hard cash-第126章

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〃Why　it　is　twelve　o'clock。　They　are　burying　him。〃

〃Yes；　sir。〃

〃Lucy　would　never　forgive　me；〃　cried　the　captain。　And　to　the　purser's　utter　amazement　he　clapped　on　his　cocked　hat；　and　flew　out　of　the　cabin　on　the　errand　I　have　described。

He　now　returned　to　the　cabin　and　looked：　a　glance　was　enough：　there　lay　the　kindly　face　that　had　been　his　friend　man　and　boy。

He　hid　his　own　with　his　hands；　and　moaned。　He　cursed　his　own　blindness　and　stupidity　in　not　recognising　that　face　among　a　thousand。　In　this　he　was　unjust　to　himself。　David　had　never　looked　_himself_　till　now。

He　sent　for　the　surgeon；　and　told　him　the　whole　sad　story：　and　asked　him　what　could　be　done。　His　poor　cousin　Lucy　had　more　than　once　expressed　her　horror　of　interment　at　sea。　〃It　is　very　hot；〃　said　he；　〃but　surely　you　must　know　some　way　of　keeping　him　till　we　land　in　New　Zealand：　curse　these　flies；　how　they　bite！〃

The　surgeon's　eyes　sparkled；　he　happened　to　be　an　enthusiast　in　the　art　of　embalming。　〃Keep　him　to　New　Zealand？〃　said　he　contemptuously；　〃I'll　embalm　him　so　that　he　shall　go　to　England　looking　just　as　he　does　now　by…the…by；　I　never　saw　a　drowned　man　keep　his　colour　so　well　beforeay；　and　two　thousand　years　after　that；　if　you　don't　mind　the　expense。〃

〃The　expense！　I　don't　care；　if　it　cost　me　a　year's　pay。　I　think　of　nothing　but　repairing　my　blunder　as　far　as　I　can。〃

The　surgeon　was　delighted。　Standing　over　his　subject；　who　lay　on　the　captain's　table；　he　told　that　officer　how　he　should　proceed。　〃I　have　all　the　syringes；〃　he　said；　〃a　capital　collection。　I　shall　inject　the　veins　with　care　and　patience；　then　I　shall　remove　the　brain　and　the　viscera；　and　provided　I'm　not　stinted　in　arsenic　and　spices〃

〃I　give　you　carte　blanche　on　the　purser：　make　your　preparations；　and　send　for　him。　Don't　tell　me　how　you　do　it；　but　do　it。　I　must　write　and　tell　poor　Lucy　I　have　got　him；　and　am　bringing　him　home　to　herdead。〃

The　surgeon　was　gone　about　a　quarter　of　an　hour；　he　then　returned　with　two　men　to　remove　the　body；　and　found　the　captain　still　writing　his　letter；　very　sorrowful：　but　now　and　then　slapping　his　face　or　leg　with　a　hearty　curse　as　the　flies　stung　him。

The　surgeon　beckoned　the　men　in　softly；　and　pointed　to　the　body　for　them　to　carry　it　out。

Now；　as　he　pointed；　his　eye；　following　his　finger；　fell　on　something　that　struck　that　experienced　eye　as　incredible：　he　uttered　an　exclamation　of　astonishment　so　loud　that　the　captain　looked　up　directly　from　his　letter；　and　saw　him　standing　with　his　finger　pointing　at　the　corpse；　and　his　eyes　staring　astonishment　〃What　now？〃　said　the　captain；　and　rose　from　his　seat

〃Look！　look！　look！〃

The　captain　came　and　looked；　and　said　he　saw　nothing　at　all。

〃The　fly；　the　fly！〃　cried　the　surgeon。

〃Yes；　I　see　one　of　them　has　been　biting　him；　for　there's　a　little　blood　trickling。　Poor　fellow。〃

〃A　dead　man　can't　bleed　from　the　small　veins　in　his　skin；〃　said　the　man　of　art。　〃He　is　alive；　captain；　he　is　alive；　as　sure　as　we　stand　here；　and　God's　above。　That　little　insect　was　wiser　than　us；　he　is　alive。〃

〃Jackson；　don't　trifle　with　me；　or　I'll　hang　you　at　the　yard…arm。　God　bless　you；　Jackson。　Is　it　really　possible？　Run　some　of　you；　get　a　mirror：　I　have　heard　that　is　a　test〃

〃Mirror　be　hanged。　Doctor　Fly　knows　his　business。〃

All　was　now　flutter　and　bustle：　and　various　attempts　were　made　to　resuscitate　David；　but　all　in　vain。　At　last　the　surgeon　had　an　idea。　〃This　man　was　never　drowned　at　all〃　said　he：　〃I　am　sure　of　it。　This　is　catalepsy。　He　may　lie　this　way　for　a　week。　But　dead　he　is　not。　I'll　try　the　douche。〃　David　was　then　by　his　orders　stripped　and　carried　to　a　place　where　they　could　turn　a　watercock　on　him　from　a　height：　and　the　surgeon　had　soon　the　happiness　of　pointing　out　to　the　captain　a　slight　blush　on　David's　skin　in　parts；　caused　by　the　falling　water。　All　doubts　ceased　with　this：　the　only　fear　was　lest　they　should　shake　out　the　trembling　life　by　rough　usage。　They　laid　him　on　his　stomach；　and　with　a　bellows　and　pipe　so　acted　on　the　lungs；　that　at　last　a　genuine　sigh　issued　from　the　patient's　breast。　Then　they　put　him　in　a　warm　bed；　and　applied　stimulants；　and　by　slow　degrees　the　eyelids　began　to　wink；　the　eyes　to　look　more　mellow；　the　respiration　to　strengthen；　the　heart　to　beat：　〃Patience；　now；〃　said　the　surgeon；　〃patience；　and　lots　of　air。〃

Patience　was　rewarded。　Just　four　hours　after　the　first　treatment；　a　voice；　faint　but　calm　and　genial；　issued　from　the　bed　on　their　astonished　ears；　〃Good　morning　to　you　all。〃

They　kept　very　quiet。　In　about　five　minutes　more　the　voice　broke　out　again；　calm　and　sonorous

〃Where　is　my　moneymy　fourteen　thousand　pounds？〃


These　words　set　them　all　looking　at　one　another：　and　very　much　puzzled　the　surgeon：　they　were　delivered　with　such　sobriety　and　conviction。　〃Captain；〃　he　whispered；　〃ask　him。　if　he　knows　you。〃

〃David；〃　said　the　captain　kindly；　〃do　you　know　me？〃　David　looked　at　him　earnestly；　and　his　old　kindly　smile　broke　out；　〃Know　ye；　ye　clog；〃　said　he；　〃why；　you　are　my　cousin　Reginald。　And　how　came　you　into　this　thundering　bank？　I　hope　you　have　got　no　money　here。　'Ware　land　sharks！〃

〃We　are　not　in　a　bank；　David；　we　are　on　board　my　ship。〃

〃The　deuce　we　are。　But　where's　my　money？〃

〃Oh；　we'll　talk　about　that　by…and…by。〃

The　surgeon　stepped　forward；　and　said　soothingly；　〃You　have　been　very　ill；　sir。　You　have　had　a　fit。〃

〃I　believe　you　are　right；〃　said　David　thoughtfully。

〃Will　you　allow　me　to　examine　your　eye？〃

〃Certainly；　doctor。〃

The　surgeon　examined　David's　eye　with　his　thumb　and　finger　and　then　looked　into　it　to　see　how　the　pupil　dilated　and　contracted。

He　rubbed　his　hands　after　this　examination；　〃More　good　news；　captain！〃　then　lowering　his　voice；　_〃Your　friend　is　as　sane　as　I　am。_〃

The　surgeon　was　right。　A　shock　had　brought　back　the　reason　a　shock　had　taken　away。　But　how　or　why　I　know　no　more　than　the　child　unborn。　The　surgeon　wrote　a　learned　paper；　and　explained　the　whole　most　ingeniously。　I　don't　believe　one　word　of　his　explanation；　and　can't　better　it；　so　confine　myself　to　the　phenomena。　Being　now　sane；　the　boundary　wall　of　his　memory　was　shifted。　He　remembered　his　whole　life　up　to　his　demanding　his　cash　back　of　Richard　Hardie；　and　there　his　reawakened　mind　stopped　dead　short。　Being　asked　if　he　knew　William　Thompson；　he　said；　〃Yes；　perfectly。　He　was　a　foretopman　on　board　the　_Agra；_　and　rather　a　smart　hand。　The　ship　was　aground　and　breaking　up：　he　went　out　to　sea　on　a　piano：　but　we　cut　the　hawser　as　he　drifted　under；　and　he　got　safe　ashore。〃　David's　recovered　reason　rejected　with　contempt　as　an　idle　dream　all　that　had　happened　while　that　reason　was　in　defect　The　last　phenomena　I　have　to　record　were　bodily：　one　was　noted　by　Mr。　Georgie　White　in　these　terms：　〃Billy's　eyes　used　to　be　like　a　seal's：　but；　now　he　is　a　great　gentleman；　they　are　like　yours　and　mine。〃　The　other　was　more　singular：　with　his　recovered　reason　came　his　first　grey　hair；　and　in　one　fortnight　it　was　all　as　white　as　snow。

He　remained　a　fortnight　on　board　the　_Vulture；_　beloved　by　high　and　low。　He　walked　the　quarter…deck　in　the　dress　of　a　private　gentleman；　but　looking　like　an　admiral。　The　sailors　touched　their　hats　to　him　with　a　strange　mixture　of　veneration　and　jocoseness。　They　called　him　among　themselves　Commodore　Billy。　He　was　supplied　with　funds　by　Reginald；　and　put　on　board　a　merchant　ship　bound　for　England。　He　landed；　amid　went　straight　to　Barkington。　There　he　heard　his　family　were　in　London。　He　came　back　to　London；　and　sought　them。　A　friend　told　him　of　Green；　he　went　to　him；　and　of　course　Green　saw　directly　who　he　was。　But　able　men　don't　cut　business　short。　He　gravely　accepted　David's　commission　to　find　him　Mrs。　Dodd。　Finding　him　so　confident；　David　asked　him　if　he　thought　he　could　find　Richard　Hardie　or　his　clerk；　Noah　Skinner；　both　of　whom　had　levanted　from　Barkington。　Green；　who　was　on　a　hot　scent　as　to　Skinner；　demurely　accepted　both　commissions；　and　appointed　David　to　meet　him　at　a　certain　place　at　six。　He　came；　he　found　Green's　man；　who　took　him　upstairs；　and　there　was　that　excited　group　determining　the　ownership　of　his　receipt。

Now　to　David　that　receipt　was　a　thing　of　yesterday。　〃It　is　mine；〃　said　he。　They　all　turned　to　look　at　this　man；　with　sober　passionless　voice；　and　hair　of　snow。　A　keen　cry　from　Julia's　heart　made　every　heart　there　quiver；　and　in　a　moment　she　was　clinging　and　sobbing　on　her　father's　neck。　Edward　could　only　get　his　hand　and　press　and　kiss　it。　Instinct　told　them　Heaven　had　given　them　their　father　back；　mind　and　all。

Ere　the　joy　and　the　emotion　had　calmed　themselves；　Alfred　Hardie　slipped　out　and　ran　like　a　deer　to　Pembroke　Street。

Those　who　were　so　strangely　reunited　could　not　part　for　a　long　time；　even　to　go　down　the　stairs　one　by　one。

David　was　the　first　to　recover　his　composure：　indeed；　great　tranquillity　of　spirit　had　ever　since　his　cure　been　a　remarkable　characteristic　of　this　man's　nature。　His　passing　mania　seemed　to　have　burnt　out　all　his　impetuosity；　leaving　him　singularly　sober；　calm；　and　self…governed。

Mr。　Compton　took　the　money；　and　the　will；　and　promised　the　Executrix；　Skinner　should　be　decently　interred　and　all　his　debts　paid　out　of　the　estate。　He　would　look　in　at　66　by…and…by。

And　now　a　happy　party　wended　their　way　towards　Pembroke　Street。

But　Alfred　was　beforehand　with　them：　he　went　boldly　up　the　stairs；　and　actually　surprised　Mrs。　Dodd　and　Sampson　together。

At　sight　of　him　she　rose；　made　him　a　low　curtsey；　and　beat　a　retreat。　He　whipped　to　the　door；　and　set　his　back　against　it。　〃No；〃　said　he　saucily。

She　drew　up　majestically；　and　the　colour　mounted　in　her　pale　face。　〃What；　sir；　would　you　detain　me　by　force？〃

〃And　no　mistake；〃　said　the　audacious　boy。　〃How　else　can　I　detain　you　when　you　hate　me　so？〃　She　began　to　peep　into　his　sparkling　eyes　to　see　the　reason　of　this　strange　conduct

〃C'way　from　the　door；　ye　vagabin；〃　said　Sampson。

〃No；　no；　my　friend；〃　said　Mrs。　Dodd；　trembling；　and　still　peering　into　his　sparkling　eyes。　〃Mr。　Alfred　Hardie　is　a　gentleman；　at　all　events：　he　would　not　take　such　a　liberty　with　me；　unless　he　had　some　excuse　for　it。〃

〃You　are　wonderfully　shrewd；　mamma；〃　said　Alfred　admiringly。　〃The　excuse　is；　I　don't　hate　you　as　you　hate　me；　and　I　am　very　happy。〃

〃Why　do　you　call　me　mamma　to…day？　Oh；　doctor；　he　calls　me　mamma。〃

〃Th'　audacious　vagabin。〃

〃No；　no；　I　cannot　think　he　would　call　me　that　unless　he　had　some　good　news　for　us　both？〃

〃What　good　news　can　he　have；　except　that　his　trile　is　goin'　well；　and　you　don't　care　for　that〃

〃Oh；　how　can　you　say　so？　I　care　for　all　that　concerns　him：　he　would　not　come　here　to　insult　my　misery　with　his　happiness。　He　is　noble；　he　is　generous；　with　all　his　faults。　How　dare　you　call　me　mamma；　sir！　Call　it　me　again；　my　dear　child；　because　then　I　shall　_know_　you　are　come　to　save　my　heart　from　breaking。〃　And　with　this；　the　truth　must　be　told；　the　stately　Mrs。　Dodd　did　fawn　upon　Alfred　with　palms　outstretched　and　piteous　eyes；　and　certain　cajoling　arts　of　her　sex。

〃Give　me　a　kiss　then；　mamma；〃　said　the　impudent　boy；　〃and　I　_will_　tell　you　a　little　bit　of　good　news。〃

She　bowed　her　stately　head　directly；　and　paid　the　required　tribute　with　servile　humility　and　readiness。

〃Well　then；〃　said　Alfred；