hard cash-第102章

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Thus　passed　the　night　in　mental　agony；　and　bodily　irritation　and　disgust。　At　daybreak　the　feasters　on　his　flesh　retired；　and　utterly　worn　out　and　exhausted；　he　sank　into　a　deep　sleep。

At　half…past　seven　the　head　keeper　and　three　more　came　in；　and　made　him　dress　before　them。　They　handcuffed　him；　and　took　him　down　to　breakfast　in　the　noisy　ward；　set　him　down　on　a　little　bench　by　the　wall　like　a　naughty　boy；　and　ordered　a　dangerous　maniac　to　feed　him。

The　dangerous　maniac　obeyed；　and　went　and　sat　beside　Alfred　with　a　basin　of　thick　gruel　and　a　great　wooden　spoon。　He　shovelled　the　gruel　down　his　charge's　throat　mighty　superciliously　from　the　very　first；　and　presently；　falling　into　some　favourite　and　absorbing　train　of　thought；　he　fixed　his　eye　on　vacancy；　and　handed　the　spoonfuls　over　his　left　shoulder　with　such　rapidity　and　recklessness　that　it　was　more　like　sowing　than　feeding。　Alfred　cried　out　〃Quarter！　I　can't　eat　so　fast　as　that；　old　fellow。〃

Something　in　his　tone　struck　the　maniac；　he　looked　at　Alfred　full；　Alfred　looked　at　him　in　return；　and　smiled　kindly　but　sadly。

〃Hallo！〃　cried　the　maniac。

〃What's　up　now？〃　said　a　keeper　fiercely。

〃Why　this　man　is　sane。　As　sane　as　I　am。〃

At　this　there　was　a　horse　laugh。

〃Saner；〃　persisted　the　maniac；　〃for　I　am　a　little　queer　at　times；　you　know。〃

〃And　no　mistake；　Jemmy。　Now　what　makes　you　think　he　is　sane？〃

〃Looked　me　full　in　the　face；　and　smiled　at　me。〃

〃Oh；　that　is　your　test；　is　it？〃

〃Yes；　it　is。　You　try　it　on　any　of　those　mad　beggars　there　and　see　if　they　can　stand　it。〃

〃Who　invented　gunpowder？〃　said　one　of　the　insulted　persons；　looking　as　sly　and　malicious　as　a　magpie　going　to　steal。

Jemmy　exploded　directly：　〃I　did；　ye　rascal；　ye　liar；　ye　rogue；　ye　Baconian！〃　and　going　higher；　and　higher　in　this　strain；　was　very　soon　handcuffed　with　Alfred's　handcuffs；　and　seated　on　Alfred's　bench　and　tied　to　two　rings　in　the　wall。　On　this　his　martial　ardour　went　down　to　zero：　〃Here　is　treatment；　sir；〃　said　he　piteously　to　Alfred。　〃I　see　you　are　a　gentleman；　now　look　at　this。　All　spite　and　jealousy　because　I　invented　that　invaluable　substance；　which　has　done　so　much　to　prolong　human　life　and　alleviate　human　misery。〃

Alfred　was　now　ordered　to　feed　Jemmy；　which　he　did：　so　quickly　were　their　parts　inverted。

Directly　after　breakfast　Alfred　demanded　to　see　the　proprietor　of　the　asylum。

Answer：　Doesn't　live　here。

The　Doctor　then。

Oh；　he　has　not　come。

This　monstrosity　irritated　Alfred：　〃Well；　then；〃　said　he；　〃whoever　it　is　that　rules　this　den　of　thieves；　when　those　two　are　out　of　it。〃

〃I　rule　in　Mr。　Baker's　absence；〃　said　the　head　keeper；　〃and　I'll　teach　you　manners；　you　young　blackguard。　Handcuff　him。〃

In　five　minutes　Alfred　was　handcuffed　and　flung　into　a　padded　room。

〃Stay　there　till　you　know　how　to　speak　to　your　betters；〃　said　the　head　keeper。

Alfred　walked　up　and　down　grinding　his　teeth　with　rage　for　five　long　hours。

Just　before　dinner　Brown　came　and　took　him　into　a　parlour；　where　Mrs。　Archbold　was　seated　writing。　Brown　retired。　The　lady　finished　what　she　was　doing；　and　kept　Alfred　standing　like　a　schoolboy　going　to　be　lectured。　At　last　she　said；　〃I　have　sent　for　you　to　give　you　a　piece　of　advice：　it　is　to　try　and　make　friends　with　the　attendants。〃

〃Me　make　friends　with　the　scoundrels！　I　thirst　for　their　lives。　Oh；　madam；　I　fear　I　shall　kill　somebody　here。〃

〃Foolish　boy；　they　are　too　strong　for　you。　Your　worst　enemies　could　wish　nothing　worse　for　you　than　that　you　should　provoke　them。〃　In　saying　these　words　she　was　so　much　more　kind　and　womanly　that　Alfred　conceived　hopes；　and　burst　out；　〃Oh；　madam；　you　are　human　then；　you　seem　to　pity　me；　pray　give　me　pen　and　paper；　and　let　me　write　to　my　friends　to　get　me　out　of　this　terrible　place；　do　not　refuse　me。〃

Mrs。　Archbold　resumed　her　distant　manner　without　apparent　effort：　she　said　nothing；　but　she　placed　writing　materials　before　him。　She　then　left　the　room；　and　locked　him　in。

He　wrote　a　few　hasty　ardent　words　to　Julia；　telling　her　how　he　had　been　entrapped；　but　not　a　word　about　his　sufferingshe　was　too　generous　to　give　her　needless　painand　a　line　to　Edward；　imploring　him　to　come　at　once　with　a　lawyer　and　an　honest　physician；　and　liberate　him。

Mrs。　Archbold　returned　soon　after；　and　he　asked　her　if　she　would　lend　him　sealing…wax：　〃I　dare　not　trust　to　an　envelope　in　such　a　place　as　this；〃　said　he。　She　lent　him　sealing…wax。

〃But　how　am　I　to　post　it？〃　said　he。

〃Easily：　there　is　a　box　in　the　house；　I　will　show　you。〃

She　took　him　and　showed　him　the　box：　he　put　his　letters　into　it；　and　in　the　ardour　of　his　gratitude　kissed　her　hand。　She　winced　a　little　and　said；　〃Mind；　this　is　not　by　my　advice；　I　would　never　tell　my　friends　I　had　been　in　a　madhouse；　oh；　never。　I　would　be　calm；　make　friends　with　the　servants　they　are　the　real　mastersand　never　let　a　creature　know　where　I　had　been。〃

〃Oh；　you　don't　know　my　Julia；〃　said　Alfred；　〃she　will　never　desert　me；　never　think　the　worse　of　me　because　I　have　been　entrapped　illegally　into　a　madhouse。〃

〃Illegally；　Mr。　Hardie！　you　deceive　yourself；　Mr。　Baker　told　me　the　order　was　signed　by　a　relation；　and　the　certificates　by　first…rate　lunacy　doctors。〃

〃What　on　earth　has　that　to　do　with　it；　madam；　when　I　am　as　sane　as　you　are？〃

〃It　has　everything　to　do　with　it。　Mr。　Baker　could　be　punished　for　confining　a　madman　in　this　house　without　an　order　and　two　certificates；　but　he　couldn't　for　confining　a　sane　person　under　an　order　and　two　certificates。〃

Alfred　could　not　believe　this；　but　she　convinced　him　that　it　was　so。

Then　he　began　to　fear　he　should　be　imprisoned　for　years：　he　turned　pale；　and　looked　at　her　so　piteously；　that　to　soothe　him　she　told　him　sane　people　were　never　kept　in　asylums　now；　they　only　used　to　be。

〃How　can　they？〃　said　she。　〃The　London　asylums　are　visited　four　times　a　year　by　the　commissioners；　and　the　country　asylums　six　times；　twice　by　the　commissioners；　and　four　times　by　the　justices。　_We_　shall　be　inspected　this　week　or　next；　and　then　you　can　speak　to　the　justices：　mind　and　be　calm；　say　it　is　a　mistake；　offer　testimony；　and　ask　either　to　be　discharged　at　once　or　to　have　a　commission　of　lunacy　sit　on　you。　Ten　to　one　your　friends　will　not　face　public　proceedings：　but　you　must　begin　at　the　foundation；　by　making　the　servants　friendlyand　bybeing　calm。〃　She　then　fixed　her　large　grey　eyes　on　him　and　said；　〃Now　if　I　let　you　dine　with　me　and　the　first…class　patients；　will　you　pledge　me　your　honour　to　'be　calm；'　and　not　attempt　to　escape？〃　Alfred　hesitated　at　that。　Her　eye　dissected　his　character　all　the　time。　〃I　promise；〃　said　he　at　last　with　a　deep　sigh。　〃May　I　sit　by　you？　There　is　something　so　repugnant　in　the　very　idea　of　mad　people。〃

〃Try　and　remember　it　is　their　misfortune；　not　their　crime；〃　said　Mrs。　Archbold；　just　like　a　matronly　sister　admonishing　a　brother　from　school。

She　then　whistled　in　a　whisper　for　Brown；　who　was　lurking　about　unseen　all　the　time。　He　emerged　and　walked　about　with　Alfred；　and　by…and…bye；　looking　down　from　a　corridor；　they　saw　Mrs。　Archbold　driving　the　second…class　women　before　her　to　dinner　like　a　flock　of　animals。　Whenever　one　stopped　to　look　at　anything；　or　try　and　gossip；　the　philanthropic　Archbold　went　at　her　just　like　a　shepherd's　dog　at　a　refractory　sheep；　caught　her　by　the　shoulders；　and　drove　her　squeaking　headlong。

At　dinner　Alfred　was　so　fortunate　as　to　sit　opposite　a　gentleman；　who　nodded　and　grinned　at　him　all　dinner　with　a　horrible　leer。　He　could　not；　however；　enjoy　this　to　the　full　for　a　little　distraction　at　his　elbow：　his　right　hand　neighbour　kept　forking　pieces　out　of　his　plate　and　substituting　others　from　his　own。　There　was　even　a　tendency　to　gristle　in　the　latter。　Alfred　remonstrated　gently　at　first；　the　gentleman　forbore　a　minute；　then　recommenced。　Alfred　laid　a　hand　very　quietly　on　his　wrist　and　put　it　back。　Mrs。　Archbold's　quick　eye　surprised　this　gesture：　〃What　is　the　matter　there？〃　said　she。

〃Oh；　nothing　serious；　madam；〃　replied　Alfred；　〃only　this　gentleman　does　me　the　honour　to　prefer　the　contents　of　my　plate　to　his　own。〃

〃Mr。　Cooper！〃　said　the　Archbold　sternly。

Cooper；　the　head　keeper；　pounced　on　the　offender；　seized　him　roughly　by　the　collar；　dr