　would　be　allowed　fair　play　at　Westminster；　or　anywhere　else。　Compton　took　snuff；　and　Sampson　appealed　to　the　press　again。　He　wrote　a　long　letter　exposing　with　fearless　irony　the　postponement　swindle　as　it　had　been　worked　in　Hardie　_v。_　Hardie：　and　wound　up　with　this　fiery　peroration：

〃This　Englishman　sues　not　merely　for　damages；　but　to　recover　lost　rights　dearer　far　than　money；　of　which　he　says　he　has　been　unjustly　robbed：　his　right　to　walk　in　daylight　on　the　soil　of　his　native　land　without　being　seized　and　tied　up　for　life　like　a　nigger　or　a　dog；　his　footing　in　society；　a　chance　to　earn　his　bread；　and　a　place　among　mankind：　ay；　among　mankind；　for　a　lunatic　is　an　animal　in　the　law's　eye　and　society's；　and　an　alleged　lunatic　is　a　lunatic　till　a　jury　clears　him。

I　appeal　to　you；　gentlemen；　is　not　such　a　suitor　sacred　in　all　wise　and　good　men's　minds？　Is　he　not　defendant　as　well　as　plaintiff？　Why；　his　stake　is　enormous　compared　with　the　nominal　defendant's；　and；　if　I　know　right　from　wrong；　to　postpone　his　trial　a　fourth　time　would　be　to　insult　Divine　justice；　and　trifle　with　human　misery；　and　shock　the　common　sense　of　nations。〃

The　doctor's　pen　neither　clipped　the　words　nor　minced　the　matter；　you　see。　Reading　this　the　water　came　into　Alfred's　eyes。　〃Ah；　staunch　friend；〃　he　said；　〃how　few　are　like　you！　To　the　intellectual　dwarfs　who　conspire　with　my　oppressors；　Hardie　_v。_　Hardie　is　but　a　family　squabble。　_Parvis　omnia　parva。_〃　Mr。　Compton　read　it　too；　and　said　from　the　bottom　of　his　heart；　〃Heaven　defend　us　from　our　friends！　This　is　enough　to　make　the　courts　decline　to　try　the　case　at　all。〃

And；　indeed；　it　did　not　cure　the　evil：　for　next　term　another　_malade　affidavitaire_　was　set　up。　Speers　to　wit。　This　gentleman　deposed　to　having　come　over　on　purpose　to　attend　the　trial；　but　having　inadvertently　stepped　aside　as　far　as　Wales；　he　lay　there　stricken　with　a　mysterious　malady；　and　had　just　strength　to　forward　medical　certificate。　On　this　the　judge　in　spite　of　remonstrance；　adjourned　Hardie　_v。_　Hardie　to　the　summer　term。　Summer　came；　the　evil　day　drew　nigh：　Mr。　Heathfield　got　the　venue　changed　from　Westminster　to　London；　which　was　the　fifth　postponement。　At　last　the　cause　came　on：　the　parties　and　witnesses　were　all　in　court；　with　two　whole　days　before　them　to　try　it　in。

Dr。　Sampson　rushed　in　furious。　〃There　is　some　deviltry　afloat；〃　said　he。　〃I　was　in　the　House　of　Commons　last　night；　and　there　I　saw　the　defendant's　counsel　earwigging　the　judge。〃

〃Nonsense；〃　said　Mr。　Compton；　〃such　suspicions　are　ridiculous。　Do　you　think　they　can　talk　of　nothing　but　Hardie　_v。_　Hardie？〃

〃Maidearr　sirrmy　son　met　one　of　Heathfield's　clerks　at　dinner；　and　he　let　out　that　the　trile　was　not　to　come　off。　Put　this　and　that　together　now。〃

〃It　will　come　off；〃　said　Mr。　Compton；　〃and　in　five　minutes　at　farthest。〃

In　less　than　that　time　the　learned　judge　came　in；　and　before　taking　his　seat　made　this　extraordinary　speech：

〃I　hear　this　cause　will　take　three　days　to　try；　and　we　have　only　two　days　before　us。　It　would　be　inconvenient　to　leave　it　unfinished；　and　I　must　proceed　on　circuit　the　day　after　to…morrow。　It　must　be　a　remanet：　no　man　can　do　more　than　time　allows。〃

Plaintiff's　counsel　made　a　feeble　remonstrance；　then　yielded。　And　the　crier　with　sonorous　voice　called　on　the　case　of　Bread　_v。_　Cheese；　in　which　there　were　pounds　at　stake；　but　no　principle。　Oh；　with　what　zest　they　all　went　into　it；　being　small　men　escaping　from　a　great　thing　to　a　small　one。　Never　hopped　frogs　into　a　ditch　with　more　alacrity。　Alfred　left　the　court　and　hid　himself；　and　the　scalding　tears　forced　their　way　down　his　cheeks　at　this　heartless　proceeding：　to　let　all　the　witnesses　come　into　court　at　a　vast　expense　to　the　parties：　and　raise　the　cup　of　justice　to　the　lips　of　the　oppressed；　and　then　pretend　he　knew　a　trial　would　last　more　than　two　days；　and　so　shirk　it。　〃I'd　have　made　that　a　reason　for　sitting　till　midnight〃　said　poor　Alfred；　〃not　for　prolonging　a　poor　injured　man's　agony　four　mortal　months。〃　He　then　prayed　God　earnestly　for　this　great　postponer's　death　as　the　only　event　that　could　give　him　back　an　Englishman's　right　of　being　tried　by　his　peers；　and　so　went　down　to　Oxford　broken…hearted。

As　for　Sampson　he　was　most　indignant；　and　said　a　public　man　had　no　business　with　a　private　ear：　and　wanted　to　appeal　to　the　press　again：　but　the　doughty　doctor　had　a　gentle　but　powerful　ruler　at　home；　as　fiery　houses　are　best　ruled　by　a　gentle　hand。　Mrs。　Sampson　requested　him　to　write　no　more；　but　look　round　for　an　M。　P。　to　draw　these　repeated　defeats　of　justice　to　the　notice　of　the　House。　Now　there　was　a　Mr。　Bite；　who　had　taken　a　prominent　and　honourable　part　in　lunacy　questions；　headed　committees　and　so　on：　this　seemed　the　man。　Dr。　Sampson　sent　him　a　letter　saying　there　was　a　flagrant　case　of　a　sane　man　falsely　imprisoned；　who　had　now　been　near　a　year　applying　for　a　jury；　and　juggled　out　of　this　constitutional　right　by　arbitrary　and　unreasonable　postponements：　would　Mr。　Bite　give　him　（Dr。　Sampson）　ten　minutes　and　no　more；　when　he　would　explain　the　case　and　leave　documentary　evidence　behind　him　for　Mr。　Bite　to　test　his　statement。　The　philanthropical　M。　P。　replied　promptly　in　these　exact　words：

〃Mr。　Bite　presents　his　compliments　to　Dr。　Sampson　to　state　that　it　is　impossible　for　him　to　go　into　his　case；　nor　to　give　him　the　time　he　requests　to　do　so。〃

Sampson　was　a　little　indignant　at　the　man's　insolence；　but　far　more　at　having　been　duped　by　his　public　assumption　of　philanthropy。　〃The　little　pragmatical　impostor！〃　he　roared。　〃With　what　a　sense　o'　relief　th'　animal　flings　off　the　mask　of　humanity　when　there　is　no　easy　eclat　to　be　gained　by　putting't　on。〃　He　sent　the　philanthropical　Bite's　revelation　of　his　private　self　to　Alfred；　who　returned　it　with　this　single　remark：　_〃Homunculi　quanti　sunt！_〃

Dishonest　suitors　all　try　to　postpone；　but　they　do　not　gain　unmixed　good　thereby。　These　delays　give　time　for　more　evidence　to　come　in；　and　this　slow　coming　and　chance　evidence　is　singularly　adverse　to　the　unjust　suitor。　Of　this　came　a　notable　example　in　October　next；　and　made　Richard　Hardie　determined　to　precipitate　the　trial；　and　even　regret　he　had　not　fought　it　out　long　ago。

He　had　just　returned　from　consulting　Messrs。　Heathfield；　and　sat　down　to　a　nice　little　dinner　in　his　apartments　（Sackville　Street）；　when　a　visitor　was　announced；　and　in　came　the　slouching　little　figure　of　Mr。　Barkington；　_alias_　Noah　Skinner。

　　　　　DIAMOND　CUT　DIAMOND。

Mr。　Hardie　suppressed　a　start；　and　said　nothing。　Skinner　bowed　low　with　a　mixture　of　his　old　cringing　way；　and　a　certain　sly　triumphant　leer；　so　that　his　body　seemed　to　say　one　thing；　and　his　face　the　opposite。　Mr。　Hardie　eyed　him；　and　saw　that　his　coat　was　rusty；　and　his　hat　napless：　then　Mr。　Hardie　smelt　a　beggar；　and　prepared　to　parry　all　attempts　upon　his　purse。

〃I　hope　I　see　my　old　master　well；〃　said　Skinner　coaxingly。

〃Pretty　well　in　body；　Skinner；　thank　you。〃

〃I　had　a　deal　of　trouble　to　find　you；　sir。　But　I　heard　of　the　great　lawsuit　between　Mr。　Alfred　and　you；　and　I　knew　Mr。　Heathfield　was　your　solicitor；　so　I　watched　at　his　place　day　after　day：　and　at　last　you　came。　Oh；　I　was　so　pleased　when　I　saw　your　noble　figure；　but　I　wouldn't　speak　to　you　in　the　street　for　fear　of　disgracing　you。　I'm　such　a　poor　little　guy　to　be　addressing　a　gentleman　like　you。〃

Now　this　sounded　well　on　the　surface；　but　below　there　was　a　subtle　something　Mr。　Hardie　did　not　like　at　all：　but　he　took　the　cue；　and　said；　〃My　poor　Skinner；　do　you　think　I　would　turn　up　my　nose　at　a　faithful　old　servant　like　you？　Have　a　glass　of　wine　with　me；　and　tell　me　how　you　have　been　getting　on。〃　He　went　behind　a　screen　and　opened　a　door；　and　soon　returned　with　a　decanter；　leaving　the　door　open。　Now　in　the　next　room　sat；　unbeknown　to　Skinner；　a　young　woman　wi