hard cash-第131节

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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　runs　ashore；　I　shall　be　there　to　nab　him。〃　Alfred　looked；　and　looked：　the　water　came　into　his　eyes。　〃It's　the　best　thing　that　can　befall　him　now；〃　he　murmured。　He　gave　the　man　half…a…crown；　and　then　turned　his　horse's　head　and　walked　him　down　the　hill　towards　Folkestone。　On　his　arrival　there　he　paid　for　his　horse；　and　his　untasted　dinner；　and　took　the　first　train　to　London；　a　little　dispirited；　and　a　good　deal　mortified；　for　he　hated　to　be　beat。　But　David　was　in　good　hands；　that　was　one　comfort；　and　he　had　glorious　work　on　hand；　love　and　justice。　He　went　to　an　out　of　the　way　inn　in　the　suburbs；　and；　when　he　had　bought　a　carpet…bag　and　some　linen　and　other　necessaries；　he　had　but　one　sovereign　left。

His　heart　urged　him　vehemently　to　go　at　once　and　find　his　Julia：　but　alas！　he　did　not　even　know　where　she　lived；　and　he　dared　not　at　present　make　public　inquiries：　that　would　draw　attention　to　himself；　and　be　his　destruction；　for　Wolf　stood　well　with　the　police；　and　nearly　always　recaptured　his　truant　patients　by　their　aid　before　the　fourteen　days　had　elapsed。　He　determined　to　go　first　to　a　solicitor：　and　launch　him　against　his　enemies；　while　compelled　to　shirk　them　in　his　own　person。　Curious　position！　Now；　amongst　his　father's　creditors　was　Mr。　Compton；　a　solicitor；　known　for　an　eccentric；　but　honourable　man；　and　for　success　in　litigation。　Mr。　Compton　used　to　do　his　own　business　in　Barkington；　and　employ　an　agent　in　London：　but　Alfred　remembered　to　have　heard　just　before　his　incarceration　that　he　had　reversed　the　parts；　and　now　lived　in　London。　Alfred　found　him　out　by　the　Directory；　and　called　at　his　chambers　in　Lincoln's　Inn　Fields。　He　had　to　wait　some　time　in　the　outer　office　listening　to　a　fluent　earnest　client　preaching　within：　but　presently　a　sharp　voice　broke　in　upon　the　drone；　and；　after　a　few　sentences；　Mr。　Compton　ushered　out　a　client　with　these　remarkable　words：　〃And　as　for　your　invention；　it　has　been　invented　four　times　before　you　invented　it；　and　never　was　worth　inventing　at　all。　And　you　have　borrowed　two　hundred　pounds　of　me　in　ninety　loans；　each　of　which　cost　me　an　hour's　invaluable　time：　I　hold　ninety　acknowledgments　in　your　handwriting；　and　I'll　put　them　all　in　force　for　my　protection；〃　with　this　he　turned　to　his　head　clerk：　〃Mr。　Colls；　take　out　a　writ　against　this　client；　what　is　your　Christian　name；　sir？　I　forget。〃

〃Simon；〃　said　the　gaping　client；　off　his　guard。

〃Thank　you；　sir；〃　said　Mr。　Compton　with　sudden　politeness：　then　resuming　hostilities〃A　writ　in　the　Common　Pleas　against　Simon　Macfarlane：　keep　it　in　your　drawer；　Colls；　and　if　ever　the　said　Macfarlane　does　me　the　honour　to　call　on　me　again　serve　him　with　it　on　the　spot；　and；　if　not；　not；　good　morning；　sir。〃　And　with　this　he　bolted　into　his　own　room　and　slammed　its　door。　'The　clerks　opened　the　outer　door　to　Mr。　Macfarlane　with　significant　grins；　and　he　went　out　bewildered　sorely；　yea　even　like　one　that　walketh　abroad　in　his　sleep。　〃Now；　sir；〃　said　Mr。　Colls　cheerfully　to　Alfred。　But　the　new　client　naturally　hesitated　now：　he　put　on　his　most　fascinating　smile；　and　said：　〃Well；　Mr。　Colls；　what　do　you　advise？　Is　this　a　moment　to　beard　the　lion　in　his　den？〃

At　Alfred's　smile　and　address　Colls　fell　in　love　with　him　directly；　and　assured　him　_sotto　voce；_　and　with　friendly　familiarity；　that　now　was　his　time。　〃Why；　he'll　be　as　sweet　as　honey　now　he　has　got　rid　of　a　client。〃　With　this　he　took　Alfred's　name；　and　ushered　him　into　a　room　piled　with　japanned　tin　boxes；　where　Mr。　Compton　sat；　looking　all　complacency；　at　a　large　desk　table；　on　which　briefs；　and　drafts；　and　letters　lay　in　seeming　confusion。　He　rose；　and　with　a　benignant　courtesy　invited　Alfred　to　sit　down　and　explain　his　business。

The　reader　is　aware　our　Oxonian　could　make　a　close　and　luminous　statement。　He　began　at　the　beginning；　but　soon　disposed　of　preliminaries　and　came　to　his　capture　at　Silverton。　Then　Mr。　Compton　quietly　rang　the　bell；　and　with　a　slight　apology　to　Alfred　requested　Colls　to　search　for　the　draft　of　Mrs。　Holloway's　will。　Alfred　continued。　Mr。　Compton　listened　keenly；　noted　the　salient　points　on　a　sheet　of　brief…paper；　and　demanded　the　exact　dates　of　every　important　event　related。

The　story　finished；　the　attorney　turned　to　Colls；　and　said　mighty　coolly；　〃You　may　go。　The　will　is　in　my　pocket：　but　I　made　sure　he　was　a　madman。　They　generally　are；　these　ill…used　clients。〃　（Exit　Colls）　〃Got　a　copy　of　the　settlement；　sir；　under　which　you　take　this　ten　thousand　pounds？〃

〃No；　sir。〃

〃Any　lawyer　seen　it？〃

〃Oh　yes；　Mr。　Crauford；　down　at　Barkington。〃

〃Good。　Friend　of　mine。　I'll　write　to　him。　Names　and　addresses　of　your　trustees？〃

Alfred　gave　them。

〃You　have　brought　the　order　on　which　you　were　confined；　and　the　two　certificates？〃

〃Not　I；〃　said　Alfred。　〃I　have　begged　and　prayed　for　a　sight　of　them；　and　never　could　get　one。　That　is　one　of　the　galling　iniquities　of　the　system；　I　call　it　'THE　DOUBLE　SHUFFLE。'　Just　bring　your　mind　to　bear　on　this；　sir：　The　prisoner　whose　wits　and　liberty　have　been　signed　away　behind　his　back　is　not　allowed　to　see　the　order　and　certificate　on　which　he　is　confineduntil　_after_　his　release：　that　release　he　is　to　obtain　by　combating　the　statements　in　the　order　and　certificates。　So　to　get　out　he　must　first　see　and　contradict　the　lies　that　put　him　in；　but　to　see　the　lies　that　put　him　in；　he　must　first　get　out。　So　runs　the　circle　of　Iniquity。　Now；　is　that　the　injustice　of　Earth；　or　the　injustice　of　Hell？〃

Mr。　Compton　asked　a　moment　to　consider：　〃Well；　I　think　is　of　the　earth；　earthy。　There's　a　mixture　of　idiocy　in　it　the　Devil　might　fairly　repudiate。　Young　gentleman；　the　English　Statutes　of　Lunacy　are　famous　monuments　of　legislatorial　incapacity：　and　indeed；　as　a　general　rule；　if　you　want　justice　and　wisdom；　don't　you　go　to　Acts　of　Parliament；　but　to　the　Common　Law　of　England。〃

Alfred　did　not　appreciate　this　observation：　he　made　no　reply　to　it；　but　inquired；　with　some　heat；　〃what　he　could　do　to　punish　the　whole　gang；　his　father；　the　certifying　doctors；　and　the　madhouse　keepers？〃

〃Humph！　You　might　indict　them　all　for　a　conspiracy；〃　said　Mr。　Compton；　〃but　you　would　be　defeated。　As　a　rule；　avoid　criminal　proceedings　where　you　have　a　civil　remedy。　A　jury　will　give　a　verdict　and　damages　where　they　would　not　convict　on　the　same　evidence。　Yours　is　just　one　of　those　cases　where　Temper　says；　'indict！'　but　Prudence　says；　'sue！'　and　Law；　through　John　Compton；　its　oracle　in　this　square；　says；　sue　the　defendant　and　no　other。　Now；　who　is　the　true　defendant　here；　or　party　liable　in　law？〃

〃The　keeper　of　the　asylum；　for　one。〃

〃No。　If　I　remember　right；　all　proceedings　against　him　are　expressly　barred　by　a　provision　in　the　last　statute。　Let　us　see。〃

He　took　down　the　statutes　of　the　realm；　and　showed　Alfred　the　clause　which　raises　the　proprietor　of　a　madhouse　above　the　civic　level　of　Prince　Royal。　〃Curse　the　law；〃　said　Alfred　bitterly。

〃No；　don't　curse　the　Law。　Curse　the　Act　if　you　like；　but　we　can't　get　on　without　the　Law；　neither　of　us。　Try　again。〃

〃The　certifying　doctor；　sir？〃

〃Humph！〃　said　Mr。　Compton；　knitting　his　brows：　〃a　jury　might　give　you　a　verdict。　But　it　would　probably　be　set　aside　by　the　full　court；　or　else　by　a　court　of　error。　For；　unless　you　could　prove　informality；　barefaced　negligence；　or　_mala　fides；_　what　does　it　come　to？　A　professional　man；　bound　to　give　medical　opinions　to　all　comers；　is　consulted　about　you；　and　says　he　thinks　you　are　insane：　you　turn　out　sane。　Well；　then；　he　was　mistaken：　but　not　more　than　he　is　in　most　of　his　professional　opinions。　We　lawyers　know　what　guesswork　Medicine　is：　we　see　it　in　the　witness…box。　I　hate　suing　opinions：　it　is　like　firing　bullets　at　snipes　in　a　wind。　Try　again。〃

Alfred　groaned。　〃Why　there　is　nobody　left　but　the　rogue　who　signed　the　order。〃

〃And　if　you　were　a　lawyer；　that　alone　would　tell　you　he　is　the　defendant。　Where　a　legal　wrong　has　been　committed　by　A。　B。　and　C。；　and　there　is　no　remedy　against　A。　or　B。；　there　must　either　be　one　against　C。；　or　none　at　all：　but　this　Law　abhors　as　Nature　does　a　vacuum。　Besides；　this　defendant　has　_done_　the　wrong　complained　of。　In　his　person　you　sue　an　act；　not　an　opinion。　But　of　course　you　are　not　cool　enough　to　see　all　this　just　at　first。〃

〃Cool；　sir；〃　said　Alfred　despairingly；　〃I　am　frozen　with　your　remorseless　law。　What；　of　all　these　villains；　may　I　only　attack　one；　and　can't　I　imprison　even　him；　as　he　has　me？　Such　narrow　law　encourages　men　to　violence；　who　burn　under　wrongs　like　mine。〃

Mr。　Compton　looked　keenly　at　his　agitated；　mortified　client；　but　made　no　concession。　He　gave　him　a　minute　to　digest　the　law's　first　bitter　pill：　and　then　said；　〃If　I　am　to　act　for　you；　you　had　better　write　a　line　to　the　Commissioners　of　Lunacy　requesting　them　to　hand　me　copies　of　the　order　and　certificates。〃　Alfred　wrote　it。

〃And　now；〃　said　Mr。　Compton　thoughtfully；　〃　I　don't　think　they　will　venture　to　recapture　you　during　the　fourteen　days。　But　still　they　might；　and　we　attorneys　are　wary　animals。　So　please　give　me　at　once　a　full　authority　to　act　under　advice　of　counsel　for