hard cash-第127章

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〃Well　then；〃　said　Alfred；　and　was　just　going　to　tell　her　all；　but　caught　sight　of　Sampson　making　the　most　expressive　pantomime　to　him　to　be　cautious。　〃Well；〃　said　he；　〃I　have　seen　a　sailor。〃

〃Ah！〃

〃And　he　is　sure　Mr。　Dodd　is　alive。〃

Mrs。　Dodd　lifted　her　hands　to　heaven；　but　could　not　speak。　〃In　fact；〃　said　Alfred；　hesitating　（for　he　was　a　wretched　hand　at　a　fib）；　〃he　saw　him　not　a　fortnight　ago　on　board　ship。　But　that　is　not　all；　mamma；　the　sailor　says　he　has　his　reason。〃

Mrs。　Dodd　sank　on　her　knees；　and　said　no　word　to　man；　but　many　to　the　Giver　of　all　good。　When　she　arose；　she　said　to　Alfred；　〃Bring　this　sailor　to　me。　I　must　speak　with　him　directly。〃

Alfred　coloured。　〃I　don't　know　where　to　find　him　just　now。〃

〃Oh；　indeed；〃　said　Mrs。　Dodd　quietly：　and　this　excited　her　suspicion；　and　from　that　moment　the　cunning　creature　lay　in　wait　for　Master　Alfred。　She　plied　him　with　questions；　and　he　got　more　and　more　puzzled　how　to　sustain　his　story。　At　last；　by　way　of　bursting　out　of　his　own　net；　he　said；　〃But　I　am　sorry　to　say　his　hair　has　turned　white。　But　perhaps　you　won't　mind　that。〃

〃And　he　hadn't　a　grey　hair。〃

〃It　is　not　grey；　like　the　doctor's：　it　is　as　white　as　the　driven　snow。〃

Mrs。　Dodd　sighed；　then　suddenly　turning　on　Alfred；　asked　him；　〃Did　the　sailor　tell　you　that？〃

He　hesitated　a　moment　and　was　lost。

〃You　have　seen　him；〃　she　screamed；　〃he　is　in　London：　he　is　in　the　house。　I　feel　him　near　me：〃　and　she　went　into　something　very　like　hysterics。　Alfred　was　alarmed；　and　whispered　the　truth。　The　doctor　sent　him　off　to　meet　them；　and　recommended　caution；　her　nerves　were　in　such　a　state　a　violent　shock；　even　of　happiness；　might　kill　her。

Thus　warned；　Julia　came　into　the　room　alone；　and　while　Dr。　Sampson　was　inculcating　self…restraint　for　her　own　sake；　she　listened　with　a　superior　smile；　and　took　quite　a　different　line。　〃Mamma；〃　said　she；　〃he　is　in　the　town；　but　I　dare　not　bring　him　here　till　you　are　composed：　his　reason　is　restored；　but　his　nerves　are　not　so　strong　as　they　were。　Now；　if　you　agitate　yourself；　you　will　agitate　him；　and　will　do　him　a　serious　mischief。〃

This　crafty　speech　produced　an　incredible　effect　on　Mrs。　Dodd。　It　calmed　her　directly：　or　rather　her　great　love　gave　her　strength　to　be　calm。　〃I　will　not　be　such　a　wretch；〃　she　said。　〃See：　I　am　composed；　quite　composed。　Bring　me　my　darling；　and　you　shall　see　how　good　I　will　be：　there　now；　Julia；　see　how　calm　I　am；　quite　calm。　What；　have　I　borne　so　much　misery；　with　Heaven's　help；　and　do　you　think　I　cannot　bear　this　great　happiness　for　my　dear　darling's　sake？〃

On　this　they　proposed　she　should　retire　to　her　room；　and　they　would　go　for　David。

〃Think　over　the　meeting；　dear；　dear　mamma；〃　said　Julia；　〃and　then　you　will　behave　well　for　his　sake；　who　was　lost　to　us　and　is　found。〃

Husband　and　wife　met　alone　in　Mrs。　Dodd's　room。　No　eye；　even　of　the　children；　ventured　to　witness　a　scene　so　strange；　so　sacred。　We　may　try　and　imagine　that　meeting；　but　few　of　us　can　conceive　it　by　the　light　of　our　narrow　experience。　Yet　one　or　two　there　may　bethe　world　is　wide；　and　the　adventures　and　emotions　of　our　race　are　many。

One　by　one　all　were　had　up　to　that　sacred　room　to　talk　to　the　happy　pair。　They　found　David　seated　calmly　at　his　wife's　feet；　her　soft　hand　laid　on　his　white　hair；　lest　he　should　leave　her　again：　and　they　told　him　all　the　sorrow　behind　them；　and　he；　genial　and　kindly　as　ever；　told　them　all　the　happiness　before　them。　He　spoke　like　the　master　of　the　house；　the　father　of　the　family；　the　friend　of　them　all。

But　with　all　his　goodness　he　was　sternly　resolved　to　have　his　L。　14；000　out　of　Richard　Hardie。　He　had　an　interview　with　Mr。　Compton　that　very　night；　and　the　lawyer　wrote　a　letter　to　Mr。　Hardie；　saying　nothing　about　the　death　of　Skinner；　but　notifying　that　his　client；　Captain　Dodd；　had　recovered　from　Noah　Skinner　the　receipt　No。　17　for　L。　14；010　12s。　6d；　and　he　was　instructed　to　sue　for　it　unless　repaid　immediately。　He　added　Captain　Dodd　was　mercifully　restored；　and　remembered　distinctly　every　particular　of　the　transaction。


They　all　thought　in　their　innocence　that　Hardie　_v。_　Hardie　was　now　at　an　end。　Captain　Dodd　could　prove　Alfred's　_soi…disant_　illusion　to　be　the　simple　truth。　But　Compton　thought　that　this　evidence　had　come　too　late。　〃What；　may　we　not　get　up　and　say　here　is　papa；　and　it　is　all　true？〃　cried　Julia　indignant。

〃No；　Miss　Dodd；　our　case　is　closed。　And　take　my　advice：　don't　subject　your　father　to　the　agitation　of　a　trial。　We　can　do　without　him。〃

Well　then；　they　would　all　go　as　spectators；　and　pray　that　justice　might　prevail。

They　did　go：　and　all　sat　together　to　hear　a　matter　puzzled　over；　which　had　David　come　one　day　earlier　he　would　have　set　at　rest　for　ever。

Dick　Absolom　was　put　in　to　prove　that　Alfred　had　put　two　sovereigns　on　the　stumps　for　him　to　bowl　if　he　could；　and　after　him　the　defendant；　Mr。　Thomas　Hardie；　a　mild；　benevolent；　weak　gentleman；　was　put　into　the　box；　and　swore　the　boy's　father　had　come　to　him　with　story　after　story　of　the　plaintiff's　madness；　and　the　trouble　it　would　get　him　into；　and　so　he　had　done　for　the　best。　His　simplicity　was　manifest；　and　Saunders　worked　it　ably。　When　Colt　got　hold　of　him；　and　badgered　him；　he　showed　something　more　than　simplicity。　He　stuttered；　he　contradicted　himself；　he　perspired；　he　all　but　wept

_Colt。_Are　you　sure　you　had　no　spite　against　him？

_Deft。_No。

_Colt。_You　are　not　sure；　eh？

This　candid　interpretation　of　his　words　knocked　the　defendant　stupid。　He　made　no　reply；　but　looked　utterly　flabbergasted。

_Colt。_Did　he　not　provoke　you？　Did　he　not　call　you　an　idiot。

_Deft。_He　might。

_Colt。_　（satirically）。Of　course　he　might。　（Laughter。）　But　did　he？

_Deft。_　（plucking　up　a　little　spirit）。No。　He　called　me　SOFT　TOMMY。

This　revelation；　and　the　singular　appropriateness　of　the　nickname；　were　so　highly　relished　by　an　intelligent　audience；　that　it　was　a　long　time　before　the　trial　could　go　on　for　roars。　The　plaintiff's　ringing　laugh　was　heard　among　the　rest。

The　cross…examination　proceeded　in　this　style　till　the　defendant　began　to　drivel　at　the　mouth　a　little。　At　last；　after　a　struggle；　he　said；　with　a　piteous　whine；　that　he　could　not　help　it：　he　hated　signing　his　name；　some　mischief　always　came　of　it；　but　this　time　he　had　no　option。

〃No　option？〃　said　Colt。　〃What　do　you　mean？〃

And　with　one　or　two　more　turns　of　the　screw；　out　came　this　astounding　revelation：

〃Richard　said　if　I　didn't　put　Taff　in　one；　_he_　would　put　_me_　in　one。〃

_The　Judge。_In　one　what？

_Deft。_　（weeping）。In　one　madhouse；　my　lord。

A　peal　followed　this　announcement；　and　Colt　sat　down　grinning。　Saunders　rose　smiling。　〃I　am　much　obliged　to　the　learned　counsel　for　making　my　case；〃　said　he：　〃I　need　not　prolong　the　sufferings　of　the　innocent。　You　can　go　down；　Mr。　Hardie。〃

_The　Judge。_Have　you　any　defence　to　this　action？

〃Certainly；　my　lord。〃

〃Do　you　call　Richard　Hardie？〃

〃No；　my　lord。〃

〃Then　had　you　not　better　confine　yourself　to　the　question　of　damages？〃

The　sturdy　Saunders　would　not　take　the　hint；　he　replied　upon　the　whole　case；　and　fought　hard　for　a　verdict。　The　line　he　took　was　bold；　he　described　Richard　Hardie　as　a　man　who　had　acquired　a　complete　power　over　his　weaker　brother：　and　had　not　only　persuaded　him　by　statements；　but　even　compelled　him　by　threats；　to　do　what　he　believed　would　be　the　salvation　of　his　nephew。　〃Will　you　imitate　the　learned　counsel's　cruelty？　Will　you　strike　a　child？〃　In　short；　he　made　a　powerful　appeal　to　their　pity；　while　pretending　to　address　their　judgments。

Then　Colt　rose　like　a　tower；　and　assuming　the　verdict　as　certain；　asked　the　jury　for　heavy　damages。　He　contrasted　powerfully　the　defendant's　paltry　claim　to　pity　with　the　anguish　the　plaintiff　had　undergone。　He　drew　the　wedding　party；　the　insult　to　the　bride；　the　despair　of　the　kidnapped　bridegroom；　he　lashed　the　whole　gang　of　conspirators　concerned　in　the　crime；　regretted　that　they　could　only　make　one　of　all　these　villains　smart；　but　hinted　that　Richard　and　Thomas　Hardie　were　in　one　boat；　and　that　heavy　damages　inflicted　on　Thomas　would　find　the　darker　culprit　out。　He　rapped　out　Mr。　Cowper's　lines　on　liberty；　and　they　were　new　to　the　jury；　though　probably　not　to　you；　he　warned　the　jury　that　all　our　liberties　depended　on　them。　〃In　vain；〃　said　he；　〃have　we　beheaded　one　tyrant；　and　banished　another；　to　secure　those　liberties；　if　men　are　to　be　allowed　to　send　away　their　own　flesh　and　blood　into　the　worst　of　all　prisons　for　life　and　not　smart　for　it；　in　those　lamentably　few　cases　in　which　the　law　finds　them　out　and　lays　hold　of　them。〃　But　it　would　task　my　abilities　to　the　utmost；　and　occupy　more　time　than　is　left　me；　to　do　anything　like　justice　to　the　fluent　fiery　eloquence　of　Colt；　Q。　C。；　when　he　got　a　great　chance　like　this。　_Tonat；　fulgurat；　et　rapidis　eloquentiae　fluctibus　cuncia　proruit　et　proturbat。_　Bursts　of　applause；　that　neither　crier　nor　judge　could　suppress；　bore　witness　to　the　deep　indignation　Britons　feel　when　their　hard…earned　liberties　are　tampered　with　by　power　or　fraud；　in　defiance　of　law；　and；　when　he　sat　down；　the　jury　were　ready　to　fly　out　at　him　with　L。　5000　in　hand。

Then　rose　the　passionless　voice　of　〃justice　according　to　law。〃　I　wish　I　could　give　the　very　words。　The　following　is　the　effect　as　_I_　understood　it。　Lawyers；　forgive　my　deficiencies。

〃This　is　an　important；　but　not　a　difficult　case。　The　plaintiff　sues　the　defendant　under　_the　law　of　England_　for　falsely　imprisoning　him　in　a　madhouse。　The　imprisonment　is　admitted；　and　the　sufferings　of　the　plaintiff　not　disputed。　The　question　is；　whether　he　was　insane　at　the　time　of　the　act？　Now；　I　must　tell　you；　that　in　a　case　of　this　kind；　it　lies　upon　the　defendant　to　prove　the　plaintiff's　insanity；　rather　than　on　the　plaintiff　to　prove　his　own　sanity。　Has　the　defendant　overcome　this　difficulty？　Illusion　is　the　best　proof　of　insanity；　and　a　serious　endeavour　was　certainly　made　to　fasten　an　illusion　on　the　plaintiff　about　a　sum　of　L。　14；000。　But　the　proof　was　weak；　and　went　partly　on　an　assumption　that　all　error　is　hallucination；　this　is　illusory；　and　would；　if　acted　on；　set　one　half　the　kingdom　imprisoning　the　other　half；　and　after　all；　they　did　not　demonstrate　that　the　plaintiff　was　_in　error。_　They　advanced　no　_undeniable　proof_　that　Mr。　Richard　Hardie　has　not　embezzled　this　L。　14；000。　I　don't　say　it　was　proved　on　the　other　hand　that　he　did　embezzle　that　sum。　Richard　Hardie　sueing　Alfred　Hardie　for　libel　on　this　evidence　might　possibly　obtain　a　verdict；　for　then　the　burden　of　proof　would　lie　on　Alfred　Hardie；　but　here　it　lies　on　those　who　say　he　is　insane。　The　fact　appears　to　be　that　the　plaintiff　imbibed　a　reasonable　suspicion　of　his　own　father's　integrity；　it　was　a　suspicion　founded　on　evidence；　imperfect；　indeed；　but　of　a　sound　character　as　far　as　it　went。　There　had　been　a　letter　from　Captain　Dodd　to　his　family；　announcing　his　return　with　L。　14；000　upon　him；　and；　while　as　yet　unaware　of　this　letter；　the　plaintiff　heard　David　Dodd　accuse　Richard　Hardie　of　possessing　improperly　L。　14；000；　the　identical　sum。　At　least；　he　swears　to　this；　and　as　Richard　Hardie　was　not　called　to　contradict　him；　you　are　at　liberty　to　suppose　that　Richard　Hardie　had　some　difficulty　in　contradicting　him　on　oath。　Her