hard cash-第120章

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t；　unbeknown　to　Skinner；　a　young　woman　with　white　eyelashes；　sewing　buttons　on　Mr。　Hardie's　shirts。　That　astute　gentleman　gave　her　instructions；　and　important　ones　too；　with　a　silent　gesture；　then　reappeared　and　filled　the　bumper　high　to　his　faithful　servant。　They　drank　one　another's　healths　with　great　cordiality；　real　or　apparent。　Mr。　Hardie　then　asked　Skinner　carelessly；　if　he　could　do　anything　for　him。　Skinner　said；　〃Well；　sir；　I　am　very　poor。〃

〃So　am　I；　between　you　and　me；〃　said　Mr。　Hardie　confidentially；　〃I　don't　mind　telling　you；　those　confounded　Commissioners　of　Lunacy　wrote　to　Alfred's　trustees；　and　I　have　been　forced　to　replace　a　loan　of　five　thousand　pounds。　That　Board　always　sides　with　the　insane。　That　crippled　me；　and　drove　me　to　the　Exchange：　and　now　what　I　had　left　is　all　invested　in　time…bargains。　A　month　settles　my　fate：　a　little　fortune；　or　absolute　beggary。〃

〃You'll　be　lucky；　sir；　you'll　be　lucky；〃　said　Skinner　cheerfully；　〃you　have　such　a　long　head；　not　like　poor　little　me；　the　Exchange　soon　burnt　my　wings。　Not　a　shilling　left　of　the　thousand　pounds；　sir；　you　were　so　good　as　to　give　me　for　my　faithful　services。　But　you　will　give　me　another　chance；　sir；　I　know；　I'll　take　better　care　this　time。〃　Mr。　Hardie　shook　his　head　sorrowfully；　and　said　it　was　impossible。　Skinner　eyed　him　askant；　and　remarked　quietly；　and　half　aside；　〃Of　course；　I　_could_　go　to　the　other　party：　but　I　shouldn't　like　to　do　that。　They　would　come　down　handsome。〃

〃What　other　party？〃

〃La；　sir；　what　other　party？　Why　Mrs。　Dodd's；　or　Mr。　Alfred's；　here's　the　trial　coming　on；　you　know；　and　of　course　if　they　could　get　me　to　go　on　the　box　and　tell　all　I　know；　or　half　what　I　know；　why　the　judge　and　jury　would　say　locking　Mr。　Alfred　up　for　mad　was　a　conspiracy。〃

Mr。　Hardie　quaked　internally：　but　he　hid　it　grandly；　and　once　more　was　a　Spartan　gnawed　beneath　his　robe　by　this　little　fox。　〃What；〃　said　he　sternly；　〃after　all　I　and　mine　have　done　for　you　and　yours；　would　you　be　so　base　as　to　go　and　sell　yourself　to　my　enemies？〃

〃Never；　sir；〃　shouted　Skinner　zealously：　then　in　a　whisper；　〃Not　if　you'll　make　a　bid　for　me。〃

〃How　much　do　you　demand？〃

〃Only　another　thousand；　sir？〃

〃A　thousand　pounds！〃

〃Why；　what　is　that　to　you；　sir？　you　are　rich　enough　to　buy　the　eighth　commandment　out　of　the　tables　of　ten　per　cent。：　and　then　the　lawsuit；　Hardies　_versus_　Hardies！〃

〃You　have　spoken　plainly　at　last；〃　said　Mr。　Hardie　grimly。　〃This　is　extorting　money　by　threats。　Do　you　know　that　nothing　is　more　criminal；　nor　more　easy　to　punish？　I　can　take　you　before　a　magistrate；　and　imprison　you　on　the　instant　for　this　attempt。　I　will；　too。〃

〃Try　it；〃　said　Skinner　coolly。　〃Where's　your　witness？〃

〃Behind　that　screen。〃

Peggy　came　forward　directly　with　a　pen　in　her　hand。　Skinner　was　manifestly　startled　and　disconcerted。　〃I　have　taken　all　your　words　down；　Mr。　Skinner；〃　said　Peggy　softly；　then　to　her　master；　〃Shall　I　go　for　a　policeman；　sir？〃

Mr。　Hardie　reflected。　〃Yes；〃　said　he　sternly：　〃there's　no　other　course　with　such　a　lump　of　treachery　and　ingratitude　as　this。〃

Peggy　whipped　on　her　bonnet。

〃What　a　hurry　you　are　in；〃　whined　Skinner：　〃a　policeman　ought　to　be　the　last　argument　for　old　friends　to　run　to。〃　Then；　fawning　spitefully；　〃Don't　talk　of　indicting　me；　sir；〃　said　he；　〃it　makes　me　shiver：　why　how　will　you　look　when　I　up　and　tell　them　all　how　Captain　Dodd　was　took　with　apoplexy　in　our　office；　and　how　you　nailed　fourteen　thousand　pounds　off　his　senseless　body；　and　forgot　to　put　them　down　in　your　balance…sheet；　so　they　are　not　whitewashed　off　like　the　rest。〃

〃Any　witnesses　to　all　this；　Skinner？〃

〃Yes；　sir。〃

〃Who？〃

〃Well；　your　own　conscience　_for　one；_〃　said　Skinner。

〃He　is　mad；　Peggy；〃　said　Mr。　Hardie；　shrugging　his　shoulders。　He　then　looked　Skinner　full　in　the　face；　and　said；　〃Nobody　was　ever　seized　with　apoplexy　in　my　office。　Nobody　ever　gave　me　L。　14；000。　And　if　this　is　the　probable　tale　with　which　you　come　here　to　break　the　law　and　extort　money；　leave　my　house　this　instant：　and　if　ever　you　dare　to　utter　this　absurd　and　malicious　slander；　you　shall　lie　within　four　stone　walls；　and　learn　what　it　is　for　a　shabby　vagabond　to　come　without　a　witness　to　his　back；　and　libel　a　man　of　property　and　honour。〃

Skinner　let　him　run　on　in　this　loud　triumphant　strain　till　he　had　quite　done；　then　put　out　a　brown　skinny　finger；　and　poked　him　lightly　in　the　ribs；　and　said　quite　quietly；　and　oh；　so　drily；　with　a　knowing　wink

〃I'vegotThe　Receipt。〃



CHAPTER　LI

MR。　HARDIE　collapsed　as　if　he　had　been　a　man　inflated；　and　that　touch　had　punctured　him。　〃Ah！〃　said　he。　〃Ah！〃　said　Skinner；　in　a　mighty　different　tone：　insolent　triumph　to　wit。

After　a　pause；　Mr。　Hardie　made　an　effort　and　said　contemptuously；　〃The　receipt　（if　any）　was　flung　into　the　dusthole　and　carried　away。　Do　you　think　I　have　forgotten　that？〃

〃Don't　you　believe　it；　sir；〃　was　the　reply。　〃While　you　turned　your　back　and　sacked　the　money；　I　said　to　myself；　'Oho；　is　that　the　game？'　and　nailed　the　receipt。　What　a　couple　of　scoundrels　we　were！　I　wouldn't　have　her　know　it　for　all　your　money。　Come；　sir；　I　see　its　all　right；　you　will　shell　out　sooner　than　be　posted。〃

Here　Peggy　interposed；　〃Mr。　Skinner；　be　more　considerate；　my　master　is　really　poor　just　now。〃

〃That　is　no　reason　why　I　should　be　insulted　and　indicted　and　trampled　under　foot；〃　snarled　Skinner　all　in　one　breath。

〃Show　me　the　receipt　and　take　my　last　shilling；　you　ungrateful；　vindictive　viper；〃　groaned　Mr。　Hardie。

〃Stuff　and　nonsense；　said　Skinner。　〃I'm　not　a　viper；　I'm　a　man　of　business。　Find　me　five　hundred　pounds；　and　I'll　show　you　the　receipt　and　keep　dark。　But　I　can't　afford　to　give　it　you　for　that；　of　course。〃

Skinner　triumphed；　and　made　the　great　man　apologise；　writhing　all　the　time；　and　wishing　he　was　a　day　labourer　with　Peggy　to　wife；　and　fourteen　honest　shillings　a　week　for　his　income。　Having　eaten　humble　pie；　he　agreed　to　meet　Skinner　next　Wednesday　at　midnight；　alone；　under　a　certain　lamp　on　the　North　Kensington　Road：　the　interval　（four　days）　he　required　to　raise　money　upon　his　scrip。　Skinner　bowed　himself　out；　fawning　triumphantly。　Mr。　Hardie　stood　in　the　middle　of　the　room　motionless；　scowling　darkly。　Peggy　looked　at　him；　and　saw　some　dark　and　sinister　resolve　forming　in　his　mind：　she　divined　it；　as　such　women　can　divine。　She　laid　her　hand　on　his　arm；　and　said　softly；　〃Richard；　it's　not　worth　_that。_〃　He　started　to　find　his　soul　read　through　his　body　so　clearly。　He　trembled。

But　it　was　only　for　a　moment。　〃His　blood　be　on　his　own　head；〃　he　snarled。　〃This　is　not　my　seeking。　He　shall　learn　what　it　is　to　drive　Richard　Hardie　to　despair。〃

〃No；　no；〃　implored　Peggy；　〃there　are　other　countries　beside　this：　why　not　gather　all　you　have；　and　cross　the　water？　I'll　follow　you　to　the　world's　end；　Richard。〃

〃Mind　your　own　business；〃　said　he　fiercely。

She　made　no　reply；　but　went　softly　and　sat　down　again；　and　sewed　the　buttons　on　his　shirts。　Mr。　Hardie　wrote　to　Messrs。　Heathfield　to　get　Hardie　_v。_　Hardie　tried　as　soon　as　possible。

Meantime　came　a　mental　phenomenon：　gliding　down　Sackville　Street；　victorious　Skinner　suddenly　stopped；　and　clenched　his　hands；　and　his　face　writhed　as　if　he　had　received　a　death…wound。　In　that　instant　Remorse　had　struck　him　like　lightning；　and；　perhaps；　whence　comes　the　lightning。　The　sweet　face　and　voice　that　had　smiled　on　him；　and　cared　for　his　body；　and　cared　for　his　soul；　came　to　his　mind；　and　knocked　at　his　heart　and　conscience。　He　went　home　miserable　with　an　inward　conflict；　and　it　lasted　him　all　the　four　days；　sometimes　Remorse　got　the　better；　sometimes　Avarice。　He　came　to　the　interview　still　undecided　what　he　should　do。　But；　meantime；　he　had　gone　to　a　lawyer　and　made　his　will；　leaving　his　little　all　to　Julia　Dodd：　a　bad　sign　this；　looked　like　compounding　with　his　awakened　conscience。

It　was　a　dark　and　gusty　night。　Very　few　people　were　about。　Skinner　waited　a　little　while；　and　shivered；　for　his　avarice　had　postponed　the　purchase　of　a　greatcoat　until　Christmas　Day。　At　last；　when　the　coast　seemed　clear；　Mr。　Hardie　emerged　from　a　side　street。　Skinner　put　his　hand　to　his　bosom。

They　met。　Mr。　Hardie　said　quietly；　〃I　must　ask　you；　just　for　form；　to　show　me　you　have　the　Receipt。〃

〃Of　course；　sir；　but　not　so　near；　please：　no　snatching；　if　I　know　it。〃

〃You　are　wonderfully　suspicious；〃　said　Mr。　Hardie；　trying　to　smile。

Skinner　looked；　and　saw　by　the　lamplight　he　was　deadly　pale。　〃Keep　your　distance　a　moment；　sir；〃　said　he；　and；　on　Mr。　Hardie's　complying；　took　the　Receipt　out；　and　held　it　under　the　lamp。

Instantly　Mr。　Hardie　drew　a　life…preserver；　and　sprang　on　him　with　a　savage　curseand　uttered　a　shriek　of　dismay；　for　he　was　met　by　the　long　shiny　barrel　of　a　horse…pistol；　that　Skinner　drew　from　his　bosom；　and　levelled　full　in　the　haggard　face　that　came　at　him。　Mr。　Hardie　recoiled；　crying；　〃No！　no！　for　Heaven's　sake！〃

〃What！〃　cried　Skinner；　stepping　forward　and　hissing；　〃do　you　think　I'm　such　a　fool　as　to　meet　a　thief　unarmed？　Come；　cash　up；　or　I'll　blow　you　to　atoms。〃

〃No；　no；　no！〃　said　Mr。　Hardie　piteously；　retreating　as　Skinner　marched　on　him　with　long　extended　pistol。　〃Skinner；〃　he　stammered；　〃th…this　is　n…not　b…b…business。〃

〃Cash　up；　then；　that's　business。　Fling　the　five　hundred　pounds　down；　and　walk　away。　Mind　it　is　loaded　with　two　bullets；　I'll　make　a　double　entry　on　your　great　treacherous　carcass。〃

〃It's　no　use　trying　to　deceive　such　a　man　as　you；〃　said　Mr。　Hardie；　playing　on　his　vanity。　〃I　could　not　get　the　money　before　Saturday；　and　so　I　listened　to　the　dictates　of　despair。　Forgive　me。〃

〃Then　come　again　Saturday　night。　Come　alone；　and　I　shall　bring　a　man　to　see　I'm　not　murdered。　And　look　here；　sir；　if　you　don't　come　to　the　hour　and　do　the　right　thing　without　any　more　of　these　unbusiness…like　tricks；　by　Heaven；　I'll　smash　you　before　noon　on　Monday。〃

〃I'll　come。〃

〃I'll　blow　you　to　Mr。　Alfred　and　Miss　Dodd。〃

〃I'll　come；　I　tell　you。〃

〃I'll　post　you　for　a　thief　on　every　brick　in　the　Exchange。〃

〃Have　mercy；　Skinner。　Have　pity　on　the　wretched　man　whose　bread　you　have　eaten。　I　tell　you　I'll　come。〃

〃Well；　mind　you　do；　then；　cash　and　all；〃　said　Skinner　sulkily；　but　not　quite　proof　against　the　reminiscences　those　humble　words　awakened。

Each　walked　backwards　a　good　dozen　steps；　and　then　they　took　different　roads；　Skinner　taking　good　care　not　to　be　tracked　home。　He　went　up　the　high　stairs　to　the　hole　in　the　roof　he　occupied；　and　lighted　a　rushlight。　He　had　half　a　mind　to　kindle　a　fire；　he　felt　so　chilly；　but　he　had　blocked　up　the　vent；　partly　to　keep　out　the　cold；　partly　to　shun　the　temptation　of　burning　fuel。　However；　he　stopped　the　keyhole　with　paper；　and　also　the　sides　of　the　window；　till　he　had　shut　the　wintry　air　all　out。　Still；　what　with　the　cold　and　what　with　the　reaction　after　so　great　an　excitement；　his　feeble　body　began　to　shiver　desperately。　He　thought　at　last　he　would　light　a　foot…warmer　he　had　just　purchased　for　old　iron　at　a　broker's；　_that_　would　only　spend　a　halfpenneyworth　of　charcoal。　No；　he　wouldn't；　he　would　look　at　his　money；　that　would　cheer　him。　He　unripped　a　certain　part　of　his　straw　mattress　and　took　out　a　bag　of　gold。　He　spread　three　hundred　sovereigns　on　the　floor　and　put　the　candle　down　among　t