hard cash-第96章

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the　Lord　Chancellor。　Now　a　lunatic　or　a　Softy；　protected　by　that　functionary；　is　literally　a　lamb　protected　by　a　wolf；　and　that　wolf　_ex　officio_　the　cruellest；　cunningest　old　mangler　and　fleecer　of　innocents　in　Christendom。　Chancery　lunatics　are　the　richest　class；　yet　numbers　of　them　are　flung　among　pauper　and　even　criminal　lunatics；　at　a　few　pounds　a　year；　while　their　committees　bag　four…fifths　of　the　money　that　has　been　assigned　to　keep　the　patient　in　comfort。

Unfortunately　the　protection　of　the　Chancellor　extends　to　Life　and　Reason；　as　well　as　Fleece；　with　the　following　result：

In　public　asylums　about　forty　per　cent。　are　said　to　be　cured。

In　private　ones　twenty…five　per　cent；　at　least；　most　of　them　poorish。

Of　Chancery　Lunatics　not　five　per　cent。

Finally；　one…third　of　all　the　Chancery　Lunatics　do　every　six　years　exchange　the　living　tombs　they　are　fleeced　and　bullied　in　for　dead　tombs　where　they　rest；　and　go　from　the　sham　protection　of　the　Lord　Chancellor　of　England　to　the　real　protection　of　their　Creator　and　their　Judge。

These　statistics　have　been　long　before　the　world；　and　are　dead　figures　to　the　Skimmer　of　things；　but　tell　a　dark　tale　to　the　Reader　of　things；　so　dark；　that　I　pray　Heaven　to　protect　me；　and　all　other　weak　inoffensive　persons；　from　the　protection　of　my　Lord　Chancellor　in　this　kind。

Beverley　was　so　unfortunate　as　to　exist　before　the　date　of　the　above　petition：　and　suffered　the　consequences。

He　was　an　aristocrat　by　birth；　noble　on　both　sides　of　his　house；　and　unluckily　had　money。　But　for　that　he　would　have　been　a　labouring　man；　and　free。　My　Lord　Protector　committed　him　with　six　hundred　pounds　a　year　maintenance　money　to　the　care　of　his　committee；　the　Honourable　Fynes　Beverley。

Now　this　corporate；　yet　honourable　individual；　to　whom　something　was　committed；　and　so　Chancery　Lane　called　him　in　its　own　sweet　French　the　thing　committed；　was　a　gentleman　of　birth；　breeding；　and　intelligence。　He　undertook　to　take　care　of　his　simple　cousin；　and　what　he　did　take　care　of　was　himself。

　　　　　THE　SUB…LETTING　SWINDLE。

I。　The　Honourable　Fynes　Beverley；　Anglo…French　committee；　or　crown　tenant；　sub…let　soft　Francis　for　L。　300　a　year；　pocketed　L。　300；　and　washed　his　hands　of　Frank。

2。　Mr。　Heselden；　the　sub…tenant；　sub…let　the　Softy　of　high　degree　for　L。　150；　pocketed　the　surplus；　and　washed　his　hands　of　him。

3。　The　L。　150　man　sub…let　him　to　Dr。　Wolf　at　L。　60　a　year；　pouched　the　surplus；　and　washed　his　hands　of　him。

And　now　what　on　earth　was　left　for　poor　Dr。　Wolf　to　do？　Could　he　sub…embezzle　a　Highlander's　breeks？　Could　he　subtract　more　than　her　skin　from　off　the　singed　cat？　Could　he　peel　the　core　of　a　rotten　apple？　Could　he　pare　a　grated　cheese　rind？　Could　he　flay　a　skinned　flint？　Could　he　fleece　a　hog　after　Satan　had　shaved　it　as　clean　as　a　bantam's　egg？

Let　no　man　dare　to　limit　genius；　least　of　all　the　genius　of　extortion。

Dr。　Wolf　screwed　comparatively　more　out　of　young　Frank　than　did　any　of　the　preceding　screws。　He　turned　him　into　a　servant　of　all　work　and　half　starved　him；　money　profit；　L。　45　out　of　the　L。　60；　or　three…fourths；　whereas　the　others　had　only　bagged　one…half。　But　by　this　means　he　got　a　good　servant　without　wages；　and　on　half　a　servant's　food；　clearing　L。　22　and　L。　12　in　these　two　items。

Victim　of　our　great　national　vice　and　foible；　Vicariousness；　this　scion　of　a　noble　house；　protected　in　theory　by　the　Crown；　vicariously　sub…protected　by　the　Chancellor；　sub…vicariously　sub…sham　protected　by　his　kin；　was　really　flung　unprotected　into　the　fleece　market；　and　might　be　seenat　the　end　of　the　long　chain　of　subs。　pros；　vices；　locos；　shams；　shuffles；　swindles；　and　liesshaking　the　carpets；　making　the　beds；　carrying　the　water；　sweeping　the　rooms；　and　scouring　the　sordid　vessels；　of　thirty　patients　in　Drayton　House；　not　one　of　whom　was　his　equal　either　in　birth　or　wealth；　and　of　four　menials；　who　were　all　his　masters　and　hard　ones。　His　work　was　always　doing；　never　done。　He　was　not　the　least　mad　nor　bad；　but　merely　of　feeble　intellect　all　round。　Fifty　thousand　gentlemen's　families　would　have　been　glad　of　him　at　L。　300　a　year；　and　made　a　son　and　a　brother　of　him。　But　he　was　under　the　vicarious　protection　of　the　Lord　Chancellor。　Thin；　half…starved；　threadbare；　out　at　elbows；　the　universal　butt；　scoffed　at　by　the　very　lunatics；　and　especially　ill　treated　by　the　attendants　whose　work　he　did　gratis；　he　was　sworn　at；　jeered；　insulted；　cuffed　and　even　kicked；　every　day　of　his　hard；　hard　life。　And　yet　he　was　a　gentleman；　though　a　soft　one；　his　hands；　his　features；　his　carriage；　his　address；　had　all　an　indefinable　stamp　of　race。　How　had　it　outlived　such　crushing；　degrading　usage？　I　don't　know；　how　does　a　daisy　survive　the　iron　roller？　Alfred　soon　found　him　out；　and　to　everybody's　amazement；　especially　Frank's；　remonstrated　gently　but　resolutely　and　eloquently；　and　soon　convinced　the　majority；　sane　and　insane；　that　a　creature　so　meek　and　useful　merited　special　kindness；　not　cruelty。　One　keeper；　The　Robin；　_alias_　Tom　Wales；　an　exprize　fighter；　was　a　warm　convert　to　this　view。　Among　the　maniacs　only　one　held　out；　and　said　contemptuously　he　couldn't　see　it。

〃Well；〃　said　Alfred；　〃lay　a　finger　on　him　after　this；　and　I'll　lay　a　hand　on　you；　and　aid　your　intellectual　vision。〃

Rooke　and　Hayes　treated　remonstrance　with　open　and　galling　contempt。　Yet　the　tide　of　opinion　changed　so；　they　did　not　care　to　defy　it　openly：　but　they　bullied　poor　Beverley　now　and　then　on　the　sly；　and　he　never　told。　He　was　too　inoffensive　for　this　world。　But　one　day；　as　Alfred　was　sitting　with　his　door　ajar；　writing　a　letter　of　earnest　expostulation　to　the　Commissioners；　who　had　left　his　first　unanswered；　he　heard　Hayes　at　the　head　of　the　stairs　call　roughly；　〃Frank！　Frank！〃

〃Sir；〃　replied　the　soft　little　voice　of　young　Beverley。

〃Come；　be　quick；　young　shaver。〃

〃I'm　coming；　sir；〃　and　up　ran　Beverley。

〃Here；　take　this　tray　downstairs。〃

〃Yes；　sir。〃

〃Stop；　there's　a　bit　of　bread　for　you。〃　And　Hayes　chucked　him　a　crust；　as　one　throws　it　to　another　man's　dog。

〃Thank　you；　sir；〃　said　Mr。　Beverley；　stooping　down　for　it；　and　being　habitually　as　hungry　as　a　ratcatcher's　tyke；　took　an　eager　bite　in　that　position。

〃How　dare　you　eat　it　there；〃　said　Hayes　brutally：　〃take　it　to　your　own　crib：　come；　mizzle。〃　And　with　that　lent　him　a　contemptuous　kick　behind；　which　owing　to　his　position　sent　him　off　his　balance　flat　on　the　tray；　a　glass　broke　under　him。　Poor　young　Mr。　Beverley　uttered　a　cry　of　dismay；　for　he　knew　Hayes　would　not　own　himself　the　cause。　Hayes　cursed　him　for　an　awkward　idiot；　and　the　oath　went　off　into　a　howl；　for　Alfred　ran　out　at　him　brimful　of　Moses；　and　with　a　savage　kick　in　the　back　and　blow　on　the　neck；　administered　simultaneously；　hurled　him　head　foremost　down　the　stairs。　Alighting　on　the　seventh　step；　he　turned　a　somersault；　and　bounded　like　a　ball　on　to　the　landing　below；　and　there　lay　stupefied。　He　picked　himself　up　by　slow　degrees；　and　glared　round　with　speechless　awe　and　amazement　up　at　the　human　thunderbolt　that　had　shot　out　on　him　and　sent　him　flying　like　a　feather。　He　shook　his　fist；　and　limped　silently　away　all　bruises　and　curses；　to　tell　Rooke　and　concert　vengeance。　Alfred；　trembling　still　with　ire；　took　Beverley　to　his　room　（the　boy　was　as　white　as　a　sheet）；　and　encouraged　him；　and　made　him　wash　properly；　brushed　his　hair；　dressed　him　in　a　decent　tweed　suit　he　had　outgrown；　and　taking　him　under　his　arm；　and　walking　with　his　own　nose　haughtily　in　the　air；　paraded　him　up　and　down　the　asylum；　to　show　them　all　the　best　man　in　the　house　respected　the　poor　soft　gentleman。　Ah；　what　a　grand　thing　it　is　to　be　young！　Beverley　clung　to　his　protector　too　much　like　a　girl；　but　walked　gracefully　and　kept　step；　and　every　now　and　then　looked　up　at　Alfred　with　a　loving　adoration；　that　was　sweet；　yet　sad　to　see。　Alfred　marched　him　to　Mrs。　Archbold；　and　told　his　tale；　for　he　knew　Hayes　would　misrepresent　it；　and　get　him　into　trouble。　She　smiled　on　the　pair；　gently　deplored　her　favourite's　impetuosity；　entreated　him　not　to　go　fighting　with　that　great　monster　Rooke；　and　charmed　him　by　saying；　〃Well；　and　Frank　_is_　a　gentleman；　when　he　is　dressed　like　one。〃

〃Isn't　he？〃　said　Alfred　eagerly。　〃And　whose　fault　is　it　he　is　not　always　dressed　like　one？　Whose　fault　that　here's　an　earl's　nephew；　'Boots　in　Hell'？〃

〃Not　yours；　Alfred；　nor　mine；〃　was　the　honeyed　reply。

In　vain　did　Mr。　Hayes　prefer　his　complaint　to　Dr。　Wolf。　The　Archbold　had　been　before　him；　and　the　answer　was；　〃Served　you　right。〃

These　and　many　other　good　deeds　did　Alfred　Hardie　in　Drayton　House。　But；　as　the　days　rolled　on；　and　no　answer　came　from　the　Commissioners；　his　own　anxiety；　grief；　and　dismay　left　him　less　and　less　able　to　sympathise　with　the　material　but　smaller　wrongs　around　him。　He　became　silent；　dejected。

At　last　he　came　to　Mrs。　Archbold；　and　said　sternly　his　letters　to　the　Commissioners　were　intercepted。

〃I　can't　believe　that；〃　said　she。　〃It　is　against　the　law。〃

So　it　was：　but　law　and　custom　are　two。

〃I　am　sure　of　it；〃　said　he；　〃and　may　the　eternal　curse　of　Heaven　light　on　the　cowardly　traitor　and　miscreant　who　has　done　it。〃　And　he　stalked　gloomily　away。

When　he　left　her；　she　sighed　at　this　imprecation　from　his　lips；　but　did　not　repent。　〃I　_can't_　part　with　him；〃　she　said　despairingly；　〃and　if　I　did　not　stop　his　poor　dear　letters；　Wolf　would：〃　and　the　amorous　crocodile　shed　a　tear；　and　persisted　in　her　double…faced　course。

By…and…by；　when　she　saw　him　getting　thinner　and　paler；　and　his　bright　face　downcast　and　inexpressibly　sad；　she　shared　his　misery：　ay；　shed　scalding　tears　for　him：　yet　could　not　give　him　up；　for　her　will　was　as　strong　as　the　rest　of　her　was　supple；　and　hers　was　hot　love；　but　not　true　love　like　Julia's。

Perhaps　a　very　subtle　observer；　seeing　this　man　and　woman　wax　pale　and　spiritless　together　in　one　house；　might　have　divined　her　secret。　Dr。　Wolf；　then；　was　no　such　observer；　for　she　made　him　believe　she　had　a　rising　_penchant_　for　him。　He　really　had　a　strong　one　for　her。

While　Alfred's　visible　misery　pulled　at　her　heart…strings；　and　sometimes　irritated；　sometimes　melted　her；　came　curious　complications；　one　of　which　requires　preface。

Mrs。　Dodd　then　was　not　the　wife　to　trust　blindly　where　her　poor　husband　was　concerned。　She　bribed　so　well　that　a　keeperess　in　David's　first　asylum　told　her　David　had　been　harshly　used　by　an　attendant。　She　instantly　got　Eve　Dodd　to　take　him　away：　and　transfer　him　to　a　small　asylum　nearer　London；　and　kept　by　a　Mrs。　Ellis。　〃Women　are　not　cruel　to　men；〃　said　the　sagacious　Lucy　Dodd。

But；　alas！　if　women　are　not　cruel　where　sex　comes　in　and　mimics　that　wider　sentiment；　Humanity；　women　are　deadly　economical。　Largely　gifted　with　that　household　virtue；　Mrs。　Ellis　kept　too　few　servants；　and；　sure　consequence　in　a　madhouse；　too　many　straitjackets；　hobbles；　muffs；　leg…locks；　bodybelts；　&c。　&c。　Hence　half　her　patients　were　frequently　kept　out　of　harm's　way　by　cruel　restraints　administered；　not　out　of　hearty　cruelty；　but　female　parsimony。　Mrs。　and　Miss　Dodd　invaded　the　house　one　day　when　the　fair　economist　was　out；　and　found　seven　patients　out　of　the　twelve　kept　out　of　mischief　thus：　one　in　a　restraint　chair；　two　hobbled　like　asses；　two　chained　like　dogs；　and　two　in　straight