hard cash-第45章

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〃But；　dear　heart！〃　said　Mrs。　Maxley；　〃ye　don't　tell　me　what　he　ailed。　Ma'am；　if　you　had　seen　him　you　would　have　said　he　was　taken　for　death。〃

〃Pray　what　_is_　the　complaint？〃　inquired　Mrs。　Dodd。

〃Oh；　didn't　I　tell　ye？　Poisoned。〃

This　intelligence　was　conveyed　with　true　scientific　calmness；　and　received　with　feminine　ejaculations　of　horror。　Mrs。　Maxley　was　indignant　into　the　bargain：　〃Don't　ye　go　giving　my　house　an　ill　name！　We　keeps　no　poison。〃

Sampson　fixed　his　eyes　sternly　on　her：　〃Wumman；　ye　know　better：　ye　keep　strychnine；　for　th'　use　and　delectation　of　your　domestic　animal。〃

〃Strychnine！　I　never　heard　tell　of　it。　Is　that　Latin　for　arsenic？〃

〃Now　isn't　this　lamentable？　Why；　arsenic　is　a　mital；　strychnine　a　vigitable。　N'hist　me！　Your　man　was　here　seeking　strychnine　to　poison　his　mouse；　a　harmless；　domistic；　necessary　mouse。　I　told　him　mice　were　a　part　of　Nature　as　much　as　Maxleys；　and　life　as　sweet　tit　as　tim：　but　he　was　dif　to　scientific　and　chrisehin　preceps；　so　I　told　him　to　go　to　the　Deevil：　'I　will；'　sis　he；　and　went　t'　a　docker。　The　two　assassins　have　poisoned　the　poor　beastie　between　'em；　and　thin；　been　the　greatest　miser　in　the　world；　except　one；　he　will　have　roasted　his　victim；　and　ate　her　on　the　sly；　imprignated　with　strychnine。　'I'll　steal　a　march　on　t'other　miser；'　sis　he；　and　that's　you：　t'　his　brain　flew　the　strychnine：　his　brain　sint　it　to　his　spinal　marrow：　and　we　found　my　lorrd　bent　like　a　bow；　and　his　jaw　locked；　and　nearer　knowin　the　great　secret　than　any　man　in　England　will　be　this　year　to　live：　and　sairves　the　assassinating　old　vagabin　right。〃

〃Heaven　forgive　you；　Doctor；〃　said　Mrs。　Maxley；　half　mechanically。

〃For　curin　a　murrderer？　Not　likely。〃

Mrs。　Maxley；　who　had　shown　signs　of　singular　uneasiness　during　Sampson's　explanation；　now　rose；　and　said　in　a　very　peculiar　tone　she　must　go　home　directly。

Mrs。　Dodd　seemed　to　enter　into　her　feelings；　and　made　her　go　in　the　fly；　taking　care　to　pay　the　fare　and　the　driver　out　of　her　own　purse。　As　the　woman　got　into　the　fly；　Sampson　gave　her　a　piece　of　friendly　and　practical　advice。　〃Nixt　time　he　has　a　mind　to　breakfast　on　strychnine；　you　tell　me；　and　I'll　put　a　pinch　of　arsenic　in　the　salt…cellar；　and　cure　him　safe　as　the　bank。　But　this　time　he'd　have　been　did　and　stiff　long　before　such　a　slow　ajint　as　arsenic　could　get　a　hold　on　um。〃


They　sat　down　to　luncheon；　but　neither　Alfred　nor　Julia　fed　much；　except　upon　sweet　stolen　looks；　and　soon　the　active　Sampson　jumped　up；　and　invited　Alfred　to　go　round　his　patients。　Alfred　could　not　decline；　but　made　his　adieux　with　regret　so　tender　and　undisguised；　that　Julia's　sweet　eyes　filled；　and　her　soft　hand　instinctively　pressed　his　at　parting　to　console　him。　She　blushed　at　herself　afterwards；　but　at　the　time　she　was　thinking　only　of　him。

Maxley　and　his　wife　came　up　in　the　evening　with　a　fee。　They　had　put　their　heads　together；　and　proffered　one　guinea。　〃Man　and　wife　be　one　flesh；　you　know；　Doctor；〃　said　the　rustic　miser。

Sampson；　whose　natural　choler　was　constantly　checked　by　his　humour；　declined　this　profuse　proposal。　〃Here's　vanity！〃　said　he。　〃Now　do　you　really　think　your　two　lives　are　worth　a　guinea？　Why；　it's　252　pence！　1008　farthings！〃

The　pair　affected　disappointmentvilely。

At　all　events；　he　must　accept　this　basket　of　gudgeons　Maxley　had　brought　along。　Being　poisoned　was　quite　out　of　Maxley's　daily　routine；　and　had　so　unsettled　him；　that　he　had　got　up；　and　gone　fishingto　the　amazement　of　the　parish。

Sampson　inspected　the　basket。　〃Why；　they　are　only　fish；〃　said　he；　_〃I　was　in　hopes　they　were　pashints。_〃　He　accepted　the　gudgeons；　and　inquired　how　Maxley　got　poisoned。　It　came　out　that　Mrs。　Maxley；　seeing　her　husband　set　apart　a　portion　of　his　Welsh　rabbit；　had　〃grizzled；〃　and　asked　what　that　was　for；　and　being　told　〃for　the　mouse；〃　and　to　〃mind　her　own　business；〃　had　grizzled　still　more；　and　furtively　conveyed　a　portion　back　into　the　pan　for　her　master's　own　use。　She　had　been　quaking　dismally　all　the　afternoon　at　what　she　had　done；　but　finding　Maxleyhard　but　justdid　not　attack　her　for　an　involuntary　fault；　she　now　brazened　it　out；　and　said；　〃Men　didn't　ought　to　have　poison　in　the　house　unbeknown　to　their　wives。　Jem　had　got　no　more　than　he　worked　for；〃　&c。　But；　like　a　woman；　she　vowed　vengeance　on　the　mouse：　whereupon　Maxley　threatened　her　with　the　marital　correction　of　neck…twisting　if　she　laid　a　finger　on　it。

〃My　eyes　be　open　now　to　what　a　poor　creature　do　feel　as　dies　poisoned。　Let　her　a　be：　there's　room　in　our　place　for　her　and　we。〃

Next　day　he　met　Alfred；　and　thanked　him　with　warmth；　almost　with　emotion。　〃There　ain't　many　in　Barkington　as　ever　done　me　a　good　turn；　Master　Alfred；　you　be　one　on　'em：　you　comes　after　the　Captain　in　my　book　now。〃

Alfred　suggested　that　his　claims　were　humble　compared　with　Sampson's。

〃No；　no；〃　said　Maxley；　going　down　to　his　whisper；　and　looking；　monstrous　wise：　〃Doctor　didn't　go　out　of　his　business　for　me：　you　did。〃

The　sage　miser's　gratitude　had　not　time　to　die　a　natural　death　before　circumstances　occurred　to　test　it。　On　the　morning　of　that　eventful　day　which　concluded　my　last　chapter；　he　received　a　letter　from　Canada。　His　wife　was　out　with　eggs；　so　he　caught　little　Rose　Sutton；　that　had　more　than　once　spelled　an　epistle　for　him；　and　she　read　it　out　in　a　loud　and　reckless　whine：　〃'At　　noon　　this　　very　　daie　　Muster　　Hardie's　a…g…e…n…t；　aguent　　d…i…s　dis；　h…o…n　　honour_ed_　　dis…honour_ed_abill；　and　sayed。'〃　Here　she　made　a　full　stop。　Then　on　to　the　next　verse。

〃'There　　were　no　　more　　asses。'〃

〃Mercy　on　us！　but　it　can't　be　asses；　wench：　drive　your　spe…ad　into't　again。〃

〃'A…s…s…e…t…s。　Assets。'〃

〃Ah！　Go　an！　go　an！〃

〃'Now　　Fatther　　if　　you　　leave　　a　s…h…i…l…l…i…n…g；　shilling　　at　Hardie's　　after　　this　　b…l…a…m…e；　ble…am　　your　　self　　not　me　　for　　this　　is　　the　　waie　　the　r…o…g…u…e…s；　rogews　　all　bre…ak　　they　　go　　at　　a　d…i…s…t…a…n…c…e；　distance　　first　and　　then　　at　　h…o…m…e；　whuoame。　　Dear　　fatther'　　Lawk　o'　daisy；　what　ails　you；　Daddy　Maxley？　You　be　as　white　as　a　Sunday　smock。　Be　you　poisoned　again；　if　_you_　please？〃

〃Worse　than　thatworse！〃　groaned　Maxhey；　trembling　all　over。　〃Hush！hold　your　tongue！　Give　me　that　letter！　Don't　you　never　tell　nobody　nothing　of　what　you　have　been　a　reading　to　me；　and　I'llI'llIt's　only　Jem's　fun：　he　is　allus　running　his　rigsthat's　a　good　wench　now；　and　I'll　give　ye　a　halfpenny。〃

〃La；　Daddy；〃　said　the　child；　opening　her　eyes；　〃I　never　heeds　what　I　_re…ads：_　I　be　wrapped　up　in　the　spelling。　Dear　heart；　what　a　sight　of　long　words　folks　puts　in　a　letter；　more　than　ever　drops　out　of　their　mouths；　which　their　fingers　be　longer　than　their　tongues；　I　do　suppose。〃

Maxley　hailed　thus　information　characteristically。　〃Then　we'll　say　no　more　about　the　halfpenny。〃

At　this；　Rose　raised　a　lamentable　cry；　and　pearly　tears　gushed　forth。

〃There；　there！〃　said　Maxley；　deprecatingly；　〃here's　two　apples　for　ye；　ye　can't　get　them　for　less：　and　a　halfpenny　or　a　haporth　is　all　one　to　you；　but　it　is　a　great　odds　to　me。　And　apples　they　rot；　halfpence　don't。〃

It　was　now　nine　o'clock。　The　bank　did　not　open　till　ten；　but　Maxley　went　and　hung　about　the　door；　to　be　the　first　applicant。

As　he　stood　there　trembling　with　fear　lest　the　bank　should　not　open　at　all；　he　thought　hard；　and　the　result　was　a　double　resolution：　he　would　have　his　money　out　to　the　last　shilling；　and；　this　done；　would　button　up　his　pockets　and　padlock　his　tongue。　It　was　not　his　business　to　take　care　of　his　neighbours；　nor　to　blow　the　Hardies；　if　they　paid　him　his　money　on　demand。　〃So　not　a　word　to　my　missus；　nor　yet　to　the　town…crier；〃　said　he。

Ten　o'clock　struck；　and　the　bank　shutters　remained　up。　Five　minutes　more；　and　the　watcher　was　in　agony。　Three　minutes　more；　and　up　came　a　boy　of　sixteen　whistling；　and　took　down　the　shutters　with　an　indifference　that　amazed　him。　〃Bless　your　handsome　face！〃　said　Maxley　with　a　sigh　of　relief。

He　now　summoned　up　all　his　firmness；　and；　having　recourse　to　an　art　in　which　these　shrewd　rustics　are　supreme；　made　his　face　quite　inexpressive；　and　so　walked　into　the　bank　the　every…day　Maxley　externally；　but　within　a　volcano　ready　to　burst　if　there　should　be　the　slightest　hesitation　to　pay　him　his　money。

〃Good　morning；　Mr。　Maxley；〃　said　young　Skinner。

〃Good　morning；　sir。〃

〃What　can　we　do　for　you？〃

〃Oh；　I'll　wait　my　turn；　sir。〃

〃Well；　it　is　your　turn　now；　if　you　like。〃

〃How　much　have　you　got　of　mine；　if　you　please；　sir？〃

〃Your　balance？　I'll　see。　Nine　hundred　and　four　pounds。〃

〃Well；　sir；　then；　if　_you_　please；　I'll　draa　_that。_〃

（〃It　has　come！〃　thought　Skinner。）　〃What；　going　to　desert　us？〃　he　stammered。

〃No；〃　said　the　other；　trembling　inwardly；　but　not　moving　a　facial　muscle：　〃it　is　only　for　a　day　or　two；　sir。〃

〃Ah！　I　see；　going　to　make　a　purchase。　By…the…bye；　I　believe　Mr。　Hardie　means　to　offer　you　some　grounds　he　is　buying　outside　the　town：　will　that　suit　your　book？〃

〃I　dare　say　it　will；　sir。〃

〃Then　perhaps　you　will　wait　till　our　governor　comes　in？〃

〃I　have　no　objection。〃

〃He　won't　be　long。　Fine　weather　for　the　gardens；　Mr。　Maxley。〃

〃Moderate；　sir。　I'll　take　my　money　if　you　please。　Counting　it　out；　that　will　help　pass　the　time　till　Muster　Hardie　comes。　You　han't　made　away　with　it？〃

〃What　d'ye　mean；　sir？〃

〃Hardies　bain't　turned　thieves；　be　they？〃

〃Are　you　mad　or　intoxicated；　Mr。　Maxley？〃

'Neither；　sir；　but　I　wants　my　own；　and　I　wool　have　it　too：　so　count　out　on　this　here　counter；　or　I'll　cry　the　town　round　that　there　door。〃

〃Henry；　score　James　Maxley's　name　off　the　books；〃　said　Skinner　with　cool　dignity。　But　when　he　had　said　this；　he　was　at　his　wits'　end：　there　were　not　nine　hundred　pounds　of　hard　cash　in　the　bank；　nor　anything　like　it。


CHAPTER　XVI

SKINNERcalled　〃young〃　because　he　had　once　had　a　father　on　the　premiseswas　the　mole…catcher。　The　feelings　with　which　he　had　now　for　some　months　watched　his　master　grubbing　were　curiously　mingled。　There　was　the　grim　sense　of　superiority　every　successful　detective　feels　as　he　sees　the　watched　one　working　away　unconscious　of　the　eye　that　is　on　him；　but　this　was　more　than　balanced　by　a　long　habit　of　obsequious　reverence。　When　A。　has　been　looking　up　to　B。　for　thirty　years；　he　cannot　look　down　on　him　all　of　a　sudden；　merely　because　he　catches　him　falsifying　accounts。　Why；　Man　is　a　cooking　animal：　bankrupt　Man　especially。

And　then　Richard　Hardie　overpowered　Skinner's　senses：　he　was　Dignity　in　person：　he　was　six　feet　two；　and　always　wore　a　black　surtout　buttoned　high；　and　a　hat　with　a　brim　a　little　broader　than　his　neighbours'；　yet　not　broad　enough　to　be　eccentric　or　slang。　He　moved　down　the　street　touching　his　hatwhile　other　hats　were　lifted　high　to　hima　walking　volume　of　cash。　And　when　he　took　off　this　ebon　crown　and　sat　in　the　bank　parlour；　he　gained　in　appearance　more　than　he　lost；　for　then　his　whole　head　was　seen；　long；　calm；　majestic：　that　senatorial　front　and　furrowed　face　overawed　all　comers。　Even　the　little　sharp…faced　clerk　would　stand　and　peep　at　it；　utterly　puzzled　between　what　he　knew　and　what　he　eyed：　nor　could　he　look　at　that　head　and　face　without　excusing　them。　What　a　lot　of　money　they　must　have　sunk　before　they　came　down　to　fabricating　a　balance…sheet！

And　by…and…bye　custom　somewhat　blunt