hard cash-第83章

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CHAPTER　XXXVI

THERE　was　not　a　moment　to　lose；　so　Green　emptied　the　pocketbook　into　his　hat；　and　sifted　the　contents　in　a　turn　of　the　hand；　announcing　each　discovery　in　a　whisper　to　his　excited　and　peering　associates。

〃A　lot　of　receipts。〃

〃Of　no　use　to　any　one　but　me；〃　said　the　prisoner　earnestly。

〃Two　miniatures；　gold　rims；　pinchbeck　backs。〃

〃They　are　portraits　of　my　children　when　young：　Heaven　forgive　me；　I　could　not　give　them　up　to　my　creditors：　surely；　surely；　you　will　not　rob　me　of　them。〃

〃Stash　your　gab；〃　said　Mr。　Green　roughly。　〃Here's　a　guinea；　Queen　Anne's　reign。〃

〃It　belonged　to　my　great…grandfather：　take　it；　but　you　will　let　me　redeem　it；　I　will　give　L。　5　for　it　poor　as　I　am：　you　can　leave　it　on　my　door…step；　and　I'll　leave　the　L。　5。〃

〃Stow　your　gab。　Letters；　papers　covered　with　figures。　Stay；　what　is　this？　a　lot　of　memoranda。〃

〃They　are　of　the　most　private　and　delicate　character。　Pray　do　not　expose　my　family　misfortunes。〃　And　Mr。　Hardie；　who　of　late　had　been　gathering　composure；　showed　some　signs　of　agitation；　the　two　figures　glaring　over　his　shoulder　shared　it；　and　his　remonstrance　only　made　Green　examine　the　papers　keenly：　they　might　contain　some　clue　to　the　missing　money。　It　proved　a　miscellaneous　record：　the　price　of　Stocks　at　various　days；　notes　of　the　official　assignee's　remarks　in　going　over　the　books；　&c。　At　last；　however；　Green's　quick　eye　fell　upon　a　fainter　entry　in　pencil；　figures：　1；　4；　yes；　actually　L。　14；000。　〃All　right；〃　he　said：　and　took　the　paper　close　to　the　lantern；　and　began　to　spell　it　out

〃'This　day　Alfred　told　me　to　my　face　I　had　L。　14；000　of　Captain　Dodd's。　We　had　an　angry　discussion。　What　can　he　mean？　Drs。　Wycherley　and　Osmond；　this　same　day；　afflicted　me　with　hints　that　he　is　deranged；　or　partly。　I　saw　no　signs　of　it　before。　Wrote　to　my　brother　entreating　him　to　give　me　L。　200　to　replace　the　sum　which　I　really　have　wronged　this　respectable　and　now　most　afflicted　family　of。　I　had　better　withdraw'〃　Here　Mr。　Hardie　interrupted　him　with　sorrowful　dignity：　〃These　are　mere　family　matters；　if　you　are　a　man；　respect　them。〃

Green　went　reading　on　like　Fate：　〃'Better　withdraw　my　opposition　to　the　marriage；　or　else　it　seems　my　own　flesh　and　blood　will　go　about　the　place　blackening　my　reputation。'〃

Mr。　Hardie　stamped　on　the　ground。　〃I　tell　you；　on　my　honour　as　a　gentleman；　there's　no　money　there　but　my　grandfather's　guinea。　My　money　is　all　in　my　waistcoat　pocket；　where　you　_will　not_　look。〃

A　flutter　of　uneasiness　seemed　to　come　over　the　detective：　he　darkened　his　lantern；　and　replaced　the　pocket…book　hurriedly　in　the　prisoner's　breast；　felt　him　all　over　in　a　minute；　and　to　keep　up　the　farce；　robbed　him。

〃Only　eight　yellow　boys；〃　said　he　contemptuously　to　his　mates。　He　then　shipped　the　money　back　into　Hardie's　coat…pocket；　and　conducted　him　to　his　own　gate；　tied　him　to　it　by　the　waist；　and　ordered　him　not　to　give　the　alarm　for　ten　minutes　on　pain　of　death。

〃I　consent；〃　said　Mr。　Hardie；　〃and　thank　you　for　abstaining　from　violence。〃

〃All　right；　my　tulip；〃　said　Mr。　Green　cheerfully；　and　drew　his　companions　quietly　away。　But　the　next　moment　he　began　to　run；　and　making　a　sudden　turn；　dived　into　a　street　then　into　a　passage；　and　so　winded　and　doubled　till　he　got　to　a　small　public…house：　he　used　some　flash　word；　and　they　were　shown　a　private　room。　〃Wait　here　an　hour　for　me；〃　he　whispered；　〃I　must　see　who　liberates　him；　and　whether　he　is　really　as　innocent　as　he　reads；　or　we　have　been　countermined　by　the　devil's　own　tutor。〃

The　unexpected　turn　the　evidence　had　takenevidence　of　their　own　choosing；　toocleared　Mr。　Hardie　with　the　unprofessionals。　Edward　embraced　this　conclusion　as　a　matter　of　course；　and　urged　the　character　of　that　gentleman's　solitary　traducer：　Alfred　was　a　traitor；　and　therefore　why　not　a　slanderer？

Even　Sampson；　on　the　whole；　inclined　to　a　similar　conclusion。

At　this　crisis　of　the　discussion　a　red…haired　pedlar；　with　very　large　whiskers　and　the　remains　of　a　black　eye；　put　his　head　in；　and　asked　whether　Tom　Green　was　there。　〃No；〃　said　the　Doctor　stoutly；　not　desiring　company　of　this　stamp。　〃Don't　know　the　lad。〃

The　pedlar　laughed：　〃There　is　not　many　that　do　know　him　at　all　hours；　however；　he　_is_　here；　sir。〃　And　he　whipped　off　the　red　hair；　and　wiped　off　the　black　eye；　and　ho；　Green　_ipse。_　He　received　their　compliments　on　his　Protean　powers；　and　told　them　he　had　been　just　a　minute　too　late。　Mr。　Hardie　was　gone；　and　so　he　had　lost　the　chance　of　seeing　who　came　to　help　him；　and　of　hearing　the　first　words　that　passed　between　the　two。　This；　he　said；　was　a　very　great　pity；　for　it　would　have　shown　him　in　one　moment　whether　certain　suspicions　of　his　were　correct。　Pressed　as　to　what　these　suspicions　were；　he　begged　to　be　excused　saying　any　more　for　the　present。　The　Doctor；　however；　would　not　let　him　off　so；　but　insisted　on　his　candid　opinion。

〃Well；　sir；〃　said　Green；　〃I　never　was　more　puzzled　in　my　life；　owing　to　not　being　near　hand　when　he　was　untied。　It　looks　all　square；　however。　There's　one　little　thing　that　don't　fit　somehow。〃

They　both　asked　in　a　breath　what　that　was。

〃The　sovs。　were　all　marked。〃

They　asked　how　he　knew；　and　had　he　got　them　in　his　pocket　to　show？

Green　uttered　a　low　chuckling　laugh：　〃What；　me　fake　the　beans；　now　I　live　on　this　side　of　the　hedge？　Never　knew　a　cove　mix　his　liquors　that　way　but　it　hurt　his　health　soon　or　late。　No；　I　took　them　out　of　one　pocket　and　felt　of　them　as　I　slipped　them　into　the　other。　Ye　see；　gents；　to　do　any　good　on　my　lay；　a　man　must　train　his　senses　as　well　as　his　mind：　he　must　have　a　hare's　ear；　and　a　hawk's　eye；　a　bloodhound's　nose；　and　a　lady's　hand　with　steel　fingers　and　a　silk　skin。　Now　look　at　that　bunch　of　fives；〃　continued　the　master；　and　laid　a　hand　white　and　soft　as　a　duchess's　on　the　table：　〃it　can　put　the　bracelets　on　a　giant；　or　find　a　sharper's　nail…mark　on　the　back　of　the　knave　of　clubs。　The　beans　were　marked。　Which　it　is　a　small　thing；　but　it　don't　fit　the　rest。　Here's　an　unsuspicious　gent　took　by　surprise；　in　moonlight　meditation　fancy　free；　and　all　his　little　private　family　matters　found　in　his　innocent　bosom；　quite　promiscuous；　but　his　beans　marked。　That　don't　dovetail　nohow。　Gents；　did　ever　you　hear　of　the　man　that　went　to　the　bottom　of　the　bottomless　pit　to　ease　his　mind？　Well；　he　was　the　head　of　my　family。　I　must　go　to　the　bottom　whether　there's　one　or　not。　And　just　now　I　see　but　one　way。〃

〃And　what　is　that？〃　inquired　both　his　companions　in　some　alarm。

〃Oh；　I　mustn't　threaten　it；〃　said　Green；　〃or　I　shall　never　have　the　stomach　to　do　it。　But　dear　me；　this　boozing　ken　is　a　very　unfit　place　for　you；you　are　champagne…gents；　not　dog's　nose　ones。　Now　you　part　and　make　tracks　for　home；　one　on　foot　and　one　in　a　fly。　You　won't　see　me；　nor　hear　of　me　again；　till　I've　something　fresh。〃

And　so　the　confederates　parted；　and　Sampson　and　Edward　met　at　Albion　Villa；　and　Edward　told　his　mother　what　they　had　done；　and　his　conviction　that　Mr。　Hardie　was　innocent；　and　Alfred　a　slanderer　as　well　as　a　traitor：　〃And　indeed；〃　said　he；　〃if　we　had　but　stopped　to　reflect；　we　should　have　seen　how　unlikely　the　money　was　not　to　be　lost　in　the　_Agra。_　Why；　the　_'Tiser_　says　she　went　to　pieces　almost　directly　she　struck。　What　we　ought　to　have　done　was；　not　to　listen　to　Alfred　Hardie　like　fools；　but　write　to　Lloyd's　like　people　in　their　senses。　I'll　do　it　this　minute；　and　find　out　the　surviving　officers　of　the　ship：　they　will　be　able　to　give　us　information　on　that　head。〃　Mrs。　Dodd　approved；　and　said　she　would　write　to　her　kind　correspondent　Mrs。　Beresford；　and　she　did　sit　down　to　her　desk　at　once。　As　for　Sampson；　he　returned　to　town　next　morning；　not　quite　convinced；　but　thoroughly　staggered；　and　determined　for　once　to　resign　his　own　judgment；　and　abide　the　result　of　Mrs。　Dodd's　correspondence　and　Mr。　Green's　sagacity。　All　he　insisted　on　was；　that　his　placard　about　Alfred　should　be　continued：　he　left　money　for　this；　and　Edward；　against　the　grain；　consented　to　see　it　done。　But　placards　are　no　monopoly：　in　the　afternoon　only　a　section　of　Sampson's　was　visible　in　most　parts　of　the　town　by　reason　of　a　poster　to　this　effect　pasted　half　over　it：

　　　　　〃FIFTY　GUINEAS　REWARD。

〃Whereas；　yesterday　evening　at　ten　o'clock　Richard　Hardie；　Esq。；　of　Musgrove　Cottage；　Barkington；　was　assaulted　at　his　own　door　by　three　ruffians；　who　rifled　his　pockets；　and　read　his　private　memoranda；　and　committed　other　acts　of　violence；　the　shock　of　which　has　laid　him　on　a　bed　of　sickness；　the　above　reward　shall　be　paid　to　any　person；　or　persons；　who　will　give　such　information　as　shall　lead　to　the　detection　of　all　or　any　one　of　the　miscreants　concerned　in　this　outrage。

〃The　above　reward　will　be　paid　by　Mr。　Thomas　Hardie　of　Clare　Court；　Yorkshire。〃


On　this　the　impartial　police　came　to　Mr。　Hardie's　and　made　inquiries。　He　received　them　in　bed；　and　told　them　particulars：　and　they　gathered　from　Peggy　that　she　had　heard　a　cry　of　distress；　and　opened　the　kitchen　door；　and　that　Betty　and　she　had　ventured　out　together；　and　found　poor　master　tied　to　the　gate　with　an　old　cord：　this　she　produced；　and　the　police　inspected　and　took　it　away　with　them。

At　sight　of　that　Notice；　Edward　felt　cold　and　then　hot　and　realised　the　false　and　perilous　position　into　which　he　had　been　betrayed：　〃So　much　for　being　wiser　than　the　law；〃　he　said：　〃what　are　we　now　but　three　footpads？〃　This；　and　the　insult　his　sister　had　received　made　the　place　poison　to　him；　and　hastened　their　departure　by　a　day　or　two。　The　very　next　day　（Thursday）　an　_affiche_　on　the　walls　of　Albion　Villa　announced　that　Mr。　Chippenham；　auctioneer；　would　sell；　next　Wednesday；　on　the　premises；　the　greater　part　of　the　furniture；　plate；　china；　glass；　Oriental　inlaid　boxes　and　screens；　with　several　superb　India　shawls；　scarfs；　and　dresses；　also　a　twenty…one　years'　lease　of　the　villa；　seventeen　to　run。

Edward　took　unfurnished　apartments　in　London；　near　Russell　Square：　a　locality　in　which；　as　he　learned　from　the　_'Tiser；_　the　rooms　were　large　and　cheap。　He　packed　just　so　much　furniture　as　was　essential；　no　knick…knacks。　It　was　to　go　by　rail　on　Monday；　Mrs。　Dodd　and　Julia　were　to　follow　on　Tuesday：　Edward　to　stay　at　Barkington　and　look　after　the　sale。

Meantime　their　secret　ally；　Mr。　Green；　was　preparing　his　threatened　_coup。_　The　more　he　reflected　the　more　he　suspected　that　he　had　been　outwitted　by　Peggy　Black。　She　had　led　him　on；　and　the　pocket…book　had　been　planted　for　him。　If　so；　why　Peggy　was　a　genius；　and　in　his　own　line；　and　he　would　marry　her；　and　so　kill　two　birds　with　one　stone：　make　a　Detective　of　her　（there　was　a　sad　lack　of　female　detectives）；　and；　once　his　wife；　she　would　split　on　her　master；　and　he　should　defeat　that　old　soldier　at　last；　and　get　a　handsome　slice　of　the　L。　14；000。

He　manoeuvred　thus：　first；　he　went　back　to　London　for　a　day　or　two　to　do　other　jobs；　and　to　let　this　matter　cool；　then　he　returned；　and　wrote　from　a　town　near　Barkington　to　Peggy　Black；　telling　her　he　had　been　sent　away　suddenly　on　a　job；　but　his　heart　had　remained　behind　with　his　Peggy：　would　she　meet　him　at　the　gate　at　nine　that　evening？　he　had　something　very　particular　to　say　to　her。　As　to　the　nature　of　the　business；　the　enclosed　would　give　her　a　hint。　She　might　name　her　own　day；　and　th