hard cash-第71章

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ed　her　blushing　face　with　her　hot　hands。　She　sent　him　in　alone。　He　found　an　intelligent　superintendent；　who　entered　into　the　case　with　all　the　coolness　of　an　old　official　hand。

Edward　came　out　to　his　sister；　and　as　he　hurried　her　home；　told　her　what　had　passed：　〃The　superintendent　asked　to　see　the　letter；　I　told　him　he　had　taken　it　with　him：　that　was　a　pity；　he　said。　Then　he　made　me　describe　Alfred　to　a　nicety：　and　the　description　will　go　up　to　London　this　morning；　and　all　over　Barkington；　and　the　neighbourhood；　and　the　county。〃

She　stopped　to　kiss　him；　then　went　on　again　with　her　head　down；　and　neither　spoke　till　they　were　nearly　home：　then　Edward　told　her　〃the　superintendent　felt　quite　sure　that　the　villain　was　not　dead；　nor　in　danger　of　it。〃

〃Oh；　bless　him！　bless　him！　for　saying　so。〃

〃And　that　he　will　turn　up　in　London　before　very　long；　not　in　this　neighbourhood。　He　says　he　must　have　known　the　writer　of　the　letter；　and　his　taking　his　luggage　with　him　shows　he　has　gone　off　deliberately。　My　poor　little　Ju；　now　do　try　and　look　at　it　as　he　does；　and　everybody　else　does；　try　and　see　it　as　you　would　if　you　were　a　bystander。〃

She　laid　her　soft　hand　on　his　shoulder　as　if　to　support　herself　floating　in　her　sea　of　doubt：　〃I　do　see　I　am　a　poor　credulous　girl；　but　how　can　my　Alfred　be　false　to　me？　Am　I　to　doubt　the　Bible？　Am　I　to　doubt　the　sun？　Is　nothing　true　in　heaven　or　earth？　Oh；　if　I　could　only　have　died　as　I　was　dressing　for　churchdied　while　he　seemed　true！　He　_is_　true；　the　wicked　creature　has　cast　some　spell　on　him：　he　has　gone　in　a　moment　of　delirium；　he　will　regret　what　he　has　done；　perhaps　regrets　it　now。　I　am　ungrateful　to　you；　Edward；　and　to　the　good　policeman；　for　saying　he　is　not　dead。　What　more　do　I　require？　He　is　dead　to　me。　Edward；　let　us　leave　this　place。　We　_were_　going：　let　us　go　to…day；　this　very　day；　oh；　take　me；　and　hide　me　where　no　one　that　knows　me　can　ever　see　me　again。〃　A　flood　of　tears　came　to　her　relief：　and　she　went　along　sobbing　and　kissing　her　brother's　hand　every　now　and　then。

But；　as　they　drew　near　the　gate　of　Albion　Villa；　twilight　began　to　usher　in　the　dawn。　Julia　shuddered　at　even　that　faint　light；　and　fled　like　a　guilty　thing；　and　hid　herself　sobbing　in　her　own　bedroom。


Mr。　Richard　Hardie　slept　better　now　than　he　had　done　for　some　time　past；　and　therefore　woke　more　refreshed　and　in　better　spirits。　He　knew　an　honest　family　was　miserable　a　few　doors　off；　but　he　did　not　care。　He　got　up　and　shaved　with　a　mind　at　ease。　One　morning；　when　he　had　removed　the　lather　from　one　half　his　face；　he　happened　to　look　out　of　window；　and　saw　on　the　wall　oppositea　placard：　a　large　placard　to　this　effect：

　　　　　〃ONE　HUNDRED　GUINEAS　REWARD！

Whereas；　on　the　11th　instant　Mr。　Alfred　Hardie　disappeared　mysteriously　from　his　lodgings　in　15　Mill　Street；　under　circumstances　suggesting　a　suspicion　of　foul　play；　know　all　men　that　the　above　reward　will　be　paid　to　any　person　or　persons　who　shall　first　inform　the　undersigned　where　the　said　Alfred　Hardie　is　to　be　found；　and　what　person　or　persons；　if　any；　have　been　concerned　in　his　disappearance。

ALEXANDER　SAMPSON；　39　Pope　Street；　Napoleon　Square　London。〃



CHAPTER　XXXI

THE　note　Alfred　Hardie　received；　on　the　10th　of　April；　was　from　Peggy　Black。　The　letters　were　well　formed；　for　she　had　been　educated　at　the　national　school：　but　the　style　was　not　upon　a　par。


〃MR。　ALFRED；　SIR；Margaret　Black　sends　her　respects；　and　if　you　want　to　know　the　truth　about　the　money；　I　can　tell　you　all；　and　where　it　is　at　this　present　time。　Sir；　I　am　now　in　situation　at　Silverton　Grove　House；　about　a　furlong　from　the　station；　and　if　you　will　be　so　good　to　call　there　and　ask　for　Margaret；　I　will　tell　you　where　it　is；　which　I　mean　the　L。　14；000；　for　it　is　a　sin　the　young　lady　should　be　beguiled　of　her　own。　Only　you　must　please　come　this　evening；　or　else　to…morrow　before　ten　o'clock；　by　reason　my　mistress　and　me　we　are　going　up　to　London　that　day　early；　and　she　talk　of　taking　me　abroad　along　with　her。I　remain；　Sir；　yours　respectfully　to　command；

MARGARET　BLACK。

〃If　you　please；　sir；　not　to　show　this　letter　on　no　account。〃


Alfred　read　this　twice　over；　and　felt　a　contemptuous　repugnance　towards　the　writer；　a　cashiered　servant；　who　offered　to　tell　the　truth　out　of　spite；　having　easily　resisted　every　worthy　motive。　Indeed；　I　think　he　would　have　perhaps　dismissed　the　subject　into　the　fire；　but　for　a　strange　circumstance　that　had　occurred　to　him　this　very　afternoon；　but　I　had　no　opportunity　to　relate　it　till　now。　Well；　just　as　he　was　going　to　dress　for　dinner；　he　received　a　visit　from　Dr。　Wycherley；　a　gentleman　he　scarcely　knew　by　name。　Dr。　Wycherley　inquired　after　his　kephalalgia：　Alfred　stared　and　told　him　it　was　much　the　same；　troubled　him　occasionally。

〃And　your　insomnia。〃

〃I　don't　know　the　word：　have　you　any　authority　for　it？〃

Dr。　Wycherley　smiled　with　a　sort　of　benevolent　superiority　that　galled　his　patient；　and　proceeded　to　inquire　after　his　nightly　visions　and　voices。　But　at　this　Alfred　looked　grave　as　well　as　surprised　and　vexed。　He　was　on　his　guard　now；　and　asked　himself　seriously　what　was　the　meaning　of　all　this；　and　could　his　father　have　been　so　mad　as　to　talk　over　his　own　shame　with　this　stranger：　he　made　no　reply　whatever。

Dr。　Wycherley's　curiosity　was　not　of　a　very　ardent　kind：　for　he　was　one　of　those　who　first　form　an　opinion；　and　then　collect　the　materials　of　one：　and　a　very　little　fact　goes　a　long　way　with　such　minds。　So；　when　he　got　no　answer　about　the　nocturnal　visions　and　voices；　he　glided　calmly　on　to　another　matter。　〃By…the…bye；　that　L。　14；000！〃

Alfred　started；　and　then　eyed　him　keenly：　〃What　L。　14；000？〃

〃The　fabulous　sum　you　labour　under　the　impression　of　your　father　having　been　guilty　of　clandestinely　appropriating。〃

This　was　too　much　for　Alfred's　patience。　〃I　don't　know　who　you　are；　sir；〃　said　he；　〃I　never　exchanged　but　three　words　in　my　life　with　you；　and　do　you　suppose　I　will　talk　to　a　stranger　on　family　matters　of　so　delicate　a　kind　as　this？　I　begin　to　think　you　have　intruded　yourself　on　me　simply　to　gratify　an　impertinent　curiosity。〃

〃The　hypothesis　is　at　variance　with　my　established　character；〃　replied　the　oleaginous　one。　〃Do　me　the　justice　to　believe　in　the　necessity　of　this　investigation；　and　that　it　is　one　of　a　most　friendly　character。〃

〃Then　I　decline　the　double　nuisance：　your　curiosity　and　your　friendship！　Take　them　both　out　of　my　room；　sir；　or　I　shall　turn　them　both　out　by　one　pair　of　shoulders。〃

〃You　shall　smart　for　this；〃　said　the　doctor；　driven　to　plain　English　by　anger；　that　great　solvent　of　circumlocution　with　which　Nature　has　mercifully　supplied　us。　He　made　to　the　door；　opened　it；　and　said　in　considerable　excitement　to　some　one　outside；　〃Excited！Very！〃

Now　Dr。　Pleonast　had　no　sooner　been　converted　to　the　vernacular；　and　disappeared；　than　another　stranger　entered　the　room。　He　had　evidently　been　lurking　in　the　passage：　it　was　a　man　of　smallish　stature；　singularly　gaunt；　angular；　and　haggard；　but　dressed　in　a　spruce　suit　of　black；　tight；　new；　and　glossy。　In　short；　he　looked　like　Romeo's　apothecary　gone　to　Stultz　with　the　money。　He　fluttered　in　with　pale　cheek　and　apprehensive　body；　saying　hurriedly；　〃Now；　my　_dear_　sir；　_be_　calm：　_pray_　be　calm。　I　have　come　down　all　the　way　from　London　to　see　you；　and　I　am　_sure_　you　won't　make　me　lose　my　journey；　will　you　now？〃

〃And　pray　who　asked　you　to　come　all　the　way　from　London；　sir？〃

〃A　person　to　whom　your　health　is　very　dear。〃

〃Oh　indeed；　so　I　have　secret　friends；　have　I？　Well；　you　may　tell　my　secret；　underhand；　_friends；_　I　never　was　better　in　my　life。〃

〃I　am　truly　glad　to　hear　it；〃　said　the　little　man：　〃let　me　introduce　myself；　as　Dr。　Wycherley　forgot　to　do　it。〃　And　he　handed　Alfred　a　card；　on　which　his　name　and　profession　were　written。

〃Well；　Mr。　Speers；〃　said　Alfred；　〃I　have　only　a　moment　to　give　you；　for　I　must　dress　for　dinner。　What　do　you　want？〃

〃I　come；　sir；　in　hopes　of　convincing　your　friends　you　are　not　so　very　ill；　not　incurable。　Why　your　eye　is　steady；　your　complexion　good：　a　little　high　with　the　excitement　of　this　conversation；　but；　if　we　can　only　get　over　this　little　delusion；　all　will　be　well。〃

〃What　little　delusion？〃

〃About　the　L。　14；000；　you　know。〃

〃What　L。　14；000？　I　have　not　mentioned　L。　14；000　to　you；　have　I？〃

〃No；　sir：　you　seem　to　shun　it　like　poison；　that　is　the　worst　of　it。　You　talk　about　it　to　others　fast　enough：　but　to　Dr。　Wycherley　and　myself；　who　could　cure　you　of　it；　you　would　hide　all　about　it；　if　you　could。〃

At　this　Alfred　rose　and　put　his　hands　in　his　pockets　and　looked　down　grimly　on　his　inquisitor。　〃Mr。　Speers；〃　said　he；　〃you　had　better　go。　There　is　no　credit　to　be　gained　by　throwing　so　small　an　apothecary　as　you　out　of　that　window；　and　_you_　won't　find　it　pleasant　either；　for；　if　you　provoke　me　to　it；　I　shall　not　stand　upon　ceremony：　I　shan't　open　the　window　first；　as　I　should　for　Dr。　What's　his　confounded　name。〃

At　these　suggestive　words；　spoken　with　suppressed　ire　and　flashing　eyes；　Speers　scuttled　to　the　door　crabwise；　holding　the　young　lion　in　check　conventionallyto　wit；　with　an　eye　as　valiant　as　a　sheep's；　and　a　joyful　apothecary　was　he　when　he　found　himself　safe　outside　the　house　and　beside　Dr。　Wycherley；　who　was　waiting　for　him。

Alfred　soon　cooled；　and　began　to　laugh　at　his　own　anger　and　the　unbounded　impudence　of　his　visitors：　but；　on　the　other　hand；　it　struck　him　as　a　grave　circumstance　that　so　able　a　man　as　his　father　should　stir　muddy　water；　should　go　and　talk　to　these　strangers　about　the　money　he　had　misappropriated。　He　puzzled　himself　all　the　time　he　was　dressing：　and；　not　to　trouble　the　reader　with　all　the　conjectures　that　passed　through　his　mind；　he　concluded　at　last；　that　Mr。　Hardie　must　feel　very　strong；　very　sure　there　was　no　evidence　against　him　but　his　son's；　or　he　would　not　take　the　eighth　commandment　by　the　horns　like　this。

〃Injustice　carries　it　with　a　high　hand；〃　thought　Alfred；　with　a　sigh。　He　was　not　the　youth　to　imitate　his　father's　shamelessness：　so　he　locked　this　last　incident　in　his　own　breast；　did　not　even　mention　it　to　Julia。

But　now；　on　reading　Peggy's　note；　his　warlike　instincts　awoke；　and；　though　he　despised　his　correspondent　and　her　motives；　he　could　not　let　such　a　chance　pass　of　defeating　brazen　injustice。　It　was　unfortunate　and　awkward　to　have　to　go　to　Silverton　on　his　wedding　morning；　but；　after　all；　there　was　plenty　of　time。　He　packed　up　his　things　at　once　for　the　wedding　tour；　and　in　the　morning　took　them　with　him　in　the　fly　to　Silverton：　his　plan　was　to　come　back　direct　to　Albion　Villa：　so　he　went　to　Silverton　Grove　full　dressed；　all　ready　for　the　wedding。

As　it　happened　he　overtook　his　friend　Peterson　just　outside　the　town；　called　to　him　gaily；　and　invited　him　to　church　and　breakfast。

To　his　surprise　the　young　gentleman　replied　sullenly　that　he　should　certainly　not　come。

〃Not　come；　old　fellow？〃　said　Alfred；　hurt。

〃You　have　a　good　cheek　to　ask　me；〃　retorted　the　other。

This　led　to　an　explanation。　Peterson's　complaint　was　that　he　had　told　Alfred　he　was　in　love　with　Julia；　and　Alfred　had　gone　directly　and　fallen　in　love　with　her　just　to　cut　him　out。

〃What　are　you　talking　about？〃　said　Alfred。　〃So　this　is　the　reason　you　have　kept　away　from