hard cash-第94节

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〃Yes；　I　am　here；〃　said　she　sharply；　and　came　out　of　the　room　hastily；　and　shut　it。　〃What　do　you　want；　sir？〃

Alfred　clasped　his　hands　together。　〃If　you　are　a　woman；　have　pity　on　me。〃

She　was　taken　by　surprise。　〃What　can　I　do？〃　said　she　in　some　agitation。　〃I　am　only　a　servant。〃

〃At　least　tell　me　where　I　can　find　the　Visiting　Justice；　before　the　keepers　stop　me。〃

〃Hush！　Speak　lower；〃　said　Hannah。　〃You　_have_　complained　to　one；　haven't　you？〃

〃Yes；　but　he　seems　a　feeble　old　fogy。　Where　is　the　other？　Oh；　pray　tell　me？〃

〃I　mustn't：　I　mustn't　In　the　noisy　ward。　There；　run。〃

And　run　he　did。

Alfred　was　lucky　enough　to　get　safe　into　the　noisy　ward　without　being　intercepted。　And　then　he　encountered　a　sunburnt　gentleman；　under　thirty；　in　a　riding…coat；　with　a　hunting…whip　in　his　hand：　it　was　Mr。　Vane；　a　Tory　squire　and　large　landholder　in　the　county。

Now；　as　Alfred　entered　at　one　door；　Baker　himself　came　in　at　the　other；　and　they　nearly　met　at　Vane。　But　Alfred　saluted　him　first；　and　begged　respectfully　for　an　interview。

〃Certainly；　sir；〃　said　Mr。　Vane。

〃Take　care；　sir；　he　is　dangerous；〃　whispered　Baker。　Instantly　Mr。　Vane's　countenance　changed。　But　this　time　Alfred　overheard　the　formula；　and　said　quietly：　〃Don't　believe　him；　sir。　I　am　not　dangerous；　I　am　as　sane　as　any　man　in　England。　Pray　examine　me；　and　judge　for　yourself。〃

〃Ah；　that　is　his　delusion；〃　said　Baker。　〃Come；　Mr。　Hardie；　I　allow　you　great　liberties；　but　you　abuse　them。　You　really　must　not　monopolise　his　Worship　with　your　fancies。　Consider；　sir；　you　are　not　the　only　patient　he　has　to　examine。〃

Alfred's　heart　sank：　he　turned　a　look　of　silent　agony　on　Mr。　Vane。

Mr。　Vane；　either　touched　by　that　look；　or　irritated　by　Baker's　pragmatical　interference；　or　perhaps　both；　looked　that　person　coolly　in　the　face；　and　said　sternly：　〃Be　silent；　sir；　and　let　_the　gentleman_　speak　to　me。〃


CHAPTER　XXXIII

ALFRED　thus　encouraged　told　his　story　with　forced　calmness；　and　without　a　word　too　much。　Indeed；　so　clear　and　telling　was　the　narrative；　and　the　logic　so　close；　that　incoherent　patients　one　or　two　stole　up　and　listened　with　wonder　and　a　certain　dreamy　complacency；　the　bulk；　however；　held　aloof　apathetic：　inextricably　wrapped　in　fictitious　Autobiography。

His　story　told；　Alfred　offered　the　Dodds　in　evidence　that　the　fourteen　thousand　pounds　was　no　illusion；　and　referred　to　his　sister　and　several　friends　as　witnesses　to　his　sanity；　and　said　the　letters　he　wrote　were　all　stopped　in　the　asylum：　and　why？　That　no　honest　man　or　woman　might　know　where　he　was。

He　ended　by　convincing　Mr。　Vane　he　was　a　sane　and　injured　man；　and　his　father　a　dark　designing　person。

Mr。　Vane　asked　him　whether　he　had　any　other　revelations　to　make。　Alfred　replied；　〃Not　on　my　own　account；　but　for　the　sake　of　those　afflicted　persons　who　are　here　for　life。　Well；　the　beds　want　repaving；　the　vermin　thinning；　the　instruments　of　torture　want　abolishing；　instead　of　hiding　for　an　hour　or　two　when　you　happen　to　come：　what　do　the　patients　gain　by　that？　The　madmen　dare　not　complain　to　you；　sir；　because　the　last　time　one　did　complain　to　the　justices　（it　was　Mr。　Petworth）；　they　had　no　sooner　passed　through　the　iron　gate；　than　Cooper　made　an　example　of　him；　felled　him　with　his　fist；　and　walked　up　and　down　him　on　his　knees；　crying；　'I'll　teach　you　to　complain　to　the　justices。'　But　one　or　two　gentlemanly　madmen；　who　soon　found　out　that　I　am　not　one　of　_them；_　have　complained　to　_me_　that　the　attendants　wash　them　too　much　like　Hansom　cabs；　strip　them　naked；　and　mop　them　on　the　flag…stones；　then　fling　on　their　clothes　without　drying　them。　They　say；　too；　that　the　meat　is　tough　and　often　putrid；　the　bread　stale；　the　butter　rancid；　the　vegetables　stinted；　since　they　can't　be　adulterated。　And　as　for　sleep；　it　is　hardly　known；　for　the　beds　are　so　short　your　feet　stick　out；　insects；　without　a　name　to　ears　polite；　but　highly　odoriferous　and　profoundly　carnivorous；　bite　you　all　night；　and　dogs　howl　eternally　outside；　and；　when　exhausted　nature　defies　even　these　enemies　of　rest；　then　the　doctor；　who　seems　to　be　in　the　pay　of　Insanity；　claps　you　on　a　blister　by　brute　force；　and　so　drives　away　sleep；　Insanity's　cure；　or　hocuses　you　by　brute　force　as　he　did　me；　and　so　steals　your　sleep；　and　tries　to　steal　your　reason；　with　his　opium；　henbane；　morphia；　and　other　tremendous　brain…stealers。　With　such　a　potion；　sir；　administered　by　violence；　he　gave　me　in　one　night　a　bursting　fever；　headache；　loss　of　sight；　and　bleeding　at　the　nose；　as　Mrs。　Archbold　will　tell　you。　Oh；　look　into　these　things；　sir；　in　pity　to　those　whom　Heaven　has　afflicted：　to　me　they　are　but　strokes　with　a　feather。　I　am　a　sane　man　torn　from　love　and　happiness；　and　confined　among　the　mad；　discomfort　is　nothing　to　me；　comfort　is　nothing；　you　can　do　nothing　for　me　but　restore　me　to　my　dignity　as　a　man；　my　liberty　as　a　Briton；　and　the　rights　as　a　citizen　I　have　been　swindled　out　of　by　a　fraudulent　bankrupt　and　his　tools；　two　venal　doctors；　who　never　saw　me　but　for　one　five　minutes；　but　came　to　me　ready　bribed　at　a　guinea　apiece；　and　so　signed　away　my　wits　behind　my　back。〃

〃Now；　Mr。　Baker；〃　said　Vane；　〃what　do　you　say　to　all　this？〃

Baker　smiled　with　admirable　composure；　and　replied　with　crafty　moderation；　〃He　is　a　gentleman；　and　believes　every　word　he　says；　but　it　is　all　his　delusions。　Why；　to　begin；　sir；　his　father　has　nothing　to　do　with　putting　him　in　here；　nothing　on　earth。　（Alfred　started；　then　smiled　incredulous。）　And；　in　the　next　place；　there　are　no　instruments　of　restraint　here；　but　two　pair　of　handcuffs　and　two　strait　jackets；　and　these　never　hardly　used；　we　trust　to　the　padded　rooms；　you　know。　And；　sir；〃　said　he；　getting　warm；　which　instantly　affected　his　pronunciations　〃if　there's　a　hinsect　in　the　ouse；　I'll　heat　im。〃

Delusion　is　a　big　word；　especially　in　a　mad…house；　it　overpowers　a　visitor's　understanding。　Mr。　Vane　was　staggered。　Alfred；　whose　eager　eyes　were　never　off　his　face；　saw　this　with　dismay；　and　feeling　that；　if　he　failed　in　the　simpler　matter；　he　should　be　sure　to　fail　in　establishing　his　sanity；　he　said　with　inward　anxiety；　though　with　outward　calmness；　〃Suppose　we　test　these　delusions？〃

〃With　all　my　heart；〃　said　Vane。

Baker's　countenance　fell。

〃Begin　with　the　instruments　of　restraint。　Find　me　them。〃

Baker's　countenance　brightened　up；　he　had　no　fear　of　their　being　found。

〃I　will；〃　said　Alfred：　〃please　to　follow　me。〃

Baker　grinned　with　anticipated　triumph。

Alfred　led　the　way　to　a　bedroom　near　his　own；　and　asked　Mr。　Baker　to　unlock　it。　Baker　had　not　the　key；　no　more　had　Cooper。　The　latter　was　sent　for　it；　he　returned；　saying　the　key　was　mislaid。

〃That　I　expected；〃　said　Alfred。　〃Send　for　the　kitchen　poker；　sir：　I'll　soon　unlock　it。〃

〃Fetch　the　kitchen　poker；〃　said　Vane。

〃Good　gracious！　sir；〃　said　Cooper；　〃he　only　wants　that　to　knock　all　our　brains　out。　You　have　no　idea　of　his　strength　and　ferocity。〃

〃Well　lied；　Cooper；〃　said　Alfred　ironically。

〃Fetch　_me_　the　poker；〃　said　Vane。

Cooper　went　for　it；　and　came　back　with　the　key　instead。

The　door　was　opened；　and　they　all　entered。　Alfred　looked　under　the　bed。　The　rest　stood　round　it。

There　was　nothing　to　be　seen　but　a　year's　dust

Alfred　was　dumb…foundered；　and　a　cold　perspiration　began　to　gather　on　his　brow。　He　saw　at　once　a　false　move　would　be　fatal　to　him。

〃Well；　sir；〃　said　Vane　grimly。　〃Where　are　they？〃

Alfred　caught　sight　of　a　small　cupboard；　he　searched　it；　it　was　empty。　Baker　and　Cooper　grinned　at　his　delusion　quietly；　but　so　that　Vane　might　see　that　formula。　Alfred　returned　to　the　bed　and　shook　it。　Cooper　and　Baker　left　off　grinning；　Alfred's　quick　eye　caught　this；　and　he　shook　the　bed　violently；　furiously。

〃Ah！〃　said　Mr。　Vane；　〃I　hear　a　chink。〃

〃It　is　an　iron　bedstead　and　old；〃　suggested　Baker。

Alfred　tore　off　the　bed…clothes；　and　then　the　mattress。　Below　the　latter　was　a　framework；　and　below　the　framework　a　receptacle　about　six　inches　deep；　five　feet　long；　and　three　broad；　filled　with　chains；　iron　belts；　wrist…locks；　muffles；　and　screw…locked　hobbles；　&c。；　a　regular　Inquisition。

If　Baker　had　descended　from　the　Kemble　family；　instead　of　rising　from　nothing；　he　could　not　have　acted　better。　〃Good　Heavens！〃　cried　he；　〃where　do　these　come　from？　They　must　have　been　left　here　by　the　last　proprietor。〃

Vane　replied　only　by　a　look　of　contempt；　and　ordered　Cooper　to　go　and　ask　Mr。　Tollett　to　come　to　him。

Alfred　improved　the　interval。　〃Sir；〃　said　he；　〃all　my　delusions；　fairly　tested；　will　turn　out　like　this。〃

〃They　_shall_　be　tested；　sir；　I　give　you　my　word。〃

Mr。　Tollett　came；　and　the　two　justices　commenced　a　genuine　scrutinytheir　first。　They　went　now　upon　the　true　method；　in　which　all　these　dark　places　ought　to　be　inspected。　They　did　not　believe　a　word；　they　suspected　everything；　they　examined　patients　apart；　detected　cruelty；　filth　and　vermin　under　philanthropic　phrases　and　clean　linen；　and　the　upshot　was　they　reprimanded　Baker　and　the　attendants　severely；　and　told　him　his　licence　should　never　be　renewed；　unless　at　their　next　visit　the　whole　asylum　was　reformed。　They　ordered　all　the　iron　body…belts；　chains；　leg…locks；　wrist…locks；　and　muffs；　to　be　put　into　Mr。　Tollett's　carriage；　and　concluded　a　long　ins