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hard cash-第59章

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〃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 majestically。 〃Captain Dodd; this is a strange way of demanding what nobody here disputes。〃

〃Well; I beg your pardon;〃 said Dodd; a little awed by his dignity and fairness; 〃but I can't help it。〃

The quick; supple banker saw the slight advantage he had gained; and his mind went into a whirl。 What should he do? It was death to part with this money and gain nothing by it。 Sooner tell Dodd of the love affair; and open a treaty on this basis: he clung to this money like limpet to its rock; and so intense and rapid were his thoughts and schemes how to retain it a little longer; that David's apologies buzzed in his ear like the drone of a beetle。

The latter went on to say; 'You see; sir; it's my children's fortune; my boy Edward's; and my little Julia's: and so many have been trying to get it from me; that my blood boils up in a moment about it now。My poor head!You don't seem to understand what I am saying! There then; I am a sailor; I can't go beating and tacking like you landsmen; with the wind dead astern。 The long and the short is; I don't feel It safe here: don't feel It safe anywhere; except in my wife's lap。 So no more words: here's your receipt; give me my money。〃

〃Certainly; Captain Dodd。 Call to…morrow morning at the bank; and it will be paid on demand in the regular way: the bank opens at ten o'clock。〃

〃No; no; I can't wait。 I should be dead of anxiety before then。 Why not pay it me here and now? You took it here。〃

〃We receive deposits till four o'clock; but we do not disburse after three。 This is the system of all banks。〃

〃That is all nonsense: if you are open to receive money; you are open to pay it。〃

〃My dear sir; if you were not entirely ignorant of business; you would be aware that these things are not done in this way。 Money received is passed to account; and the cashier is the only person who can honour your draft on it。 But; stop; if the cashier is in the bank; we may manage it for you yet。 Skinner; run and see whether he has left: and if not; send him to me directly。〃 The cashier took his cue and ran out

David was silent。

The cashier speedily returned; saying; with a disappointed air; 〃The cashier has been gone this quarter of an hour。〃

David maintained an ominous silence。

〃That is unfortunate;〃 remarked Hardie。 〃But; after all; it is only till to…morrow morning。 Still I regret this circumstance; sir; and I feel that all these precautions we are obliged to take must seem unreasonable to you。 But experience dictates this severe routine; and; were we to deviate from it; our friends' money would not be so safe in our hands as it always has been at present。〃

David eyed him sternly; but let him run on。 When he had concluded his flowing periods; David said quietly; 〃So you can't give me my own because your cashier has carried it away?〃

Hardie smiled。 〃No; no; but because he has locked it up and carried away the key。〃

〃It is not in this room; then?〃

〃No。〃

〃Are you sure?〃

〃Positive。〃

〃What; not in that safe of yours; there?〃

〃Certainly not;〃 said Hardie stoutly。

〃Open the safe: the keys are in it。〃

〃Open the safe? What for?〃

〃To show me It is not in the right…hand partition of that safe; there: there。〃 And David pointed at the very place where it was。

The dignified Mr。 Hardie felt ready to sink with shame: a kind of shudder passed through him; and he was about to comply; heart…sick; but then wounded pride and the rage of disappointment stung him; and he turned in defiance。 〃You are impertinent; sir; and I shall not reward your curiosity and your insolence by showing you the contents of my safe。〃

〃My money! my money!〃 cried David fiercely: 〃no more words; for I shan't listen to them: I know you now for what you area thief! I saw you put It into that safe: a liar is always a thief。 You want to steal my children's money: I'll have your life first My money! ye pirate! or I'll strangle you。 And he advanced upon him purple with rage; and shot out his long threatening arm and brown fingers working in the air。 〃D'ye know what I did to a French land…shark that tried to rob me of It? I throttled him with these fingers till his eyes and his tongue started out of him。 He came for my children's money; and I killed him sososoas I'll kill you; you thief! you liar! you scoundrel!〃

His face black and convulsed with rage; and his outstretched fingers working convulsively; and hungering for a rogue's throat; made the resolute Hardie quake。 He whipped out of the furious man's way; and got to the safe; pale and trembling。 〃Hush! no violence!〃 he gasped: 〃I'll give you your money this moment you ruffian。〃

While he unlocked the safe with trembling hands; Dodd stood like a man petrified; his arm and fingers stretched out and threatening; and Skinner saw him pull at his necktie furiously; like one choking。

Hardie got the notes and bills all in a hurry; and held them out to Dodd。

In which act; to his consternation and surprise and indignation; he received a back…handed blow on the eye that dazzled him for an instant; and there was David with his arms struggling wildly and his fists clenched; his face purple; and his eyes distorted so that little was seen but the whites the next moment his teeth gnashed loudly together; and he fell headlong on the floor with a concussion so momentous that the windows rattled and the room shook violently; the dust rose in a cloud。

A loud ejaculation burst from Hardie and Skinner;

And then there was an awful silence。


CHAPTER XIX

WHEN David fell senseless on the floor; Mr。 Hardie was somewhat confused by the back…handed blow from his convulsed and whirling arm。 But Skinner ran to him; held up his head; and whipped off his neckcloth。

Then Hardie turned to seize the bell and ring for assistance; but Skinner shook his head and said it was useless: this was no faint: old Betty could not help him。

〃It is a bad day's work; sir;〃 said he; trembling: 〃he is a dead man。〃

〃Dead? Heaven forbid!〃

〃Apoplexy!〃 whispered Skinner。

〃Run for a doctor then: lose no time: don't let us have his blood on our hands! Dead?〃

And he repeated the word this time in a very different tone; a。 tone too strange and significant to escape Skinner's quick ear。 However; he laid David's head gently down and rose from his knees to obey。

What did he see now; but Mr。 Hardie; with his back turned; putting the notes and bills softly into the safe again out of sight。 He saw; comprehended; and took his own course with equal rapidity。

〃Come; run!〃 cried Mr。 Hardie; 〃I'll take care of him; every moment is precious。〃

(〃Wants to get rid of me!〃 thought Skinner。) 〃No; sir;〃 said he; 〃be ruled by me: let us take him to his friends: he won't live; and we shall get all the blame if we doctor him。〃

Already egotism had whispered Hardie; 〃How lucky if he should die!〃 and now a still guiltier thought flashed through him: he did not try to conquer it; he only trembled at himself for entertaining it。

〃At least: give him air!〃 said he in a quavering voice; consenting to a crime; yet compromising with his conscience; feebly。

He threw the window; open with great zealwith prodigious zeal; for; he wanted to deceive himself as well as Skinner。 With equal parade he helped carry Dodd to the window; it opened; on the ground: this done; the self…deceivers put their heads together; and soon managed matters so that two porters; known to Skinner; were introduced into the garden; and informed that a gentleman had fallen down in a fit; and they were to take him home to his friends; and not talk about it: there might be an inquest; and that was so disagreeable to a gentleman like Mr。 Hardie。 The men agreed at once for a sovereign apiece。 It was all done in a great hurry and agitation; and while Skinner accompanied the men to see that they did not blab; Mr。 Hardie went into the garden to breathe and think。 But he could do neither。

He must have a look at It。

He stole back; opened the safe; and examined the notes and bills。

He fingered them。

They seemed to grow to his finger。

He lusted after them。

He said to himself; 〃The matter has gone too far to stop; I _must_ go on borrowing this money of the Dodds; and make it the basis of a large fortune: it will be best for all parties in the end。〃

He put It into his pocket…book; that pocket…book into his breast…pocket; and passed by his private door into the house; and to his dressing…room。

Ten minutes later he left the house with a little black bag in his band。


CHAPTER XX

〃WHAT will ye give me; and I'll tell ye?〃 said Maxley to Alfred Hardie。

〃Five pounds。〃

〃That is too much。〃

〃Five shillings; then。〃

〃That is too little。 Lookee here; your garden owes me thirty shillings for work: suppose you pays me; and that will save me from going to your Dad for it。〃

Alfred consented readily; and paid the money。 Then Maxley told him it was Captain Dodd he had been talking with。

〃I thought so! I thought so!〃 cried Alfred joyfully; 〃but I was afraid to believe it: it was too delightful。 Maxley; you're a trump you don't know what anxiety you have relie
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