hard cash-第48章

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

〃Wrecked？　No；　but　you　have　been　due　this　two　months；　ye　know。　Wrecked？　Why；　Captain；　you　haven't　ever　been　wrecked？〃　And　he　looked　him　all　over　as　if　he　expected　to　see　〃WRECKED〃　branded　on　him　by　the　elements。

〃Ay；　James；　wrecked　on　the　French　coast；　and　lost　my　chronometer；　and　a　tip…top　sextant。　But　what　of　that？　I　saved　_It。_　I　have　just　landed　It　in　the　Bank。　Good…bye；　I　must　sheer　off：　I　long　to　be　home。〃

〃Stay　a　bit；　Captain；〃　said　Maxley。　〃I　am　not　quite　easy　in　my　mind。　I　saw　you　come　out　of　Hardie's。　I　thought　in　course　you　had　been　in　to　draa：　but　you　says　different。　Now　what　was　it　you　did　leave　behind　you　at　that　there　shop；　if　_you_　please：　not　money？〃

〃Not　money？　Only　L。　14；000。　How　the　man　stares！　Why；　it's　not　mine；　James；　it's　my　children's：　there；　good…bye；〃　and　he　was　actually　off　this　time。　But　Maxley　stretched　his　long　limbs；　and　caught　him　in　two　strides；　and　griped　his　shoulder　without　ceremony。　〃Be　you　mad？〃　said　he　sternly。

〃No；　but　I　begin　to　think　you　are。〃

〃That　is　to　be　seen；〃　said　Maxley　gravely。　〃Before　I　lets　you　go；　you　must　tell　me　whether　you　be　jesting；　or　whether　you　have　really　been　so　simple　as　to　drop　fourteenthousandpounds　at　Hardie's？〃　No　judge　upon　the　bench；　nor　bishop　in　his　stall；　could　be　more　impressive　than　this　gardener　was；　when　he　subdued　the　vast　volume　of　his　voice　to　a　low　grave　utterance　of　this　sort。

Dodd　began　to　be　uneasy。　〃Why；　good　heavens；　there　is　nothing　wrong　with　the　old　Barkington　Bank？〃

〃Nothing　wrong？〃　roared　Maxley：　then　whispered'：　〃Holt！　I　was　laad　once　for　slander；　and　cost　me　thirty　pounds：　nearly　killed　my　missus　it　did。〃

〃Man！〃　cried　Dodd；　〃for　my　children's　sake　tell　me　if　you　know　anything　amiss。　After　all；　I'm　like　a　stranger　here；　more　than　two　years　away　at　a　time。〃

〃I'll　tell　you　all　I　know；〃　whispered　Maxley；　〃'tis　the　least　I　can　do。　What　（roaring）　doyouthinkI've　forgotten　you　saving　my　poor　boy　out　o'　that　scrape；　and　getting　him　a　good　place　in　Canada；　andwhy；　he'd　have　been　put　in　prison　but　for　you；　and　that　would　ha'　broken　my　heart　and　his　mother'sand〃　The　stout　voice　began　to　quaver。

〃Oh；　bother　all　that　now；〃　said　Dodd　impatiently。　〃The　bank！　you　have　grounded　me　on　thorns。〃

〃Well；　I'll　tell　ye：　but　you　must　promise　faithful　not　to　go　and　say　I　told　ye；　or　you'll　get　me　laad　again：　and　I　likes　to　laa　_them；_　not　for　_they_　to　laa　me。〃

〃I　promise；　I　promise。〃

〃Well　then；　I　got　a　letter　to…day　from　my　boy；　him　as　you　was　so　good　to；　and　here　'tis　in　my　breeches…pocket。Laws！　how　things　do　come　round　sure_ly：_　why；　lookee　here　now；　if　so　be　_you_　hadn't　been　a　good　friend　to　_he；　he_　wouldn't　be　where　he　is；　and　if　so　be　_he_　warn't　where　_he_　is；　_he_　couldn't　have　writ　_me_　this　here；　and　then　where　should　_you_　and　_I_　be？〃

〃Belay　your　jaw　and　show　me　this　letter；〃　cried　David；　trembling　all　over。

〃That　I　wool；〃　said　Maxley；　diving　a　hand　into　his　pocket。　〃Hush！　lookee　yander　now；　if　there　ain't　Master　Alfred　a…watching　of　us　two　out　of　his　window：　and　he　have　got　an　eye　like　a　hawk；　_he_　have。　Step　in　the　passage；　Captain；　and　I'll　show　it　to　you。

He　drew　him　aside　into　the　passage；　and　gave　him　the　letter。　Dodd　ran　his　eye　over　it　hastily；　uttered　a　cry　like　a　wounded　lion；　dropped　it；　gave　a　slight　stagger；　and　rushed　away。

Maxley　picked　up　his　letter　and　watched　Dodd　into　the　bank　again　and　reflected　on　his　work。　His　heart　was　warmed　at　having　made　a　return　to　the　good　captain。

His　head　suggested　that　he　was　on　the　road　which　leads　to　libel。

But　he　had　picked　up　at　the　assizes　a　smattering　of　the　law　of　evidence；　so　he　coolly　tore　the　letter　in　pieces。　〃There　now；〃　said　he　to　himself；　〃if　Hardies　do　laa　me　for　publishing　of　this　here　letter；　why　they　pours　their　water　into　a　sieve。　Ugh！〃　And　with　this　exclamation　he　started；　and　then　put　his　heavy　boot　on　part　of　the　letter；　and　ground　it　furtively　into　the　mud；　for　a　light　hand　had　settled　on　his　shoulder；　and　a　keen　young　face　was　close　to　his。

It　was　Alfred　Hardie；　who　had　stolen　on　him　like　a　cat。　〃I'm　laad；〃　thought　Maxley。

〃Maxley；　old　fellow；〃　said　Alfred；　in　a　voice　as　coaxing　as　a　woman's；　〃are　you　in　a　good　humour？〃

〃Well；　Master；　Halfred；　sight　of　you　mostly　puts　me　in　one；　especially　after　that　there　strychnine　job。〃

〃Then　tell　me；〃　whispered　Alfred；　his　eyes　sparkling　and　his　face　beaming；　〃who　was　that　you　were　talking　to　just　now？　Was　it？wasn't　it？who　was　it？〃


CHAPTER　XVIII

WHILE　Dodd　stood　lowering　in　the　doorway；　he　was　nevertheless　making　a　great　effort　to　control　his　agitation。

At　last　he　said　in　a　stern　but　low　voice；　in　which；　however；　a　quick　ear　might　detect　a　tremor　of　agitation：　〃I　have　changed　my　mind；　sir：　I　want　my　money　back。〃

At　this；　though　David's　face　had　prepared　him；　Mr。　Hardie's　heart　sank：　but　there　was　no　help　for　it。　He　said　faintly；　〃Certainly。　May　I　ask？〃　and　there　he　stopped；　for　it　was　hardly　prudent　to　ask　anything。

〃No　matter；〃　replied　Dodd；　his　agitation　rising　even　at　this　slight　delay。　〃Come！　my　money！　I　must　and　will　have　it。〃

Hardie　drew　himself　up　majestically。　〃Captain　Dodd；　this　is　a　strange　way　of　demanding　what　nobody　here　disputes。〃

〃Well；　I　beg　your　pardon；〃　said　Dodd；　a　little　awed　by　his　dignity　and　fairness；　〃but　I　can't　help　it。〃

The　quick；　supple　banker　saw　the　slight　advantage　he　had　gained；　and　his　mind　went　into　a　whirl。　What　should　he　do？　It　was　death　to　part　with　this　money　and　gain　nothing　by　it。　Sooner　tell　Dodd　of　the　love　affair；　and　open　a　treaty　on　this　basis：　he　clung　to　this　money　like　limpet　to　its　rock；　and　so　intense　and　rapid　were　his　thoughts　and　schemes　how　to　retain　it　a　little　longer；　that　David's　apologies　buzzed　in　his　ear　like　the　drone　of　a　beetle。

The　latter　went　on　to　say；　'You　see；　sir；　it's　my　children's　fortune；　my　boy　Edward's；　and　my　little　Julia's：　and　so　many　have　been　trying　to　get　it　from　me；　that　my　blood　boils　up　in　a　moment　about　it　now。My　poor　head！You　don't　seem　to　understand　what　I　am　saying！　There　then；　I　am　a　sailor；　I　can't　go　beating　and　tacking　like　you　landsmen；　with　the　wind　dead　astern。　The　long　and　the　short　is；　I　don't　feel　It　safe　here：　don't　feel　It　safe　anywhere；　except　in　my　wife's　lap。　So　no　more　words：　here's　your　receipt；　give　me　my　money。〃

〃Certainly；　Captain　Dodd。　Call　to…morrow　morning　at　the　bank；　and　it　will　be　paid　on　demand　in　the　regular　way：　the　bank　opens　at　ten　o'clock。〃

〃No；　no；　I　can't　wait。　I　should　be　dead　of　anxiety　before　then。　Why　not　pay　it　me　here　and　now？　You　took　it　here。〃

〃We　receive　deposits　till　four　o'clock；　but　we　do　not　disburse　after　three。　This　is　the　system　of　all　banks。〃

〃That　is　all　nonsense：　if　you　are　open　to　receive　money；　you　are　open　to　pay　it。〃

〃My　dear　sir；　if　you　were　not　entirely　ignorant　of　business；　you　would　be　aware　that　these　things　are　not　done　in　this　way。　Money　received　is　passed　to　account；　and　the　cashier　is　the　only　person　who　can　honour　your　draft　on　it。　But；　stop；　if　the　cashier　is　in　the　bank；　we　may　manage　it　for　you　yet。　Skinner；　run　and　see　whether　he　has　left：　and　if　not；　send　him　to　me　directly。〃　The　cashier　took　his　cue　and　ran　out

David　was　silent。

The　cashier　speedily　returned；　saying；　with　a　disappointed　air；　〃The　cashier　has　been　gone　this　quarter　of　an　hour。〃

David　maintained　an　ominous　silence。

〃That　is　unfortunate；〃　remarked　Hardie。　〃But；　after　all；　it　is　only　till　to…morrow　morning。　Still　I　regret　this　circumstance；　sir；　and　I　feel　that　all　these　precautions　we　are　obliged　to　take　must　seem　unreasonable　to　you。　But　experience　dictates　this　severe　routine；　and；　were　we　to　deviate　from　it；　our　friends'　money　would　not　be　so　safe　in　our　hands　as　it　always　has　been　at　present。〃

David　eyed　him　sternly；　but　let　him　run　on。　When　he　had　concluded　his　flowing　periods；　David　said　quietly；　〃So　you　can't　give　me　my　own　because　your　cashier　has　carried　it　away？〃

Hardie　smiled。　〃No；　no；　but　because　he　has　locked　it　up　and　carried　away　the　key。〃

〃It　is　not　in　this　room；　then？〃

〃No。〃

〃Are　you　sure？〃

〃Positive。〃

〃What；　not　in　that　safe　of　yours；　there？〃

〃Certainly　not；〃　said　Hardie　stoutly。

〃Open　the　safe：　the　keys　are　in　it。〃

〃Open　the　safe？　What　for？〃

〃To　show　me　It　is　not　in　the　right…hand　partition　of　that　safe；　there：　there。〃　And　David　pointed　at　the　very　place　where　it　was。

The　dignified　Mr。　Hardie　felt　ready　to　sink　with　shame：　a　kind　of　shudder　passed　through　him；　and　he　was　about　to　comply；　heart…sick；　but　then　wounded　pride　and　the　rage　of　disappointment　stung　him；　and　he　turned　in　defiance。　〃You　are　impertinent；　sir；　and　I　shall　not　reward　your　curiosity　and　your　insolence　by　showing　you　the　contents　of　my　safe。〃

〃My　money！　my　money！〃　cried　David　fiercely：　〃no　more　words；　for　I　shan't　listen　to　them：　I　know　you　now　for　what　you　area　thief！　I　saw　you　put　It　into　that　safe：　a　liar　is　always　a　thief。　You　want　to　steal　my　children's　money：　I'll　have　your　life　first　My　money！　ye　pirate！　or　I'll　strangle　you。　And　he　advanced　upon　him　purple　with　rage；　and　shot　out　his　long　threatening　arm　and　brown　fingers　working　in　the　air。　〃D'ye　know　what　I　did　to　a　French　land…shark　that　tried　to　rob　me　of　It？　I　throttled　him　with　these　fingers　till　his　eyes　and　his　tongue　started　out　of　him。　He　came　for　my　children's　money；　and　I　killed　him　sososoas　I'll　kill　you；　you　thief！　you　liar！　you　scoundrel！〃

His　face　black　and　convulsed　with　rage；　and　his　outstretched　fingers　working　convulsively；　and　hungering　for　a　rogue's　throat；　made　the　resolute　Hardie　quake。　He　whipped　out　of　the　furious　man's　way；　and　got　to　the　safe；　pale　and　trembling。　〃Hush！　no　violence！〃　he　gasped：　〃I'll　give　you　your　money　this　moment　you　ruffian。〃

While　he　unlocked　the　safe　with　trembling　hands；　Dodd　stood　like　a　man　petrified；　his　arm　and　fingers　stretched　out　and　threatening；　and　Skinner　saw　him　pull　at　his　necktie　furiously；　like　one　choking。

Hardie　got　the　notes　and　bills　all　in　a　hurry；　and　held　them　out　to　Dodd。

In　which　act；　to　his　consternation　and　surprise　and　indignation；　he　received　a　back…handed　blow　on　the　eye　that　dazzled　him　for　an　instant；　and　there　was　David　with　his　arms　struggling　wildly　and　his　fists　clenched；　his　face　purple；　and　his　eyes　distorted　so　that　little　was　seen　but　the　whites　the　next　moment　his　teeth　gnashed　loudly　together；　and　he　fell　headlong　on　the　floor　with　a　concussion　so　momentous　that　the　windows　rattled　and　the　room　shook　violently；　the　dust　rose　in　a　cloud。

A　loud　ejaculation　burst　from　Hardie　and　Skinner；

And　then　there　was　an　awful　silence。


CHAPTER　XIX

WHEN　David　fell　senseless　on　the　floor；　Mr。　Hardie　was　somewhat　confused　by　the　back…handed　blow　from　his　convulsed　and　whirling　arm。　But　Skinner　ran　to　him；　held　up　his　head；　and　whipped　off　his　neckcloth。

Then　Hardie　turned　to　seize　the　bell　and　ring　for　assistance；　but　Skinner　shook　his　head　and　said　it　was　useless：　this　was　no　faint：　old　Betty　could　not　help　him。

〃It　is　a　bad　day's　work；　sir；〃　said　he；　trembling：　〃he　is　a　dead　man。〃

〃Dead？　Heaven　forbid！〃

〃Apoplexy！〃　whispered　Skinner。

〃Run　for　a　doctor　then：　lose　no　time：　don't　let　us　have　his　blood　on　our　hands！　Dead？〃