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some victim of his unprincipled conduct died or despaired。 〃Poor papa will feel this so deeply；〃 was her only comment on such occasions。
Alfred was not sorry she could take this view； and left her unmolested to confound black with white； and wrong with right； at affection's dictates； but his own trained understanding was not to be duped in matters of plain morality。 And so； unable to cure the wrongs he deplored； unable to put his conscience into his pocket like Richard Hardie； or into his heart like Jane； he wandered alone； or sat brooding and dejected： and the attentive reader； if I am so fortunate as to possess one； will not be surprised to learn that he was troubled； too； with dark mysterious surmises he half dreaded； yet felt it his duty to fathom。 These and Mrs。 Dodd's loss by the bank combined to keep him out of Albion Villa。 He often called to ask after Captain Dodd； but was ashamed to enter the house。
Now Richard Hardie's anxiety to know whether David was to die or live had not declined； but rather increased。 If the latter； he was now resolved to fly to the United States with his booty； and cheat his alienated son along with the rest： he had come by degrees down to this。 It was on Alfred he had counted to keep him informed of David's state； but； on his putting a smooth inquiry； the young man's face flushed with shame； or anger； or something； and he gave a very short； sharp； and obscure reply。 In reality； he did not know much； nor did Sarah； his informant； for of late the servants had never been allowed to enter David's room。
Mr。 Hardie； after this rebuff； never asked Alfred again； but having heard Sampson's name mentioned as Dodd's medical attendant； wrote and asked him to come and dine next time he should visit Barkington。
〃You will find me a fallen man；〃 said he； 〃to…morrow we resign our house and premises and furniture to the assignees； and go to live at a little furnished cottage not very far from your friends the Dodds。 It is called 'Musgrove Cottage。' There； where we have so little to offer besides a welcome； none but true friends will come near us； indeed； there are very few I should venture to ask for such a proof of fidelity to your broken friend；
R。 H。〃
The good…hearted Sampson sent a cordial reply； and came to dinner at Musgrove Cottage。
Now all Hardie wanted of him in reality was to know about David； so when Jane had retired and the decanter circulated； he began to pump him by his vanity。 〃I understand；〃 said he； 〃you have wrought one of your surprising cures in this neighbourhood。 Albion Villa！〃
Sampson shook his head sorrowfully： Mr。 Hardie's eyes sparkled。 Alfred watched him keenly and bitterly。
〃How can I work a great cure after these ass…ass…ins Short and Osmond？ Look； see！ the man had been wounded in the hid； and lost blood： thin stabbed in the shoulder； and lost more blood。〃Both the Hardies uttered an ejaculation of unfeigned surprise。〃So； instid of recruiting the buddy thus exhausted of the great liquid material of all repair； the profissional ass…ass…in came and exhausted him worse： stabbed him while he slept； stabbed him unconscious； stabbed him in a vein： and stole more blood from him。 Wasn't that enough？ No！ the routine of profissional ass…ass…ination had but begun； nixt they stabbed him with cupping…needles； and so stole more of his life…blood。 And they were goen from their stabs to their bites； goen to leech his temples； and so hand him over to the sixton。〃
〃But you came in and saved him；〃 cried Alfred。
〃I saved his life；〃 said Sampson sorrowfully； 〃but life is not the only good thing a man may be robbed of by those who steal his life…blood； and so impoverish and water the contints of the vessels of the brain。〃
〃Doctor Sampson；〃 said Alfred； 〃what do you mean by these mysterious words？ You alarm me。〃
〃What； don't you know？ Haven't they told you？〃
〃No； I have not had the courage to enter the house since the bank〃 he stopped in confusion。
〃Ay； I understand；〃 said Sampson： 〃however； it can't be hidden now：
〃He is a maniac。〃
Sampson made this awful announcement soberly and sorrowfully。
Alfred groaned aloud； and even his father experienced a momentary remorse； but so steady had been the progress of Corruption； that he felt almost unmixed joy the next instant； and his keen…witted son surprised the latter sentiment in his face； and shuddered with disgust。
Sampson went on to say that he believed the poor man had gone flourishing a razor； and Mrs。 Dodd had said； 〃Yes； kill me； David： kill the mother of your children；〃 and never moved： which feminine； or in other words irrational； behaviour had somehow disarmed him。 But it would not happen again： his sister had come； a sensible； resolute woman。 She had signed the order； and Osmond and he the certificates； and he was gone to a private asylum。 〃Talking of that；〃 said Sampson； rising suddenly； 〃I must go and give them a word of comfort； for they are just breaking their hearts at parting with him； poor things。 I'll be back in an hour。〃
On his departure； Jane returned and made the tea in the dining…room： they lived like that now。
Mr。 Hardie took it from his favourite's lithe white hand； and smiled on her： he should not have to go to a foreign land after all： who would believe a madman if he should rave about his thousands ？ He sipped his tea luxuriously； and presently delivered himself thus； with bland self…satisfaction：
〃My dear Alfred； some time ago you wished to marry a young lady without fortune。 You thought that I had a large one； and you expected me to supply all deficiencies。 You did not overrate my parental feeling； but you did my means。 I would have done this for you； and with pleasure； but for my own coming misfortunes。 As it was； I said 'No；' and when you demanded； somewhat peremptorily； my reasons； I said 'Trust me。' Well； you see I was right： such a marriage would have been your utter ruin。 However； I conclude； after what Dr。 Sampson has told us； you have resigned it on other grounds。 Jane； my dear； Captain Dodd； I am sorry to say； is afflicted。 He has gone mad。〃
〃Gone mad？！ Oh； how shocking！ What will become of his poor children？〃 She thought of Edward first。
〃We have just heard it from Sampson。 And I presume； Alfred； you are not so far gone as to insist on propagating insanity by a marriage with his daughter。〃
At this conclusion； which struck her obliquely； though aimed at Alfred； Jane sighed gently； and her dream of earthly happiness seemed to melt away。
But Alfred ground his teeth； and replied with great bitterness and emotion： 〃I think； sir； you are the last man who ought to congratulate yourself on the affliction that has fallen on that unhappy family I aspire to enter； all the more that now they have calamities for me to share〃
〃More fool you；〃 put in Mr。 Hardie calmly。
〃For I much fear you are one of the causes of that calamity。〃
Mr。 Hardie assumed a puzzled air。 〃I don't see how that can be： do you； Jenny？ Sampson told us the causes： a wound on the head； a wound in the arm； bleeding； cupping； &c。〃
〃There may be other causes Dr。 Sampson has not been told ofyet〃
〃Possibly。 I really don't know what you allude to。〃
The son fixed his eyes on the father； and leaned across the table to him； till their faces nearly met。
〃The fourteen thousand pounds； sir。〃
CHAPTER XXV
MR。 HARDIE was taken by surprise for once； and had not a word to say； but looked in his son's face； mute and gasping as a fish。
During this painful silence his children eyed him inquiringly； but not with the same result； for one face is often read differently by two persons。 To Jane； whose intelligence had no aids； he seemed unaffectedly puzzled； but Alfred discerned beneath his wonder the terror of detection rising； and then thrust back by the strong will： that stoical face shut again like an iron door； but not quickly enough： the right words； the 〃open sesame；〃 had been spoken； and one unguarded look had confirmed Alfred's vague suspicions of foul play。 He turned his own face away： he was alienated by the occurrences of the last few months； but Nature and tender reminiscences still held him by some fibres of the heartin a moment of natural indignation he had applied the touchstone； but its success grieved him。 He could not bear to go on exposing his father； so he left the room with a deep sigh； in which pity mingled with shame and regret。 He wandered out into the silent night； and soon was leaning on the gate of Albion Villa； gazing wistfully at the windows； and sore perplexed and nobly wretched。
As he was going out； Mr。 Hardie raised his eyebrows with a look of disinterested wonder and curiosity； and touched his forehead to Jane； as much as to say； 〃Is he disordered in his mind？〃
As soon as they were alone； he asked her coolly what Alfred meant。 She said she had no idea。 Then he examined her keenly about this fourteen thousand pounds； and found； to his relief； Alfred had never even mentioned it to her。
And now Richard Hardie； like his son； wanted to be alone； and think over this new peril that had risen in the bosom of his own family； and； for once； the company of his favourite child was irksome： he made an excuse and strolled out in his turn into the silent night。