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！
he parties： and raise the cup of justice to the lips of the oppressed； and then pretend he knew a trial would last more than two days； and so shirk it。 〃I'd have made that a reason for sitting till midnight〃 said poor Alfred； 〃not for prolonging a poor injured man's agony four mortal months。〃 He then prayed God earnestly for this great postponer's death as the only event that could give him back an Englishman's right of being tried by his peers； and so went down to Oxford broken…hearted。
As for Sampson he was most indignant； and said a public man had no business with a private ear： and wanted to appeal to the press again： but the doughty doctor had a gentle but powerful ruler at home； as fiery houses are best ruled by a gentle hand。 Mrs。 Sampson requested him to write no more； but look round for an M。 P。 to draw these repeated defeats of justice to the notice of the House。 Now there was a Mr。 Bite； who had taken a prominent and honourable part in lunacy questions； headed committees and so on： this seemed the man。 Dr。 Sampson sent him a letter saying there was a flagrant case of a sane man falsely imprisoned； who had now been near a year applying for a jury； and juggled out of this constitutional right by arbitrary and unreasonable postponements： would Mr。 Bite give him （Dr。 Sampson） ten minutes and no more； when he would explain the case and leave documentary evidence behind him for Mr。 Bite to test his statement。 The philanthropical M。 P。 replied promptly in these exact words：
〃Mr。 Bite presents his compliments to Dr。 Sampson to state that it is impossible for him to go into his case； nor to give him the time he requests to do so。〃
Sampson was a little indignant at the man's insolence； but far more at having been duped by his public assumption of philanthropy。 〃The little pragmatical impostor！〃 he roared。 〃With what a sense o' relief th' animal flings off the mask of humanity when there is no easy eclat to be gained by putting't on。〃 He sent the philanthropical Bite's revelation of his private self to Alfred； who returned it with this single remark： _〃Homunculi quanti sunt！_〃
Dishonest suitors all try to postpone； but they do not gain unmixed good thereby。 These delays give time for more evidence to come in； and this slow coming and chance evidence is singularly adverse to the unjust suitor。 Of this came a notable example in October next； and made Richard Hardie determined to precipitate the trial； and even regret he had not fought it out long ago。
He had just returned from consulting Messrs。 Heathfield； and sat down to a nice little dinner in his apartments （Sackville Street）； when a visitor was announced； and in came the slouching little figure of Mr。 Barkington； _alias_ Noah Skinner。
DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND。
Mr。 Hardie suppressed a start； and said nothing。 Skinner bowed low with a mixture of his old cringing way； and a certain sly triumphant leer； so that his body seemed to say one thing； and his face the opposite。 Mr。 Hardie eyed him； and saw that his coat was rusty； and his hat napless： then Mr。 Hardie smelt a beggar； and prepared to parry all attempts upon his purse。
〃I hope I see my old master well；〃 said Skinner coaxingly。
〃Pretty well in body； Skinner； thank you。〃
〃I had a deal of trouble to find you； sir。 But I heard of the great lawsuit between Mr。 Alfred and you； and I knew Mr。 Heathfield was your solicitor； so I watched at his place day after day： and at last you came。 Oh； I was so pleased when I saw your noble figure； but I wouldn't speak to you in the street for fear of disgracing you。 I'm such a poor little guy to be addressing a gentleman like you。〃
Now this sounded well on the surface； but below there was a subtle something Mr。 Hardie did not like at all： but he took the cue； and said； 〃My poor Skinner； do you think I would turn up my nose at a faithful old servant like you？ Have a glass of wine with me； and tell me how you have been getting on。〃 He went behind a screen and opened a door； and soon returned with a decanter； leaving the door open。 Now in the next room sat； unbeknown to Skinner； a young woman with white eyelashes； sewing buttons on Mr。 Hardie's shirts。 That astute gentleman gave her instructions； and important ones too； with a silent gesture； then reappeared and filled the bumper high to his faithful servant。 They drank one another's healths with great cordiality； real or apparent。 Mr。 Hardie then asked Skinner carelessly； if he could do anything for him。 Skinner said； 〃Well； sir； I am very poor。〃
〃So am I； between you and me；〃 said Mr。 Hardie confidentially； 〃I don't mind telling you； those confounded Commissioners of Lunacy wrote to Alfred's trustees； and I have been forced to replace a loan of five thousand pounds。 That Board always sides with the insane。 That crippled me； and drove me to the Exchange： and now what I had left is all invested in time…bargains。 A month settles my fate： a little fortune； or absolute beggary。〃
〃You'll be lucky； sir； you'll be lucky；〃 said Skinner cheerfully； 〃you have such a long head； not like poor little me； the Exchange soon burnt my wings。 Not a shilling left of the thousand pounds； sir； you were so good as to give me for my faithful services。 But you will give me another chance； sir； I know； I'll take better care this time。〃 Mr。 Hardie shook his head sorrowfully； and said it was impossible。 Skinner eyed him askant； and remarked quietly； and half aside； 〃Of course； I _could_ go to the other party： but I shouldn't like to do that。 They would come down handsome。〃
〃What other party？〃
〃La； sir； what other party？ Why Mrs。 Dodd's； or Mr。 Alfred's； here's the trial coming on； you know； and of course if they could get me to go on the box and tell all I know； or half what I know； why the judge and jury would say locking Mr。 Alfred up for mad was a conspiracy。〃
Mr。 Hardie quaked internally： but he hid it grandly； and once more was a Spartan gnawed beneath his robe by this little fox。 〃What；〃 said he sternly； 〃after all I and mine have done for you and yours； would you be so base as to go and sell yourself to my enemies？〃
〃Never； sir；〃 shouted Skinner zealously： then in a whisper； 〃Not if you'll make a bid for me。〃
〃How much do you demand？〃
〃Only another thousand； sir？〃
〃A thousand pounds！〃
〃Why； what is that to you； sir？ you are rich enough to buy the eighth commandment out of the tables of ten per cent。： and then the lawsuit； Hardies _versus_ Hardies！〃
〃You have spoken plainly at last；〃 said Mr。 Hardie grimly。 〃This is extorting money by threats。 Do you know that nothing is more criminal； nor more easy to punish？ I can take you before a magistrate； and imprison you on the instant for this attempt。 I will； too。〃
〃Try it；〃 said Skinner coolly。 〃Where's your witness？〃
〃Behind that screen。〃
Peggy came forward directly with a pen in her hand。 Skinner was manifestly startled and disconcerted。 〃I have taken all your words down； Mr。 Skinner；〃 said Peggy softly； then to her master； 〃Shall I go for a policeman； sir？〃
Mr。 Hardie reflected。 〃Yes；〃 said he sternly： 〃there's no other course with such a lump of treachery and ingratitude as this。〃
Peggy whipped on her bonnet。
〃What a hurry you are in；〃 whined Skinner： 〃a policeman ought to be the last argument for old friends to run to。〃 Then； fawning spitefully； 〃Don't talk of indicting me； sir；〃 said he； 〃it makes me shiver： why how will you look when I up and tell them all how Captain Dodd was took with apoplexy in our office； and how you nailed fourteen thousand pounds off his senseless body； and forgot to put them down in your balance…sheet； so they are not whitewashed off like the rest。〃
〃Any witnesses to all this； Skinner？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃Who？〃
〃Well； your own conscience _for one；_〃 said Skinner。
〃He is mad； Peggy；〃 said Mr。 Hardie； shrugging his shoulders。 He then looked Skinner full in the face； and said； 〃Nobody was ever seized with apoplexy in my office。 Nobody ever gave me L。 14；000。 And if this is the probable tale with which you come here to break the law and extort money； leave my house this instant： and if ever you dare to utter this absurd and malicious slander； you shall lie within four stone walls； and learn what it is for a shabby vagabond to come without a witness to his back； and libel a man of property and honour。〃
Skinner let him run on in this loud triumphant strain till he had quite done； then put out a brown skinny finger； and poked him lightly in the ribs； and said quite quietly； and oh； so drily； with a knowing wink
〃I'vegotThe Receipt。〃
CHAPTER LI
MR。 HARDIE collapsed as if he had been a man inflated； and that touch had punctured him。 〃Ah！〃 said he。 〃Ah！〃 said Skinner； in a mighty different tone： insolent triumph to wit。
After a pause； Mr。 Hardie made an effort and said contemptuously； 〃The receipt （if any） was flung into the dusthole and carried away。 Do you think I have forgotten that？〃
〃Don't you believe it； sir；〃 was the reply。 〃While you turned your back and sacked the money； I said to myself； 'Oho； is that the game？' and nailed the receipt。 What a couple of scoundrels we were！ I wouldn't have her know it for all your money。 Come； sir； I see its all right； you will shell out sooner than be po