hard cash-第129节

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〃Well；〃　said　Edward；　〃you　know　best。　I　generally　make　a　mess　of　it　when　I　disobey　you。　But　concealments　are　bad　things　too。　We　used　to　go　with　our　bosoms　open。　Ah！〃　（Puff。）

〃Edward；〃　said　Mrs。　Dodd；　after　some　consideration；　〃the　best　thing　is　to　marry　her　to　Mr。　Hurd　at　once。　He　has　spoken　to　me　for　her；　and　I　sounded　her。〃

〃Has　he？　Well；　and　what　did　she　say？〃

〃She　said　she　would　rather　not　marry　at　all；　but　live　and　die　with　me。　Then　I　pressed　her　a　little；　you　know。　Then　she　did　say　she　could　never　marry　any　but　a　clergyman；　now　she　had　lost　her　poor　Alfred。　And　then　I　told　her　I　thought　Mr。　Hurd　could　make　her　happy；　and　she　would　make　me　happy　if　she　could　esteem　him；　and　marry　him。〃

〃Well；　mamma；　and　what　then？〃

〃Why　then；　my　poor　child　gave　me　a　look　that　haunts　me　stilla　look　of　unutterable　love；　and　reproach；　and　resignation；　and　despair；　and　burst　out　crying　so　piteously　I　could　say　no　more。　Oh！　oh！　oh！　oh！〃

〃Don't　you　cry；　mammy　dear；〃　said　Edward。　〃Ah；　I　remember　when　a　tear　was　a　wonder　in　our　house。〃　And　the　fire…warrior　sucked　at　his　cigar；　to　stop　a　sigh。

〃And　nnow　not　a　dday　without　them；〃　sighed　Mrs。　Dodd　〃But　_you_　have　cost　me　none；　my　precious　boy。〃

〃I'm　waiting　my　time。　（Puff。）　Mamma；　take　my　advice；　don't　you　fidget　so。　Let　things　alone。　Why　hurry　her　into　marrying　Mr。　Hurd　or　anybody？　Look　here；　I'll　keep　dark　to　please　you；　if　you'll　keep　quiet　to　please　me。〃

At　breakfast　time　came　a　messenger　with　a　line　from　Mrs。　Archbold；　to　say　that　David　had　escaped　from　Drayton　House；　in　company　with　another　dangerous　maniac。

Mrs。　Dodd　received　the　blow　with　a　kind　of　desperate　resignation。　She　rose　quietly　from　the　table　without　a　word；　and　went　to　put　on　her　bonnet；　leaving　her　breakfast　and　the　note；　for　she　did　not　at　once　see　all　that　was　implied　in　the　communication。　She　took　Edward　with　her　to　Drayton　House。　The　firemen　had　saved　one　half　of　that　building；　the　rest　was　a　black　shell。　Mrs。　Archbold　came　to　them；　looking　haggard；　and　told　them　two　keepers　were　already　scouring　the　country；　and　an　advertisement　sent　to　all　the　journals。

〃Oh；　madam！〃　said　Mrs。　Dodd；　〃if　the　other　should　hurt　him；　or　lead　him　somewhere　to　his　death？〃

Mrs。　Archbold　said　she　might　dismiss　this　fear；　the　patient　in　question　had　but　one　illusion；　and；　though　terribly　dangerous　when　thwarted　in　that；　was　most　intelligent　in　a　general　way；　and　much　attached　to　Mr。　Dodd；　they　were　always　together。〃

A　strange　expression　shot　into　Mrs。　Dodd's　eye：　she　pinched　Edward's　arm　to　keep　him　quiet；　and　said　with　feigned　indifference

〃Then　it　was　the　one　who　was　in　such　danger　with　my　husband　last　night？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Mrs。　Archbold　off　her　guard。　It　had　not　occurred　to　her　that　this　handsome；　fashionably…dressed　young　gentleman；　was　the　fireman　of　last　night。　She　saw　her　mistake；　though；　the　moment　he　said　bluntly；　〃Why；　you　told　my　mother　it　was　an　attendant。〃

〃Did　I；　madam？〃　asked　Mrs。　Archbold；　mighty　innocently：　〃I　suppose　I　thought　so。　Well；　I　was　mistaken；　unfortunately。〃

Mrs。　Dodd　was　silent　a　moment；　then；　somewhat　hastily　bade　Mrs。　Archbold　good…bye。　She　told　the　cabman　to　drive　to　an　old　acquaintance　of　ours；　Mr。　Green。　He　had　set　up　detective　on　his　own　account。　He　was　not　at　his　office；　but　expected。　She　sat　patiently　down　till　he　came　in。　They　put　their　heads　together；　and　Green　dashed　down　to　the　asylum　with　a　myrmidon；　while　Mrs。　Dodd　went　into　the　City　to　obtain　leave　of　absence　from　Cross　and　Co。　This　was　politely　declined　at　first；　but　on　Mrs。　Dodd　showing　symptoms　of　leaving　them　altogether；　it　was　conceded。　She　returned　home　with　Edward；　and　there　was　Mr。　Green：　he　had　actually　traced　the　fugitives　by　broken　fences；　and　occasional　footsteps　in　the　side　clay　of　ditches；　so　far　as　to　leave　no　doubt　they　had　got　upon　the　great　south…eastern　road。　Then　Mrs。　Dodd　had　a　female　inspiration。　〃The　Dover　road！　Ah！　my　husband　will　make　for　the　sea。〃

〃I　shouldn't　wonder；　being　a　sailor；〃　said　Green。　〃It　is　a　pleasure　to　work　with　a　lady　like　you；　that　puts　in　a　good　hint。　Know　anything　about　the　other　one；　ma'am？〃

Mrs。　Dodd　almost　started　at　this　off…hand　question。　But　it　was　a　natural　one　for　Green　to　ask。

She　said　gravely；　〃I　do。　To　my　cost。〃

Green's　eye　sparkled；　and　he　took　out　his　note…book。　〃Now　where　is　_he_　like　to　make　for？〃

Mrs。　Dodd　seemed　to　wince　at　the　question；　and　then　turned　her　eyes　inward　to　divine。　The　result　was　she　gave　a　downright　shudder；　and　said　evasively；　〃Being　with　David；　I　hope　and　pray　he　will　go　towards　the　coast。〃

〃No；　no；〃　said　Green；　〃it　won't　do　to　count　on　that　altogether。　How　do　we　know　which　of　the　two　will　lead　the　other？　You　must　please　to　put　Mr。　Dodd　out　of　the　question；　ma'am；　for　a　moment。　Now　we'll　say　No。　2　had　escaped　alone：　where　would　he　be　like　to　run　to？〃

Mrs。　Dodd　thus　pressed；　turned　her　eyes　more　and　more　inward；　and　said　at　last　in　a　very　low　voice；　and　with　a　sort　of　concentrated　horror　〃He　will　come　to　my　house。〃

Mr。　Green　booked　this　eagerly。　The　lady's　emotion　was　nothing　to　him；　the　hint　was　invaluable；　the　combination　interesting。　〃Well；　ma'am；〃　said　he；　〃I'll　plant　a　good　man　in　sight　of　your　door：　and　I'll　take　the　Dover　road　directly　with　my　drag。　My　teeth　weren't　strong　enough　for　the　last　nut　you　gave　me　to　crack：　let　us　try　this　one。　Tom　Green　isn't　often　beat　twice　running。〃

〃I　will　go　with　you；　Mr。　Green。〃

〃Honoured　and　proud；　ma'am。　But　a　lady　like　you　in　my　dog…cart　along　o'　me　and　my　mate！〃

Mrs。　Dodd　waived　this　objection　almost　contemptuously；　she　was　all　wife　now。

It　was　agreed　that　Green　should　drive　round　for　her　in　an　hour。　He　departed　for　the　present；　and　Edward　proposed　to　go　in　the　dog…cart　too；　but　she　told　him　no；　she　wanted　him　at　home　to　guard　his　sister　against　〃the　Wretch。〃　Then　seeing　him　look　puzzled；　〃Consider；　Edward；〃　said　she；　〃he　is　not　like　your　poor　father：　he　has　not　forgotten。　That　advertisement；　Aileen　Aroon；　it　was　from　him；　you　know。　And　then　why　does　he　attach　himself　so　to　poor　papa？　Do　you　not　see　it　is　because　he　is　Julia's　father？　'The　Wretch'　loves　her　still。〃

Edward　from　puzzled　looked　very　grave。　〃What　a　head　you　have　got；　mamma！〃　he　said。　〃I　should　never　have　seen　all　this：　yet　it's　plain　enough　now；　as　you　put　it。〃

〃Yes；　it　is　plain。　Our　darling　is　betrothed　to　a　maniac；　that　maniac　loves　her；　and　much　I　fear　she　loves　him。　Some　new　calamity　is　impending。　Oh；　my　son；　I　feel　it　already　heavy　on　my　heart。　What　is　it　to　be？　Is　your　father　to　be　led　to　destruction；　or　will　that　furious　wretch　burst　in　upon　your　sister；　and　kill　her；　or　perhaps　kill　Mr。　Hard；　if　he　catches　them　together？　What　may　not　happen　now？　The　very　air　seems　to　me　swarming　with　calamities。〃

〃Oh；　I'll　take　care　of　all　that；〃　said　Edward。　And　he　comforted　her　a　little　by　promising　faithfully　not　to　let　Julia　go　out　of　his　sight　till　her　return。

She　put　on　a　plain　travelling…dress。　The　dog…cart　came。　She　slipped　fifty　sovereigns　into　Mr。　Green's　hands　for　expenses；　and　off　they　went　at　a　slapping　pace。　The　horse　was　a　great　bony　hunter　of　rare　speed　and　endurance；　and　his　long　stride　and　powerful　action　raised　poor　Mrs。　Dodd's　hopes；　and　the　rushing　air　did　her　good。　Green；　to　her　surprise；　made　few　inquiries　for　some　miles　on　the　Dover　road；　but　he　explained　to　her　that　the　parties　they　were　after　had　probably　walked　all　night。　〃They　don't　tire；　that　sort；〃　said　Mr。　Green。

At　Dartford　they　got　a　doubtful　intimation；　on　the　strength　of　which　he　rattled　on　to　Rochester。　There　he　pulled　up；　deposited　Mrs。　Dodd　at　the　principal　inn　till　morning；　and　scoured　the　town　for　intelligence。

He　inquired　of　all　the　policemen；　described　his　men；　and　shrewdly　added　out　of　his　intelligence；　〃Both　splashed　and　dirty。〃

No；　the　Bobbies　had　not　seen　them。

Then　he　walked　out　to　the　side　of　the　town　nearest　London；　and　examined　all　the　dealers　in　food。　At　last　he　found　a　baker　who；　early　that　morning；　had　sold　a　quartern　loaf　to　two　tall　men　without　hats；　〃and　splashed　fearful；　〃　he　added；　〃thought　they　had　broken　prison；　but　'twas　no　business　of　mine：　they　paid　for　the　bread　right　enough。〃

On　hearing　they　had　entered　Rochester　hatless；　the　shrewd　Mr。　Green　made　direct　to　the　very　nearest　slop…shop；　and　his　sagacity　was　rewarded：　the　shopkeeper　was　a　chatterbox；　and　told　him　yes；　two　gents　out　on　a　frolic　had　bought　a　couple　of　hats　of　him；　and　a　whole　set　of　sailor's　clothes。　〃I　think　they　were　respectable；　too；　but　nothing　else　would　satisfy　him。　So　the　young　one　he　humoured　him；　and　bought　them。　I　took　his　old　ones　in　exchange。〃

At　that　Green　offered　a　sovereign　for　the　old　clothes　blindfold。　The　trader　instantly　asked　two　pounds；　and　took　thirty　shillings。

Green　now　set　the　police　to　scour　the　town　for　a　gentleman　and　a　common　sailor　in　company；　offered　a　handsome　reward；　and　went　to　bed　in　a　small　inn；　with　David's　clothes　by　the　kitchen　fire。　Early　in　the　morning　he　went　to　Mrs。　Dodd's　hotel　with　David's　clothes；　nicely　dried；　and　told　her　his　tale。　She　knew　the　clothes　directly；　kissed　them；　and　cried　over　them：　then　gave　him　her　hand　with　a　world　of　dignity　and　grace：　〃What　an　able　man！　Sir；　you　inspire　me　with　great　confidence。〃

〃And　you　me　with　zeal；　ma'am；〃　said