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hard cash-第58章

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〃Now suppose I treat this advance as a personal trust? The bank breaks: the money disappears。 Consternation of the Dodds; who; until enlightened by the public settlement; will think it has gone into the well。

〃In that interval I talk Alfred over; and promise to produce the L。 14;000 intact; with my paternal blessing on him and Miss Dodd; provided he will release me from my debt to him; and give me a life interest in half the money settled on him by my wife's father; to my most unjust and insolent exclusion。 Their passion will soon bring the young people to reason; and then they will soon melt the old ones。〃

Skinner was struck with this masterly little sketch。 But he detected one fatal flaw: 〃You don't say what is to become of me。〃

〃Oh; I haven't thought of that yet。〃

〃But do think of it; sir; that I may have the pleasure of co…operating。 It would never do for you and me to be pulling two ways; you know。〃

〃I will not forget you;〃 said Hardie; wincing under the chain this little wretch held him with; and had jerked him by way of reminder。

〃But surely; Skinner; you agree with me it would be a sin and a shame to rob this honest captain of his moneyfor my creditorscurse them! Ah! you are not a father。 How quickly he found that out! Well; I am; and he touched me to the quick。 I love my little Jane as dearly as he loves his Julia; every bit: and I feel for _him。_ And then he put me in mind of my own father; poor man。 That seems strange; doesn't it? a sailor and a banker。 Ah! it was because they were both honest men。 Yes; it was like a wholesome flower coming into a close room; and then out again and heaving a whiff behind was that sailor。 He left the savour of Probity and Simplicity behind; though he took the things themselves away again。 Why; why couldn't he leave us what is more wanted here than even his money? His integrity: the pearl of price; that my father; whom I used to sneer at; carried to his grave; and died simple; but wise; honest; but richrich in money; in credit; in honour; and eternal hopes。 Oh; Skinner! Skinner! I wish I had never been born。〃

Skinner was surprised: he was not aware that intelligent men who sin are subject to fits of remorse。 Nay; more; he was frightened; for the emotion of this iron man; so hard to move; was overpowering when it came: it did not soften; it convulsed him。

〃Don't talk so; sir;〃 said the little clerk。 〃Keep up your heart! Have a drop of something。〃

〃You are right;〃 said Mr。 Hardie gloomily; 〃it is idle to talk: we are all the slaves of circumstances。〃

With this; he unlocked a safe that stood against the wall; chucked the L。 14;000 in; and shammed the iron door sharply; and; as it closed upon the Cash with a clang; the parlour door burst open as if by concert; and David Dodd stood on the threshold; looking terrible。 His ruddy colour was all gone; and he seemed black and white with anger and anxiety; and out of this blanched yet lowering face his eyes glowed like coals; and roved keenly to and fro between the banker and the clerk。

A thunder…cloud of a man。



CHAPTER XVII

JAMES MAXLEY came out of the bank that morning with nine hundred and four pounds buttoned up tight in the pocket of his leather breeches; a joyful man; and so to his work; and home at one o'clock to dinner。

At 2 P。M。 he was thoughtful; uneasy at 3; wretched at 3。30。 He was gardener as well as capitalist; and Mr。 Hardie owed him 30s。 for work。 Such is human nature in general; and Maxley's in particular; that the L。 900 in pocket seemed small; and the 30s。 in jeopardy large。

〃I can't afford to go with the creditors;〃 argued Maxley: 〃Dividend on 30s。! Why; that will be about thirty pence: the change for a hard* half…crown。

*_I。e。_ a half…crown in one piece。

He stuck his spade in the soil and made for his debtor's house。 As he came up the street; Dodd shot out of the bank radiant; and was about to pass him without notice; full of his wife and children; but Maxley stopped him with a right cordial welcome; and told him he had given them all a fright this time。

〃What; is it over the town already that my ship has been wrecked?〃 And Dodd looked annoyed。

〃Wrecked? No; but you have been due this two months; ye know。 Wrecked? Why; Captain; you haven't ever been wrecked?〃 And he looked him all over as if he expected to see 〃WRECKED〃 branded on him by the elements。

〃Ay; James; wrecked on the French coast; and lost my chronometer; and a tip…top sextant。 But what of that? I saved _It。_ I have just landed It in the Bank。 Good…bye; I must sheer off: I long to be home。〃

〃Stay a bit; Captain;〃 said Maxley。 〃I am not quite easy in my mind。 I saw you come out of Hardie's。 I thought in course you had been in to draa: but you says different。 Now what was it you did leave behind you at that there shop; if _you_ please: not money?〃

〃Not money? Only L。 14;000。 How the man stares! Why; it's not mine; James; it's my children's: there; good…bye;〃 and he was actually off this time。 But Maxley stretched his long limbs; and caught him in two strides; and griped his shoulder without ceremony。 〃Be you mad?〃 said he sternly。

〃No; but I begin to think you are。〃

〃That is to be seen;〃 said Maxley gravely。 〃Before I lets you go; you must tell me whether you be jesting; or whether you have really been so simple as to drop fourteenthousandpounds at Hardie's?〃 No judge upon the bench; nor bishop in his stall; could be more impressive than this gardener was; when he subdued the vast volume of his voice to a low grave utterance of this sort。

Dodd began to be uneasy。 〃Why; good heavens; there is nothing wrong with the old Barkington Bank?〃

〃Nothing wrong?〃 roared Maxley: then whispered': 〃Holt! I was laad once for slander; and cost me thirty pounds: nearly killed my missus it did。〃

〃Man!〃 cried Dodd; 〃for my children's sake tell me if you know anything amiss。 After all; I'm like a stranger here; more than two years away at a time。〃

〃I'll tell you all I know;〃 whispered Maxley; 〃'tis the least I can do。 What (roaring) doyouthinkI've forgotten you saving my poor boy out o' that scrape; and getting him a good place in Canada; andwhy; he'd have been put in prison but for you; and that would ha' broken my heart and his mother'sand〃 The stout voice began to quaver。

〃Oh; bother all that now;〃 said Dodd impatiently。 〃The bank! you have grounded me on thorns。〃

〃Well; I'll tell ye: but you must promise faithful not to go and say I told ye; or you'll get me laad again: and I likes to laa _them;_ not for _they_ to laa me。〃

〃I promise; I promise。〃

〃Well then; I got a letter to…day from my boy; him as you was so good to; and here 'tis in my breeches…pocket。Laws! how things do come round sure_ly:_ why; lookee here now; if so be _you_ hadn't been a good friend to _he; he_ wouldn't be where he is; and if so be _he_ warn't where _he_ is; _he_ couldn't have writ _me_ this here; and then where should _you_ and _I_ be?〃

〃Belay your jaw and show me this letter;〃 cried David; trembling all over。

〃That I wool;〃 said Maxley; diving a hand into his pocket。 〃Hush! lookee yander now; if there ain't Master Alfred a…watching of us two out of his window: and he have got an eye like a hawk; _he_ have。 Step in the passage; Captain; and I'll show it to you。

He drew him aside into the passage; and gave him the letter。 Dodd ran his eye over it hastily; uttered a cry like a wounded lion; dropped it; gave a slight stagger; and rushed away。

Maxley picked up his letter and watched Dodd into the bank again and reflected on his work。 His heart was warmed at having made a return to the good captain。

His head suggested that he was on the road which leads to libel。

But he had picked up at the assizes a smattering of the law of evidence; so he coolly tore the letter in pieces。 〃There now;〃 said he to himself; 〃if Hardies do laa me for publishing of this here letter; why they pours their water into a sieve。 Ugh!〃 And with this exclamation he started; and then put his heavy boot on part of the letter; and ground it furtively into the mud; for a light hand had settled on his shoulder; and a keen young face was close to his。

It was Alfred Hardie; who had stolen on him like a cat。 〃I'm laad;〃 thought Maxley。

〃Maxley; old fellow;〃 said Alfred; in a voice as coaxing as a woman's; 〃are you in a good humour?〃

〃Well; Master; Halfred; sight of you mostly puts me in one; especially after that there strychnine job。〃

〃Then tell me;〃 whispered Alfred; his eyes sparkling and his face beaming; 〃who was that you were talking to just now? Was it?wasn't it?who was it?〃


CHAPTER XVIII

WHILE Dodd stood lowering in the doorway; he was nevertheless making a great effort to control his agitation。

At last he said in a stern but low voice; in which; however; a quick ear might detect a tremor of agitation: 〃I have changed my mind; sir: I want my money back。〃

At this; though David's face had prepared him; Mr。 Hardie's heart sank: but there was no help for it。 He said faintly; 〃Certainly。 May I ask?〃 and there he stopped; for it was hardly prudent to ask anything。

〃No matter;〃 replied Dodd; his agitation rising even at this slight delay。 〃Come! my money! I must and will have it。〃

Hardie drew himself up maj
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