hard cash-第92章

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〃Yes；　sir；　but　surely　rather　tumid。　'The　whole　_forces_　of　the　shaken　globe？'　But　little　poets　love　big　words。〃

〃I　see；　you　agree　with　Horace；　that　so　great　a　work　as　an　epic　poem　should　open　modestly　with　an　invocation。〃

〃No；　sir；〃　said　Alfred。　〃I　think　that　rather　an　arbitrary　and　peevish　canon　of　friend　Horace。　The　AEneid；　you　know；　begins　just　as　he　says　an　epic　ought　not　to　begin；　and　the　AEneid　is　the　greatest　Latin　Epic。　In　the　next　place　the　use　of　Modesty　is　to　keep　a　man　from　writing　an　epic　poem　at　all　but；　if　he　will　have　that　impudence；　why　then　he　had　better　have　the　courage　to　plunge　into　the　Castalian　stream；　like　Virgil　and　Lucan；　not　crawl　in　funking　and　holding　on　by　the　Muse's　apron…string。　Butexcuse　me　quorsum　haec　tam　putida　tendunt？　What　have　the　Latin　poets　to　do　with　this　modern's　sanity　or　insanity？〃

Mr。　Abbott　snorted　contemptuously　in　support　of　the　query。　But　Dr。　Eskell　smiled；　and　said：　〃Continue　to　answer　me　as　intelligently；　and　you　may　find　it　has　a　great　deal　to　do　with　it。〃

Alfred　took　this　hint；　and　said　artfully；　〃Mine　was　a　thoughtless　remark：　of　course　a　gentleman　of　your　experience　can　test　the　mind　on　any　subject；　however　trivial。〃　He　added　piteously；　〃Still；　if　you　would　but　leave　the　poets；　who　are　all　half　crazy　themselves；　and　examine　me　in　the　philosophers　of　Antiquity。　Surely　it　would　be　a　higher　criterion。〃

Dr。　Wycherley　explained　in　a　patronising　whisper；　〃He　labours　under　an　abnormal　contempt　for　poetry；　dating　from　his　attack。　Previously　to　that　he　actually　obtained　a　prize　poem　himself。〃

〃Well；　doctor；　and　after　that　am　I　wrong　to　despise　poetry？〃

They　might　have　comprehended　this　on　paper；　but　spoken　it　was　too　keen　for　them　all　three。　The　visitors　stared。　Dr。　Wycherley　came　to　their　aid　〃You　might　examine　my　young　friend　for　hours　and　not　detect　the　one　crevice　in　the　brilliancy　of　his　intellectual　armour。〃

The　maniac　made　a　face　as　one　that　drinketh　verjuice　suddenly。　〃For　pity's　sake；　doctor；　don't　be　so　inaccurate。　Say　a　spot　on　the　brilliancy；　or　a　crevice　in　the　armour；　but　not　a　crevice　in　the　brilliancy。　My　good　friend　here；　gentlemen；　deals　in　conjectural　certificates　and　broken　metaphors。　He　dislocates　more　tropes；　to　my　sorrow；　than　even　his　friend　Shakespeare；　whom　he　thinks　a　greater　philosopher　than　Aristotle；　and　who　calls　the　murder　of　an　individual　sleeper　the　murder　of　sleep；　confounding　the　concrete　with　the　abstract；　and　then　talks　of　taking　arms　against　a　sea　of　troubles；　query；　a　cork　jacket　and　a　flask　of　brandy？〃

〃Well；　Mr。　Hardie；〃　said　Dr。　Eskell；　rather　feebly；　〃let　me　tell　you　those　passages；　which　so　shock　your　_peculiar_　notions；　are　among　the　most　applauded。〃

〃Very　likely；　sir；〃　retorted　the　maniac；　whose　logic　was　up；　〃but　applauded　only　in　a　nation　where　the　_floods_　clap　their　hands　every　Sunday　morning；　and　we　all　pray　for　peace；　giving　as　our　exquisite　reason　that　we　have　got　the　God　of　hosts　on　our　side　in　war。〃

Mr。　Abbott；　the　other　commissioner；　had　endured　all　this　chat　with　an　air　of　weary　indifference。　He　now　said　to　Dr。　Wycherley；　〃I　wish　to　put　to　you　a　question　or　two　in　private。〃

Alfred　was　horribly　frightened：　this　was　the　very　dodge　that　had　ruined　him　at　Silverton　House。　〃Oh　no；　gentlemen；〃　he　cried　imploringly。　〃Let　me　have　fair　play。　You　have　given　me　no　secret　audience；　then　why　give　my　accuser　one？　I　am　charged　with　a　single　delusion；　for　mercy's　sake；　go　to　the　point　at　once；　and　examine　me　on　that　head。〃

〃Now　you　talk　sense；〃　said　Mr。　Abbott；　as　if　the　previous　topics　had　been　chosen　by　Alfred。

〃But　that　will　excite　him；〃　objected　Dr。　Eskell？　〃it　always　does　excite　them。〃

〃It　excites　the　insane；　but　not　the　sane；〃　said　Alfred。　〃So　there　is　another　test；　you　will　observe　whether　it　excites　me。〃　Then；　before　they　could　interrupt　him；　he　glided　on。　〃The　supposed　hallucination　is　this：　I　strongly　suspect　my　father；　a　bankruptand　therefore　dishonestbanker；　of　having　somehow　misappropriated　a　sum　of　fourteen　thousand　pounds；　which　sum　is　known　to　have　been　brought　from　India　by　one　Captain　Dodd；　and　has　disappeared。〃

〃Stop　a　minute；〃　said　Mr。　Abbott。　〃Who　knows　it　besides　you？〃

〃The　whole　family　of　the　Dodds。　They　will　show　you　his　letter　from　India；　announcing　his　return　with　the　money。〃

〃Where　do　they　live？〃

〃Albion　Villa；　Barkington。〃

Mr。　Abbott　noted　the　address　in　his　book；　and　Alfred；　mightily　cheered　and　encouraged　by　this　sensible　act；　went　on　to　describe　the　various　indications；　which；　insufficient　singly；　had　by　their　united　force　driven　him　to　his　conclusion。　When　he　described　David's　appearance　and　words　on　his　father's　lawn　at　night；　Wycherley　interrupted　him　quietly：　〃Are　you　quite　sure　this　was　not　a　vision；　a　phantom　of　the　mind　heated　by　your　agitation；　and　your　suspicions？〃

Dr。　Eskell　nodded　assent；　knowing　nothing　about　the　matter。

〃Pray；　doctor；　was　I　the　only　person　who　saw　this　vision？〃　inquired　Alfred　slily。

〃I　conclude　so；〃　said　Wycherley；　with　an　admirable　smile。

〃But　why　do　you　conclude　so？　Because　you　are　one　of　those　who　reason　in　a　circle　of　assumptions。　Now　it　happens　that　Captain　Dodd　was　seen　and　felt　on　that　occasion　by　three　persons　besides　myself。〃

〃Name　them；〃　said　Mr。　Abbott　sharply。

〃A　policeman　called　Reynolds；　another　policeman；　whose　name　I　don't　know；　and　Miss　Julia　Dodd。　The　policemen　helped　me　lift　Captain　Dodd　off　the　grass；　sir；　Julia　met　us　chose　by；　and　we　four　carried　Dr。　Wycherhey's　phantom　home　together　to　Albion　Villa。〃

Mr。　Abbott　noted　down　all　the　names；　and　then　turned　to　Dr。　Wycherley。　〃What　do　you　say　to　that？〃

〃I　say　it　is　a　very　important　statement；〃　said　the　doctor　blandly；　〃and　that　I　am　sure　my　young　friend　would　not　advance　it　unless　he　was　firmly　persuaded　of　its　reality。〃

〃Much　obliged；　doctor；　and　you　would　not　contradict　me　so　rashly　in　a　matter　I　know　all　about　and　you　know　nothing　about；　if　it　was　not　your　fixed　habit　to　found　facts　on　theories　instead　of　theories　on　facts。〃

〃There；　that　is　enough；〃　said　Mr。　Abbott。　〃I　have　brought　you　both　to　an　issue　at　last。　I　shall　send　to　Barkington；　and　examine　the　policemen　and　the　Dodds。〃

〃Oh；　thank　you；　sir；〃　cried　Alfred　with　emotion。　〃If　you　once　apply　genuine　tests　like　that　to　my　case；　I　shall　not　be　long　in　prison。〃

〃Prison？〃　said　Wycherley　reproachfully。

〃Have　you　any　complaint；　then；　to　make　of　your　treatment　here？〃　inquired　Dr。　Eskell。

〃No；　no；　sir；〃　said　Alfred　warmly。　〃Dr。　Wycherley　is　the　very　soul　of　humanity。　Here　are　no　tortures；　no　handcuffs　nor　leg…locks；　no　brutality；　no　insects　that　murder　Sleepwithout　offence　to　Logic。　In　my　last　asylum　the　attendants　inflicted　violence；　here　they　are　only　allowed　to　endure　it。　And；　gentlemen；　I　must　tell　you　a　noble　trait　in　my　enemy　there：　nothing　can　make　him　angry　with　madmen；　their　lies；　their　groundless　and　narrow　suspicions　of　him；　their　deplorable　ingratitude　to　him；　of　which　I　see　examples　every　day　that　rile　me　on　his　account；　all　these　things　seem　to　glide　off　him；　baffled　by　the　infinite　kindness　of　his　heart　and　the　incomparable　sweetness　of　his　temper；　and　he　returns　the　duffers　good　for　evil　with　scarcely　an　effort。〃

At　this　unexpected　tribute　the　water　stood　in　the　doctor's　eyes。　It　was　no　more　than　the　truth；　but　this　was　the　first　maniac　he　had　met　intelligent　enough　to　see　his　good　qualities　clearly　and　express　them　eloquently。

〃In　short；〃　continued　Alfred；　〃to　be　happy　in　his　house　all　a　man　wants　is　to　be　insane。　But；　as　I　am　not　insane；　I　am　miserable；　no　convict；　no　galley　slave　is　so　wretched　as　I　am；　gentlemen。　And　what　is　my　crime？〃

〃Well；　well；〃　said　Dr。　Eskell　kindly；　〃I　think　it　likely　you　will　not　be　very　long　in　confinement。〃　They　then　civilly　dismissed　him；　and　on　his　departure　asked　Dr。　Wycherley　his　candid　opinion。　Dr。　Wycherley　said　he　was　now　nearly　cured；　his　ability　to　discuss　his　delusion　without　excitement　was　of　itself　a　proof　of　that。　But　in　another　month　he　would　be　better　still。　The　doctor　concluded　his　remarks　thus

〃However；　gentlemen；　you　have　heard　him：　now　judge　for　yourselves　whether　anybody　can　be　as　clever　as　he　is；　without　the　presence　of　more　or　less　abnormal　excitement　of　the　organs　of　intelligence。〃

It　was　a　bright　day　for　Alfred；　he　saw　he　had　made　an　excellent　impression　on　the　Commissioners；　and；　as　luck　does　not　always　come　single；　after　many　vain　attempts　to　get　a　letter　posted　to　Julia；　he　found　this　very　afternoon　a　nurse　was　going　away　next　day。　He　offered　her　a　guinea；　and　she　agreed　to　post　a　letter。　Oh　the　hapiness　it　was　to　the　poor　prisoner　to　write　it；　and　unburden　his　heart　and　tell　his　wrongs。　He　kept　his　manhood　for　his　enemies；　his　tears　fell　on　the　paper　he　sent　to　his　forlorn　bride。　He　had　no　misgivings　of　her　truth；　he　judged　her　by　himself：　gave　her　credit　for　anxiety；　but　not　for　doubt。　He　concluded　a　long；　ardent；　tender　letter　by　begging　her　to　come　and　see　him；　and；　if　refused　admission；　to　publish　his　case　in　the　newspapers；　and　employ　a　lawyer　to　proceed　against　all　the　parties　concerned　in　his　detention。　Day　after　day　he　waited　for　an　answer　to　his　letter；　none　came。　Then　he　began　to　be　sore　perplexed；　and　torn　with　agonising　doubts。　What　if　her　mind　was　poisoned　too！　What　if　she　thought　him　mad！　What　if　some　misfortune　had　befallen　her！　What　if　she　had　believed　him　dead；　and　her　heart　had　broken！　Hitherto　he　had　seen　his　own　trouble　chiefly；　but　now　he　began　to　think　day　and　night　on　hers；　and　though　he　ground　on　for　his　degree　not　to　waste　time；　and　not　to　be　driven　mad；　yet　it　was　almost　superhuman　labour；　sighs　issued　from　his　labouring　breast　while　his　hard；　indomitable　brain　laboured　away；　all　uphill；　at　Aristotle's　Divisions　and　Definitions。

On　the　seventh　day；　the　earliest　the　mad　statute　allowed；　the　two　Commissioners　returned；　and　this　time　Mr。　Abbott　took　the　lead；　and　told　him　that　the　policeman　Reynolds　had　left　the　force；　and　the　Dodds　had　left　the　town；　and　were　in　London；　but　their　address　not　known。

At　this　Alfred　was　much　agitated。　She　was　alive；　and　perhaps　near　him。

〃I　have　heard　a　good　deal　of　your　story；〃　said　Mr。　Abbott；　〃and　coupling　it　with　what　we　have　seen　of　you；　we　think　your　relatives　have　treated　you；　and　a　young　lady　of　whom　everybody　speaks　with　respect〃

〃God　bless　you　for　saying　that！　God　bless　you！〃

〃treated　you　both；　I　say；　with　needless　severity。〃

Dr。　Eskell　then　told　him　the　result　of　the　Special　Commission；　now　closed。　〃I　believe　you　to　be　cured；〃　said　he；　〃and　Mr。　Abbott　has　some　doubts　whether　you　were　ever　positively　insane。　We　shall　lay　your　case　before　the　Board　at　once；　and　the　Board　will　write　to　the　party　who　signed　the　order；　and　propose　to　him　to　discharge　you　at　once。〃

At　this　magnificent　project　Alfred's　countenance　fell；　and　he　stared　with　astonishment。　〃What！　have　you　not　the　power　to　do　me　justice　without　soliciting　Injustice　to　help　you？〃

〃The　Board　has　the　power；〃　said　Dr。　Eskell；　〃but　for　many　reasons　they　exercise　it　with　prudence　and　reserve。　Besides；　it　is　only　fair　to　those　who　have　signed　the　order；　to　give　them　the　graceful　office　of　liberating　the　patient；　it　paves　the　way　to　reconciliation。〃

Alfred　sighed。　The　Commissioners；　to　keep　up　his　heart；　promised　to　send　him　copies　of　their　corresponden