hard cash-第99章

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orld；　and　but　for　his　official；　officious　Protector；　might　just　as　well　have　been　Boots　at　the　Swan；　as　Boots　and　Chambermaid　at　the　Wolf。


So　now　force　and　cunning　had　declared　war　on　Alfred；　and　feebleness　in　person　enlisted　in　his　defence。　His　adversary　lost　no　time；　that　afternoon　Rooke　told　him　he　was　henceforth　to　occupy　a　double　bedded　room　with　another　patient。

〃If　he　should　be　violent　in　the　middle　of　the　night；　sing　out；　and　we　will　comeif　we　hear　you；〃　said　the　keeper　with　a　malicious　smile。

The　patient　turned　out　to　be　the　able　seaman。　Here　Mrs。　Archbold　aimed　a　double　stroke；　to　shake　Alfred's　nerves；　and　show　him　how　very　mad　his　proposed　father…in…law　was。　She　thought　that；　if　he　could　once　be　forced　to　realise　this；　it　might　reconcile　him　to　not　marrying　the　daughter。

The　first　night　David　did　get　up　and　paraded　an　imaginary　deck　for　four　mortal　hours。　Alfred's　sleep　was　broken；　but　he　said　nothing；　and　David　turned　in　again；　his　watch　completed。

Not　a　day　passed　now　but　a　blow　was　struck。　Nor　was　the　victim　passive；　debarred　writing　materials；　he　cut　the　rims　off　several　copies　of　the　_Times；_　and　secreted　them：　then　catching　sight　of　some　ink…blots　on　the　back　of　Frank's　clothes…brush；　scraped　them　carefully　off；　melted　them　in　a　very　little　water；　and　with　a　toothpick　scrawled　his　wrongs　to　the　Commissioners；　he　rolled　the　slips　round　a　half…crown；　and　wrote　outside；　〃Good　Christian；　keep　this　half…crown；　and　take　the　writing　to　the　Lunacy　Commissioners　at　Whitehall；　for　pity's　sake。〃　This　done；　he　watched；　and　when　nobody　was　looking；　flung　his　letter；　so　weighted；　over　the　gates；　he　heard　it　fall　on　the　public　road。

Another　day　he　secreted　a　spoonful　of　black　currant　preserve；　diluted　it　with　a　little　water；　and　wrote　a　letter；　and　threw　it　into　the　road　as　before：　another　day；　hearing　the　Robin　express　disgust　at　the　usage　to　which　he　was　now　subjected；　he　drew　him　apart；　and　offered　him　a　hundred　pounds　to　get　him　out。　Now　the　ex…prizefighter　was　rather　a　tender…hearted　fellow；　and　a　great　detester　of　foul　play。　What　he　saw　made　him　now　side　heartily　with　Alfred；　and　all　he　wanted　was　to　be　indemnified　for　his　risk。

He　looked　down　and　said；　〃You　see；　sir；　I　have　a　wife　and　child　to　think　of。〃

Alfred　offered　him　two　hundred　pounds。

〃That　is　more　than　enough；　sir；〃　said　the　Robin；　〃but　you　see　I　can't　do　it　alone。　I　must　have　a　pal　in　it。　Could　you　afford　as　much　to　Garrett？　He　is　the　likeliest；　I've　heard　him　say　as　much　as　that　he　was　sick　of　the　business。〃

Alfred　jumped　at　the　proposal：　he　would　give　them　two　hundred　apiece。

〃I'll　sound　him；〃　said　the　Robin；　〃don't　you　speak　to　him；　whatever。　He　might　blow　the　gaff。　I　must　begin　by　making　him　drunk；　then　he'll　tell　me　his　real　mind。〃

One　fine　morning　the　house　was　made　much　cleaner　than　usual；　the　rotatory　chair；　in　which　they　used　to　spin　a　maniac　like　a　teetotum；　the　restraint　chairs；　and　all　the　paraphernalia　were　sent　into　the　stable；　and　so　disposed　that；　even　if　found；　they　would　look　like　things　scorned　and　dismissed　from　service：　for　Wolf；　mind　you；　professed　the　non…restraint　system。

Alfred　asked　what　was　up；　and　found　all　this　was　in　preparation　for　the　quarterly　visit　of　the　Commissioners：　a　visit　intended　to　be　a　surprise；　but　Drayton　House　always　knew　when　they　were　coming；　and　the　very　names　of　the　two　thunderbolts　that　thought　to　surprise　them。

Mrs。　Archbold　communicated　her　knowledge　in　off…hand　terms。　〃It　is　only　two　old　women：　Bartlett　and　Terry。〃

The　gentlemen　thus　flatteringly　heralded　arrived　next　day。　One　an　aged；　infirm　man；　with　a　grand　benevolent　head；　bald　front　and　silver　hair；　and　the　gold…headed　cane　of　his　youth；　now　a　dignified　crutch：　the　other　an　ordinary　looking　little　chap　enough；　with　this　merithe　was　what　he　looked。　They　had　a　long　interview　with　Mrs。　Archbold　first；　for　fear　they　should　carry　a　naked　eye　into　the　asylum。　Mr。　Bartlett；　acting　on　instructions；　very　soon　inquired　about　Alfred；　Mrs。　Archbold's　face　put　on　friendly　concern　directly。　〃I　am　sorry　to　say　he　is　not　so　well　as　he　was　a　fortnight　agonot　nearly　so　well。　We　have　given　him　walks　in　the　country；　too；　but　I　regret　to　say　they　did　him　no　real　good；　he　came　back　much　excited；　and　now　he　shuns　the　other　patients；　which　he　used　not　to　do。〃　In　short；　she　gave　them　the　impression　that　Alfred　was　a　moping　melancholiac。

〃Well；　I　had　better　see　him；〃　said　Mr。　Bartlett；　〃just　to　satisfy　the　Board。〃

Alfred　was　accordingly　sent　for；　and　asked　with　an　indifferent　air　how　he　was。

He　said　he　was　very　well　in　health；　but　in　sore　distress　of　mind　at　his　letters　to　the　Commissioners　being　intercepted　by　Mrs。　Archbold　or　Dr。　Wolf。

Mrs。　Archbold　smiled　pityingly。　Mr。　Bartlett　caught　her　glance；　and　concluded　this　was　one　of　the　patient's　delusions。　（Formula。）

Alfred　surprised　the　glances；　and　said；　〃You　can　hardly　believe　this；　because　the　act　is　illegal。　But　a　great　many　illegal　acts；　that　you　never　detect；　are　done　in　asylums。　However；　it　is　not　a　question　of　surmise；　I　sent　four　letters　in　the　regular　way　since　I　came。　Here　are　their　several　dates。　Pray　make　a　note　to　inquire　whether　they　have　reached　Whitehall　or　not。〃

〃Oh；　certainly；　to　oblige　you；〃　said　Mr。　Bartlett；　and　made　the　note。

Mrs。　Archbold　looked　rather　discomposed　at　that。

〃And　now；　gentlemen；〃　said　Alfred；　〃since　Mrs。　Archbold　has　had　a　private　interview；　which　I　see　she　has　abused　to　poison　your　mind　against　me；　I　claim　as　simple　justice　a　private　interview　to　disabuse　you。〃

〃You　are　the　first　patient　ever　told　me　to　walk　out　of　my　own　drawing…room；〃　said　Mrs。　Archbold；　rising　white　with　ire　and　apprehension；　and　sweeping　out　of　the　room。

By　this　piece　of　female　petulance　she　gave　the　enemy　a　point　in　the　game；　for；　if　she　had　insisted　on　staying；　Mr。　Bartlett　was　far　too　weak　to　have　dismissed　her。　As　it　was；　he　felt　shocked　at　Alfred's　rudeness：　and　so　small　a　thing　as　justice　did　not　in　his　idea　counterbalance　so　great　a　thing　as　discourtesy；　so　he　listened　to　Alfred's　tale　with　the　deadly　apathy　of　an　unwilling　hearer。　〃Pour　on：　I　will　endure；〃　as　poor　Lear　says。

As　for　Dr。　Terry；　he　was　pictorial；　but　null；　effete；　emptied　of　brains　by　all…scooping…Time。　If　he　had　been　detained　that　day　at　Drayton　House；　and　Frank　Beverley　sent　back　in　his　place　to　Whitehall；　it　would　have　mattered　little　to　him；　less　to　the　nation；　and　nothing　to　mankind。

At　last　Mr。　Bartlett　gave　Alfred　some　hopes　he　was　taking　in　the　truth；　for　he　tore　a　leaf　out　of　his　memorandum…book；　wrote　on　it；　and　passed　it　to　Dr。　Terry。　The　ancient　took　it　with　a　smile；　and　seemed　to　make　an　effort　to　master　it；　but　failed；　it　dropped　simultaneously　from　his　finger　and　his　mind。

Not　a　question　was　put　to　Alfred；　so　he　was　fain　to　come　to　an　end；　he　withdrew　suddenly；　and　caught　Mrs。　Archbold　at　the　keyhole。　〃Noble　adversary！〃　said　he；　and　stalked　away；　and　hid　himself　hard　by：　and　no　sooner　did　the　inspectors　come　out；　and　leave　the　coast　clear；　than　he　darted　in　and　looked　for　the　paper　Mr。　Bartlett　had　passed　to　Dr。　Terry。

He　found　it　on　the　floor：　and　took　it　eagerly　up；　and　full　of　hope；　and　expectation；　read　these　words：

WHAT　IS　THE　NAME　OF　THE　STUFF　THE　MATRON'S　GOWN　IS　MADE　OF？　I　SHOULD　LIKE　TO　BUY　MRS。　BARTLETT　ONE　LIKE　IT。

Alfred　stood　and　read　this　again；　and　again　he　searched　for　some　hidden　symbolical　meaning　in　the　words。　High…minded；　and　deeply　impressed　with　his　own　wrongs；　he　could　not　conceive　a　respectable　man；　paid　fifteen　hundred　a　year　to　spy　out　wrongs；　being　so　heartless　hard　as　to　write　this　single　comment　during　the　earnest　recital　of　a　wrong　so　gigantic　as　his。　Poor　Alfred　learned　this　to　his　cost；　that　to　put　small　men　into　great　places　is　to　create　monsters。　When　he　had　realised　the　bitter　truth；　he　put　the　stony…hearted　paper　in　his　pocket；　crept　into　the　yard；　and　sat　down；　and；　for　all　he　could　do；　scalding　tears　ran　down　his　cheeks。

〃Homunculi　quanti　sunt！〃　he　sobbed；　〃homunculi　quanti　sunt！〃

Presently　he　saw　Dr。　Terry　come　wandering　towards　him　alone。　The　Archbold　had　not　deigned　to　make　him　safe；　senectitude　had　done　that。　Alfred；　all　heartsick　as　he　was；　went　to　the　old　gentleman　out　of　veneration　for　the　outside　of　his　headwhich　was　Shakespearianand　pity　for　his　bodily　infirmity；　and　offered　him　an　arm。　The　doctor　thanked　him　sweetly；　and　said；　〃Pray；　young　man；　have　you　anything　to　communicate？〃

Then　Alfred　saw　that　the　ancient　man　had　already　forgotten　his　face；　and　so　looking　at　him　with　that　rare　instrument　of　official　inspection；　the　naked　eye；　had　seen　he　was　sane；　and　consequently　taken　him　for　a　keeper。

How　swiftly　the　mind　can　roam；　and　from　what　a　distance　gather　the　materials　of　a　thought！　Flashed　like　lightning　through　Alfred's　mind　this　line　from　one　of　his　pets；　the　Greek　philosophers：

＇Greek　text＇

〃And　this　is　the　greatest　stroke　of　art；　to　turn　an　evil　into　a　good。〃

Now　the　feebleness　of　this　aged　Inspector　was　an　evil：　the　thing　then　was　to　turn　it　into　a　good。　Shade　of　Plato；　behold　how　thy　disciple　worked　thee！　〃Sir；〃　said　he；　sinking　his　voice　mysteriously；　〃I　have：　but　I　am　a　poor　man：　you　won't　say　I　told　you：　it's　as　much　as　my　place　is　worth。〃

〃Confidence；　strict　confidence；〃　replied　Nestor；　going　over　beaten　tracks；　for　he　had　kept　many　a　queer　secret　with　the　loyalty　which　does　his　profession　so　much　honour。

〃Then；　sir；　there's　a　young　gentleman　confined　here；　who　is　no　more　mad　than　you　and　I；　and　never　was　mad。〃

〃You　don't　say　so。〃

〃That　I　do；　sir：　and　they　know　they　are　doing　wrong；　sir；　for　they　stop　all　his　letters　to　the　Commissioners；　and　that　is　unlawful；　you　know。　Would　you　like　to　take　a　note　of　it　all；　sir？〃

The　old　fogie　said　he　thought　he　should；　and　groped　vaguely　for　his　note…book：　he　extracted　it　at　last　like　a　loose　tooth；　fumbled　with　it；　and　dropped　it：　Alfred　picked　it　up　fuming　inwardly。

The　ancient　went　to　write；　but　his　fingers　were　weak　and　hesitating；　and　by　this　time　he　had　half　forgotten　what　he　was　going　to　say。　Alfred's　voice　quavered　with　impatience；　but　he　fought　it　down；　and　offered　as　coolly　as　he　could　to　write　it　for　him：　the　offer　was　accepted；　and　he　wrote　down　in　a　feigned　hand；　very　clear


〃DRAYTON　HOUSE；　_Oct。　5。_A　sane　patient；　Alfred　Hardie；　confined　here　from　interested　motives。　Has　written　four　letters　to　the　Commissioners；　all　believed　to　be　intercepted。　Communicated　to　me　in　confidence　by　an　attendant　in　the　house。　Refer　to　the　party　himself；　and　his　correspondence　with　the　Commissioners　from　Dr。　Wycherley's：　also　to　Thomas　Wales；　another　attendant；　and　to　Dr。　Wycherley：　also　to　Dr。　Eskell　and　Mr。　Abbott；　Commissioners　of　Lunacy。〃


After　this　stroke　of　address　Alfred　took　the　first　opportunity　of　leaving　him；　and　sent　Frank　Beverley　to　him。

Thus　Alfred；　alarmed　by　the　hatred　of　Mrs。　Archbold；　and　racked　with　jealousy；　exerted　all　his　intelligence　and　played　many　cards　for　liberty。　One　he　kept　in　reserve；　and　a　trump　card　too。　Having　now　no　ink　nor　colouring　matter；　he　did　not　hesitate；　but　out　penknife；　up　sleeve；　and　drew　blood　from　his　arm；　and　with　it　wrote　once　more　to　the　Commissioners；　but　kept　this　letter　hidden　for　an　ingenious　purpose。　What　that　purpose　was　my　reader　shall　divine。



CHAPTER　XL