hard cash-第125节

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〃I'll　tell　you　what；　though；〃　said　the　smooth　doctor。　〃I　have　got　two　pictures；　one　by　Raphael；　one　by　Correggio。〃

〃I　know　them；〃　said　the　quick…witted　Alfred；　〃they　are　worth　more　than　a　thousand　pounds。〃

〃Of　course　they　are；　but　I　would　take　a　thousand　pounds　from　you。〃

〃Throw　me　in　my　liberty；　and　I'll　make　it　guineas。〃

〃We　will　see　about　that。〃　And　with　this　understanding　the　men　of　business　parted。　Dr。　Wolf　consulted　Mrs。　Archbold　then　and　there。

〃Impossible；〃　said　she；　〃the　law　would　dissolve　such　a　bargain；　and　you　would　be　exposed　and　ruined。〃

〃But　a　thousand　pounds！〃　said　the　poor　doctor。

〃Oh；　he　offered　me　more　than　that；〃　said　Mrs。　Archbold。

〃You　don't　mean　to　say　so；　when　was　that？〃

〃Do　you　remember　one　Sunday　that　I　walked　him　out；　to　keep　clear　of　Mrs。　Dodd？　Have　you　not　observed　that　I　have　not　repeated　the　experiment？〃

〃Yes。　But　I　really　don't　know　why。〃

〃Will　you　promise　me　faithfully　not　to　take　any　notice　if　I　tell　you？〃

The　doctor　promised。

Then　she　owned　to　him　with　manifest　reluctance　that　Alfred　had　taken　advantage　of　her　kindness；　her　indiscretion；　in　walking　alone　with　him；　and　made　passionate　love　to　her。　〃He　offered　me　not　a　thousand　pounds；〃　said　she；　〃but　his　whole　fortune；　and　his　heart；　if　I　would　fly　with　him　from　_these　odious　walls；_　that　was　his　expression。〃

Then　seeing　out　of　a　corner　of　her　eye　that　the　doctor　was　turning　almost　green　with　jealousy；　this　artist　proceeded　to　describe　the　love　scene　between　her　and　Alfred；　with　feigned　hesitation；　yet　minute　detail。　Only　she　inverted　the　parts：　Alfred　in　her　glowing　page　made　the　hot　love；　she　listened　abashed；　confused；　and　tried　all　she　could　think　of　to　bring　him　to　better　sentiments。　She　concluded　this　chapter　of　history　inverted　with　a　sigh；　and　said；　〃So　now　he　hates　me；　I　believe；　poor　fellow。〃

〃Do　you　regret　your　refusal？〃　asked　Dr。　Wolf　uneasily。

〃Oh　no；　my　dear　friend。　Of　course；　my　judgment　says　that　few　women　at　my　age　and　in　my　position　would　have　refused。　But　we　poor　women　seldom　go　by　our　judgments。〃　And　she　cast　a　tender　look　down　at　the　doctor's　feet。

In　short；　she　worked　on　him　so；　that　he　left　Alfred　at　her　disposition；　and　was　no　sooner　gone　to　his　other　asylum　six　miles　off；　than　the　calumniated　was　conducted　by　Hayes　and　Rooke　through　passage　after　passage；　and　door　after　door；　to　a　wing　of　the　building　connected　with　the　main　part　only　by　a　covered　way。　As　they　neared　it；　strange　noises　became　audible。　Faint　at　first；　they　got　louder　and　louder。　Singing；　roaring；　howling　like　wolves。　Alfred's　flesh　began　to　creep。　He　stopped　at　the　covered　way：　he　would　have　fought　to　his　last　gasp　sooner　than　go　further；　but　he　was　handcuffed。　He　appealed　to　the　keepers；　but　he　had　used　them　both　too　roughly：　they　snarled　and　forced　him　on；　and　shut　him　into　a　common　flagged　cell；　with　a　filthy　truckle…bed　in　it；　and　all　the　vessels　of　gutta…percha。　Here　he　was　surrounded　by　the　desperate　order　of　maniacs　he　at　present　scarcely　knew　but　by　report。　Throughout　that　awful　night　he　could　never　close　his　eyes　for　the　horrible　unearthly　sounds　that　assailed　him。　Singing；　swearing；　howling　like　wild　beasts！　His　right…hand　neighbour　reasoned　high　of　faith　and　works；　ending　each　pious　argument　with　a　sudden　rhapsody　of　oaths　and　never　slept　a　wink。　His　left…hand　neighbour　alternately　sang；　and　shouted；　〃Cain　was　a　murderer；　Cain　was　a　murderer；〃　and　howled　like　a　wolf；　making　night　hideous。　His　opposite　neighbour　had　an　audience；　and　every　now　and　then　delivered　in　a　high　nasal　key；　〃Let　us　curse　and　pray；〃　varying　it　sometimes　thus：　〃Brethren；　let　us　work　double　tides。〃　And　then　he　would　deliver　a　long　fervent　prayer；　and　follow　it　up　immediately　with　a　torrent　of　blasphemies　so　terrific；　that　coming　in　such　a　contrast　they　made　Alfred's　body　wet　with　perspiration　to　hear　a　poor　creature　so　defy　his　Creator。　No　rest；　no　peace。　When　it　was　still；　the　place　was　like　the　grave；　and　ever　and　anon；　loud；　sharp；　tremendous；　burst　a　thunderclap　of　curses；　and　set　those　poor　demented　creatures　all　yelling　again　for　half…an…hour；　making　the　tombs　ring。　And　at　clock…like　intervals　a　harmless　but　dirty　idiot；　who　was　allowed　to　roam　the　ward；　came　and　chanted　through　the　keyhole；　〃Everything　is　nothing；　and　nothing　is　everything。〃

This　was　the　only　observation　he　had　made　for　many　years。

His　ears　assailed　with　horrors；　of　which　you　have　literally　no　conception；　or　shadow　of　a　conception；　his　nose　poisoned　with　ammoniacal　vapours；　and　the　peculiar　wild…beast　smell　that　marks　the　true　maniac；　Alfred　ran　wildly　about　his　cell　trying　to　stop　his　ears；　and　trembling　for　his　own　reason。　When　the　fearful　night　rolled　away；　and　morning　broke；　and　he　could　stand　on　his　truckle…bed　and　see　the　sweet　hoar…frost　on　a　square　yard　of　grass　level　with　his　prison　bars；　it　refreshed　his　very　soul；　and　affected　him　almost　to　tears。　He　was　then；　to　his　surprise；　taken　out；　and　allowed　to　have　a　warm　bath　and　to　breakfast　with　David　and　the　rest；　but　I　suspect　it　was　done　to　watch　the　effect　of　the　trial　he　had　been　submitted　to。　After　breakfast；　having　now　no　place　to　go；　he　lay　on　a　bench；　and　there　exhausted　nature　overpowered　him；　and　he　fell　fast　asleep。

Mrs。　Archbold　came　by　on　purpose；　and　saw　him。　He　looked　very　pale　and　peaceful。　There　was　a　cut　on　his　forehead　due　to　Rooke's　knuckles。　Mrs。　Archbold　looked　down；　and　the　young　figure　and　haughty　face　seemed　so　unresisting　and　peaceful　sad；　she　half　relented；　and　shed　some　bitter　tears。　That　did　not；　however；　prevent　her　setting　her　female　spies　to　watch　him　more　closely　than　ever。

He　awoke　cold　but　refreshed；　and　found　little　Beverley　standing　by　him　with　wet　eyes。　Alfred　smiled　and　held　out　his　hand　like　a　captive　monarch　to　his　faithful　vassal。　〃They　shan't　put　you　in　the　noisy　ward　again；〃　sobbed　Frank。　〃This　is　your　last　night　here。〃

〃Hy；　Frank；　you　rascal；　my　boots！〃　roared　Rooke　from　an　open　window。

〃Coming；　sircoming！〃

Alfred's　next　visitor　was　the　Robin。　He　came　whispering；　〃It　is　all　right　with　Garrett；　sir；　and　he　has　got　a　key　of　the　back　gate；　but　you　must　get　back　to　your　old　room；　or　we　can't　work。〃

〃Would　to　Heaven　I　could；　Robin；　another　night　or　two　in　the　noisy　ward　will　drive　me　mad；　I　think。〃

〃Well；　sir；　I'll　tell　you　what　you　do：　which　we　all　have　to　do　it　at　odd　times：　hold　a　candle　to　the　devil：　here　she　comes：　I　think　she　is　everywhere　all　at　one　time。〃　The　Robin　then　sauntered　away；　affecting　nonchalance：　and　Alfred　proceeded　to　hold　the　candle　as　directed。　〃Mrs。　Archbold；〃　said　he　timidly　rising　from　his　seat　at　her　approach。

〃Sir；〃　said　she　haughtily；　and　affecting　surprise。

〃I　have　a　favour　to　ask　you；　madam。　Would　you　be　so　kind　as　to　let　me　go　back　to　my　room？〃

〃What；　you　have　found　I　am　not　so　powerless　as　you　thought！〃

〃I　find　myself　so　weak；　and　you　so　powerful　thatyou　can　afford　to　be　generous。〃

〃I　have　no　more　power　over　you　than　you　have　over　me。〃

〃I　wish　it　was　so。〃

〃I'll　prove　it；〃　said　she。　〃Who　has　got　the　key　of　your　room？　Hayes？〃　She　whistled；　and　sent　for　him；　and　gave　him　the　requisite　order　before　Alfred。　Alfred　thanked　her　warmly。

She　smiled；　and　went　away　disposed　to　change　her　tactics；　and；　having　shown　him　how　she　could　torment；　try　soothing　means；　and　open　his　heart　by　gratitude。

But　presently　looking　out　of　her　window　she　saw　the　Robin　and　him　together；　and　somehow　they　seemed　to　her　subtle；　observant　eyes；　to　be　plotting。　The　very　suspicion　was　fatal　to　that　officer。　His　discharge　was　determined　on。　Meantime　she　set　her　spies　to　watch　him；　and　tell　her　if　they　saw　or　heard　anything。

Now　Mrs。　Archbold　was　going　out　to　tea　that　evening；　and；　as　soon　as　ever　this　transpired；　the　keepers　secretly　invited　the　keeperesses　to　a　party　in　the　first…class　patients　drawing…room。　This　was　a　rare　opportunity；　and　the　Robin　and　Garrett　put　their　heads　together　accordingly。

In　the　dusk　of　the　evening　the　Robin　took　an　opportunity　and　slipped　a　new　key　of　the　back　gate　into　Alfred's　hand；　and　told　him　〃the　trick　was　to　be　done　that　very　night：〃　he　was　to　get　Thompson　to　go　to　bed　early；　and；　instead　of　taking　off　his　clothes；　was　to　wait　in　readiness。　〃We　have　been　plying　Hayes　already；　〃　said　the　Robin；　〃and；　as　soon　as　_she_　is　off；　we　shall　hocuss　him；　and　get　the　key；　and；　while　they　are　all　larking　in　the　drawing…room；　off　you　go　to　Merrimashee。〃

〃Oh；　you　dear　Robin！　You　have　taken　my　breath　away。　But　how　about　Vulcan？〃

〃Oh；　we　know　how　to　make　him　amiable：　a　dog…fancier；　a　friend　of　mine；　has　provided　the　ondeniable　where　dogs　is　concerned：　whereby　Garrett　draws　the　varmint　into　the　scullery；　and　shuts　him　in；　while　I　get　the　key　from　the　other。　_It's_　all　right。〃

〃Ah；　Robin；〃　said　Alfred；　〃it　sounds　too　good　to　be　true。　What？　this　my　last　day　here！〃

The　minutes　seemed　to　creep　very　slowly　till　eight　o'clock　came。　Then　he　easily　persuaded　David　to　go　to　bed；　Hayes　went　up　and　unlocked　the　door　for　them：　it　closed　with　a　catch…lock。　Hayes　was　drunk；　but　full　of　discipline；　and　insisted　on　the　patients　putting　out　their　clothes；　so　Alfred　made　up　a　bundle　from　his　portmanteau；　and　threw　it　out。　Hayes　eyed　it　suspiciously；　but　was　afraid　to　stoop　and　inspect　it　close