hard cash-第130节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
； you inspire me with great confidence。〃
〃And you me with zeal； ma'am；〃 said the delighted Green。 〃Why I'd go through fire and water for a lady like you； that pays well； and doesn't grudge a fellow a bit of praise。 Now you must eat a bit； ma'am； if it's ever so little； and then we'll take the road； for the police think the parties have left the town； and by their night's work they must be good travellers。〃
The dog…cart took the road； and the ex…hunter stepped out thirteen miles an hour。
Now at this moment Alfred and David were bowling along ahead with a perfect sense of security。 All that first night； the grandest of his life； Alfred walked on air； and drank the glorious exhilarating breath of Freedom。 But； when the sun dawned on them； his intoxicating joy began to be dashed with apprehension： hatless and bemired； might they not be suspected and detained by some officious authority？
But the slop…shop set that all right。 He took a double…bedded room in The Bear； locked the door； put the key under his pillow； and slept till eleven。 At noon they were on the road again； and as they swung lustily along in the frosty but kindly air； Alfred's chest expanded； his spirits rose； and he felt a man all over。 Exhilarated by freedom； youth； and motion； and a little inflated by reviving vanity； his heart； buoyant as his foot； now began to nurse aspiring projects： he would indict his own father； and the doctors； and immolate them on the altar of justice and publicly wipe off the stigma they had cast on him； and meantime he would cure David and restore him to his family。
He loved this harmless companion of his cell； his danger； and his flight； loved him for Julia's sake； loved him for his own。 Youth and vanity whispered； 〃I know more about madness than the doctors； I have seen it closer。〃 It struck him David's longing for blue water was one of those unerring instincts that sometimes guide the sick to their cure。 And then as the law permits the forcible recapture of a patientwithout a fresh order or certificateswithin fourteen days of his escape from an asylum； he did not think it prudent to show himself in London till that time should have elapsed。 So； all things considered； why not hide a few days with David in some insignificant seaport； and revel in liberty and blue water with him all day long； and so by associations touch the spring of memory； and begin the cure？ As for David； he seemed driven seaward by some unseen spur； he fidgeted at all delay； even dinner fretted him； he panted so for his natural element。 Alfred humoured him； and an hour after sunset they reached the town of Canterbury。 Here Alfred took the same precautions as before； and slept till nine o'clock。
When he awoke； he found David walking to and fro impatiently。 〃All right； messmate；〃 said Alfred； 〃we shall soon be in blue water。〃 He made all haste； and they were on the road again by ten； walking at a gallant pace。
But the dog…cart was already rattling along about thirty miles behind them。 Green inquired at all the turnpikes and vehicles； the scent was cold at first； but warmer by degrees； and hot at Canterbury。 Green just baited his gallant horse； and came foaming on； and just as the pair entered the town of Folkestone； their pursuers came up to the cross…roads； not five miles behind them。
Alfred went to a good inn in Folkestone and ordered a steak； then strolled with David by the beach； and gloried in the water with him。 〃After dinner we will take a boat； and have a sail；〃 said he。 〃See； there's a nice boat； riding at anchor there。〃
David snuffed the breeze and his eye sparkled； and he said； 〃Wind due east； messmate。〃 And this remark； slight as it was was practical； and gave Alfred great delight： strengthened his growing conviction that not for nothing had this charge been thrown on him。 He should be the one to cure his own father； for Julia's father was his： he had no father now。 〃All right；〃 said he gaily； 〃we'll soon be on blue water： but first we'll have our dinner； old boy； for I am starving。〃 David said nothing and went rather doggedly back to the inn with him。
The steak was on the table。 Alfred told the waiter to uncover and David to fall to； while he just ran upstairs to wash his hands。 He came down in less than two minutes； but David was gone； and the waiter standing there erect and apathetic like a wooden sentinel。
〃Why； where is he？〃 said Alfred。
〃Gent's gone out；〃 was the reply。
〃And you stood there and let him？ you born idiot。 Which way is he gone？〃
〃I don't know；〃 said the waiter angrily； 〃I ain't a p'liceman。 None but respectable gents comes here； as don't want watching。〃 Alfred darted out and scoured the town； he asked everybody if they had seen a tall gentleman dressed like a common sailor。 Nobody could tell him： there were so many sailors about the port； that which in an inland town would have betrayed the truant concealed him here。 A cold perspiration began to gather on Alfred's brow； as he ran wildly all over the place。
He could not find him； nor any trace of him。 At last it struck him that he had originally proposed to go to Dover； and had spoken of that town to David； though he had now glanced aside； making for the smaller ports on the south coast： he hired a horse directly； and galloped furiously to Dover。 He rode down to the pier； gave his horse to a boy to hold； and ran about inquiring far David。 He could not find him： but at last he found a policeman； who told him he thought there was another party on the same lay as himself： 〃No；〃 said the man correcting himself； 〃it was two they were after； a gentleman and a sailor。 Perhaps you are his mate。〃
Alfred's blood ran cold。 Pursued！ and so hotly： 〃No； no；〃 he stammered； 〃I suspect I am on the same business。〃 Then he said cunningly （for asylums teach the frankest natures cunning）； 〃Come and have a glass of grog and tell me all about it。〃 Bobby consented； and under its influence described Mrs。 Dodd and her companions to him。
But not everybody can describe minutely。 In the bare outlines； which were all this artist could furnish him； Alfred recognised at once； whom do you think？ Mrs。 Archbold； Dr。 Wolf； and his arch enemy Rooke； the keeper。 Doubtless his own mind； seizing on so vague a description； adapted it rather hastily to what seemed probable。 Mrs。 Dodd never occurred to him； nor that David was the sole； or even the main object of the pursuit。 He was thoroughly puzzled what to do。 However； as his pursuers had clearly scoured Dover； and would have found David if there； he made use of their labours and galloped back towards Folkestone。 But he took the precaution to inquire at the first turnpike； and there he learned a lady and two men had passed through about an hour before in a dog…cart； it was a wonder he had missed them。 Alfred gnashed his teeth； 〃Curse you；〃 he muttered。 〃Well； do my work in Folkestone； I'll find him yet； and baffle you。〃 He turned his horse's head westward and rode after David。 Convinced that his lost friend would not go inland； he took care to keep near the cliffs； and had ever an eye on the beach when the road came near enough。
About eight miles west of Folkestone he saw a dog…cart going down a hill before him： but there was only a single person in it。 However； he increased his pace and got close behind it as it mounted the succeeding hill which was a high one。 Walking leisurely behind it his quick eye caught sight of a lady's veil wrapped round the iron of the seat。
That made him instantly suspect this might be the dog…cart after all。 But； if so； how came a stranger in it？ He despised a single foe； and resolved to pump this one and learn where the others were。
While he was thinking how he should begin； the dog…cart stopped at the top of the hill； and the driver looked seaward at some object that appeared to interest him。
It was a glorious scene。 Viewed from so great a height the sea expanded like ocean； and its light…blue waters sparkled and laughed innumerable in the breeze。 〃A beautiful sight； sir；〃 said the escaped prisoner； 〃you may well stop to look at it。〃 The man touched his hat and chuckled。 〃I don't think you know what I am looking at； sir；〃 he said politely。
〃I thought it was the lovely sea view； so bright； so broad； so _free。_
〃No； sir； not but what I can enjoy that a bit； too： but what I'm looking at is an 'unt。 Do you see that little boat？ Sailing right down the coast about eight miles off。 Well； sir； what do you think there is in that boat？ But you'll never guess。 A madman。〃
〃Ah！〃
〃Curious； sir； isn't it： a respectable gentleman too he is； and sails well； only stark staring mad。 There was two of 'em in company： but it seems they can't keep together long。 _Our_ one steals a fisherman's boat； and there he goes down channel。 And now look here； sir； see this steam…tug smoking along right in front of us： she's after him； and see there's my governor aboard standing by the wheel with a Bobby and a lady： and if ever there was a lady she's one；〃 here he lowered his voice。 〃She's that mad gentleman's wife； sir； as I am a living sinner。〃
They both looked down on the strange chase in silence。 〃Will they catch her？〃 asked Alfred at last； under his breath。
〃How can we be off it？ steam against sails。 And if he
