hard cash-第146节

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he　parties：　and　raise　the　cup　of　justice　to　the　lips　of　the　oppressed；　and　then　pretend　he　knew　a　trial　would　last　more　than　two　days；　and　so　shirk　it。　〃I'd　have　made　that　a　reason　for　sitting　till　midnight〃　said　poor　Alfred；　〃not　for　prolonging　a　poor　injured　man's　agony　four　mortal　months。〃　He　then　prayed　God　earnestly　for　this　great　postponer's　death　as　the　only　event　that　could　give　him　back　an　Englishman's　right　of　being　tried　by　his　peers；　and　so　went　down　to　Oxford　broken…hearted。

As　for　Sampson　he　was　most　indignant；　and　said　a　public　man　had　no　business　with　a　private　ear：　and　wanted　to　appeal　to　the　press　again：　but　the　doughty　doctor　had　a　gentle　but　powerful　ruler　at　home；　as　fiery　houses　are　best　ruled　by　a　gentle　hand。　Mrs。　Sampson　requested　him　to　write　no　more；　but　look　round　for　an　M。　P。　to　draw　these　repeated　defeats　of　justice　to　the　notice　of　the　House。　Now　there　was　a　Mr。　Bite；　who　had　taken　a　prominent　and　honourable　part　in　lunacy　questions；　headed　committees　and　so　on：　this　seemed　the　man。　Dr。　Sampson　sent　him　a　letter　saying　there　was　a　flagrant　case　of　a　sane　man　falsely　imprisoned；　who　had　now　been　near　a　year　applying　for　a　jury；　and　juggled　out　of　this　constitutional　right　by　arbitrary　and　unreasonable　postponements：　would　Mr。　Bite　give　him　（Dr。　Sampson）　ten　minutes　and　no　more；　when　he　would　explain　the　case　and　leave　documentary　evidence　behind　him　for　Mr。　Bite　to　test　his　statement。　The　philanthropical　M。　P。　replied　promptly　in　these　exact　words：

〃Mr。　Bite　presents　his　compliments　to　Dr。　Sampson　to　state　that　it　is　impossible　for　him　to　go　into　his　case；　nor　to　give　him　the　time　he　requests　to　do　so。〃

Sampson　was　a　little　indignant　at　the　man's　insolence；　but　far　more　at　having　been　duped　by　his　public　assumption　of　philanthropy。　〃The　little　pragmatical　impostor！〃　he　roared。　〃With　what　a　sense　o'　relief　th'　animal　flings　off　the　mask　of　humanity　when　there　is　no　easy　eclat　to　be　gained　by　putting't　on。〃　He　sent　the　philanthropical　Bite's　revelation　of　his　private　self　to　Alfred；　who　returned　it　with　this　single　remark：　_〃Homunculi　quanti　sunt！_〃

Dishonest　suitors　all　try　to　postpone；　but　they　do　not　gain　unmixed　good　thereby。　These　delays　give　time　for　more　evidence　to　come　in；　and　this　slow　coming　and　chance　evidence　is　singularly　adverse　to　the　unjust　suitor。　Of　this　came　a　notable　example　in　October　next；　and　made　Richard　Hardie　determined　to　precipitate　the　trial；　and　even　regret　he　had　not　fought　it　out　long　ago。

He　had　just　returned　from　consulting　Messrs。　Heathfield；　and　sat　down　to　a　nice　little　dinner　in　his　apartments　（Sackville　Street）；　when　a　visitor　was　announced；　and　in　came　the　slouching　little　figure　of　Mr。　Barkington；　_alias_　Noah　Skinner。

　　　　　DIAMOND　CUT　DIAMOND。

Mr。　Hardie　suppressed　a　start；　and　said　nothing。　Skinner　bowed　low　with　a　mixture　of　his　old　cringing　way；　and　a　certain　sly　triumphant　leer；　so　that　his　body　seemed　to　say　one　thing；　and　his　face　the　opposite。　Mr。　Hardie　eyed　him；　and　saw　that　his　coat　was　rusty；　and　his　hat　napless：　then　Mr。　Hardie　smelt　a　beggar；　and　prepared　to　parry　all　attempts　upon　his　purse。

〃I　hope　I　see　my　old　master　well；〃　said　Skinner　coaxingly。

〃Pretty　well　in　body；　Skinner；　thank　you。〃

〃I　had　a　deal　of　trouble　to　find　you；　sir。　But　I　heard　of　the　great　lawsuit　between　Mr。　Alfred　and　you；　and　I　knew　Mr。　Heathfield　was　your　solicitor；　so　I　watched　at　his　place　day　after　day：　and　at　last　you　came。　Oh；　I　was　so　pleased　when　I　saw　your　noble　figure；　but　I　wouldn't　speak　to　you　in　the　street　for　fear　of　disgracing　you。　I'm　such　a　poor　little　guy　to　be　addressing　a　gentleman　like　you。〃

Now　this　sounded　well　on　the　surface；　but　below　there　was　a　subtle　something　Mr。　Hardie　did　not　like　at　all：　but　he　took　the　cue；　and　said；　〃My　poor　Skinner；　do　you　think　I　would　turn　up　my　nose　at　a　faithful　old　servant　like　you？　Have　a　glass　of　wine　with　me；　and　tell　me　how　you　have　been　getting　on。〃　He　went　behind　a　screen　and　opened　a　door；　and　soon　returned　with　a　decanter；　leaving　the　door　open。　Now　in　the　next　room　sat；　unbeknown　to　Skinner；　a　young　woman　with　white　eyelashes；　sewing　buttons　on　Mr。　Hardie's　shirts。　That　astute　gentleman　gave　her　instructions；　and　important　ones　too；　with　a　silent　gesture；　then　reappeared　and　filled　the　bumper　high　to　his　faithful　servant。　They　drank　one　another's　healths　with　great　cordiality；　real　or　apparent。　Mr。　Hardie　then　asked　Skinner　carelessly；　if　he　could　do　anything　for　him。　Skinner　said；　〃Well；　sir；　I　am　very　poor。〃

〃So　am　I；　between　you　and　me；〃　said　Mr。　Hardie　confidentially；　〃I　don't　mind　telling　you；　those　confounded　Commissioners　of　Lunacy　wrote　to　Alfred's　trustees；　and　I　have　been　forced　to　replace　a　loan　of　five　thousand　pounds。　That　Board　always　sides　with　the　insane。　That　crippled　me；　and　drove　me　to　the　Exchange：　and　now　what　I　had　left　is　all　invested　in　time…bargains。　A　month　settles　my　fate：　a　little　fortune；　or　absolute　beggary。〃

〃You'll　be　lucky；　sir；　you'll　be　lucky；〃　said　Skinner　cheerfully；　〃you　have　such　a　long　head；　not　like　poor　little　me；　the　Exchange　soon　burnt　my　wings。　Not　a　shilling　left　of　the　thousand　pounds；　sir；　you　were　so　good　as　to　give　me　for　my　faithful　services。　But　you　will　give　me　another　chance；　sir；　I　know；　I'll　take　better　care　this　time。〃　Mr。　Hardie　shook　his　head　sorrowfully；　and　said　it　was　impossible。　Skinner　eyed　him　askant；　and　remarked　quietly；　and　half　aside；　〃Of　course；　I　_could_　go　to　the　other　party：　but　I　shouldn't　like　to　do　that。　They　would　come　down　handsome。〃

〃What　other　party？〃

〃La；　sir；　what　other　party？　Why　Mrs。　Dodd's；　or　Mr。　Alfred's；　here's　the　trial　coming　on；　you　know；　and　of　course　if　they　could　get　me　to　go　on　the　box　and　tell　all　I　know；　or　half　what　I　know；　why　the　judge　and　jury　would　say　locking　Mr。　Alfred　up　for　mad　was　a　conspiracy。〃

Mr。　Hardie　quaked　internally：　but　he　hid　it　grandly；　and　once　more　was　a　Spartan　gnawed　beneath　his　robe　by　this　little　fox。　〃What；〃　said　he　sternly；　〃after　all　I　and　mine　have　done　for　you　and　yours；　would　you　be　so　base　as　to　go　and　sell　yourself　to　my　enemies？〃

〃Never；　sir；〃　shouted　Skinner　zealously：　then　in　a　whisper；　〃Not　if　you'll　make　a　bid　for　me。〃

〃How　much　do　you　demand？〃

〃Only　another　thousand；　sir？〃

〃A　thousand　pounds！〃

〃Why；　what　is　that　to　you；　sir？　you　are　rich　enough　to　buy　the　eighth　commandment　out　of　the　tables　of　ten　per　cent。：　and　then　the　lawsuit；　Hardies　_versus_　Hardies！〃

〃You　have　spoken　plainly　at　last；〃　said　Mr。　Hardie　grimly。　〃This　is　extorting　money　by　threats。　Do　you　know　that　nothing　is　more　criminal；　nor　more　easy　to　punish？　I　can　take　you　before　a　magistrate；　and　imprison　you　on　the　instant　for　this　attempt。　I　will；　too。〃

〃Try　it；〃　said　Skinner　coolly。　〃Where's　your　witness？〃

〃Behind　that　screen。〃

Peggy　came　forward　directly　with　a　pen　in　her　hand。　Skinner　was　manifestly　startled　and　disconcerted。　〃I　have　taken　all　your　words　down；　Mr。　Skinner；〃　said　Peggy　softly；　then　to　her　master；　〃Shall　I　go　for　a　policeman；　sir？〃

Mr。　Hardie　reflected。　〃Yes；〃　said　he　sternly：　〃there's　no　other　course　with　such　a　lump　of　treachery　and　ingratitude　as　this。〃

Peggy　whipped　on　her　bonnet。

〃What　a　hurry　you　are　in；〃　whined　Skinner：　〃a　policeman　ought　to　be　the　last　argument　for　old　friends　to　run　to。〃　Then；　fawning　spitefully；　〃Don't　talk　of　indicting　me；　sir；〃　said　he；　〃it　makes　me　shiver：　why　how　will　you　look　when　I　up　and　tell　them　all　how　Captain　Dodd　was　took　with　apoplexy　in　our　office；　and　how　you　nailed　fourteen　thousand　pounds　off　his　senseless　body；　and　forgot　to　put　them　down　in　your　balance…sheet；　so　they　are　not　whitewashed　off　like　the　rest。〃

〃Any　witnesses　to　all　this；　Skinner？〃

〃Yes；　sir。〃

〃Who？〃

〃Well；　your　own　conscience　_for　one；_〃　said　Skinner。

〃He　is　mad；　Peggy；〃　said　Mr。　Hardie；　shrugging　his　shoulders。　He　then　looked　Skinner　full　in　the　face；　and　said；　〃Nobody　was　ever　seized　with　apoplexy　in　my　office。　Nobody　ever　gave　me　L。　14；000。　And　if　this　is　the　probable　tale　with　which　you　come　here　to　break　the　law　and　extort　money；　leave　my　house　this　instant：　and　if　ever　you　dare　to　utter　this　absurd　and　malicious　slander；　you　shall　lie　within　four　stone　walls；　and　learn　what　it　is　for　a　shabby　vagabond　to　come　without　a　witness　to　his　back；　and　libel　a　man　of　property　and　honour。〃

Skinner　let　him　run　on　in　this　loud　triumphant　strain　till　he　had　quite　done；　then　put　out　a　brown　skinny　finger；　and　poked　him　lightly　in　the　ribs；　and　said　quite　quietly；　and　oh；　so　drily；　with　a　knowing　wink

〃I'vegotThe　Receipt。〃



CHAPTER　LI

MR。　HARDIE　collapsed　as　if　he　had　been　a　man　inflated；　and　that　touch　had　punctured　him。　〃Ah！〃　said　he。　〃Ah！〃　said　Skinner；　in　a　mighty　different　tone：　insolent　triumph　to　wit。

After　a　pause；　Mr。　Hardie　made　an　effort　and　said　contemptuously；　〃The　receipt　（if　any）　was　flung　into　the　dusthole　and　carried　away。　Do　you　think　I　have　forgotten　that？〃

〃Don't　you　believe　it；　sir；〃　was　the　reply。　〃While　you　turned　your　back　and　sacked　the　money；　I　said　to　myself；　'Oho；　is　that　the　game？'　and　nailed　the　receipt。　What　a　couple　of　scoundrels　we　were！　I　wouldn't　have　her　know　it　for　all　your　money。　Come；　sir；　I　see　its　all　right；　you　will　shell　out　sooner　than　be　po