hard cash-第97章

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f　thus：　one　in　a　restraint　chair；　two　hobbled　like　asses；　two　chained　like　dogs；　and　two　in　straight…waistcoats；　and　fastened　to　beds　by　webbing　and　straps；　amongst　the　latter；　David；　though　quiet　as　a　lamb。

Mrs。　Dodd　cried　over　him　as　if　her　heart　would　break；　and　made　Miss　Dodd　shift　him　to　a　large　asylum；　where　I　believe　he　was　very　well　used。　But　here　those　dreadful　newspapers　interfered；　a　prying　into　sweet　secluded　spots。　They　diversified　Mrs。　Dodd's　breakfast　by　informing　her　that　the　doctor　of　this　asylum　had　just　killed　a　patient；　the　mode　of　execution　bloodless　and　sure；　as　became　fair　science。　It　was　a　man　between　sixty　and　seventy；　an　age　at　which　the　heart　can　seldom　stand　very　much　shocking；　or　lowering；　especially　where　the　brain　is　diseased。　So　they　placed　him　in　a　shower…bath；　narrow　enough　to　impede　respiration；　without　the　falling　water；　which　of　necessity　drives　out　air。　In　short　a　vertical　box　with　holes　all　round　the　top。

Here　the　doctor　ordered　him　a　cold　shower…bath　of　unparalleled　duration：　half　an　hour。　To　be　followed　by　an　unprecedented　dose　of　tartar　emetic。　This　double…barrelled　order　given；　the　doctor　went　away。　（Formula。）

The　water　was　down　to　forty…five　degrees　Fahrenheit。　Half　an　hour's　shower…bath　at　that　temperature　in　a　roomy　bath　would　kill　the　youngest　and　strongest　man　in　her　Majesty's　dominions。

For　eight…and…twenty　mortal　minutes　the　poor　old　man　stood　in　this　vertical　coffin　under　this　cold　cascade。　Six　hundred　gallons　of　icy　water　were　in　that　his　last　hour；　his　last　half…hour；　discharged　upon　his　devoted　head　and　doomed　body。

He　had　to　be　helped　away　from　this　death…torrent　he　had　walked　into　in　high　spirits；　poor　soul。

Even　this　change　awakened　no　misgivings；　no　remorse；　though　you　or　I；　or　any　man　or　woman　picked　at　hazard　out　of　the　streets；　would　at　once　have　seen　that　he　was　dying；　he　was　duly　dozed　by　the　fire　with　four　spoonfuls　of　antimonial　tincture_to　mak'　sicker。_　But　even　the　〃Destructive　Art　of　Healing〃　cannot　slay　the　slain。　The　old　man　cheated　the　emetic；　for；　before　it　could　hurt　him；　he　died　of　the　bath；　And　his　body　told　its　own　sad　tale；　to　use　the　words　of　a　medical　eye…witness；　it　was　〃A　PIECE　OF　ALABASTER。〃　The　death…torrent　had　driven　the　whole　circulation　from　the　surface。*

*　This　mode　of　execution　is　well　known　in　the　United　States。　They　settle　refractory　prisoners　with　it　periodically。　But　half　an　hour　is　not　needed；　twenty　minutes　will　do　the　trick。　_〃Harper's　Weekly；_〃　a　year　or　two　ago；　contained　an　admirable　woodcut　of　a　negro's　execution　by　water。　In　this　remarkable　picture　you　see　the　poor　darkie　seated　powerless；　howling　and　panting　his　life　away　under　the　deadly　cascade；　and　there　stands　the　stolid　turnkey；　erect；　formal；　stiff　as　a　ramrod；　pulling　the　deadly　string　with　a　sort　of　drill　exercise　air；　and　no　more　compunction　nor　reflection　than　if　he　himself　was　a　machine　constructed　to　pull　strings　or　triggers　on　his　own　string　being　pulled　by　butcher　or　fool。　A　picture　well　studied；　and　so　worth　study。

Mrs。　Dodd　was　terrified；　and　in　spite　of　Sampson's　assurance　that　this　was　the　asylum　of　all　others　they　would　not　settle　another　patient　in　until　the　matter　should　have　blown　over；　got　Eve　Dodd　to　write　to　Dr。　Wolf；　and　offer　L。　300　a　year　if　he　would　take　David　at　once；　and　treat　him　with　especial　consideration。

He　showed　this　letter　triumphantly　to　Mrs。　Archbold；　and　she；　blinded　for　a　moment　by　feeling；　dissuaded　him　from　receiving　Captain　Dodd。　He　stared　at　her。　〃What；　turn　away　a　couple　of　thousand　pounds？〃

〃But　they　will　come　to　visit　him；　and　perhaps　see　him。〃

〃Oh；　that　can　be　managed。　You　must　be　on　your　guard：　and　I'll　warn　Rooke。　I　can't　turn　away　money　on　a　chance。〃

One　day　Alfred　found　himself　locked　into　his　room。　This　was　unusual：　for；　though　they　called　him　a　lunatic　in　words；　they　called　him　sane　by　all　their　acts。　He　half　suspected　that　the　Commissioners　were　in　the　house。

Had　he　known　who　really　was　in　the　house；　he　would　have　beaten　himself　to　pieces　against　the　door。

At　dinner　there　was　a　new　patient；　very　mild　and　silent；　with　a　beautiful　large　brown　eye；　like　some　gentle　animal's。

Alfred　was　very　much　struck　with　this　eye；　and　contrived　to　say　a　kind　word　to　him　after　dinner。　Finding　himself　addressed　by　a　gentleman；　the　new　comer　handled　his　forelock　and　made　a　sea　scrape；　and　announced　himself　as　William　Thompson；　he　added　with　simple　pride；　〃Able　Seaman；〃　then　touching　his　forelock　again；　〃Just　come　aboard；　your　honour。〃　After　this；　which　came　off　glibly；　he　was　anything　but　communicative。　However；　Alfred　contrived　to　extract　from　him　that　he　was　rather　glad　to　leave　his　last　ship；　on　account　of　having　been　constantly　impeded　there　in　his　duties　by　a　set　of　lubbers；　that　clung　round　him　and　kept　him　on　deck　whenever　the　first　lieutenant　ordered　him　into　the　top。

The　very　next　day；　pacing　sadly　the　dull　gravel　of　his　prison　yard；　Alfred　heard　a　row；　and　there　was　the　able　seaman　struggling　with　the　Robin　and　two　other　keepers。　He　wanted　to　go　to　his　duties　in　the　foretop：　to　wit；　the　fork　of　a　high　elm…tree　in　the　court…yard。　Alfred　had　half　a　mind　not　to　interfere。　〃Who　cares　for　_my_　misery？〃　he　said。　But　his　better　nature　prevailed；　and　he　told　the　Robin　he　was　sure　going　up　imaginary　rigging　would　do　Thompson　more　good　than　harm。

On　this　the　men　reluctantly　gave　him　a　trial；　and　he　went　up　the　tree　with　wonderful　strength　and　agility；　but　evident　caution。　Still　Alfred　quaked　when　he　crossed　his　thighs　tight　over　a　limb　of　the　tree　forty　feet　from　earth；　and　went　carefully　and　minutely　through　the　whole　process　of　furling　imaginary　sails。　However；　he　came　down　manifestly　soothed　by　the　performance；　and；　singular　phenomenon；　he　was　quite　cool；　and　it　was　the　spectators　on　deck　who　perspired。

〃And　what　a　pleasant　voice　he　has；〃　said　Alfred；　〃it　quite　charms　my　ear；　it　is　not　like　a　mad　voice。　It　is　likeI'm　mad　myself。〃

〃And　he　has　got　a　fiddle；　and　plays　it　like　a　hangel；　by　all　accounts；〃　said　the　Robin；　〃only　he　won't　touch　it　but　when　he　has　a　mind。〃

At　night　Alfred　dreamed　he　heard　Julia's　sweet　mellow　voice　speaking　to　him；　and　he　looked；　and　lo！　it　was　the　able　seaman。　He　could　sleep　no　more；　but　lay　sighing。

Ere　the　able　seaman　had　been　there　three　days；　Mrs。　Dodd　came　unexpectedly　to　see　him；　and　it　was　with　the　utmost　difficulty　Alfred　was　smuggled　out　of　the　way。　Mrs。　Archbold　saw　by　her　loving　anxiety　these　visits　would　be　frequent；　and；　unless　Alfred　was　kept　constantly　locked　up；　which　was　repugnant　to　her；　they　would　meet　some　day。　She　knew　there　are　men　who　ply　the　trade　of　spies；　and　where　to　find　them；　she　set　one　of　them　to　watch　Mrs。　Dodd's　house；　and　learn　her　habits；　in　hopes　of　getting　some　clue　as　to　when　she　might　be　expected。

Now　it　so　happened　that；　looking　for　one　thing；　she　found　another　which　gave　her　great　hopes　and　courage。　And　then　the　sight　of　Alfred's　misery　tried　her　patience；　and　then　he　was　beginning　half　to　suspect　her　of　stopping　his　letters。　Passion；　impatience；　pity；　and　calculation；　all　drove　her　the　same　road；　and　led　to　an　extraordinary　scene；　so　impregnated　with　the　genius　of　the　madhousea　place　where　the　passions　run　out　to　the　very　end　of　their　tetherthat　I　feel　little　able　to　describe　it。　I　will　try　and　indicate　it。

One　fine　Sunday　afternoon；　then；　she　asked　Alfred　languidly　would　he　like　to　walk　in　the　country。

〃Would　I　like？　Ah；　don't　trifle　with　a　prisoner；〃　said　he　sorrowfully。

She　shook　her　head。　〃No；　no；　it　will　not　be　a　happy　walk。　Rooke；　who　hates　you；　is　to　follow　us　with　that　terrible　mastiff；　to　pull　you　down　if　you　try　to　escape。　I　could　not　get　Dr。　Wolf　to　consent　on　any　other　terms。　Alfred；　let　us　give　up　the　idea。　I　fear　your　rashness。〃

〃No；　no；　I　won't　try　to　escapefrom　you。　I　have　not　seen　a　blade　of　grass　this　six　months。〃

The　accomplished　dissembler　hesitated；　yielded。　They　passed　through　the　yard　and　out　at　the　back　door；　which　Alfred　had　so　often　looked　wistfully　at；　and　by…and…by　reached　a　delicious　pasture。　A　light　golden　haze　streamed　across　it。　Nature　never　seemed　so　sweet；　so　divine；　to　Alfred　before；　the　sun　as　bright　as　midsummer；　though　not　the　least　hot；　the　air　fresh；　yet　genial；　and　perfumed　with　Liberty　and　the　smaller　flowers　of　earth。　Beauty　glided　rustling　by　his　side；　and　dark　eyes　subdued　their　native　fire　into　softness　whenever　they　turned　on　him；　and　scarce　fifty　yards　in　the　rear　hung　a　bully　and　a　mastiff　ready　to　tear　him　down　if　he　should　break　away　from　beauty's　light　hand；　that　rested　so　timidly　on　his。　He　was　young；　and　stout…hearted；　and　relished　his　peep　of　liberty　and　nature；　though　blotted　by　Vulcan　and　Rooke。　He　chatted　to　Mrs。　Archbold　in　good　spirits。　She　answered　briefly；　and　listlessly。

　At　last　she　stopped　under　a　young　chestnut…tree　as　if　overcome　with　a　sudden　reflection；　and　turning　half　away　from　him　leaned　her　head　and　hand　upon　a　bough；　and　sighed。　The　attitude　was　pensive　and　womanly。　He　asked　her　with　innocent　concern　what　was　the　matter；　then　faintly　should　he　take　her　home。　All　her　answer　was　to　press　his　hand　with　hers　that　was　disengaged；　and；　instead　of　sighing；　to　cry。

The　novice　in　woman's　wiles　set　himself　to　comfort　herin　vain；　to　question　herin　vain　at　first；　but　by　degrees　she　allowed　him　to　learn　that　it　was　for　him　she　mourned；　and　so　they　proceeded　on　the　old；　old　plan；　the　man　extorting　from　the　woman　bit　by　bit　just　so　much　as　she　wanted　all　along　to　say；　and　would　have　poured　in　a　stream　if　let　quite　alone。

He　drew　from　his　distressed　friend　that　Dr。　Wolf　for　reasons　of　his　own　had　made　special　inquiries　about　the　Dodds；　that　she　had　fortunately　or　unfortunately　heard　of　this；　and　had　questioned　the　person　employed；　hoping　to　hear　something　that　might　comfort　Alfred。　〃Instead　of　that；〃　said　she；　〃I　find　Miss　Dodd　is　like　most　girls；　out　of　sight　is　out　of　mind　with　her。〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　said　Alfred；　trembling　suddenly。

〃Do　not　ask　me。　What　a　weak　fool　I　was　to　let　you　see　I　was　unhappy　for　you。〃

〃The　truth　is　the　truth；〃　gasped　Alfred；　〃tell　me　at　once。〃

〃Must　I？　I　am　afraid　you　will　hate　me；　for　I　should　hate　any　one　who　told　me　your　faults。　Well；　thenif　I　must　Miss　Dodd　has　a　beau。〃

〃It　is　a　lie！〃　cried　Alfred　furiously。

〃I　wish　it　was。　But　she　has　two　in　fact；　both　of　them　clergymen。　However；　one　seems　the　favourite；　at　least　they　are　engaged　to　be　married；　it　is　Mr。　Hurd；　the　curate　of　the　parish　she　lives　in。　By　what　I　hear　she　is　one　of　the　religious　ones；　so　perhaps　that　has　brought　the　pair　to　an　understanding。〃

At　these　words　a　cold　sickness　rushed　all　over　Alfred；　beginning　at　his　heart。　He　stood　white　and　stupefied　a　moment；　then；　in　the　anguish　of　his　heart；　broke　out　into　a　great　and　terrible　cry；　it　was　like　a　young　lion　wounded　with　a　poisoned　shaft。

Then　he　was　silent；　and　stood　stock　still；　like　petrified　despair。

Mrs。　Archbold　was　prepared　for　an　outburst：　but　not　of　this　kind。　His　anguish　was　so　unlike　a　woman's　that　it　staggered　her。　Her　good　and　bad　angels；　to　use　an　expressive　though　somewhat　too　poetical　phrase；　battled　for　her。　She　had　an　impulse　to　earn　his　gratitude　for　life；　to　let　him　out　of　the　asylum　ere　Julia　should　be　Mrs。　Hurd；　and　even　liberty　come　too　late　for　true