hard cash-第64章

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hising　servant；　to　advise；　support；　and　aid　me。　Ask　yourself　whether　any　man　in　England　needs　a　confidant　more　than　I。　It　was　bitter　at　first　to　be　discovered　even　by　you：　but　now　I　am　glad　you　know　all；　for　I　see　I　have　undervalued　your　ability　as　well　as　your　zeal。〃

Thus　Mr。　Hardie　bowed　his　pride　to　flatter　Skinner；　and　soon　saw　by　the　little　fellow's　heightened　colour　that　this　was　the　way　to　make　him　a　clerk　of　wax。

The　banker　and　his　clerk　were　reconciled。　Then　the　latter　was　invited　to　commit　himself　by　carrying　on　the　culinary　process　in　his　own　hand。　He　trembled　a　little；　but　complied；　and　so　became　an　accomplice。　On　this　his　master　took　him　into　his　confidence；　and　told　him　everything　it　was　impossible　to　hide　from　him。

〃And　now；　sir；〃　said　Skinner；　〃let　me　tell　you　what　I　did　for　you　this　morning。　Then　perhaps　you　won't　wonder　at　my　being　so　peppery。　Maxley　_suspects：_　he　came　here　and　drew　out　every　shilling。　I　was　all　in　a　perspiration　what　to　do。　But　I　put　a　good　face　on；　and〃

Skinner　then　confided　to　his　principal　how　he　had　evaded　Maxley　and　saved　the　Bank；　and　the　stratagem　seemed　so　incredible　and　droll；　that　they　both　laughed　over　it　long　and　loud。　And　in　fact　it　turned　out　a　first…rate　practical　jest：　cost　two　lives。

While　they　were　laughing；　the　young　clerk　looked　in　and　said；　〃Captain　Dodd；　to　speak　with　you；　sir！〃

〃Captain　Dodd！！！〃　And　all　Mr。　Hardie's　forced　merriment　died　away；　and　his　face　betrayed　his　vexation　for　once。　〃Did　you　go　and　tell　him　I　was　here？〃

〃Yes；　sir：　I　had　no　orders；　and　he　said　you　would　be　sure　to　see　_him。_〃

〃Unfortunate！　Well；　you　may　show　him　in　when　I　ring　your　bell。〃

The　youngster　being　gone；　Mr。　Hardie　explained　to　his　new　ally　in　a　few　hurried　words　the　danger　that　threatened　him　from　Miss　Julia　Dodd。　〃And　now；〃　said　he；　〃the　women　have　sent　her　father　to　soften　his。　I　shall　be　told　his　girl　will　die　if　she　can't　have　my　boy；　&c。　As　if　I　care　who　lives　or　dies。〃

On　this　Skinner　got　up　all　in　a　hurry　and　offered　to　go　into　the　office。

〃On　no　account；〃　said　Mr。　Hardie　sharply。　〃I　shall　make　my　business　with　you　the　excuse　for　cutting　this　love…nonsense　mighty　short。　Take　your　book　to　the　desk；　and　seem　buried　in　it。〃

He　then　touched　the　bell；　and　both　confederates　fell　into　an　attitude：　never　were　a　pair　so　bent　over　their　little　accountslies；　like　themselves。

Instead　of　the　heart…broken　father　their　comedy　awaited；　in　came　the　gallant　sailor　with　a　brown　cheek　reddened　by　triumph　and　excitement　and　almost　shouted　in　a　genial　jocund　voice；　〃How　d'ye　do　sir？　It　is　a　long　time　since　I　came　across　your　hawse。〃　And　with　this　he　held　out　his　hand　cordially。　Hardie　gave　his　mechanically；　and　remained　on　his　guard；　but　somewhat　puzzled。　Dodd　shook　his　cold　hand　heartily。　〃Well；　sir；　here　I　am；　just　come　ashore；　and　visiting　you　before　my　very　wife；　what　d'ye　think　of　that？〃

〃I　am　highly　honoured；　sir；〃　said　Hardie：　then；　rather　stiffly　and　incredulously；　〃and　to　what　may　I　owe　this　extraordinary　preference？　Will　you　be　good　enough　to　state　the　purport　of　this　visitbrieflyas　Mr。　Skinner　and　I　are　much　occupied？〃

〃The　purport？　Why；　what　does　one　come　to　a　banker　about？　I　have　got　a　lot　of　money　I　want　to　get　rid　of。〃

Hardie　stared；　but　was　as　much　on　his　guard　as　ever；　only　more　and　more　puzzled。

Then　David　winked　at　him　with　simple　cunning；　took　out　his　knife；　undid　his　shirt；　and　began　to　cut　the　threads　which　bound　the　Cash　to　his　flannel。

At　this　Skinner　wheeled　round　on　his　stool　to　look；　and　both　he　and　Mr。　Hardie　inspected　the　unusual　pantomime　with　demure　curiosity。

Dodd　next　removed　the　oilskin　cover；　and　showed　the　pocket…book；　brought　it　down　with　a　triumphant　smack　on　the　hollow　of　his　hand；　and；　in　the　pride　of　his　heart；　the　joy　of　his　bosom　and　the　fever　of　his　bloodfor　there　were　two　red　spots　on　his　cheek　all　the　timetold　the　cold　pair　Its　adventures　in　a　few　glowing　words：　the　Calcutta　firmthe　two　piratesthe　hurricanethe　wreckthe　land…sharkshe　had　saved　it　from。　〃And　here　It　is；　safe　in　spite　of　them　all。　But　I　won't　carry　It　on　me　any　more：　it　is　unlucky；　so　you　must　be　so　good　as　to　take　charge　of　It　for　me；　sir。〃

〃Very　well；　Captain　Dodd。　You　wish　it　placed　to　Mrs。　Dodd's　account；　I　suppose？〃

〃No！　no！　I　have　nothing　to　do　with　that：　this　is　between　you　and　me。〃

〃As　you　please。〃

〃Ye　see　it　is　a　good　lump；　sir。〃

〃Oh；　indeed！〃　said　Hardie　a　little　sneeringly。

〃I　call　it　a　thundering　lot　o'　money。　But　I　suppose　it　is　not　much　to　a　rich　banker　like　you。〃　Then　he　lowered　his　voice；　and　said　with　a　certain　awe：　〃It'sfourteenthousand　pounds。〃

〃Fourteen　thousand　pounds！！！〃　cried　Hardie。　Then　with　sudden　and　consummate　coolness；　〃Why；　certainly　an　established　bank　like　this　deals　with　more　considerable　deposits　than　that。　Skinner；　why　don't　you　give　the　Captain　a　chair？〃

〃No！　no！〃　said　Dodd。　〃I'll　heave…to　till　I　get　this　off　my　mind；　but　I　won't　anchor　anywhere　but　at　home。〃　He　then　opened　the　pocket…book　and　spread　the　contents　out　before　Mr。　Hardie；　who　ran　over　the　notes　and　bills；　and　said　the　amount　was　L。　14；010；　12s。　6d。

Dodd　asked　for　a　receipt。

〃Why；　it　is　not　usual　when　there　is　an　account。〃

Dodd's　countenance　fell：　〃Oh；　I　should　not　like　to　part　with　it　unless　I　had　a　receipt。〃

〃You　mistake　me；〃　said　Hardie　with　a　smile。　〃An　entry　in　your　banker's　book　is　a　receipt。　However；　you　can　have　one　in　another　form。〃　He　then　unlocked　a　desk；　took　out　a　banker's　receipt；　and　told　Skinner　to　fill　it　in。　This　done；　he　seemed　to　be　absorbed　in　some　more　important　matter。

Skinner　counted　the　notes　and　left　them　with　Mr。　Hardie；　the　bills　he　took　to　his　desk　to　note　them　on　the　back　of　the　receipt。　Whilst　he　was　writing　this　with　his　usual　slowness　and　precision；　poor　Dodd's　heart　overflowed。　〃It　is　my　children's　fortune；　ye　see：　I　don't　look　on　a　sixpence　of　it　as　mine：　that　it　is　what　made　me　so　particular。　It　belongs　to　my　little　Julia；　bless　her：she　is　a　rosebud　if　ever　there　was　one；　and　oh！　such　a　heart；　and　so　fond　of　her　poor　father；　but　not　fonder　than　he　is　of　herand　to　my　dear　boy　Edward；　he　is　the　honestest　young　chap　you　ever　saw：　what　he　says；　you　may　swear　to　with　your　eyes　shut。　But　how　could　they　miss　either　good　looks　or　good　hearts；　and　_her_　children？　the　best　wife　and　the　best　mother　in　England。　She　has　been　a　true　consort　to　me　this　many　a　year；　and　I　to　her；　in　deep　water　and　shoal；　let　the　wind　blow　high　or　low。　Here　is　a　Simple　Simon　vaunting　his　own　flesh　and　blood！　No　wonder　that　little　gentleman　there　is　grinning　at　me。　Well；　grin　away；　lad！　perhaps　you　haven't　got　any　children。　But　you　have；　sir：　and　you　know　how　it　is　with　us　fathers；　our　hearts　are　so　full　of　the　little　darlings；　out　it　must　come。　You　can　understand　how　joyful　I　feel　at　saving　their　fortune　from　land…sharks　and　sea…sharks；　and　landing　it　safe　in　an　honest　man's　hands　like　you　and　your　father　before　you。〃

Skinner　handed　him　the　receipt。

He　cast　his　eye　over　it。　〃All　right；　little　gentleman。　Now　my　heart　is　relieved　of　such　a　weight：　I　feel　to　have　just　cleared　out　a　cargo　of　bricks。　Good…bye：　shake　hands。　I　wish　you　were　as　happy　as　I　am。　I　wish　all　the　world　was　happy。　God　bless　you！　God　bless　you　both！〃

And　with　this　burst　he　was　out　of　the　room　and　making　ardently　for　Albion　Villa。


The　banker　and　his　clerk　turned　round　on　their　seats　and　eyed　one　another　a　long　time　in　silence　and　amazement。　Was　this　thing　a　dream？　their　faces　seemed　to　ask。　Then　Mr。　Hardie　rested　his　senatorial　head　on　his　hand　and　pondered　deeply。　Skinner　too　reflected　on　this　strange　freak　of　Fortune：　and　the　result　was　that　he　burst　in　on　his　principal's　reverie　with　a　joyful　shout：　〃The　bank　is　saved！　Hardie's　is　good　for　another　hundred　years。

The　banker　started；　for　Skinner's　voice　sounded　like　a　pistol…shot　in　his　ear；　so　high　strung　was　he　with　thought。

〃Hush！　hush！〃　he　said；　and　pondered　again　in　silence。　At　last　he　turned　to　Skinner。　〃You　think　our　course　is　plain？　I　tell　you　it　is　so　dark　and　complicated　it　would　puzzle　Solomon　to　know　what　is　best　to　be　done。〃

〃Save　the　bank；　sir；　whatever　you　do。〃

〃How　can　I　save　the　bank　with　a　few　thousand　pounds；　which　I　must　refund　when　called　on？