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！
g gentleman raised her against her will； and sobbed over her； and how they； though policemen； cried like children。 And to them I must refer the reader： I have not the skill to convey the situation。
They got more policemen to help； and carried him to Albion Villa。
On the way something cold and mysterious seemed to have come between Julia and Alfred。 They walked apart in gloomy silence； broken only by foreboding sighs。
I pass over the tempest of emotions under which that sad burden entered Albion Villa； and hurry to the next marked event。
Next day the patient had lost his extreme pallor； and wore a certain uniform sallow hue； and at noon； just before Sampson's return； he opened his eyes wide； and fixed them on Mrs。 Dodd and Julia； who were now his nurses。 They hailed this with delight； and held their breath to hear him speak to them the first sweet words of reviving life and love。
But soon； to their surprise and grief； they found he did not know them。 They spoke to him； each in turn； and told him piteously who they were； and implored him with tears to know them and speak to them。 But no； he fixed a stony gaze on them that made them shudder； and their beloved voices passed over him like an idle wind。
Sampson； when he came； found the ladies weeping by the bedside。
They greeted him with affection； Julia especially： the boisterous controversialist had come out a gentle； zealous artist in presence of a real danger。
Dr。 Sampson knew nothing of what had happened in his absence。 He stepped to the bedside cheerfully； and the ladies' eyes were bent keenly on his face in silence。
He had no sooner cast eyes on David than his countenance fell； and his hard but expressive features filled with concern。
That was enough for Mrs。 Dodd。 〃And he does not know me；〃 she cried： 〃he does not know my voice。 _His_ voice would call me back from the grave itself。 He is dying。 He will never speak to me again。 Oh； my poor orphan girl！〃
〃No！ no！〃 said Samson； 〃you are quite mistaken： he will not die。 But〃
His tongue said no more。 His grave and sombre face spoke volumes。
CHAPTER XXII
To return to the bank。 Skinner came back from the Dodds' that miserable afternoon in a state of genuine agitation and regret。 He was human； and therefore mixed； and their desolation had shocked him。
The footman told him Mr。 Hardie was not at home； gone to London； he believed。 Skinner walked away dejected。 What did this mean？ Had he left the country？
He smiled at his fears； and felt positive Mr。 Hardie had misled the servants； and was quietly waiting for him in the bank parlour。
It was now dusk： he went round to that little dark nook of the garden the parlour window opened on； and tapped： there was no reply； the room looked empty。 He tried the sash： it yielded。 Mr。 Hardie had been too occupied with embezzling another's property to take common precautions in defence of his own； never in his life before had he neglected to fasten the iron shutters with his own hand； and to…day he had left the very window unfastened。 This augured ill。 〃He is off： he has done me along with the rest；〃 thought Skinner。 He stepped into the room； found a lucifer…box； shut the shutters； lighted a candle； and went peering about amongst the banker's papers； to see if he could find a clue to his intentions； and； as he pottered and peered； he quaked as well： a detector by dishonest means feels thief…like； and is what he feels。 He made some little discoveries that guided him in his own conduct； he felt more and more sure his employer would outwit him if he could； and resolved it should be diamond cut diamond。
The church clock struck one。
He started at the hour； crept out and closed the window softly； then away by the garden gate。
A light was still burning in Alfred's room； and at this Skinner had another touch of compunction。 〃There is one won't sleep this night along of our work；〃 thought he。
At three next afternoon Mr。 Hardie reappeared。
He had gone up to town to change the form of the deposit： He took care to think of it as a deposit still； the act of deposit having been complete； the withdrawal incomplete； and by no fault of his； for he had offered it back； but Fate and Accident had interposed。 He had converted the notes into gold direct； and the bills into gold through notes； this was like going into the river to hide his trail。 Next process： he turned his gold into L。 500 notes； and came flying home with them。
His return was greeted by Skinner with a sigh of relief。 Hardie heard it； interpreted it aright； and sent for him into the parlour； and there told him with a great affectation of frankness what he had done； then asked significantly if there was any news at Albion Villa。
Skinnier in reply told Mr。 Hardie of the distress he had witnessed up at Albion Villa： 〃And； sir；〃 said he； lowering his voice； 〃Mr。 Alfred helped carry the body upstairs。 It is a nice mess altogether； sir； when you come to think。〃
〃Ah！ all the better；〃 was the cool reply： 〃he will be useful to let us know what we want； he will tell Jane； and Jane me。 You don't think he will live； do you？〃
〃Live！ no： and then who will know the money is here？〃
〃Who should know？ Did not he say he had just landed； and been shipwrecked？ Shipwrecked men do not bring fourteen thousand pounds ashore。〃 The speaker's eyes sparkled： Skinner watched him demurely。 〃Skinner；〃 said he solemnly； 〃I believe my daughter Jane is right； and that Providence really interferes sometimes in the affairs of this world。 You know how I have struggled to save my family from disgrace and poverty： those struggles have failed in a great degree： but Heaven has seen them； and saved this money from the sea； and dropped it into my very hands to retrieve my fortunes with。 I must be grateful： spend a portion of it in charity； and rear a noble fortune on the rest。 Confound it all！〃
And his crestfallen countenance showed some ugly misgiving had flashed on him quite suddenly。
〃What sir？ what？〃 asked Skinner eagerly。
〃The receipt！〃
CHAPTER XXIII
〃THE receipt？ Oh； is that all？ _You_ have got that；〃 said Skinner very coolly。
〃What makes you think so？〃 inquired the other keenly。 He instantly suspected Skinner of having it。
〃Why； sir； I saw it in his hand。〃
〃Then it has got to Albion Villa； and we are ruined。〃
〃No； no； sir； you won't hear me： I am sure I saw it fall out of his hand when he was taken ill； and I think； but I won't be sure； he fell on it。 Anyway； there was nothing in his hands when I delivered him at Albion Villa； so it must be here。 I daresay you have thrown it into a drawer or somewhere； promiscuously。〃
〃No； no； Skinner；〃 said Mr。 Hardie； with increasing alarm： 〃it is useless for us to deceive ourselves。 I was not three minutes in the room； and thought of nothing but getting to town and cashing the bills。〃
He rang the bell sharply； and on Betty coming in； asked her what she had done with that paper that was on the floor。
〃Took it up and put it on the table； sir。 This was it； I think。〃 And she had her finger upon a paper。
〃No！ no！〃 said Mr。 Hardie。 〃The one I mean was much smaller than that。〃
〃What〃 said she； with that astonishing memory for trifles people have who never read； 〃was it a little crumpled up paper lying by the basket？〃
〃Yes！ yes！ that sounds like it。〃
〃Oh； I put that _into_ the basket。〃
Mr。 Hardie's eye fell directly on the basket； but it was empty。 She caught his glance； and told him she had emptied it in the dust…hole as usual。 Mr。 Hardie uttered an angry exclamation。 Betty； an old servant of his wife's； resented it with due dignity by tossing her head as she retired。
〃There is no help for it；〃 said Mr。 Hardie bitterly； 〃we must go and grub in the dust…hole now。〃
〃Why； sir； your name is not on it； after all。〃
〃What does that matter？ A man is bound by the act of his agent； besides； it is my form； and my initials on the back。 Come； let us put a good face on the thing。〃 And he led the way to the kitchen； and got up a little laugh； and asked the scullery…maid if she could show Mr。 Skinner and him the dust…hole。 She stared； but obeyed； and the pair followed her； making merry。
The dust…hole was empty。
The girl explained： 〃It is the dustman's day： he came at eleven o'clock in the morning and carried all the dust away： and grumbled at the paper and the bones； he did。 So I told him beggars musn't be choosers： just like his impudence！ when he gets it for nothing； and sells it for a mint outside the town。〃 The unwonted visitors left her in dead silence almost before she had finished her sentence。
Mr。 Hardie sat down in his parlour thoroughly discomposed； Skinner watched him furtively。
At last the former broke out： 〃This is the devil's doing： the devil in person。 No intelligence nor ability can resist such luck。 I almost wish we had never meddled with it： we shall never feel safe； never be safe。〃
Skinner made light of the matter； treated the receipt as thrown into the sea。 〃Why； sir；〃 said he； 〃by this time it will have found its way to that monstrous heap of ashes on the London Road； and who will ever look for it there； or notice it if they find it？〃 Hardie shook his head： 〃That monstrous heap is all sold every year to the f