hard cash-第35节
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anging over him by a hair！
Soon matters approached a crisis； several large drafts were drawn； which would have cleaned the bank out； but that the yearly rents of a wealthy nobleman had for some days past been flowing in。 This nobleman had gone to explore Syria and Assyria。 He was a great traveller； who contrived to live up to his income at home； but had never been able to spend a quarter of it abroad； for want of enemies and mastersbetter known as friends and servantsto help him。 So Hardie was safe for some months； unless there should be an extraordinary run on him； and that was not likely this year； the panic had subsided； and； _nota bene；_ his credit had never stood higher。 The reason was； he had been double…faced； had always spoken against railways： and his wise words were public； whereas his fatal acts had been done in the dark。
But now came a change； a bitter revulsion； over this tossed mind： hope and patience failed at last； and his virtue； being a thing of habit and traditions rather than of the soul； wore out； nay more； this man； who had sacrificed so nobly to commercial integrity； was filled with hate of his idol and contempt of himself。 〃Idiot！〃 said he； 〃to throw away a fortune fighting for honoura greater bubble than that which has ruined meinstead of breaking like a man； with a hidden purse； and starting fair again； as sensible traders do。〃
No honest man in the country that year repented of his vices so sincerely as Richard Hardie loathed his virtue。 And he did not confine his penitence to sentiment： he began to spend his days at the bank poring over the books； and to lay out his arithmetical genius in a subtle process； that should enable him by degrees to withdraw a few thousands from human eyes for his future use； despite the feeble safeguards of the existing law。 In other words； Richard Hardie； like thousands before him； was fabricating and maturing a false balance…sheet。
One man in his time plays many animals。 Hardie at this period turned mole。 He burrowed darkling into _oes alienum。_ There is often one of these sleek miners in a bank： it is a section of human zoology the journals have lately enlarged on； and drawn the painstaking creature grubbing and mining away to brief opulenceand briefer penal servitude than one could wish。 I rely on my reader having read these really able sketches of my contemporaries； and spare him minute details； that possess scarcely a new feature； except one： in that bank was not only a mole； but a mole…catcher； and； contrary to custom； the mole was the master； the mole…catcher the servant。 The latter had no hostile views； far from it： he was rather attached to his master。 But his attention was roused by the youngest clerk； a boy of sixteen； being so often sent for into the bank parlour； to copy into the books some arithmetical result； without its process。 Attention soon became suspicion； and suspicion found many little things to feed on； till it grew to certainty。 But the outer world was none the wiser： the mole…catcher was no chatterbox； he was a solitary manno wife nor mistress about him； and he revered the mole； and liked him better than anything in the world_except money。_
Thus the great banker stood； a colossus of wealth and stability to the eye； though ready to crumble at a touch； and indeed self…doomed； for bankruptcy was now his game。
This was a miserable man； far more miserable than his son； whose happiness he had thwarted： his face was furrowed and his hair thinned by a secret struggle； and of all the things that gnawed him； like the fox； beneath his Spartan robe； none was more bitter than to have borrowed five thousand pounds of his children and sunk it。
His wife's father； a keen man of business； who saw there was little affection on his side； had settled his daughter's money on her for life； and in case of her death； on the children upon coming of age。 The marriage of Alfred or Jane would be sure to expose him； settlements would be proposed； lawyers engaged to peer into the trust； &c。 No； they _must_ remain single for the present； or else marry wealth。
So； when his son announced an attachment to a young lady living in a suburban villa； it was a terrible blow； though he took it with outward calm； as usual。 But if； instead of prating about beauty； virtue； and breeding； Alfred had told him hard cash in five figures could be settled by the bride's family on the young couple； he would have welcomed the wedding with great external indifference； but a secret gush of joy； for then he could throw himself on Alfred's generosity； and be released from that one corroding debt； perhaps allowed to go on drawing the interest of the remainder。
Thus； in reality； all the interests with which this story deals converged towards one point： the fourteen thousand pounds。 Richard Hardie's opposition was a mere misunderstanding； and if he had been told of the Cash； and to what purpose Mrs。 Dodd destined it； and then put on board the _Agra_ in the Straits of Gaspar； he would have calmly taken off his coat； and help to defend the bearer of It against all assailants as stoutly； and； to all appearance； imperturbably； as he had fought that other bitter battle at home。 For there was something heroic in this erring man； though his rectitude depended on circumstances。
CHAPTER IX
THE way the pirate dropped the mask； showed his black teeth； and bore up in chase； was terrible： so dilates and bounds the sudden tiger on his unwary prey。 There were stout hearts among the officers of the peaceable _Agra_； but danger in a new form shakes the brave； and this was their first pirate： their dismay broke out in ejaculations not loud but deep。 〃Hush；〃 said Dodd doggedly； 〃the lady！〃
Mrs。 Beresford had just come on deck to enjoy the balmy morning。
〃Sharpe；〃 said Dodd； in a tone that conveyed no suspicion to the new…comer； 〃set the royals and flying jib。Port！〃
〃Port it is；〃 cried the man at the helm。
〃Steer due south！〃 And； with these words in his mouth； Dodd dived to the gun…deck。
By this time elastic Sharpe had recovered the first shock； and the order to crowd sail on the ship galled his pride and his manhood。 He muttered indignantly； 〃The white feather！〃 This eased his mind； and he obeyed orders briskly as ever。 While he and his hands were setting every rag the ship could carry on that tack； the other officers having unluckily no orders to execute； stood gloomy and helpless； with their eyes glued； by a sort of sombre fascination； on that coming fate； and they literally jumped and jarred when Mrs。 Beresford； her heart opened by the lovely day； broke in on their nerves with her light treble。
〃What a sweet morning； gentlemen！ After all； a voyage is a delightful thing。 Oh； what a splendid sea！ and the very breeze is warm。 Ah！ and there's a little ship sailing along： here； Freddy； Freddy darling； leave off beating the sailor's legs； and come here and see this pretty ship。 What a pity it is so far off。 Ah！ ah！ what is that dreadful noise？〃
For her horrible small talk； that grated on those anxious souls like the mockery of some infantine fiend； was cut short by ponderous blows and tremendous smashing below。 It was the captain staving in water…casks： the water poured out at the scuppers。
〃Clearing the lee guns；〃 said a middy； off his guard。
Colonel Kenealy pricked up his ears； drew his cigar from his mouth； and smelt powder 〃What； for action ？〃 said he briskly。 〃Where's the enemy？〃
Fullalove made him a signal； and they went below。
Mrs。 Beresford had not heard or not appreciated the remark： she prattled on till she made the mates and midshipmen shudder。
Realise the situation； and the strange incongruity between the senses and the mind in these poor fellows！ The day had ripened its beauty； beneath a purple heaven shone； sparkled； and laughed a blue sea； in whose waves the tropical sun seemed to have fused his beams； and beneath that fair； sinless； peaceful sky； wafted by a balmy breeze over those smiling； transparent； golden waves； a bloodthirsty Pirate bore down on them with a crew of human tigers； and a lady babble babble babble babble babble babble babbled in their quivering ears。
But now the captain came bustling on deck； eyed the loftier sails； saw they were drawing well； appointed four midshipmen a staff to convey his orders： gave Bayliss charge of the carronades； Grey of the cutlasses； and directed Mr。 Tickell to break the bad news gently to Mrs。 Beresford； and to take her below to the orlop deck； ordered the purser to serve out beet biscuit； and grog to all hands； saying； 〃Men can't work on an empty stomach： and fighting is hard work；〃 then beckoned the officers to come round him。 〃Gentlemen；〃 said he； confidentially； 〃in crowding sail on this ship I had no hope of escaping that fellow on this tack； but I was； and am； most anxious to gain the open sea； where I can square my yards and run for it； if I see a chance。 At present I shall carry on till he comes within range： and then； to keep the Company's canvas from being shot to rags； I shall shorten sail； and to save ship and cargo and all our lives； I shall fight while a plank of her swims。 Better be killed in hot blood than walk the plank in cold。〃
The officers cheered faintly； the captain's dogged resolu
