hard cash-第55章

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some　victim　of　his　unprincipled　conduct　died　or　despaired。　〃Poor　papa　will　feel　this　so　deeply；〃　was　her　only　comment　on　such　occasions。

Alfred　was　not　sorry　she　could　take　this　view；　and　left　her　unmolested　to　confound　black　with　white；　and　wrong　with　right；　at　affection's　dictates；　but　his　own　trained　understanding　was　not　to　be　duped　in　matters　of　plain　morality。　And　so；　unable　to　cure　the　wrongs　he　deplored；　unable　to　put　his　conscience　into　his　pocket　like　Richard　Hardie；　or　into　his　heart　like　Jane；　he　wandered　alone；　or　sat　brooding　and　dejected：　and　the　attentive　reader；　if　I　am　so　fortunate　as　to　possess　one；　will　not　be　surprised　to　learn　that　he　was　troubled；　too；　with　dark　mysterious　surmises　he　half　dreaded；　yet　felt　it　his　duty　to　fathom。　These　and　Mrs。　Dodd's　loss　by　the　bank　combined　to　keep　him　out　of　Albion　Villa。　He　often　called　to　ask　after　Captain　Dodd；　but　was　ashamed　to　enter　the　house。

Now　Richard　Hardie's　anxiety　to　know　whether　David　was　to　die　or　live　had　not　declined；　but　rather　increased。　If　the　latter；　he　was　now　resolved　to　fly　to　the　United　States　with　his　booty；　and　cheat　his　alienated　son　along　with　the　rest：　he　had　come　by　degrees　down　to　this。　It　was　on　Alfred　he　had　counted　to　keep　him　informed　of　David's　state；　but；　on　his　putting　a　smooth　inquiry；　the　young　man's　face　flushed　with　shame；　or　anger；　or　something；　and　he　gave　a　very　short；　sharp；　and　obscure　reply。　In　reality；　he　did　not　know　much；　nor　did　Sarah；　his　informant；　for　of　late　the　servants　had　never　been　allowed　to　enter　David's　room。

Mr。　Hardie；　after　this　rebuff；　never　asked　Alfred　again；　but　having　heard　Sampson's　name　mentioned　as　Dodd's　medical　attendant；　wrote　and　asked　him　to　come　and　dine　next　time　he　should　visit　Barkington。

〃You　will　find　me　a　fallen　man；〃　said　he；　〃to…morrow　we　resign　our　house　and　premises　and　furniture　to　the　assignees；　and　go　to　live　at　a　little　furnished　cottage　not　very　far　from　your　friends　the　Dodds。　It　is　called　'Musgrove　Cottage。'　There；　where　we　have　so　little　to　offer　besides　a　welcome；　none　but　true　friends　will　come　near　us；　indeed；　there　are　very　few　I　should　venture　to　ask　for　such　a　proof　of　fidelity　to　your　broken　friend；

R。　H。〃


The　good…hearted　Sampson　sent　a　cordial　reply；　and　came　to　dinner　at　Musgrove　Cottage。


Now　all　Hardie　wanted　of　him　in　reality　was　to　know　about　David；　so　when　Jane　had　retired　and　the　decanter　circulated；　he　began　to　pump　him　by　his　vanity。　〃I　understand；〃　said　he；　〃you　have　wrought　one　of　your　surprising　cures　in　this　neighbourhood。　Albion　Villa！〃

Sampson　shook　his　head　sorrowfully：　Mr。　Hardie's　eyes　sparkled。　Alfred　watched　him　keenly　and　bitterly。

〃How　can　I　work　a　great　cure　after　these　ass…ass…ins　Short　and　Osmond？　Look；　see！　the　man　had　been　wounded　in　the　hid；　and　lost　blood：　thin　stabbed　in　the　shoulder；　and　lost　more　blood。〃Both　the　Hardies　uttered　an　ejaculation　of　unfeigned　surprise。〃So；　instid　of　recruiting　the　buddy　thus　exhausted　of　the　great　liquid　material　of　all　repair；　the　profissional　ass…ass…in　came　and　exhausted　him　worse：　stabbed　him　while　he　slept；　stabbed　him　unconscious；　stabbed　him　in　a　vein：　and　stole　more　blood　from　him。　Wasn't　that　enough？　No！　the　routine　of　profissional　ass…ass…ination　had　but　begun；　nixt　they　stabbed　him　with　cupping…needles；　and　so　stole　more　of　his　life…blood。　And　they　were　goen　from　their　stabs　to　their　bites；　goen　to　leech　his　temples；　and　so　hand　him　over　to　the　sixton。〃

〃But　you　came　in　and　saved　him；〃　cried　Alfred。

〃I　saved　his　life；〃　said　Sampson　sorrowfully；　〃but　life　is　not　the　only　good　thing　a　man　may　be　robbed　of　by　those　who　steal　his　life…blood；　and　so　impoverish　and　water　the　contints　of　the　vessels　of　the　brain。〃

〃Doctor　Sampson；〃　said　Alfred；　〃what　do　you　mean　by　these　mysterious　words？　You　alarm　me。〃

〃What；　don't　you　know？　Haven't　they　told　you？〃

〃No；　I　have　not　had　the　courage　to　enter　the　house　since　the　bank〃　he　stopped　in　confusion。

〃Ay；　I　understand；〃　said　Sampson：　〃however；　it　can't　be　hidden　now：

〃He　is　a　maniac。〃


Sampson　made　this　awful　announcement　soberly　and　sorrowfully。

Alfred　groaned　aloud；　and　even　his　father　experienced　a　momentary　remorse；　but　so　steady　had　been　the　progress　of　Corruption；　that　he　felt　almost　unmixed　joy　the　next　instant；　and　his　keen…witted　son　surprised　the　latter　sentiment　in　his　face；　and　shuddered　with　disgust。

Sampson　went　on　to　say　that　he　believed　the　poor　man　had　gone　flourishing　a　razor；　and　Mrs。　Dodd　had　said；　〃Yes；　kill　me；　David：　kill　the　mother　of　your　children；〃　and　never　moved：　which　feminine；　or　in　other　words　irrational；　behaviour　had　somehow　disarmed　him。　But　it　would　not　happen　again：　his　sister　had　come；　a　sensible；　resolute　woman。　She　had　signed　the　order；　and　Osmond　and　he　the　certificates；　and　he　was　gone　to　a　private　asylum。　〃Talking　of　that；〃　said　Sampson；　rising　suddenly；　〃I　must　go　and　give　them　a　word　of　comfort；　for　they　are　just　breaking　their　hearts　at　parting　with　him；　poor　things。　I'll　be　back　in　an　hour。〃

On　his　departure；　Jane　returned　and　made　the　tea　in　the　dining…room：　they　lived　like　that　now。

Mr。　Hardie　took　it　from　his　favourite's　lithe　white　hand；　and　smiled　on　her：　he　should　not　have　to　go　to　a　foreign　land　after　all：　who　would　believe　a　madman　if　he　should　rave　about　his　thousands　？　He　sipped　his　tea　luxuriously；　and　presently　delivered　himself　thus；　with　bland　self…satisfaction：

〃My　dear　Alfred；　some　time　ago　you　wished　to　marry　a　young　lady　without　fortune。　You　thought　that　I　had　a　large　one；　and　you　expected　me　to　supply　all　deficiencies。　You　did　not　overrate　my　parental　feeling；　but　you　did　my　means。　I　would　have　done　this　for　you；　and　with　pleasure；　but　for　my　own　coming　misfortunes。　As　it　was；　I　said　'No；'　and　when　you　demanded；　somewhat　peremptorily；　my　reasons；　I　said　'Trust　me。'　Well；　you　see　I　was　right：　such　a　marriage　would　have　been　your　utter　ruin。　However；　I　conclude；　after　what　Dr。　Sampson　has　told　us；　you　have　resigned　it　on　other　grounds。　Jane；　my　dear；　Captain　Dodd；　I　am　sorry　to　say；　is　afflicted。　He　has　gone　mad。〃

〃Gone　mad？！　Oh；　how　shocking！　What　will　become　of　his　poor　children？〃　She　thought　of　Edward　first。

〃We　have　just　heard　it　from　Sampson。　And　I　presume；　Alfred；　you　are　not　so　far　gone　as　to　insist　on　propagating　insanity　by　a　marriage　with　his　daughter。〃

At　this　conclusion；　which　struck　her　obliquely；　though　aimed　at　Alfred；　Jane　sighed　gently；　and　her　dream　of　earthly　happiness　seemed　to　melt　away。

But　Alfred　ground　his　teeth；　and　replied　with　great　bitterness　and　emotion：　〃I　think；　sir；　you　are　the　last　man　who　ought　to　congratulate　yourself　on　the　affliction　that　has　fallen　on　that　unhappy　family　I　aspire　to　enter；　all　the　more　that　now　they　have　calamities　for　me　to　share〃

〃More　fool　you；〃　put　in　Mr。　Hardie　calmly。

〃For　I　much　fear　you　are　one　of　the　causes　of　that　calamity。〃

Mr。　Hardie　assumed　a　puzzled　air。　〃I　don't　see　how　that　can　be：　do　you；　Jenny？　Sampson　told　us　the　causes：　a　wound　on　the　head；　a　wound　in　the　arm；　bleeding；　cupping；　&c。〃

〃There　may　be　other　causes　Dr。　Sampson　has　not　been　told　ofyet〃

〃Possibly。　I　really　don't　know　what　you　allude　to。〃

The　son　fixed　his　eyes　on　the　father；　and　leaned　across　the　table　to　him；　till　their　faces　nearly　met。

〃The　fourteen　thousand　pounds；　sir。〃



CHAPTER　XXV

MR。　HARDIE　was　taken　by　surprise　for　once；　and　had　not　a　word　to　say；　but　looked　in　his　son's　face；　mute　and　gasping　as　a　fish。

During　this　painful　silence　his　children　eyed　him　inquiringly；　but　not　with　the　same　result；　for　one　face　is　often　read　differently　by　two　persons。　To　Jane；　whose　intelligence　had　no　aids；　he　seemed　unaffectedly　puzzled；　but　Alfred　discerned　beneath　his　wonder　the　terror　of　detection　rising；　and　then　thrust　back　by　the　strong　will：　that　stoical　face　shut　again　like　an　iron　door；　but　not　quickly　enough：　the　right　words；　the　〃open　sesame；〃　had　been　spoken；　and　one　unguarded　look　had　confirmed　Alfred's　vague　suspicions　of　foul　play。　He　turned　his　own　face　away：　he　was　alienated　by　the　occurrences　of　the　last　few　months；　but　Nature　and　tender　reminiscences　still　held　him　by　some　fibres　of　the　heartin　a　moment　of　natural　indignation　he　had　applied　the　touchstone；　but　its　success　grieved　him。　He　could　not　bear　to　go　on　exposing　his　father；　so　he　left　the　room　with　a　deep　sigh；　in　which　pity　mingled　with　shame　and　regret。　He　wandered　out　into　the　silent　night；　and　soon　was　leaning　on　the　gate　of　Albion　Villa；　gazing　wistfully　at　the　windows；　and　sore　perplexed　and　nobly　wretched。

As　he　was　going　out；　Mr。　Hardie　raised　his　eyebrows　with　a　look　of　disinterested　wonder　and　curiosity；　and　touched　his　forehead　to　Jane；　as　much　as　to　say；　〃Is　he　disordered　in　his　mind？〃

As　soon　as　they　were　alone；　he　asked　her　coolly　what　Alfred　meant。　She　said　she　had　no　idea。　Then　he　examined　her　keenly　about　this　fourteen　thousand　pounds；　and　found；　to　his　relief；　Alfred　had　never　even　mentioned　it　to　her。

And　now　Richard　Hardie；　like　his　son；　wanted　to　be　alone；　and　think　over　this　new　peril　that　had　risen　in　the　bosom　of　his　own　family；　and；　for　once；　the　company　of　his　favourite　child　was　irksome：　he　made　an　excuse　and　strolled　out　in　his　turn　into　the　silent　night。　It　was　calm　and　clear：　the　thousand　holy　eyes；　under　which　men　prefer　to　do　their　crimesexcept　when　they　are　in　too　great　a　hurry　to　waitlooked　down　and　seemed　to　wonder　anything　can　be　so　silly　as　to　sin；　and　beneath　their　pure　gaze　the　man　of　the　world　pondered　with　all　his　soul。　He　tormented　himself　with　conjectures：　through　what　channel　did　Alfred　suspect　him？　Through　the　Dodds？　Were　they　aware　of　their　loss？　Had　the　pocket…book　spoken？　If　so；　why　had　not　Mrs。　Dodd　or　her　son　attacked　him？　But　then　perhaps　Alfred　was　their　agent：　they　wished　to　try　a　friendly　remonstrance　through　a　mutual　friend　before　proceeding　to　extremities；　this　accorded　with　Mrs。　Dodd's　character　as　he　remembered　her。

The　solution　was　reasonable；　but　he　was　relieved　of　it　by　recollecting　what　Alfred　had　said；　that　he　had　not　entered　the　house　since　the　bank　broke。

On　this　he　began　to　hope　Alfred's　might　be　a　mere　suspicion　he　could　not　establish　by　any　proof；　and　at　all　events；　he　would　lock　it　in　his　own　breast　like　a　good　son：　his　never　having　given　a　hint　even　to　his　sister　favoured　this　supposition。

Thus　meditating；　Mr。　Hardie　found　himself　at　the　gate　of　Albion　Villa。

Yet　he　had　strolled　out　with　no　particular　intention　of　going　there。　Had　his　mind；　apprehensive　of　danger　from　that　quarter；　driven　his　body　thither？

He　took　a　look　at　the　house；　and　the　first　thing　he　saw　was　a　young　lady　leaning　over　the　balcony；　and　murmuring　softly　to　a　male　figure　below；　whose　outline　Mr。　Hardie　could　hardly　discern；　for　it　stood　in　the　shadow。　Mr。　Hardie　was　delighted。

〃Aha；　Miss　Juliet；〃　said　he；　〃if　Alfred　does　not　visit　you；　some　one　else　does。　You　have　soon　supplied　your　peevish　lover's　place。〃　He　then　withdrew　softly　from　the　gate；　not　to　disturb　the　intrigue；　and　watched　a　few　yards　off；　determined　to　see　who　Julia's　nightly　visitor　was；　and　give　Alfred　surprise　for　surprise。

He　had　not　long　to　wait：　the　man　came　away　directly；　and　walked；　head　erect；　past　Mr。　Hardie；　and　glanced　full　in　his　face；　but　did　not　vouchsaf