hard cash-第47章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



On　this　Skinner　got　up　all　in　a　hurry　and　offered　to　go　into　the　office。

〃On　no　account；〃　said　Mr。　Hardie　sharply。　〃I　shall　make　my　business　with　you　the　excuse　for　cutting　this　love…nonsense　mighty　short。　Take　your　book　to　the　desk；　and　seem　buried　in　it。〃

He　then　touched　the　bell；　and　both　confederates　fell　into　an　attitude：　never　were　a　pair　so　bent　over　their　little　accountslies；　like　themselves。

Instead　of　the　heart…broken　father　their　comedy　awaited；　in　came　the　gallant　sailor　with　a　brown　cheek　reddened　by　triumph　and　excitement　and　almost　shouted　in　a　genial　jocund　voice；　〃How　d'ye　do　sir？　It　is　a　long　time　since　I　came　across　your　hawse。〃　And　with　this　he　held　out　his　hand　cordially。　Hardie　gave　his　mechanically；　and　remained　on　his　guard；　but　somewhat　puzzled。　Dodd　shook　his　cold　hand　heartily。　〃Well；　sir；　here　I　am；　just　come　ashore；　and　visiting　you　before　my　very　wife；　what　d'ye　think　of　that？〃

〃I　am　highly　honoured；　sir；〃　said　Hardie：　then；　rather　stiffly　and　incredulously；　〃and　to　what　may　I　owe　this　extraordinary　preference？　Will　you　be　good　enough　to　state　the　purport　of　this　visitbrieflyas　Mr。　Skinner　and　I　are　much　occupied？〃

〃The　purport？　Why；　what　does　one　come　to　a　banker　about？　I　have　got　a　lot　of　money　I　want　to　get　rid　of。〃

Hardie　stared；　but　was　as　much　on　his　guard　as　ever；　only　more　and　more　puzzled。

Then　David　winked　at　him　with　simple　cunning；　took　out　his　knife；　undid　his　shirt；　and　began　to　cut　the　threads　which　bound　the　Cash　to　his　flannel。

At　this　Skinner　wheeled　round　on　his　stool　to　look；　and　both　he　and　Mr。　Hardie　inspected　the　unusual　pantomime　with　demure　curiosity。

Dodd　next　removed　the　oilskin　cover；　and　showed　the　pocket…book；　brought　it　down　with　a　triumphant　smack　on　the　hollow　of　his　hand；　and；　in　the　pride　of　his　heart；　the　joy　of　his　bosom　and　the　fever　of　his　bloodfor　there　were　two　red　spots　on　his　cheek　all　the　timetold　the　cold　pair　Its　adventures　in　a　few　glowing　words：　the　Calcutta　firmthe　two　piratesthe　hurricanethe　wreckthe　land…sharkshe　had　saved　it　from。　〃And　here　It　is；　safe　in　spite　of　them　all。　But　I　won't　carry　It　on　me　any　more：　it　is　unlucky；　so　you　must　be　so　good　as　to　take　charge　of　It　for　me；　sir。〃

〃Very　well；　Captain　Dodd。　You　wish　it　placed　to　Mrs。　Dodd's　account；　I　suppose？〃

〃No！　no！　I　have　nothing　to　do　with　that：　this　is　between　you　and　me。〃

〃As　you　please。〃

〃Ye　see　it　is　a　good　lump；　sir。〃

〃Oh；　indeed！〃　said　Hardie　a　little　sneeringly。

〃I　call　it　a　thundering　lot　o'　money。　But　I　suppose　it　is　not　much　to　a　rich　banker　like　you。〃　Then　he　lowered　his　voice；　and　said　with　a　certain　awe：　〃It'sfourteenthousand　pounds。〃

〃Fourteen　thousand　pounds！！！〃　cried　Hardie。　Then　with　sudden　and　consummate　coolness；　〃Why；　certainly　an　established　bank　like　this　deals　with　more　considerable　deposits　than　that。　Skinner；　why　don't　you　give　the　Captain　a　chair？〃

〃No！　no！〃　said　Dodd。　〃I'll　heave…to　till　I　get　this　off　my　mind；　but　I　won't　anchor　anywhere　but　at　home。〃　He　then　opened　the　pocket…book　and　spread　the　contents　out　before　Mr。　Hardie；　who　ran　over　the　notes　and　bills；　and　said　the　amount　was　L。　14；010；　12s。　6d。

Dodd　asked　for　a　receipt。

〃Why；　it　is　not　usual　when　there　is　an　account。〃

Dodd's　countenance　fell：　〃Oh；　I　should　not　like　to　part　with　it　unless　I　had　a　receipt。〃

〃You　mistake　me；〃　said　Hardie　with　a　smile。　〃An　entry　in　your　banker's　book　is　a　receipt。　However；　you　can　have　one　in　another　form。〃　He　then　unlocked　a　desk；　took　out　a　banker's　receipt；　and　told　Skinner　to　fill　it　in。　This　done；　he　seemed　to　be　absorbed　in　some　more　important　matter。

Skinner　counted　the　notes　and　left　them　with　Mr。　Hardie；　the　bills　he　took　to　his　desk　to　note　them　on　the　back　of　the　receipt。　Whilst　he　was　writing　this　with　his　usual　slowness　and　precision；　poor　Dodd's　heart　overflowed。　〃It　is　my　children's　fortune；　ye　see：　I　don't　look　on　a　sixpence　of　it　as　mine：　that　it　is　what　made　me　so　particular。　It　belongs　to　my　little　Julia；　bless　her：she　is　a　rosebud　if　ever　there　was　one；　and　oh！　such　a　heart；　and　so　fond　of　her　poor　father；　but　not　fonder　than　he　is　of　herand　to　my　dear　boy　Edward；　he　is　the　honestest　young　chap　you　ever　saw：　what　he　says；　you　may　swear　to　with　your　eyes　shut。　But　how　could　they　miss　either　good　looks　or　good　hearts；　and　_her_　children？　the　best　wife　and　the　best　mother　in　England。　She　has　been　a　true　consort　to　me　this　many　a　year；　and　I　to　her；　in　deep　water　and　shoal；　let　the　wind　blow　high　or　low。　Here　is　a　Simple　Simon　vaunting　his　own　flesh　and　blood！　No　wonder　that　little　gentleman　there　is　grinning　at　me。　Well；　grin　away；　lad！　perhaps　you　haven't　got　any　children。　But　you　have；　sir：　and　you　know　how　it　is　with　us　fathers；　our　hearts　are　so　full　of　the　little　darlings；　out　it　must　come。　You　can　understand　how　joyful　I　feel　at　saving　their　fortune　from　land…sharks　and　sea…sharks；　and　landing　it　safe　in　an　honest　man's　hands　like　you　and　your　father　before　you。〃

Skinner　handed　him　the　receipt。

He　cast　his　eye　over　it。　〃All　right；　little　gentleman。　Now　my　heart　is　relieved　of　such　a　weight：　I　feel　to　have　just　cleared　out　a　cargo　of　bricks。　Good…bye：　shake　hands。　I　wish　you　were　as　happy　as　I　am。　I　wish　all　the　world　was　happy。　God　bless　you！　God　bless　you　both！〃

And　with　this　burst　he　was　out　of　the　room　and　making　ardently　for　Albion　Villa。


The　banker　and　his　clerk　turned　round　on　their　seats　and　eyed　one　another　a　long　time　in　silence　and　amazement。　Was　this　thing　a　dream？　their　faces　seemed　to　ask。　Then　Mr。　Hardie　rested　his　senatorial　head　on　his　hand　and　pondered　deeply。　Skinner　too　reflected　on　this　strange　freak　of　Fortune：　and　the　result　was　that　he　burst　in　on　his　principal's　reverie　with　a　joyful　shout：　〃The　bank　is　saved！　Hardie's　is　good　for　another　hundred　years。

The　banker　started；　for　Skinner's　voice　sounded　like　a　pistol…shot　in　his　ear；　so　high　strung　was　he　with　thought。

〃Hush！　hush！〃　he　said；　and　pondered　again　in　silence。　At　last　he　turned　to　Skinner。　〃You　think　our　course　is　plain？　I　tell　you　it　is　so　dark　and　complicated　it　would　puzzle　Solomon　to　know　what　is　best　to　be　done。〃

〃Save　the　bank；　sir；　whatever　you　do。〃

〃How　can　I　save　the　bank　with　a　few　thousand　pounds；　which　I　must　refund　when　called　on？　You　look　keenly　into　what　is　under　your　eye；　Skinner；　but　you　cannot　see　a　yard　beyond　your　nose。　Let　me　think。〃

After　a　while　he　took　a　sheet　of　paper；　and　jotted　down　〃the　materials；〃　as　he　called　them；　and　read　them　out　to　his　accomplice：


〃1。　A　bank　too　far　gone　to　be　redeemed。　If　I　throw　this　money　into　it；　I　shall　ruin　Captain　Dodd；　and　do　myself　no　good；　but　only　my　creditors。

〃2。　Miss　Julia　Dodd；　virtual　proprietor　of　this　L。　14；000；　or　of　the　greater　part；　if　I　choose。　The　child　that　marries　first　usually　jockeys　the　other。

〃3。　Alfred　Hardie；　my　son；　and　my　creditor；　deep　in　love　with　No。　2；　and　at　present　somewhat　alienated　from　me　by　my　thwarting　a　silly　love　affair；　which　bids　fair　to　improve　into　a　sound　negotiation。

〃4。　The　L。　14；000　paid　to　me　personally　after　banking　hours；　and　not　entered　on　the　banking　books；　nor　known　but　to　you　and　me；


〃Now　suppose　I　treat　this　advance　as　a　personal　trust？　The　bank　breaks：　the　money　disappears。　Consternation　of　the　Dodds；　who；　until　enlightened　by　the　public　settlement；　will　think　it　has　gone　into　the　well。

〃In　that　interval　I　talk　Alfred　over；　and　promise　to　produce　the　L。　14；000　intact；　with　my　paternal　blessing　on　him　and　Miss　Dodd；　provided　he　will　release　me　from　my　debt　to　him；　and　give　me　a　life　interest　in　half　the　money　settled　on　him　by　my　wife's　father；　to　my　most　unjust　and　insolent　exclusion。　Their　passion　will　soon　bring　the　young　people　to　reason；　and　then　they　will　soon　melt　the　old　ones。〃

Skinner　was　struck　with　this　masterly　little　sketch。　But　he　detected　one　fatal　flaw：　〃You　don't　say　what　is　to　become　of　me。〃

〃Oh；　I　haven't　thought　of　that　yet。〃

〃But　do　think　of　it；　sir；　that　I　may　have　the　pleasure　of　co…operating。　It　would　never　do　for　you　and　me　to　be　pulling　two　ways；　you　know。〃

〃I　will　not　forget　you；〃　said　Hardie；　wincing　under　the　chain　this　little　wretch　held　him　with；　and　had　jerked　him　by　way　of　reminder。

〃But　surely；　Skinner；　you　agree　with　me　it　would　be　a　sin　and　a　shame　to　rob　this　honest　captain　of　his　moneyfor　my　creditorscurse　them！　Ah！　you　are　not　a　father。　How　quickly　he　found　that　out！　Well；　I　am；　and　he　touched　me　to　the　quick。　I　love　my　little　Jane　as　dearly　as　he　loves　his　Julia；　every　bit：　and　I　feel　for　_him。_　And　then　he　put　me　in　mind　of　my　own　father；　poor　man。　That　seems　strange；　doesn't　it？　a　sailor　and　a　banker。　Ah！　it　was　because　they　were　both　honest　men。　Yes；　it　was　like　a　wholesome　flower　coming　into　a　close　room；　and　then　out　again　and　heaving　a　whiff　behind　was　that　sailor。　He　left　the　savour　of　Probity　and　Simplicity　behind；　though　he　took　the　things　themselves　away　again。　Why；　why　couldn't　he　leave　us　what　is　more　wanted　here　than　even　his　money？　His　integrity：　the　pearl　of　price；　that　my　father；　whom　I　used　to　sneer　at；　carried　to　his　grave；　and　died　simple；　but　wise；　honest；　but　richrich　in　money；　in　credit；　in　honour；　and　eternal　hopes。　Oh；　Skinner！　Skinner！　I　wish　I　had　never　been　born。〃

Skinner　was　surprised：　he　was　not　aware　that　intelligent　men　who　sin　are　subject　to　fits　of　remorse。　Nay；　more；　he　was　frightened；　for　the　emotion　of　this　iron　man；　so　hard　to　move；　was　overpowering　when　it　came：　it　did　not　soften；　it　convulsed　him。

〃Don't　talk　so；　sir；〃　said　the　little　clerk。　〃Keep　up　your　heart！　Have　a　drop　of　something。〃

〃You　are　right；〃　said　Mr。　Hardie　gloomily；　〃it　is　idle　to　talk：　we　are　all　the　slaves　of　circumstances。〃

With　this；　he　unlocked　a　safe　that　stood　against　the　wall；　chucked　the　L。　14；000　in；　and　shammed　the　iron　door　sharply；　and；　as　it　closed　upon　the　Cash　with　a　clang；　the　parlour　door　burst　open　as　if　by　concert；　and　David　Dodd　stood　on　the　threshold；　looking　terrible。　His　ruddy　colour　was　all　gone；　and　he　seemed　black　and　white　with　anger　and　anxiety；　and　out　of　this　blanched　yet　lowering　face　his　eyes　glowed　like　coals；　and　roved　keenly　to　and　fro　between　the　banker　and　the　clerk。

A　thunder…cloud　of　a　man。



CHAPTER　XVII

JAMES　MAXLEY　came　out　of　the　bank　that　morning　with　nine　hundred　and　four　pounds　buttoned　up　tight　in　the　pocket　of　his　leather　breeches；　a　joyful　man；　and　so　to　his　work；　and　home　at　one　o'clock　to　dinner。

At　2　P。M。　he　was　thoughtful；　uneasy　at　3；　wretched　at　3。30。　He　was　gardener　as　well　as　capitalist；　and　Mr。　Hardie　owed　him　30s。　for　work。　Such　is　human　nature　in　general；　and　Maxley's　in　particular；　that　the　L。　900　in　pocket　seemed　small；　and　the　30s。　in　jeopardy　large。

〃I　can't　afford　to　go　with　the　creditors；〃　argued　Maxley：　〃Dividend　on　30s。！　Why；　that　will　be　about　thirty　pence：　the　change　for　a　hard*　half…crown。

*_I。e。_　a　half…crown　in　one　piece。

He　stuck　his　spade　in　the　soil　and　made　for　his　debtor's　house。　As　he　came　up　the　street；　Dodd　shot　out　of　the　bank　radiant；　and　was　about　to　pass　him　without　notice；　full　of　his　wife　and　children；　but　Maxley　stopped　him　with　a　right　cordial　welcome；　and　told　him　he　had　given　them　all　a　fright　this　time。

〃What；　is　it　over　the　town　already　that　my　ship　has　been　wrecked？〃　And