hard cash-第59章

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

Mr。　Hardie　smiled　sarcastically。　〃Don't　you　see　that　if　the　mind　can　wound　the　brain；　the　mind　can　cure　it？〃　Then；　after　a　while；　he　said　parentally；　〃My　child；　I　must　give　you　a　lesson：　men　of　the　world　use　enthusiastslike　those　two　I　have　just　been　drawing　outfor　their　tools；　we　don't　let　them　make　tools　of　us。　Osmond；　you　know；　is　jackal　to　an　asylum　in　London；　Dr。　Wycherley；　I　have　heard；　keeps　two　or　three　such　establishments　by　himself　or　his　agents：　blinded　by　self…interest　and　that　of　their　cliquewhat　an　egotistical　world　it　is；　to　be　sure！they　would　confine　a　melancholy　youth　in　a　gloomy　house；　among　afflicted　persons；　and　give　him　nothing　to　do　but　brood；　and　so　turn　the　scale　against　his　reason。　But　I　have　my　children's　interest　at　heart　more　than　my　own：　I　shall　send　him　abroad；　and　so　amuse　his　mind　with　fresh　objects；　break　off　sad　associations；　and　restore　him　to　a　brilliant　career。　I　count　on　you　to　second　me　in　my　little　scheme　for　his　good。〃

〃That　I　will；　papa。〃

〃Somehow；　I　don't　know　why；　he　is　coolish　to　me。〃

〃He　does　not　understand　you　as　I　do；　my　own　papa。〃

〃But　he　is　affectionate　with　you；　I　think。〃

〃Oh　yes；　more　than　ever：　trouble　has　drawn　us　closer。　Papa；　in　the　midst　of　our　sorrow；　how　much　we　have　to　be　thankful　for　to　the　Giver　of　all　good　things！〃

〃Yes；　little　angel：　and　you　must　improve　Heaven's　goodness　by　working　on　your　brother's　affection；　and　persuading　him　to　this　continental　tour。〃

Thus　appealed　to；　Jane　promised　warmly：　and　the　man　of　the　world；　finding　he　had　a　blind　and　willing　instrument　in　the　one　creature　he　loved；　kissed　her　on　the　forehead；　and　told　her　to　run　away；　for　here　was　Mr。　Skinner；　who　no　doubt　wanted　to　speak　on　business。

Skinner；　who　had　in　fact　been　holding　respectfully　aloof　for　some　time；　came　forward　on　Jane's　retiring；　and　in　a　very　obsequious　tone　requested　a　private　interview。　Mr。　Hardie　led　the　way　into　the　little　dining…room。

They　were　no　sooner　alone　than　Skinner　left　off　fawning；　very　abruptly；　and　put　on　a　rugged　resolute　manner　that　was　new　to　him：　〃I　am　come　for　my　commission；〃　said　he　sturdily。

Mr。　Hardie　looked　an　inquiry。

〃Oh；　you　don't　know　what　I　mean；　of　course；〃　said　the　little　clerk　almost　brutally：　〃I've　waited；　and　waited；　to　see　if　you　would　have　the　decency；　and　the　gratitude；　and　the　honesty；　to　offer　me　a　trifle　out　of　It；　but　I　see　I　might　wait　till　dooms…day　before　you　would　ever　think　of　thinking　of　anybody　but　yourself。　So　now　shell　out　without　more　words　or　I'll　blow　the　gaff〃　The　little　wretch　raised　his　voice　louder　and　louder　at　every　sentence。

〃Hush！　hush！　Skinner；〃　said　Mr。　Hardie　anxiously；　〃you　are　under　some　delusion。　When　did　ever　I　decline　to　recognise　your　services？　I　always　intended　to　make　you　a　present；　a　handsome　present。〃

〃Then　why　didn't　ye　_do_　it　without　being　forced？　Come；　sir；　you　can't　draw　the　wool　over　Noah　Skinner's　eyes。　I　have　had　you　watched；　and　you　are　looking　towards　the　U。　S。；　and　that　is　too　big　a　country　for　me　to　hunt　you　in。　I'm　not　to　be　trifled　with：　I'm　not　to　be　palavered：　give　me　a　thousand　pounds　of　It　this　moment　or　I'll　blow　the　whole　concern　and　you　along　with　it。〃

〃A　thousand　pounds！〃

〃Now　look　at　that！〃　shrieked　Skinner。　〃Serves　me　right　for　not　saying　seven　thousand。　What　right　have　you　to　a　shilling　of　it　more　than　I　have？　If　I　had　the　luck　to　be　a　burglar's　pal　instead　of　a　banker's；　I　should　have　half。　Give　it　me　this　moment；　or　I'll　go　to　Albion　Villa　and　have　you　took　up　for　a　thief；　as　you　are。〃

〃But　I　haven't　got　it　on　me。〃

〃That's　a　lie：　you　carry　it　where　_he_　did；　close　to　your　heart：　I　can　see　it　bulge：　there；　Job　was　a　patient　man；　but　his　patience　went　at　last。〃　With　this　he　ran　to　the　window　and　threw　it　open。

Hardie　entreated　him　to　be　calm。　〃I'll　give　it　you；　Skinner；〃　said　he；　〃and　with　pleasure；　if　you　will　give　me　some　security　that　you　will　not　turn　round；　as　soon　as　you　have　got　it；　and　be　my　enemy。〃

〃Enemy　of　a　gent　that　pays　me　a　thousand　pounds？　Nonsense！　Why　should　I？　We　are　in　the　same　boat：　behave　like　a　man；　and　you　know　you　have　nothing　to　fear　from　me：　but　I　willnotgo　halves　in　a　theft　for　nothing：　would　_you？_　Come；　how　is　it　to　be；　peace　or　war？　Will　you　be　content　with　thirteen　thousand　pounds　that　don't　belong　to　you；　not　a　shilling　of　it；　or　will　you　go　to　jail　a　felon；　and　lose　it　every　penny？〃

Mr。　Hardie　groaned　aloud；　but　there　was　no　help　for　it。　Skinner　was　on　sale：　and　_must_　be　bought。

He　took　out　two　notes　for　five　hundred　pounds　each；　and　laid　them　on　the　table；　after　taking　their　numbers。

Skinner's　eyes　glistened：　〃Thank　you；　sir；〃　said　he。　He　put　them　in　his　pocket。　Then　he　said　quietly；　〃Now　you　have　taken　the　numbers；　sir；　so　I'll　trouble　you　for　a　line　to　make　me　safe　against　the　criminal　law。　You　are　a　deep　one；　you　might　say　I　robbed　you。〃

〃That　is　a　very　unworthy　suspicion；　Skinner；　and　a　childish　one。〃

〃Oh；　it　is　diamond　cut　diamond。　A　single　line；　sir；　just　to　say　that　in　return　for　his　faithful　services；　you　have　given　Noah　Skinner　two　notes　for　L。　500；　Nos。　1084　and　85。〃

〃With　all　my　hearton　your　giving　me　a　receipt　for　them。〃

It　was　Skinner's　turn　to　hesitate。　After　reflecting；　however；　on　all　the　possible　consequences；　he　saw　nothing　to　fear；　so　he　consented。

The　business　completed；　a　magic　change　took　place　in　the　little　clerk。　〃Now　we　are　friends　again；　sir：　and　I'll　give　you　a　piece　of　advice。　Mind　your　eye　with　Mr。　Alfred：　he　is　down　on　us。〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　inquired　Mr。　Hardie　with　ill…disguised　anxiety。

〃I'll　tell　you；　sir。　He　met　me　this　morning：　and　says　he　to　me；　'Skinner；　old　boy；　I　want　to　speak　a　word　to　you。'　He　puts　his　hands　on　my　shoulder；　and　turns　me　round；　and　says　he　all　at　one　time；　'The　fourteen　thousand　pounds！'　You　might　have　knocked　me　down　with　a　feather。　And　he　looked　me　through　like　a　gimlet　mind　ye。　'Come　now；'　says　he；　'you　see　I　know　all；　make　a　clean　breast　of　it。'　So　then　I　saw　he　didn't　know　_all；_　and　I　brazened　up　a　bit：　told　him　I　hadn't　a　notion　what　he　meant。　'Oh　yes；　I　did；'　he　said；　'Captain　Dodd's　fourteen　thousand　pounds！　It　had　passed　through　my　hands。'　Then　I　began　to　funk　again　at　his　knowing　that：　perhaps　he　only　guessed　it　after　all：　but　at　the　time　I　thought　he　knew　it；　I　was　flustered；　ye　see。　But　I　said；　'I'd　look　at　the　books；　but　I　didn't　think　his　deposit　was　anything　like　that。'　'You　little　equivocating　humbug；'　says　he：　'and　which　was　better；　to　tell　the　truths　at　once　and　let　Captain　Dodd；　who　never　did　me　any　harm；　have　his　own；　or　to　hear　it　told　me　in　the　felon's　dock？'　Those　were　his　words；　sir：　and　they　made　my　blood　run　cold；　and　if　he　had　gone　on　at　me　like　that；　I　should　have　split；　I　know　I　should：　but　he　just　said；　'There；　your　face　has　given　your　tongue　the　lie：　you　haven't　brains　enough　to　play　the　rogue。'　Oh；　and　another　thinghe　said　he　wouldn't　talk　to　the　sparrow…hawk　any　more；　when　there　was　the　kite　hard　by：　so　by　that　I　guess　your　turn　is　coming；　sir；　so　mind　your　eye。　And　then　he　turned　his　back　on　me　with　a　look　as　if　I　was　so　much　dirt。　But　I　didn't　mind　that；　I　was　glad　to　be　shut　of　him　at　any　price。〃

This　intelligence　discomposed　Mr。　Hardie　terribly；　it　did　away　with　all　hope　that　Alfred　meant　to　keep　his　suspicions　to　himself。　〃Why　did　you　not　tell　me　this　before？〃　said　he　reproachfully。

Skinner's　sharp　visage　seemed　to　sharpen　as　he　replied；　〃Because　I　wanted　a　thousand　pounds　first。〃

〃Curse　your　low　cunning！〃

Skinner　laughed。　〃Good…bye；　sir：　take　care　of　yourself　and　I'll　take　care　of　mine。　I'm　afraid　of　Mr。　Alfred　and　the　stone　jug；　so　I'm　off　to　London；　and　there　I'll　un…Skinner　myself　into　Mr。　Something　or　other；　and　make　my　thousand　pounds　breed　ten。〃　And　he　whipped　out；　leaving　his　master　filled　with　rage　and　dismay。

〃Outwitted　even　by　this　little　wretch！〃

He　was　now　accountable　for　fourteen　thousand　pounds；　and　had　only　thirteen　thousand　left；　if　forced　to　reimburse；　so　that　it　was　quite　on　the　cards　for　him　to　lose　a　thousand　pounds　by　robbing　his　neighbour　and　risking　his　own　immortal　jewel。　This　galled　him　to　the　quick；　and　altogether　his　equable　temper　began　to　give　way；　it　had　already　survived　half　the　iron　of　his　nerves。　He　walked　up　and　down　the　parlour　chafing　like　an　irritated　lion。　In　which　state　of　his　mind　the　one　enemy　he　now　feared　and　hated　walked　quietly　into　the　room；　and　begged　for　a　little　serious　conversation　with　him。

〃It　is　like　your　effrontery；〃　said　Mr。　Hardie：　〃I　wonder　you　are　not　ashamed　to　look　your　father　in　the　face。〃

〃Having　wronged　nobody　I　can　look　anybody　in　the　face；〃　replied　Alfred；　looking　him　in　the　face　point…blank。

At　this　swift　rejoinder；　Mr。　Hardie　felt　like　a　too　confident　swordsman；　who；　attacking　in　a　passion　suddenly　receives　a　prick　that　shows　him　his　antagonist　is　not　one　to　be　trifled　with。　He　was　on　his　guard　directly；　and　said　coldly；　〃You　have　been　belying　me　to　my　very　clerk。〃

〃No；　sir：　you　are　mistaken；　I　have　never　mentioned　your　name　to　your　clerk。〃

Mr。　Hardie　reflected　on　what　Skinner　had　told　him；　and　found　he　had　made　another　false　move。　He　tried　again：　〃Nor　to　the　Dodds？〃　with　an　incredulous　sneer。

〃Nor　to　the　Dodds；〃　replied　Alfred　calmly。

〃What；　not　to　Miss　Julia　Dodd？〃

〃No；　sir；　I　have　seen　her　but　once；　sinceI　discovered　about　the　fourteen　thousand　pounds。〃

〃What　fourteen　thousand　pounds？〃　inquired　Mr。　Hardie　innocently。

〃What　fourteen　thousand　pounds！〃　repeated　the　young　man　disdainfully。　Then　suddenly　turning　on　his　father；　with　red　brow　and　flashing　eyes：　〃The　fourteen　thousand　pounds　Captain　Dodd　brought　home　from　India：　the　fourteen　thousand　pounds　I　heard　him　claim　of　you　with　curses：　ay；　miserable　son；　and　miserable　man；　that　I　am；　I　heard　my　own　father　called　a　villain；　and　what　did　my　father　reply？　Did　you　hurl　the　words　back　into　your　accuser's　throat？　No：　you　whispered；　'Hush！　hush！　I'll　bring　it　you　down。'　Oh；　what　a　hell　Shame　is！〃

Mr。　Hardie　turned　pale；　and　almost　sick：　with　these　words　of　Alfred's　fled　all　hope　of　ever　deceiving　him。

〃There；　there；〃　said　the　young　man；　lowering　his　voice　from　rage　to　profound　sorrow：　〃I　don't　come　here　to　quarrel　with　my　father；　nor　to　insult　him；　God　knows：　and　I　entreat　you　for　both　our　sakes　not　to　try　my　temper　too　hard　by　these　childish　attempts　to　blind　me：　and；　sir；　pray　dismiss　from　your　mind　the　notion　that　I　have　disclosed　to　any　living　soul　my　knowledge　of　this　horrible　secret：　on　the　contrary；　I　have　kept　it　gnawing　my　heart　and　almost　maddening　me　at　times。　For　my　own　personal　satisfaction　I　have　applied　a　test　both　to　you　and　Skinner；　but　that　is　all　I　have　done：　I　have　not　told　dear　Julia；　nor　any　of　her　family；　and　now；　if　you　will　only　listen　to　me；　and　do　what　I　entreat　you　to　do；　she　shall　never　know；　oh；　never。〃

〃Oho！〃　thought　Mr。　Hardie；　〃he　comes　with　a　proposal：　I'll　hear　it；　anyway。〃

He　then　took　a　line　well　known　to　artful　men：　he　encouraged　Alfred　to　show　his　hand；　maintaining　a　complete　reserve　as　to　his　own；　〃You　say　you　did　not　communicate　your　illusion　about　this　fourteen　thousand　pounds　to　Julia　Dodd　that　night：　May　I　ask　then　（without　indiscretion）　what　did　pass　between　you　two？〃

〃I　will