hard cash-第58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！


〃Well；　sir；〃　said　Maxley　despondingly；　〃I　have　been　to　all　the　other　magistrates　in　the　borough；　for　what　with　losing　my　money；　and　what　with　losing　my　missus；　I　think　I　bain't　quite　right　in　my　head；　I　do　see　such　curious　things；　enough　to　make　a　body's　skin　creep　at　times。〃　And　down　went　his　head　on　his　chest

〃Well？〃　said　Mr。　Hardie；　peevishly：　〃go　on：　you　went　to　the　magistrates；　and　what　then？〃

Maxley　looked　up；　and　seemed　to　recover　the　thread：　〃Why　they　said　'no；'　they　couldn't　send　me　to　the　'sylum；　not　from　home：　I　must　be　a　pauper　first。　So　then　my　neighbours　they　said　I　had　better　come　to　you。〃　And　down　went　his　head　again。

〃Well；　but；〃　said　Mr。　Hardie；　〃you　cannot　expect　me　to　go　against　the　other　magistrates。〃

〃Why　not；　sir？　You　have　had　a　hatful　o'　money　of　me：　the　other　gentlemen　han't　had　a　farthing。　They　owes　me　no　service；　but　you　does：　nine　hundred　pounds'　worth；　if　ye　come　to　that。〃

There　was　no　malice　in　this；　it　was　a　plain　broken…hearted　man's　notion　of　give　and　take；　but　it　was　a　home…thrust　all　the　same；　and　Mr。　Hardie　was　visibly　discountenanced；　and　Alfred　more　so。

Mr。　Osmond；　to　relieve　a　situation　so　painful；　asked　Maxley　rather　hastily　what　were　the　curious　things　he　saw。

Maxley　shuddered。　〃The　unreasonablest　beasts；　sir；　you　ever　saw　or　heard　tell　on：　mostly　snakes　and　dragons。　Can't　stoop　my　head　to　do　no　work　for　them；　sir。　Bless　your　heart；　if　I　was　to　leave　you　gentlemen　now；　and　go　and　dig　for　five　minutes　in　my　garden；　they　would　come　about　me　as　thick　as　slugs　on　cabbage。　Why　'twas　but　yester'en　I　tried　to　hoe　a　bit；　and　up　come　the　fearfullest　great　fiery　sarpint：　scared　me　so　I　heaved　my　hoe　and　laid　on　un'　properly：　presently　I　seemed　to　come　out　of　a　sort　of　a　kind　of　a　red　mist　into　the　clear：　and　there　laid　my　poor　missus's　favourite　hen；　I　had　been　and　killed　her　for　a　sarpint！〃　He　sighed；　then；　after　a　moment's　pause；　lowered　his　voice　to　a　whisper：　〃Now　suppose　I　was　to　go　and　take　some　poor　Christian　for　one　of　these　gre…at　bloody　dragons　I　do　see　at　odd　times；　I　might　do　him　a　mischief；　you　know；　and　not　mean　him　no　harm　neither。　Oh；　dooee　take　and　have　me　locked　up；　gentlemen；　dooee　now：　tellee　I　ain't　fit　to　be　about；　my　poor　head　is　so　mazed。〃

〃Well；　well；〃　said　Mr。　Hardie；　〃I'll　give　you　an　order　for　the　Union。〃

〃What；　make　a　pauper　of　me？〃

〃I　cannot　help　it；〃　said　the　magistrate：　〃it　is　the　routine；　and　it　was　settled　at　a　meeting　of　the　bench　last　month　that　we　must　adhere　to　the　rule　as　strictly　as　possible；　the　asylum　is　so　full：　and　you　know；　Maxley；　it　is　not　as　if　you　were　dangerous。〃

〃That　I　be；　sir：　I　don't　know　what　I'm　a　looking　at　or　a　doing。　Would　I　ha'　gone　and　killed　my　poor　Susan's　hen　if　I　hadn't　a　been　beside　myself？　and　she　in　her　grave；　poor　dear：　no；　not　for　untold　gold：　and　I　be　fond　of　that　tooused　to　be；　however：　but　now　I　don't　seem　to　care　for　money　nor　nothing　else。〃　And　his　head　dropped。

Look　here；　Maxley；　old　fellow；〃　said　Alfred　sarcastically；　〃you　must　go　to　the　workhouse；　and　stay　there　till　you　hoe　a　pauper；　take　him　for　a　crocodile　and　kill　him；　then　you　will　get　into　an　asylum　whether　the　Barkington　magistrates　like　it　or　not：　that　is　the　_routine；_　I　believe；　and　as　reasonable　as　most　routine。〃

Dr。　Wycherley　admired　Alfred　for　this；　and　whispered　Mr。　Osmond；　〃How　subtly　they　reason。〃

Mr。　Hardie　did　not　deign　to　answer　his　son；　who　indeed　had　spoken　at　him；　and　not　to　him。

As　for　poor　Maxley；　he　was　in　sad　and　sober　earnest；　and　could　not　relish　nor　even　take　in　Alfred's　irony。　He　lifted　his　head　and　looked　Mr。　Hardie　in　the　face。

〃You　be　a　hard　man；〃　said　he；　trembling　with　emotion。　〃You　robbed　me　and　my　missus　of　our　all；　you　ha'　broke　her　heart；　and　turned　my　head；　and　if　I　was　to　come　and　kill　_you；_　'twould　only　be　clearing　scores。　'Stead　of　that；　I　comes　to　you　like　a　lamb；　and　says　give　me　your　name　on　a　bit　of　paper；　and　put　me　out　of　harm's　way。　'No；'　says　you；　'go　to　the　workhouse！'　Be　_you_　in　the　workhouseyou　that　owes　me　nine　hundred　pounds　and　my　dead　missus？〃　With　this　he　went　into　a　rage；　took　a　packet　out　of　his　pocket；　and　flung　L。　900　of　Mr。　Hardie's　paper　at　Mr。　Hardie's　head　before　any　one　could　stop　him。

But　Alfred　saw　his　game；　stepped　forward；　and　caught　it　with　one　hand；　and　with　the　dexterity　of　a　wicket…keeper；　within　a　foot　of　his　father's　nose。　〃How's　that；　Umpire？〃　said　he：　then；　a　little　sternly；　〃Don't　do　that　again；　Mr。　Maxley；　or　I　shall　have　to　give　you　a　hidingto　keep　up　appearances。　He　then　put　the　notes　in　his　pocket；　and　said　quietly；　_〃I_　shall　give　you　your　money　for　these　before　the　year　ends。〃

〃You　won't　be　quite　so　mad　as　that；　I　hope；〃　remonstrated　his　father。　But　he　made　no　reply：　they　very　seldom　answered　one　another　now。

〃Oh；〃　said　Dr。　Wycherley；　inspecting　him　like　a　human　curiosity；　〃nullum　magnum　ingenium　sine　mixtura　dementiae。〃

〃Nec　parvum　sine　mixtura　stultitiae；〃　retorted　Alfred　in　a　moment　and　met　his　offensive　gaze　with　a　point…blank　look　of　supercilious　disdain。

Then　having　shut　him　up；　he　turned　to　Osmond：　〃Come；〃　said　he；　〃prescribe　for　this　poor　fellow；　who　asks　for　a　hospital；　so　Routine　gives　him　a　workhouse。　Come；　you　know　there　is　no　limit　to　your　skill　and　good　nature：　you　cured　Spot　of　the　worms；　cure　poor　old　Maxley　of　his　snakes：　oblige　me。〃

〃That　I　will；　Mr。　Alfred；〃　said　Osmond　heartily：　and　wrote　a　prescription　on　a　leaf　of　his　memorandum…book；　remarking　that　though　a　simple　purgative；　it　had　made　short　work　of　a　great　many　serpents　and　dragons；　and　not　a　few　spectres　and　hobgoblins　into　the　bargain。

The　young　gentleman　thanked　him　graciously；　and　said　kindly　to　Maxley；　〃Get　that　made　uphere's　a　guineaand　I'll　send　somebody　to　see　how　you　are　to…morrow。〃

The　poor　man　took　the　guinea；　and　the　prescription；　and　his　head　drooped　again；　and　he　slouched　away。

Dr。　Wycherley　remarked　significantly　that　his　conduct　was　worth　imitating　by　_all　persons　similarly　situated：_　and　concluded　oracularly：　〃Prophylaxis　is　preferable　to　therapeusis。〃

〃Or；　as　_Porson_　would　say；　'Prevention　is　better　than　cure。'〃

With　this　parting　blow　the　Oxonian　suddenly　sauntered　away；　unconscious；　it　seemed；　of　the　existence　of　his　companions。

〃I　never　saw　a　plainer　case　of　Incubation；〃　remarked　Dr。　Wycherley　with　vast　benevolence　of　manner。

〃Maxley's？〃

〃Oh；　no；　that　is　parochial。　It　is　your　profoundly　interesting　son　I　alluded　to。　Did　you　notice　his　supercilious　departure？　_And　his　morbid　celerity　of　repartee？_〃

Mr。　Hardie　replied　with　some　little　hesitation；　〃Yes；　and；　excuse　me；　I　thought　he　had　rather　the　best　of　the　battle　with　you。〃

〃Indubitably　so；〃　replied　Dr。　Wycherley：　〃they　always　do：　at　least　such　is　my　experience。　If　ever　I　break　a　lance　of　wit　with　an　incubator！　I　calculate　with　confidence　on　being　unhorsed　with　abnormal　rapidity；　and　rare；　indeed；　are　the　instances　in　which　my　anticipations　are　not　promptly　and　fully　realised。　By　a　similar　rule　of　progression　the　incubator　is　seldom　a　match　for　the　confirmed　maniac；　either　in　the　light　play　of　sarcasm；　the　coruscations　of　wit　or　the　severer　encounters　of　dialectical　ratiocination。〃

〃Dear；　dear；　dear！　Then　how　is　one　to　know　a　genius　from　a　madman？〃　inquired　Jane。

_〃By　sending　for　a　psychological　physician。_〃

〃If　I　understand　the　doctor　right；　the　two　things　are　not　opposed；〃　remarked　Mr。　Hardie。

Dr。　Wycherley　assented；　and　made　a　remarkable　statement　in　confirmation：　〃One　half　of　the　aggregate　of　the　genius　of　the　country　is　at　present　under　restraint；　fortunately　for　the　community；　and　still　more　fortunately　for　itself。〃

He　then　put　on　his　gloves；　and；　with　much　kindness　but　solemnity；　warned　Mr。　Hardie　not　to　neglect　his　son's　case；　nor　to　suppose　that　matters　could　go　on　like　this　without　〃disintegrating　or　disorganising　the　grey　matter　of　the　brain。　I　admit〃　said　he；　〃that　in　some　recorded　cases　of　insanity　the　brain　on　dissection　has　revealed　no　signs　of　structural　or　functional　derangement；　and；　that；　on　the　other　hand；　considerable　encephalic　disorganisation　has　been　shown　to　have　existed　in　other　cases　without　aberration　or　impairment　of　the　reason：　but　such　phenomena　are　to　be　considered　as　pathological　curiosities；　with　which　the　empiric　would　fain　endeavour　to　disturb　the　sound　general　conclusions　of　science。　The　only　safe　mode　of　reasoning　on　matters　so　delicate　and　profound　is　_a　priori：_　and；　as　it　may　safely　be　assumed　as　a　self…evident　proposition；　that　disturbed　intelligence　bears　the　same　relation　to　the　brain　as　disordered　respiration　does　to　the　lungs；　it　is　not　logical；　reasoning　_a　priori；_　to　assume　the　possibility　that　the　studious　or　other　mental　habits　of　a　Kephalalgic；　and　gifted　youth；　can　be　reversed；　and　erotic　monomania　germinate；　with　all　the　morbid　phenomena　of　isolation；　dejection　of　the　spirits；　and　abnormal　exaltation　of　the　powers　of　wit　and　ratiocination；　without　some　considerable　impairment；　derangement；　disturbance；　or　modification；　of　the　psychical；　motorial；　and　sensorial　functions　of　the　great　cerebral　ganglion。　But　it　would　be　equally　absurd　to　presuppose　that　these　several　functions　can　be　disarranged　for　months；　without　more　or　less　disorganisation　of　the　medullary；　or　even　of　the　cineritious；　matter　of　the　encephialon。　_Therefore_dissection　of　your　talented　son　would　doubtless　reveal　at　this　moment　either　steatonatous　or　atheromatous　deposits　in　the　cerebral　blood…vessels；　or　an　encysted　abscess；　probably　of　no　very　recent　origin；　or；　at　the　least；　considerable　inspissation；　and　opacity；　of　the　membranes　of　the　encephalon；　or　more　or　less　pulpy　disorganisation　of　one　or　other　of　the　hemispheres　of　the　brain：　_good_　morning！！〃

〃Good　morning；　sir：　and　a　thousand　thanks　for　your　friemidly　interest　in　my　unhappy　boy。〃

The　Psycho…cerebrals　〃took　their　departure〃　（Psycho…cerebral　for　〃went　away〃）；　and　left　Jane　Hardie　brimful　of　anxiety。　Alfred　was　not　there　to　dispose　of　the　tirade　in　two　words　〃Petitio　principii；〃　and　so　smoke　on；　and；　not　being　an　university　woman；　she　could　not　keep　her　eye　on　the　original　assumption　while　following　the　series　of　inferences　the　learned　doctor　built　so　neatly；　story　by　story；　on　the　foundation　_of_　the　quicksand　_of_　a　loose　conjecture。*

　*　So　novices　sitting　at　a　conjuror　see　him　take　a　wedding…ring；　and　put　it　in　a　little　box　before　a　lady；　then　cross　the　theatre　with　another　little　box；　and　put　that　before　another　lady：　〃Hey！　presto！　pass！〃　in　box　2　is　discovered　a　wedding…ring；　which　is　instantly　_assumed_　to　be　_the_　ring：　on　this　the　green　minds　are　fixed；　and　with　this　is　sham　business　done：　Box　1；　containing　the　real　ring　all　the　time；　is　overlooked：　and　the　confederate；　in　livery　or　not；　does　what　he　likes　with　it；　imprisons　it　in　an　orangefor　the　good　of　its　health。

So　poor　Argan；　when　Fleurant　enumerates　the　consequences　of　his　omitting　a　singledose　shall　I　say？is　terrified　by　the　threatened　disorders；　which　succeed　to　each　other　logically　enough：　all　the　absurdity　being　in　the　first　link　of　the　chain；　and　from　that　his　mind　is　diverted。　

〃Now　not　a　word　of　this　to　Alfred；〃　said　Mr。　Hardie。　〃I　shall　propose　him　a　little　foreign　tour；　to　amuse　his　mind。〃

〃Yes；　but　papa；　if　some　serious　change　is　really　going　on　inside　his　poor　head。〃

Mr。　Hard