hard cash-第53章

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judgment。

The　figure　was　white　as　a　sheet　and　seemed　supernaturally　tall；　and　it　cried　out　in　a　voice　like　a　wounded　lion's；　〃You　villain！　you　Hardie！　give　me　back　my　money：　my　fourteen　thousand　pounds。　Give　me　my　children's　money；　or　may　your　children　die　before　your　eyes：　give　me　my　darlings'　money；　or　may　the　eternal　curse　of　God　light　on　you　and　yours；　you　scoundrel！〃

And　the　figure　kneeled　on　the　grass；　and　repeated　the　terrible　imprecation　almost　in　the　same　words；　with　such　energy　that　Hardie　shrank　back；　and；　resolute　as　he　was；　cowered；　with　superstitious　awe。

But　this　sentiment　soon　gave　way　to　vulgar　fears；　the　man　would　alarm　the　town。　And　in　fact　Mr。　Hardie；　in　the　midst　of　his　agitation；　was　dimly　conscious　of　hearing　a　window　open　softly　not　very　far　from　him。　But　it　was　a　dark　night。　He　put　his　head　out　in　great　agitation；　and　whispered；　〃Hush！　hush！　I'll　bring　it　you　down　directly。〃

Internally　cursing　his　hard　fate；　he　got　the　fatal　Cash；　put　on　his　coat；　hunted　for　the　key　of　the　bank　parlour；　and；　having　found　it；　went　softly　down　the　stairs；　unlocked　the　door；　and　went　to　open　the　shutters。

At　this　moment　his　ear　caught　a　murmur；　a　low　buzzing　of　voices　in　the　garden。

He　naturally　thought　that　Captain　Dodd　was　exposing　him　to　some　of　the　townspeople。　He　was　puzzled　what　to　do；　and；　like　a　cautious　man　as　he　was；　remained　passive　but　on　the　watch。

Presently　the　voices　were　quiet；　and　he　heard　footsteps　come　very　slowly　towards　the　window　at　which　he　stood；　and　then　make　for　the　little　gate。　On　this　he　slipped　into　the　kitchen；　which　faced　the　street　and　got　to　a　window　there；　and　listened。　His　only　idea　was　to　catch　their　intentions　if　possible；　and　meet　them　accordingly。　He　dared　not　open　the　window；　for　about　him　on　the　pavement　he　saw　a　female　figure　half　standing；　half　crouching：　but　soon　that　figure　rushed　wildly　out　of　his　sight　to　meet　the　footsteps；　and　then　he　ventured　to　open　the　window；　and　listening；　heard　cries　of　despair；　and　a　young　heart…broken　voice　say　her　father　was　dead。

〃Ah！！　that　is　all　right；〃　muttered　Hardie。

Still；　even　this　profound　egotist　was　not　yet　so　hardened　but　that　he　felt　one　chill　of　horror　at　himself　for　the　thoughta　passing　chill。

He　listened　and　listened；　and　by…and…bye　he　heard　the　slow　feet　recommence　their　journey；　amidst　sobs　and　sights；　and　those　sorrowful　feet；　and　the　sobs　and　sighs　of　his　causing；　got　fainter；　and　fainter；　retreated；　and　left　him　in　quiet　possession　of　the　L。　14；000　he　had　brought　down　to　give　it　up：　two　minutes　ago　it　was　not　worth　as　many　pence　to　him。

He　drew　a　long　breath　of　relief。　〃It　is　mine；　I　am　to　keep　it。　It　is　the　will　of　Heaven。〃

Poor　Heaven！

He　went　to　his　bed　again；　and　by　a　resolute　effort　composed　himself　and　determined　to　sheep。　And　in　fact　he　was　just　dropping　off；　when　suddenly　he　started　wide　awake　again：　for　it　recurred　to　him　vividly　that　a　window　in　his　house　had　opened　while　David　was　cursing　him　and　demanding　his　children's　money。

Whose　window？

Half…a…dozen　people　and　more　slept　on　that　side　of　the　house。

Whose　window　could　it　be？

He　walked　among　fires。



CHAPTER　XXIV

NOT　many　days　after　this　a　crowd　of　persons　stood　in　front　of　the　old　bank；　looking　half　stupefied　at　the　shutters；　and　at　a　piece　of　paper　pasted　on　them　announcing　a　suspension；　only　for　a　months　or　so；　and　laying　the　blame　on　certain　correspondents　not　specified。

So　great　was　the　confidence　inspired　by　the　old　bank；　that　many　said　it　would　come　round；　it　must　come　round　in　a　month：　but　other　of　Mr。　Hardie's　unfortunate　clients　recognised　in　the　above　a　mere　formula　to　let　them　down　by　degrees：　they　had　seen　many　statements　as　hopeful　end　in　a　dividend　of　sixpence　in　the　pound。

Before　the　day　closed；　the　scene　at　the　bank　door　was　heart…rending：　respectable　persons；　reduced　to　pauperism　in　that　day；　kept　arriving　and　telling　their　fellow…sufferers　their　little　all　was　with　Hardie；　and　nothing　before　them　but　the　workhouse　or　the　almshouse：　ruined　mothers　came　and　held　up　their　ruined　children　for　the　banker　to　see；　and　the　doors　were　hammered　at；　and　the　house　as　well　as　the　bank　was　beleaguered　by　a　weeping；　wailing；　despairing　crowd。

But　like　an　idle　wave　beating　on　a　rock；　all　this　human　misery　dashed　itself　in　vain　against　the　banker's　brick　walls　and　shutters；　hard　to　them　as　his　very　heart

The　next　day　they　mobbed　Alfred　and　hissed　him　at　the　back…door。　Jane　was　too　ashamed　and　too　frightened　to　stir　out。　Mr。　Hardie　sat　calmly　putting　the　finishing　strokes　to　his　fabricated　balance…sheet。

Some　innocent　and　excited　victims　went　to　the　mayor　for　redress；　to　the　aldermen；　the　magistratesin　vain。

Towards　afternoon　the　banker's　cool　contempt　for　his　benefactors；　whose　lives　he　had　darkened；　received　a　temporary　check。　A　heavy　stone　was　flung　at　the　bank　shutters：　this　ferocious　blow　made　him　start　and　the　place　rattle：　it　was　the　signal　for　a　shower；　and　presently　tink；　tink；　went　the　windows　of　the　house；　and　in　came　the　stones；　starring　the　mirrors；　upsetting　the　chairs；　denting　the　papered　walls；　chipping　the　mantelpieces；　shivering　the　bell　glasses　and　statuettes；　and　strewing　the　room　with　dirty　pebbles；　and　painted　fragments；　and　glittering　ruin。

Hardie　winced：　this　was　the　sort　of　appeal　to　touch　him。　But　soon　he　recovered　his　_sang　froid。_　〃Thank　you；〃　said　he；　〃I'm　much　obliged　to　you；　now　I'm　in　the　right　and　you　are　in　the　wrong。〃　And　he　put　himself　under　protection　of　the　police；　and　fee'd　them　so　royally　that　they　were　zealous　on　his　behalf　and　rough　and　dictatorial　even　with　those　who　thronged　the　place　only　to　moan　and　lament　and　hold　up　their　ruined　children。　〃You　_must_　move　on；　you　Misery；〃　said　the　police。　And　they　were　right：　Misery　gains　nothing　by　stopping　the　way；　nothing　by　bemoaning　itself。

But　if　the　banker；　naturally　egotistical；　and　now　entirely　wrapped　in　his　own　plans；　and　fears；　and　well…earned　torments；　was　deaf　to　the　anguish　of　his　clients；　there　were　others　in　his　house　who　felt　it　keenly　and　deeply。　Alfred　and　Jane　were　heart…broken：　they　sat　hand　in　hand　in　a　little　room；　drawn　closer　by　misfortune；　and　heard　the　groans　at　their　door；　and　the　tears　of　pity　ran　down　their　own　cheeks　hot　with　shame；　and　Alfred　wrote　on　the　fly…leaf　of　his　〃Ethics〃　a　vow　to　pay　every　shilling　his　father　owed　these　poor　peoplebefore　he　died。　It　was　like　him；　and　like　his　happy　age；　at　which　the　just　and　the　generous　can　command；　in　imagination；　the　means　to　do　kindred　deeds。

Soon　he　found；　to　his　horror；　that　he　had　seen　but　a　small　percentage　of　the　distress　his　father　had　caused；　the　greater　griefs；　as　usual；　stayed　at　home。　Behind　the　gadding　woes　lay　a　terrible　number　of　silent；　decent　ruined　homes　and　broken　hearts；　and　mixed　sorrows　so　unmerited；　so　complicated；　so　piteous；　and　so　cruel；　that　he　was　ready　to　tear　his　hair；　to　know　them　and　not　be　able　to　relieve　them　instantly。

Of　that　mere　sample　I　give　a　mere　sample：　divine　the　bulk　then；　and　revolve　a　page　of　human　history　often　turned　by　the　people；　but　too　little　studied　by　statisticians　and　legislators。

Mr。　Esgar；　a　respectable　merchant；　had　heavy　engagements；　to　meet　which　his　money　lay　at　the　old　bank。　Living　at　a　distance；　he　did　not　hear　the　news　till　near　dinner…time；　and　he　had　promised　to　take　his　daughters　to　a　ball　that　night。　He　did　so；　left　them　there；　went　home；　packed　up　their　clothes　and　valuables；　and　next　day　levanted　with　them　to　America；　taking　all　the　money　he　could　scrape　together　in　London；　and　so　he　passed　his　ruin　on　to　others。　Esgar　was　one　of　those　who　wear　their　honesty　long　but　loose：　it　was　his　first　disloyal　act　in　business。　〃Dishonesty　made　me　dishonest；〃　was　his　excuse。　_Valeat　quantum。_

John　Shaw；　a　steady　footman；　had　saved　and　saved；　from　twenty…one　years　old　to　thirty…eight；　for　〃Footman's　Paradise；〃　a　public…house。　He　was　now　engaged　to　a　comely　barmaid；　who　sympathised　with　him　therein；　and　he　had　just　concluded　a　bargain　for　the　〃Rose　and　Crown〃　in　the　suburbs。　Unluckilyfor　himthe　money　had　not　been　paid　over。　The　blow　fell：　he　lost　his　all；　not　his　money　only；　but　his　wasted　life。　He　could　not　be　twenty…one　again；　so　he　hanged　himself　within　forty…eight　hours；　and　was　buried　by　the　parish；　grumbling　a　little；　pitying　none。

James　and　Peter　Gilpin；　William　Scott；　and　Joel　Paton；　were　poor　fishermen　and　Anglo…Saxon　heroesthat　is；　heroes　with　an　eye　to　the　main　chance；　they　risked　their　lives　at　sea　to　save　a　ship　and　get　salvage；　failing　there；　they　risked　their　lives　all　the　same；　like　fine　fellows　as　they　were；　to　save　the　crew。　They　succeeded；　but　ruined　their　old　boat。　A　subscription　was　raised；　and　prospered　so；　that　a　boat…builder　built　them　a　new　one　on　tick；　price　L。　85；　and　the　publicans　said；　〃Drink；　boys；　drink；　the　subscription　will　cover　all；　it　is　up　to　L。　120　already。〃　The　subscription　money　was　swallowed　with　the　rest；　and　the　Anglo…Saxon　heroes　hauled　to　prison。

Doctor　Phillips；　aged　seventy…four；　warned　by　growing　infirmities；　had　sold　a　tidy　practice；　with　house；　furniture；　and　good…will；　for　a　fair　price；　and　put　it　in　the　bank；　awaiting　some　investment。　The　money　was　gone　now；　and　the　poor　old　doctor；　with　a　wife　and　daughter　and　a　crutch；　was　at　once　a　pauper　and　an　exile：　for　he　had　sold　under　the　usual　condition；　not　to　practise　within　so　many　miles　of　his　successor。　He　went　to　that　successor；　and　begged　permission　to　be　his　assistant　at　a　small；　small　salary。　〃I　want　a　younger　man；〃　was　the　reply。　Then　he　went　round　to　his　old　patients；　and　begged　a　few　half…guineas　to　get　him　a　horse　and　chaise　and　keep　him　over　the　first　month　in　his　new　place。　They　pitied　him；　but　most　of　them　were　sufferers　too　by　Hardie；　and　all　they　gave　him　did　but　buy　a　donkey　and　cart；　and　with　that　he　and　his　went　slowly　and　sadly　to　a　village　ten　miles　distant　from　the　place　where　all　his　life　had　been　spent　in　comfort　and　good　credit。　The　poor　old　gentleman　often　looked　back　from　his　cart　at　the　church　spires　of　Barkington。

　　　　〃From　seventeen　till　now；　almost　fourscore；　　　　　　There　lived　he；　but　now　lived　there　no　more。　　　　　　At　seventeen　many　their　fortunes　seek；　　　　　　But　at　fourscore　it　is　too　old　a　week。〃

Arrived　at　his　village；　he　had　to　sell　his　donkey　and　trust　to　his　crutch。　And　so　Infirmity　crept　about　begging　leave　to　cure　Diseasewith　what　success　may　be　inferred　from　this：　Miss　Phillips；　a　lady…like　girl　of　eighteen；　was　taken　up　by　Farmer　Giles　before　Squire　Langton　for　stealing　turnips　out　of　a　field：　the　farmer　was　hard；　and　his　losses　in　Hardie's　Bank　had　made　him　bitter　hard；　so　the　poor　girl's　excuse；　that　she　could　not　let　her　father　starve；　had　no　effect　on　him：　to　jail　she　should　go。*

*I　find；　however；　that　Squire　Langton　resolutely　refused　to　commit　Miss　Phillips。　The　real　reason；　I　suspect；　was；　that　he　had　a　respect　for　the　Gospel；　and　not　much　for　the　law；　except　those　invaluable　clauses　which　restrain　poaching。　The　reason　he　gave　was：　〃Turnips　be　hanged！　If　she　hadn't　eaten　them；　the　fly　would。〃　However；　he　found　means　to　muzzle　Giles；　and　sent　the　old　doctor　two　couple　of　rabbits。

Took　to　the　national　vice；　and　went　to　the　national　dogs；　Thomas　Fisher；　a　saving　tinman；　and　a　bachelor：　so　I　expect　no　pity　for　him。

To　the