hard cash-第176章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


itted　to　adorn。　More　than　thisand　all　our　sympathiesit　is　not　for　us　to　give　him。　But　then　the　defendant's　counsel　went　too　far　the　other　way。　His　client；　he　says；　is　next　door　to　an　idiot；　and　so；　forsooth；　his　purse　must　be　spared　entirely。　This　is　all　very　well　if　it　could　be　done　without　ignoring　the　plaintiff　and　his　just　claim　to　compensation。　Why；　if　the　defendant；　instead　of　being　weak…minded；　were　an　idiot　or　a　lunatic；　it　would　protect　him　from　punishment　as　a　felon；　but　not　from　damages　in　a　suit。　A　sane　man　is　not　to　be　falsely　imprisoned　by　a　lunatic　without　full　compensation　from　the　lunatic　or　his　estate：　_a　fortiori；_　he　is　not　to　be　so　imprisoned　by　a　mere　fool　without　just　compensation。　Supposing　your　verdict；　then；　to　be　for　the　plaintiff；　I　think　vindictive　damages　would　be　unfair；　on　this　feeble　defendant；　who　has　acted　recklessly；　but　under　an　error；　and　without　malice；　or　bad　faith。　On　the　other　hand；　nominal　or　even　unsubstantial　damages　would　be　unjust　to　the　plaintiff；　and　perhaps　leave　in　some　minds　a　doubt　that　I　think　you　do　not　yourselves　entertain；　as　to　the　plaintiff's　perfect　sanity　during　the　whole　period　of　his　life。〃

As　soon　as　his　lordship　had　ended；　the　foreman　of　the　jury　said　their　minds　were　quite　made　up　long　ago。

〃Si…lence　in　the　court。〃

〃We　find　for　the　plaintiff；　with　damages　three　thousand　pounds。〃

The　verdict　was　received　with　some　surprise　by　the　judge；　and　all　the　lawyers　except　Mr。　Colt；　and　by　the　people　with　acclamation；　in　the　midst　of　which　Mr。　Colt　announced　that　the　plaintiff　had　just　gained　his　first　class　at　Oxford。　〃I　wish　him　joy；〃　said　the　judge。


CHAPTER　LIV

THE　verdict　was　a　thunder…clap　to　Richard　Hardie：　he　had　promised　Thomas　to　bear　him　blameless。　The　Old　Turks；　into　which　he　had　bought　at　72；　were　down　to　71；　and　that　implied　a　loss　of　five　thousand　pounds。　On　the　top　of　all　this　came　Mr。　Compton's　letter　neatly　copied　by　Colls：　Richard　Hardie　was　doubly　and　trebly　ruined。

Then　in　his　despair　and　hate　he　determined　to　baffle　them　all；　ay；　and　sting　the　hearts　of　some　of　them　once　more。

He　would　give　Peggy　his　last　shilling；　write　a　line　to　Alfred；　another　to　Julia；　assuring　them　he　had　no　money；　and　they　had　killed　him。　And　with　that　leave　them　both　the　solemn　curse　of　a　dying　father；　and　then　kill　himself。

Not　to　be　interrupted　in　his　plan；　he　temporised　with　Mr。　Compton；　wrote　that；　if　the　Receipt　was　really　signed　by　his　agent；　of　course　the　loss　must　fall　on　him；　it　was　a　large　sum；　but　he　would　sell　out　and　do　his　best；　in　ten　days　from　date。　With　this　he　went　and　bought　a　pistol；　and　at　several　chemist's　shops　a　little　essential　oil　of　almonds：　his　plan　was　to　take　the　poison；　and；　if　it　killed　without　pain；　well　and　good；　but　if　it　tortured　him；　then　he　would　blow　his　brains　out　at　once。

He　soon　arranged　his　worldly　affairs；　and　next　day　gave　Peggy　his　L。　500；　and　told　her　she　had　better　keep　it　for　fear　he　should　be　arrested。　He　sent　her　on　an　errand　to　the　other　part　of　the　town：　then　with　his　poison　and　the　pistol　before　him　on　the　table；　wrote　a　brief　but　emphatic　curse　for　his　son　and　Julia；　and　a　line　to　Peggy　to　thank　her　for　her　fidelity　to　one　so　much　older　than　herself；　and　to　advise　her　to　take　a　tobacconist's　shop　with　his　money。　When　he　had　done　all　this；　he　poured　out　the　fragrant　poison　and　tasted　it。

Ere　he　could　drink　it；　one　of　those　quidnunes；　who　are　always　interrupting　a　gentleman　when　he　has　important　business　on　hand；　came　running　in　with　all　manner　of　small　intelligence。　Mr。　Hardie　put　down　the　glass；　and　gave　him　short；　sullen　answers；　in　hopes　he　would　then　go　away　and　let　him　proceed　to　business。　And　at　last　his　visitor　did　rise　and　go。　Mr。　Hardie　sat　down　with　a　sigh　of　relief　to　his　fragrant　beverage。

Doesn't　the　door　open；　and　this　bore　poke　in　his　head：　〃Oh　I　forgot　to　tell　you；　the　Old　Turks　are　going　up　today；　like　a　shot。〃　And　with　this　he　slammed　the　door　again；　and　was　off。

At　this　the　cup　began　to　tremble　in　the　resolute　wretch's　hand。　The　Old　Turks　going　up！　He　poured　the　poison　back　into　the　phial；　and　put　it　and　the　pistol　and　all　the　letters　carefully　into　his　pocket；　and　took　a　cab　to　the　City。

The　report　was　true；　there　was　an　extraordinary　movement　in　the　Old　Turks。　The　Sultan　was　about　to　pay　a　portion　of　this　loan；　being　at　six　per　cent。；　this　had　transpired；　and　at　four　o'clock　the　Turks　were　quoted　at　73。　Mr。　Hardie　returned　a　gainer　of　L。　5000　instead　of　a　loser。　He　locked　up　the　means　of　death　for　the　present。

And　now　an　ordinary　man　would　have　sold　out；　and　got　clear　of　the　fatal　trap：　but　this　was　not　an　ordinary　man：　he　would　not　sell　a　share　that　day。　In　the　afternoon　they　rose　to　74。　He　came　home；　unloaded　his　pistol；　and　made　himself　some　brandy…and…water；　and　with　a　grim　smile；　flavoured　it　with　a　few　drops　of　the　poisonthat　was　a　delicious　tumbler。　The　Turks　went　up；　up；　up；　to　82。　Then　he　sold　out；　and　cleared　L。　49；000；　and　all　in　about　ten　days。

With　this　revived　the　habits　of　his　youth；　no　more　cheating：　nothing　could　excuse　that　but　the　dread　of　poverty。　He　went　to　his　appointment　with　Mr。　Compton；　asked　to　see　the　Receipt；　said　〃Yes；　that　was　his　form；　and　Skinner's　handwriting；　he　had　never　personally　received　one　farthing　of　the　money；　Skinner　had　clearly　embezzled　it：　but　that　did　not　matter；　of　course；　Captain　Dodd　must　not　lose　his　money。　Send　your　bill　of　costs　in　Hardie　_v。_　Hardie　to　me；　Mr。　Compton；〃　said　he；　〃they　shall　not　be　taxed：　you　have　lost　enough　by　me　already。〃

There　was　an　air　of　dignity　and　good　faith　about　the　man　that　half　imposed　even　on　Compton。　And　when　Mr。　Hardie　drew　out　the　notes　and　said；　〃I　should　be　grateful　if　you　would　forgive　me　the　interest；　but　for　a　great　piece　of　good　fortune　on　the　Stock　Exchange；　I　could　never　have　paid　the　whole　principal；〃　he　said　warmly；　〃the　interest　should　never　be　demanded　through　him。〃

He　called　in　Colls；　delivered　up　the　Receipt；　and　received　the　L。　14；010；　12s。　6d。　from　Mr。　Hardie。


O　immortal　Cash！　You；　like　your　great　inventor；　have　then　a　kind　of　spirit　as　well　as　a　body；　and　on　this；　not　on　your　grosser　part；　depends　your　personal　identity。　So　long　as　that　survives；　your　body　may　be　recalled　to　its　lawful　owner　from　Heaven　knows　where。

Mr。　Compton　rushed　to　Pembroke　Street；　and　put　this　hard；　hard　Cash　in　David　Dodd's　hands　once　more。


Love　and　Constancy　had　triumphed：　and　Julia　and　Alfred　were　to　be　married　and　go　down　to　Albion　Villa　to　prepare　it　for　the　whole　party：　tenants　no　more：　Alfred　had　bought　it。　The　Commissioners　of　Lunacy　had　protected　his　L。　20；000　zealously　from　the　first：　and　his　trustees　had　now　paid　the　money　over。

Alfred　consulted　by　Mrs。　Dodd；　whose　pet　of　pets　he　now　was；　as　to　the　guests　to　be　asked　to　the　wedding　breakfast；　suggested　〃None　but　the　tried　friends　of　our　adversity。〃

〃What　an　excellent　idea！〃　said　Mrs。　Dodd　naively。

Dr。　Sampson　being　duly　invited　asked　if　he　should　bring　his　Emulsion。

This　proposal　puzzled　all　but　Mrs。　Dodd。　She　was　found　laughing　heartily　in　a　corner　without　any　sound　of　laughter。　Being　detected　and　pointed　out　by　Julia；　she　said；　with　a　little　crow；　〃He　means　his　wife。　Yes；　certainly；　bring　your　Emulcent〃pretending　he　had　used　that　more　elegant　word〃and　then　they　will　all　see　how　well　you　can　behave。〃

Accordingly　he　brought　a　lady；　who　was　absurdly　pretty　to　be　the　mother　of　several　grown　young　ladies　and　gentlemen；　and　two　shades　more　quiet　and　placid　than　Mrs。　Dodd。　She　quietly　had　her　chair　placed　by　Dr。　Sampson's；　and；　whenever　he　got　racy；　she　put　a　hand　gently　on　his　shoulder；　and　by　some　mesmeric　effect　it　moderated　him　as　Neptune　did　the　waves　in　the　AEneid。　She　was　such　a　mistress　of　this　mesmeric　art；　that　she　carried　on　a　perfect　conversation　with　her　other　neighbour；　yet　modulated　her　lion　lord　with　a　touch　of　that　composing　hand；　in　a　parenthetical　manner；　and　even　while　looking　another　way。

This　hand；　soft　as　down；　yet　irresistible；　suppressed　the　great　art　of　healing；　vital　chronometry；　the　wrongs　of　inventors；　the　collusions　of　medicine；　the　Mad　Ox；　and　all　but　drawing…room　topics；　at　the　very　first　symptom；　and　only　just　allowed　the　doctor　to　be　the　life　and　soul　of　the　part