“There
,
there
!
”
said
Maxley
,
deprecatingly
;
“
here
's
two
apples
for
ye
;
ye
ca
n't
get
them
for
less
:
and
a
halfpenny
or
a
haporth
is
all
one
to
you
,
but
it
is
a
great
odds
to
me
.
And
apples
they
rot
;
halfpence
do
n't
.
”
It
was
now
nine
o'clock
.
The
bank
did
not
open
till
ten
;
but
Maxley
went
and
hung
about
the
door
,
to
be
the
first
applicant
.
As
he
stood
there
trembling
with
fear
lest
the
bank
should
not
open
at
all
,
he
thought
hard
,
and
the
result
was
a
double
resolution
:
he
would
have
his
money
out
to
the
last
shilling
;
and
,
this
done
,
would
button
up
his
pockets
and
padlock
his
tongue
.
It
was
not
his
business
to
take
care
of
his
neighbours
;
nor
to
blow
the
Hardies
,
if
they
paid
him
his
money
on
demand
.
“
So
not
a
word
to
my
missus
,
nor
yet
to
the
town-crier
,
”
said
he
.
Ten
o'clock
struck
,
and
the
bank
shutters
remained
up
.
Five
minutes
more
,
and
the
watcher
was
in
agony
.
Three
minutes
more
,
and
up
came
a
boy
of
sixteen
whistling
,
and
took
down
the
shutters
with
an
indifference
that
amazed
him
.
“
Bless
your
handsome
face
!
”
said
Maxley
with
a
sigh
of
relief
.
He
now
summoned
up
all
his
firmness
,
and
,
having
recourse
to
an
art
in
which
these
shrewd
rustics
are
supreme
,
made
his
face
quite
inexpressive
,
and
so
walked
into
the
bank
the
every-day
Maxley
externally
,
but
within
a
volcano
ready
to
burst
if
there
should
be
the
slightest
hesitation
to
pay
him
his
money
.
“
Good
morning
,
Mr.
Maxley
,
”
said
young
Skinner
.
“
Good
morning
,
sir
.
”
“
What
can
we
do
for
you
?
”
“
Oh
,
I
'll
wait
my
turn
,
sir
.
”
“
Well
,
it
is
your
turn
now
,
if
you
like
.
”
“
How
much
have
you
got
of
mine
,
if
you
please
,
sir
?
”
“
Your
balance
?
I
'll
see
.
Nine
hundred
and
four
pounds
.
”
“
Well
,
sir
,
then
,
if
you
please
,
I
'll
draa
that
.
”
(
“
It
has
come
!
”
thought
Skinner
.
)
“
What
,
going
to
desert
us
?
”
he
stammered
.
“
No
,
”
said
the
other
,
trembling
inwardly
,
but
not
moving
a
facial
muscle
:
“
it
is
only
for
a
day
or
two
,
sir
.
”
“
Ah
!
I
see
,
going
to
make
a
purchase
.
By-the-bye
,
I
believe
Mr.
Hardie
means
to
offer
you
some
grounds
he
is
buying
outside
the
town
:
will
that
suit
your
book
?
”
“
I
dare
say
it
will
,
sir
.
”
“
Then
perhaps
you
will
wait
till
our
governor
comes
in
?
”
“
I
have
no
objection
.
”
“
He
wo
n't
be
long
.
Fine
weather
for
the
gardens
,
Mr.
Maxley
.
”
“
Moderate
,
sir
.
I
'll
take
my
money
if
you
please
.
Counting
it
out
,
that
will
help
pass
the
time
till
Muster
Hardie
comes
.
You
ha
n't
made
away
with
it
?
”
“
What
d'ye
mean
,
sir
?
”
“
Hardies
bai
n't
turned
thieves
,
be
they
?
”
“
Are
you
mad
or
intoxicated
,
Mr.
Maxley
?
”
'
Neither
,
sir
;
but
I
wants
my
own
,
and
I
wool
have
it
too
:
so
count
out
on
this
here
counter
,
or
I
'll
cry
the
town
round
that
there
door
.
”
“
Henry
,
score
James
Maxley
's
name
off
the
books
,
”
said
Skinner
with
cool
dignity
.
But
when
he
had
said
this
,
he
was
at
his
wits
'
end
:
there
were
not
nine
hundred
pounds
of
hard
cash
in
the
bank
,
nor
anything
like
it
.
CHAPTER
XVI
SKINNER
—
called
“
young
”
because
he
had
once
had
a
father
on
the
premises
—
was
the
mole-catcher
.
The
feelings
with
which
he
had
now
for
some
months
watched
his
master
grubbing
were
curiously
mingled
.
There
was
the
grim
sense
of
superiority
every
successful
detective
feels
as
he
sees
the
watched
one
working
away
unconscious
of
the
eye
that
is
on
him
;
but
this
was
more
than
balanced
by
a
long
habit
of
obsequious
reverence
.
When
A
.
has
been
looking
up
to
B
.
for
thirty
years
,
he
cannot
look
down
on
him
all
of
a
sudden
,
merely
because
he
catches
him
falsifying
accounts
.
Why
,
Man
is
a
cooking
animal
:
bankrupt
Man
especially
.
And
then
Richard
Hardie
overpowered
Skinner
's
senses
:
he
was
Dignity
in
person
:
he
was
six
feet
two
,
and
always
wore
a
black
surtout
buttoned
high
,
and
a
hat
with
a
brim
a
little
broader
than
his
neighbours
'
,
yet
not
broad
enough
to
be
eccentric
or
slang
.
He
moved
down
the
street
touching
his
hat
—
while
other
hats
were
lifted
high
to
him
—
a
walking
volume
of
cash
.
And
when
he
took
off
this
ebon
crown
and
sat
in
the
bank
parlour
,
he
gained
in
appearance
more
than
he
lost
;
for
then
his
whole
head
was
seen
,
long
,
calm
,
majestic
:
that
senatorial
front
and
furrowed
face
overawed
all
comers
.
Even
the
little
sharp-faced
clerk
would
stand
and
peep
at
it
,
utterly
puzzled
between
what
he
knew
and
what
he
eyed
:
nor
could
he
look
at
that
head
and
face
without
excusing
them
.
What
a
lot
of
money
they
must
have
sunk
before
they
came
down
to
fabricating
a
balance-sheet
!
And
by-and-bye
custom
somewhat
blunted
his
sense
of
the
dishonesty
,
and
he
began
to
criticise
the
thing
arithmetically
instead
of
morally
.
That
view
once
admitted
,
he
was
charmed
with
the
ability
and
subtlety
of
his
dignified
sharper
;
and
so
the
mole-catcher
began
gradually
,
but
effectually
,
to
be
corrupted
by
the
mole
.
He
who
watches
a
dishonest
process
and
does
not
stop
it
,
is
half
way
towards
conniving
:
who
connives
,
is
half
way
towards
abetting
.
The
next
thing
was
,
Skinner
felt
mortified
at
his
master
not
trusting
him
.
Did
he
think
old
Bob
Skinner
's
son
would
blow
on
Hardie
after
all
these
years
?
This
rankled
a
little
,
and
set
him
to
console
himself
by
admiring
his
own
cleverness
in
penetrating
this
great
distrustful
man
.
Now
of
all
sentiments
,
Vanity
is
the
most
restless
and
the
surest
to
peep
out
.
Skinner
was
no
sooner
inflated
than
his
demure
obsequious
manner
underwent
a
certain
change
:
slight
and
occasional
only
;
but
Hardie
was
a
subtle
man
,
and
the
perilous
path
he
was
treading
made
him
wonderfully
watchful
,
suspicious
,
and
sagacious
.
He
said
to
himself
,
“
What
has
come
to
Skinner
?
I
must
know
.
”
So
he
quietly
watched
his
watcher
;
and
soon
satisfied
himself
he
suspected
something
amiss
.
From
that
hour
Skinner
was
a
doomed
clerk
.
It
was
two
o'clock
:
Hardie
had
just
arrived
,
and
sat
in
the
parlour
,
Cato-like
,
and
cooking
.
Skinner
was
in
high
spirits
:
it
was
owing
to
his
presence
of
mind
the
bank
had
not
been
broken
some
hours
ago
by
Maxley
.
So
now
,
while
concluding
his
work
,
he
was
enjoying
by
anticipation
his
employer
's
gratitude
.
“
He
ca
n't
hold
aloof
after
this
,
”
said
Skinner
;
“
he
must
honour
me
with
his
confidence
.
And
I
will
deserve
it
.
I
do
deserve
it
.
”
A
grave
,
calm
,
passionless
voice
invited
him
into
the
parlour
.
He
descended
from
his
desk
and
went
in
,
swelling
with
demure
complacency
.
He
found
Mr.
Hardie
seated
garbling
his
accounts
with
surpassing
dignity
.
The
great
man
handed
him
an
envelope
,
and
cooked
majestic
on
.
A
wave
of
that
imperial
hand
,
and
Skinner
had
mingled
with
the
past
.
For
know
that
the
envelope
contained
three
things
:
a
cheque
for
a
month
's
wages
;
a
character
;
and
a
dismissal
,
very
polite
and
equally
peremptory
.
Skinner
stood
paralysed
:
the
complacency
died
out
of
his
face
,
and
rueful
wonder
came
instead
.
It
was
some
time
before
he
could
utter
a
word
:
at
last
he
faltered
,
“
Turn
me
away
,
sir
?
turn
away
Noah
Skinner
?
Your
father
would
never
have
said
such
a
word
to
my
father
.
”
Skinner
uttered
this
his
first
remonstrance
in
a
voice
trembling
with
awe
,
but
gathered
courage
when
he
found
he
had
done
it
,
yet
lived
.
Mr.
Hardie
evaded
his
expostulation
by
a
very
simple
means
:
he
made
no
reply
,
but
continued
his
work
,
dignified
as
Brutus
,
inexorable
as
Fate
,
cool
as
Cucumber
.
Skinner
's
anger
began
to
rise
,
he
watched
Mr.
Hardie
in
silence
,
and
said
to
himself
,
“
Curse
you
!
you
were
born
without
a
heart
!
”
He
waited
,
however
,
for
some
sign
of
relenting
,
and
,
hoping
for
it
the
water
came
into
his
own
eyes
.
But
Hardie
was
impassive
as
ice
.
Then
the
little
clerk
,
mortified
to
the
core
as
well
as
wounded
,
ground
his
teeth
and
drew
a
little
nearer
to
this
incarnate
Arithmetic
,
and
said
with
an
excess
of
obsequiousness
,
“
Will
you
condescend
to
give
me
a
reason
for
turning
me
away
all
in
a
moment
after
five-and-thirty
years
'
faithful
services
?
”
“
Men
of
business
do
not
deal
in
reasons
,
”
was
the
cool
reply
:
“
it
is
enough
for
you
that
I
give
you
an
excellent
character
,
and
that
we
part
good
friends
.
”
“
That
we
do
not
,
”
replied
Skinner
sharply
:
“
if
we
stay
together
we
are
friends
;
but
we
part
enemies
,
if
we
do
part
.
”
“
As
you
please
,
Mr.
Skinner
.
I
will
detain
you
no
longer
.
”
And
Mr.
Hardie
waved
him
away
so
grandly
that
he
started
and
almost
ran
to
the
door
.
When
he
felt
the
handle
,
it
acted
like
a
prop
to
his
heart
.
He
stood
firm
,
and
rage
supplied
the
place
of
steady
courage
.
He
clung
to
the
door
,
and
whispered
at
his
master
—
such
a
whisper
:
so
loud
,
so
cutting
,
so
full
of
meaning
and
malice
;
it
was
like
a
serpent
hissing
at
a
man
.
“
But
I
'll
give
you
a
reason
,
a
good
reason
,
why
you
had
better
not
insult
me
so
cruel
:
and
what
is
more
,
I
'll
give
you
two
:
and
one
is
that
but
for
me
the
bank
must
have
closed
this
day
at
ten
o'clock
—
ay
,
you
may
stare
;
it
was
I
saved
it
,
not
you
—
and
the
other
is
that
,
if
you
make
an
enemy
of
me
,
you
are
done
for
.
I
know
too
much
to
be
made
an
enemy
of
,
sir
—
a
great
deal
too
much
.
”
At
this
Mr.
Hardie
raised
his
head
from
his
book
and
eyed
his
crouching
venomous
assailant
full
in
the
face
,
majestically
,
as
one
can
fancy
a
lion
rearing
his
ponderous
head
,
and
looking
lazily
and
steadily
at
a
snake
that
has
just
hissed
in
a
corner
.
Each
word
of
Skinner
's
was
a
barbed
icicle
to
him
,
yet
not
a
muscle
of
his
close
countenance
betrayed
his
inward
suffering
.
One
thing
,
however
,
even
he
could
not
master
:
his
blood
;
it
retired
from
that
stoical
cheek
to
the
chilled
and
foreboding
heart
;
and
the
sudden
pallor
of
the
resolute
face
told
Skinner
his
shafts
had
gone
home
.
“
Come
,
sir
,
”
said
he
,
affecting
to
mingle
good
fellowship
with
his
defiance
,
“
why
bundle
me
off
these
premises
,
when
you
will
be
bundled
off
them
yourself
before
the
week
is
out
?
”
“
You
insolent
scoundrel
!
Humph
!
Explain
,
Mr.
Skinner
.
”
“
Ah
!
what
,
have
I
warmed
your
marble
up
a
bit
?
Yes
,
I
'll
explain
.
The
bank
is
rotten
,
and
ca
n't
last
forty-eight
hours
.
”
“
Oh
,
indeed
!
blighted
in
a
day
—
by
the
dismissal
of
Mr.
Noah
Skinner
.
Do
not
repeat
that
after
you
have
been
turned
into
the
streets
,
or
you
will
be
indicted
:
at
present
we
are
confidential
.
Anything
more
before
you
quit
the
rotten
bank
?
”
“
Yes
,
sir
,
plenty
.
I
'll
tell
you
your
own
history
,
past
,
present
,
and
to
come
.
The
road
to
riches
is
hard
and
rugged
to
the
likes
of
me
,
but
your
good
father
made
it
smooth
and
easy
to
you
,
sir
.
You
had
only
to
take
the
money
of
a
lot
of
fools
that
fancy
they
ca
n't
keep
it
themselves
;
invest
it
in
Consols
and
Exchequer
bills
,
live
on
half
the
profits
,
put
by
the
rest
,
and
roll
in
wealth
.
But
this
was
too
slow
and
too
sure
for
you
:
you
must
be
Rothschild
in
a
day
;
so
you
went
into
blind
speculation
,
and
flung
old
Mr.
Hardie
's
savings
into
a
well
.
And
now
for
the
last
eight
months
you
have
been
doctoring
the
ledger
”
—
Hardie
winced
just
perceptibly
—
“
You
have
put
down
our
gains
in
white
,
our
losses
in
black
,
and
so
you
keep
feeding
your
pocket-book
and
empty
our
tills
;
the
pear
will
soon
be
ripe
,
and
then
you
will
let
it
drop
,
and
into
the
Bankruptcy
Court
we
go
.
But
,
what
you
forget
,
fraudulent
bankruptcy
is
n't
the
turnpike
way
of
trade
:
it
is
a
broad
road
,
but
a
crooked
one
:
skirts
the
prison
wall
,
sir
,
and
sights
the
herring-pond
.
”
An
agony
went
across
Mr.
Hardie
's
great
face
,
and
seemed
to
furrow
as
it
ran
.
“
Not
but
what
you
are
all
right
,
sir
,
”
resumed
his
little
cat-like
tormentor
,
letting
him
go
a
little
way
,
to
nail
him
again
by-and-bye
:
“
You
have
cooked
the
books
in
time
:
and
Cocker
was
a
fool
to
you
.
'
Twill
be
all
down
in
black
and
white
.
Great
sacrifices
:
no
reserve
:
creditors
take
everything
;
dividend
fourpence
in
the
pound
,
furniture
of
house
and
bank
,
Mrs.
Hardie
's
portrait
,
and
down
to
the
coalscuttle
.
Bankrupt
saves
nothing
but
his
honour
,
and
—
the
six
thousand
pounds
or
so
he
has
stitched
into
his
old
great-coat
:
hands
his
new
one
to
the
official
assignees
,
like
an
honest
man
.
”
Hardie
uttered
something
between
a
growl
and
a
moan
.
“
Now
comes
the
per
contra
:
poor
little
despised
Noah
Skinner
has
kept
genuine
books
while
you
have
been
preparing
false
ones
.
I
took
the
real
figures
home
every
afternoon
on
loose
leaves
,
and
bound
'
em
:
and
very
curious
they
will
read
in
court
alongside
of
yours
.
I
did
it
for
amusement
o
'
nights
:
I
'm
so
solitary
,
and
so
fond
of
figures
.
I
must
try
and
turn
them
to
profit
;
for
I
'm
out
of
place
now
in
my
old
age
.
Dearee
me
!
how
curious
that
you
should
go
and
pick
out
me
of
all
men
to
turn
into
the
street
—
like
a
dog
—
like
a
dog
—
like
a
dog
.
”
Hardie
turned
his
head
away
;
and
in
that
moment
of
humiliation
and
abject
fear
,
drank
all
the
bitterness
of
moral
death
.
His
manhood
urged
him
to
defy
Skinner
and
return
to
the
straight
path
,
cost
what
it
might
.
But
how
could
he
?
His
own
books
were
all
falsified
.
He
could
place
a
true
total
before
his
creditors
by
simply
adding
the
contents
of
his
secret
hoard
to
the
assets
of
the
Bank
;
but
with
this
true
arithmetical
result
he
could
not
square
his
books
,
except
by
conjectural
and
fabricated
details
,
which
would
be
detected
,
and
send
him
to
prison
;
for
who
would
believe
he
was
lying
in
figures
only
to
get
back
to
the
truth
?
No
,
he
had
entangled
himself
in
his
own
fraud
,
and
was
at
the
mercy
of
his
servant
.
He
took
his
line
.
“
Skinner
,
it
was
your
interest
to
leave
me
whilst
the
bank
stood
;
then
you
would
have
got
a
place
directly
;
but
since
you
take
umbrage
at
my
dismissing
you
for
your
own
good
,
I
must
punish
you
—
by
keeping
you
.
”
“
I
am
quite
ready
to
stay
and
serve
you
,
sir
,
”
replied
Skinner
hastily
“
and
as
for
my
angry
words
,
think
no
more
of
them
!
It
went
to
my
heart
to
be
turned
away
at
the
very
time
you
need
me
most
.
”
(
“
Hypocritical
rogue
!
”
thought
Hardie
.
)
“
That
is
true
,
Skinner
,
”
said
he
;
“
I
do
indeed
need
a
faithful
and
sympathising
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
wo
n'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
ca
n't
have
my
boy
,
etc.
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
accounts
—
lies
,
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
visit
—
briefly
—
as
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
blood
—
for
there
were
two
red
spots
on
his
cheek
all
the
time
—
told
the
cold
pair
Its
adventures
in
a
few
glowing
words
:
the
Calcutta
firm
—
the
two
pirates
—
the
hurricane
—
the
wreck
—
the
land-sharks
—
he
had
saved
it
from
.
“
And
here
It
is
,
safe
in
spite
of
them
all
.
But
I
wo
n'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
's
—
fourteen
—
thousand
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
do
n't
you
give
the
Captain
a
chair
?
”
“
No
!
no
!
”
said
Dodd
.
“
I
'll
heave-to
till
I
get
this
off
my
mind
,
but
I
wo
n'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
14
,
010
,
l
.
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
do
n'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
her
—
and
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
have
n'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
?
You
look
keenly
into
what
is
under
your
eye
,
Skinner
,
but
you
cannot
see
a
yard
beyond
your
nose
.
Let
me
think
.
”
After
a
while
he
took
a
sheet
of
paper
,
and
jotted
down
“
the
materials
,
”
as
he
called
them
,
and
read
them
out
to
his
accomplice
:
—
“
1.
A
bank
too
far
gone
to
be
redeemed
.
If
I
throw
this
money
into
it
,
I
shall
ruin
Captain
Dodd
,
and
do
myself
no
good
,
but
only
my
creditors
.
“
2.
Miss
Julia
Dodd
,
virtual
proprietor
of
this
14
,
000
,
l
.
or
of
the
greater
part
,
if
I
choose
.
The
child
that
marries
first
usually
jockeys
the
other
.
“
3.
Alfred
Hardie
,
my
son
,
and
my
creditor
,
deep
in
love
with
No.
2
,
and
at
present
somewhat
alienated
from
me
by
my
thwarting
a
silly
love
affair
;
which
bids
fair
to
improve
into
a
sound
negotiation
.
“
4.
The
14
,
000l
.
paid
to
me
personally
after
banking
hours
,
and
not
entered
on
the
banking
books
,
nor
known
but
to
you
and
me
.
“
Now
suppose
I
treat
this
advance
as
a
personal
trust
?
The
bank
breaks
:
the
money
disappears
.
Consternation
of
the
Dodds
,
who
,
until
enlightened
by
the
public
settlement
,
will
think
it
has
gone
into
the
well
.
“
In
that
interval
I
talk
Alfred
over
,
and
promise
to
produce
the
L.14
,
000
intact
,
with
my
paternal
blessing
on
him
and
Miss
Dodd
,
provided
he
will
release
me
from
my
debt
to
him
,
and
give
me
a
life
interest
in
half
the
money
settled
on
him
by
my
wife
's
father
,
to
my
most
unjust
and
insolent
exclusion
.
Their
passion
will
soon
bring
the
young
people
to
reason
,
and
then
they
will
soon
melt
the
old
ones
.
”
Skinner
was
struck
with
this
masterly
little
sketch
.
But
he
detected
one
fatal
flaw
:
“
You
do
n't
say
what
is
to
become
of
me
.
”
“
Oh
,
I
have
n't
thought
of
that
yet
.
”
“
But
do
think
of
it
,
sir
,
that
I
may
have
the
pleasure
of
co-operating
.
It
would
never
do
for
you
and
me
to
be
pulling
two
ways
,
you
know
.
”
“
I
will
not
forget
you
,
”
said
Hardie
,
wincing
under
the
chain
this
little
wretch
held
him
with
,
and
had
jerked
him
by
way
of
reminder
.
“
But
surely
,
Skinner
,
you
agree
with
me
it
would
be
a
sin
and
a
shame
to
rob
this
honest
captain
of
his
money
—
for
my
creditors
—
curse
them
!
Ah
!
you
are
not
a
father
.
How
quickly
he
found
that
out
!
Well
,
I
am
,
and
he
touched
me
to
the
quick
.
I
love
my
little
Jane
as
dearly
as
he
loves
his
Julia
,
every
bit
:
and
I
feel
for
him
.
And
then
he
put
me
in
mind
of
my
own
father
,
poor
man
.
That
seems
strange
,
does
n't
it
?
a
sailor
and
a
banker
.
Ah
!
it
was
because
they
were
both
honest
men
.
Yes
,
it
was
like
a
wholesome
flower
coming
into
a
close
room
,
and
then
out
again
and
heaving
a
whiff
behind
was
that
sailor
.
He
left
the
savour
of
Probity
and
Simplicity
behind
,
though
he
took
the
things
themselves
away
again
.
Why
,
why
could
n't
he
leave
us
what
is
more
wanted
here
than
even
his
money
?
His
integrity
:
the
pearl
of
price
,
that
my
father
,
whom
I
used
to
sneer
at
,
carried
to
his
grave
;
and
died
simple
,
but
wise
;
honest
,
but
rich
—
rich
in
money
,
in
credit
,
in
honour
,
and
eternal
hopes
.
Oh
,
Skinner
!
Skinner
!
I
wish
I
had
never
been
born
.
”
Skinner
was
surprised
:
he
was
not
aware
that
intelligent
men
who
sin
are
subject
to
fits
of
remorse
.
Nay
,
more
,
he
was
frightened
;
for
the
emotion
of
this
iron
man
,
so
hard
to
move
,
was
overpowering
when
it
came
:
it
did
not
soften
,
it
convulsed
him
.
“
Do
n't
talk
so
,
sir
,
”
said
the
little
clerk
.
“
Keep
up
your
heart
!
Have
a
drop
of
something
.
”
“
You
are
right
,
”
said
Mr.
Hardie
gloomily
;
“
it
is
idle
to
talk
:
we
are
all
the
slaves
of
circumstances
.
”
With
this
,
he
unlocked
a
safe
that
stood
against
the
wall
,
chucked
the
14
,
000l
.
in
,
and
shammed
the
iron
door
sharply
;
and
,
as
it
closed
upon
the
Cash
with
a
clang
,
the
parlour
door
burst
open
as
if
by
concert
,
and
David
Dodd
stood
on
the
threshold
,
looking
terrible
.
His
ruddy
colour
was
all
gone
,
and
he
seemed
black
and
white
with
anger
and
anxiety
;
and
out
of
this
blanched
yet
lowering
face
his
eyes
glowed
like
coals
,
and
roved
keenly
to
and
fro
between
the
banker
and
the
clerk
.
A
thunder-cloud
of
a
man
.
CHAPTER
XVII
JAMES
MAXLEY
came
out
of
the
bank
that
morning
with
nine
hundred
and
four
pounds
buttoned
up
tight
in
the
pocket
of
his
leather
breeches
,
a
joyful
man
;
and
so
to
his
work
,
and
home
at
one
o'clock
to
dinner
.
At
2
P.M.
he
was
thoughtful
;
uneasy
at
3
;
wretched
at
3.30
.
He
was
gardener
as
well
as
capitalist
,
and
Mr.
Hardie
owed
him
30s
.
for
work
.
Such
is
human
nature
in
general
,
and
Maxley
's
in
particular
,
that
the
900l
.
in
pocket
seemed
small
,
and
the
30s
.
in
jeopardy
large
.
“
I
ca
n't
afford
to
go
with
the
creditors
,
”
argued
Maxley
:
“
Dividend
on
30s
.
!
Why
,
that
will
be
about
thirty
pence
:
the
change
for
a
hard
half-crown
.
”
He
stuck
his
spade
in
the
soil
and
made
for
his
debtor
's
house
.
As
he
came
up
the
street
,
Dodd
shot
out
of
the
bank
radiant
,
and
was
about
to
pass
him
without
notice
,
full
of
his
wife
and
children
;
but
Maxley
stopped
him
with
a
right
cordial
welcome
,
and
told
him
he
had
given
them
all
a
fright
this
time
.
“
What
,
is
it
over
the
town
already
that
my
ship
has
been
wrecked
?
”
And
Dodd
looked
annoyed
.
“
Wrecked
?
No
;
but
you
have
been
due
this
two
months
,
ye
know
.
Wrecked
?
Why
,
Captain
,
you
have
n't
ever
been
wrecked
?
”
And
he
looked
him
all
over
as
if
he
expected
to
see
“
WRECKED
”
branded
on
him
by
the
elements
.
“
Ay
,
James
,
wrecked
on
the
French
coast
,
and
lost
my
chronometer
,
and
a
tip-top
sextant
.
But
what
of
that
?
I
saved
It
.
I
have
just
landed
It
in
the
Bank
.
Good-bye
;
I
must
sheer
off
:
I
long
to
be
home
.
”
“
Stay
a
bit
,
Captain
,
”
said
Maxley
.
“
I
am
not
quite
easy
in
my
mind
.
I
saw
you
come
out
of
Hardie
's
.
I
thought
in
course
you
had
been
in
to
draa
:
but
you
says
different
.
Now
what
was
it
you
did
leave
behind
you
at
that
there
shop
,
if
you
please
:
not
money
?
”
“
Not
money
?
Only
14
,
000l
.
.
How
the
man
stares
!
Why
,
it
's
not
mine
,
James
;
it
's
my
children
's
:
there
,
good-bye
;
”
and
he
was
actually
off
this
time
.
But
Maxley
stretched
his
long
limbs
,
and
caught
him
in
two
strides
,
and
griped
his
shoulder
without
ceremony
.
“
Be
you
mad
?
”
said
he
sternly
.
“
No
,
but
I
begin
to
think
you
are
.
”
“
That
is
to
be
seen
,
”
said
Maxley
gravely
.
“
Before
I
lets
you
go
,
you
must
tell
me
whether
you
be
jesting
,
or
whether
you
have
really
been
so
simple
as
to
drop
fourteen
—
thousand
—
pounds
at
Hardie
's
?
”
No
judge
upon
the
bench
,
nor
bishop
in
his
stall
,
could
be
more
impressive
than
this
gardener
was
,
when
he
subdued
the
vast
volume
of
his
voice
to
a
low
grave
utterance
of
this
sort
.
Dodd
began
to
be
uneasy
.
“
Why
,
good
heavens
,
there
is
nothing
wrong
with
the
old
Barkington
Bank
?
”
“
Nothing
wrong
?
”
roared
Maxley
:
then
whispered
'
:
“
Holt
!
I
was
laad
once
for
slander
,
and
cost
me
thirty
pounds
:
nearly
killed
my
missus
it
did
.
”
“
Man
!
”
cried
Dodd
,
“
for
my
children
's
sake
tell
me
if
you
know
anything
amiss
.
After
all
,
I
'm
like
a
stranger
here
;
more
than
two
years
away
at
a
time
.
”
“
I
'll
tell
you
all
I
know
,
”
whispered
Maxley
,
“
'
tis
the
least
I
can
do
.
What
(
roaring
)
do
—
you
—
think
—
I
've
forgotten
you
saving
my
poor
boy
out
o
'
that
scrape
,
and
getting
him
a
good
place
in
Canada
,
and
—
why
,
he
'd
have
been
put
in
prison
but
for
you
,
and
that
would
ha
'
broken
my
heart
and
his
mother
's
—
and
—
—
”
The
stout
voice
began
to
quaver
.
“
Oh
,
bother
all
that
now
,
”
said
Dodd
impatiently
.
“
The
bank
!
you
have
grounded
me
on
thorns
.
”
“
Well
,
I
'll
tell
ye
:
but
you
must
promise
faithful
not
to
go
and
say
I
told
ye
,
or
you
'll
get
me
laad
again
:
and
I
likes
to
laa
them
,
not
for
they
to
laa
me
.
”
“
I
promise
,
I
promise
.
”
“
Well
then
,
I
got
a
letter
to-day
from
my
boy
,
him
as
you
was
so
good
to
,
and
here
'
tis
in
my
breeches-pocket
.
—
Laws
!
how
things
do
come
round
sure
ly
:
why
,
lookee
here
now
;
if
so
be
you
had
n't
been
a
good
friend
to
he
,
he
would
n't
be
where
he
is
;
and
if
so
be
he
war
n't
where
he
is
,
he
could
n't
have
writ
me
this
here
,
and
then
where
should
you
and
I
be
?
”
“
Belay
your
jaw
and
show
me
this
letter
,
”
cried
David
,
trembling
all
over
.
“
That
I
wool
,
”
said
Maxley
,
diving
a
hand
into
his
pocket
.
“
Hush
!
lookee
yander
now
;
if
there
ai
n't
Master
Alfred
a-watching
of
us
two
out
of
his
window
:
and
he
have
got
an
eye
like
a
hawk
,
he
have
.
Step
in
the
passage
,
Captain
,
and
I
'll
show
it
to
you
.
”
He
drew
him
aside
into
the
passage
,
and
gave
him
the
letter
.
Dodd
ran
his
eye
over
it
hastily
,
uttered
a
cry
like
a
wounded
lion
,
dropped
it
,
gave
a
slight
stagger
,
and
rushed
away
.
Maxley
picked
up
his
letter
and
watched
Dodd
into
the
bank
again
and
reflected
on
his
work
.
His
heart
was
warmed
at
having
made
a
return
to
the
good
captain
.
His
head
suggested
that
he
was
on
the
road
which
leads
to
libel
.
But
he
had
picked
up
at
the
assizes
a
smattering
of
the
law
of
evidence
;
so
he
coolly
tore
the
letter
in
pieces
.
“
There
now
,
”
said
he
to
himself
,
“
if
Hardies
do
laa
me
for
publishing
of
this
here
letter
,
why
they
pours
their
water
into
a
sieve
.
Ugh
!
”
And
with
this
exclamation
he
started
,
and
then
put
his
heavy
boot
on
part
of
the
letter
,
and
ground
it
furtively
into
the
mud
;
for
a
light
hand
had
settled
on
his
shoulder
,
and
a
keen
young
face
was
close
to
his
.
It
was
Alfred
Hardie
,
who
had
stolen
on
him
like
a
cat
.
“
I
'm
laad
,
”
thought
Maxley
.
“
Maxley
,
old
fellow
,
”
said
Alfred
,
in
a
voice
as
coaxing
as
a
woman
's
,
“
are
you
in
a
good
humour
?
”
“
Well
,
Master
,
Halfred
,
sight
of
you
mostly
puts
me
in
one
,
especially
after
that
there
strychnine
job
.
”
“
Then
tell
me
,
”
whispered
Alfred
,
his
eyes
sparkling
and
his
face
beaming
,
“
who
was
that
you
were
talking
to
just
now
?
Was
it
?
—
was
n't
it
?
—
who
was
it
?
”
CHAPTER
XVIII
WHILE
Dodd
stood
lowering
in
the
doorway
,
he
was
nevertheless
making
a
great
effort
to
control
his
agitation
.
At
last
he
said
in
a
stern
but
low
voice
,
in
which
,
however
,
a
quick
ear
might
detect
a
tremor
of
agitation
:
“
I
have
changed
my
mind
,
sir
:
I
want
my
money
back
.
”
At
this
,
though
David
's
face
had
prepared
him
,
Mr.
Hardie
's
heart
sank
:
but
there
was
no
help
for
it
.
He
said
faintly
,
“
Certainly
.
May
I
ask
—
—
?
”
and
there
he
stopped
;
for
it
was
hardly
prudent
to
ask
anything
.
“
No
matter
,
”
replied
Dodd
,
his
agitation
rising
even
at
this
slight
delay
.
“
Come
!
my
money
!
I
must
and
will
have
it
.
”
Hardie
drew
himself
up
majestically
.
“
Captain
Dodd
,
this
is
a
strange
way
of
demanding
what
nobody
here
disputes
.
”
“
Well
,
I
beg
your
pardon
,
”
said
Dodd
,
a
little
awed
by
his
dignity
and
fairness
,
“
but
I
ca
n't
help
it
.
”
The
quick
,
supple
banker
saw
the
slight
advantage
he
had
gained
,
and
his
mind
went
into
a
whirl
.
What
should
he
do
?
It
was
death
to
part
with
this
money
and
gain
nothing
by
it
.
Sooner
tell
Dodd
of
the
love
affair
,
and
open
a
treaty
on
this
basis
:
he
clung
to
this
money
like
limpet
to
its
rock
;
and
so
intense
and
rapid
were
his
thoughts
and
schemes
how
to
retain
it
a
little
longer
,
that
David
's
apologies
buzzed
in
his
ear
like
the
drone
of
a
beetle
.
The
latter
went
on
to
say
,
“
You
see
,
sir
,
it
's
my
children
's
fortune
,
my
boy
Edward
's
,
and
my
little
Julia
's
:
and
so
many
have
been
trying
to
get
it
from
me
,
that
my
blood
boils
up
in
a
moment
about
it
now
.
—
My
poor
head
!
—
You
do
n't
seem
to
understand
what
I
am
saying
!
There
then
,
I
am
a
sailor
;
I
ca
n't
go
beating
and
tacking
like
you
landsmen
,
with
the
wind
dead
astern
.
The
long
and
the
short
is
,
I
do
n't
feel
It
safe
here
:
do
n't
feel
It
safe
anywhere
,
except
in
my
wife
's
lap
.
So
no
more
words
:
here
's
your
receipt
;
give
me
my
money
.
”
“
Certainly
,
Captain
Dodd
.
Call
to-morrow
morning
at
the
bank
,
and
it
will
be
paid
on
demand
in
the
regular
way
:
the
bank
opens
at
ten
o'clock
.
”
“
No
,
no
;
I
ca
n't
wait
.
I
should
be
dead
of
anxiety
before
then
.
Why
not
pay
it
me
here
and
now
?
You
took
it
here
.
”
“
We
receive
deposits
till
four
o'clock
,
but
we
do
not
disburse
after
three
.
This
is
the
system
of
all
banks
.
”
“
That
is
all
nonsense
:
if
you
are
open
to
receive
money
,
you
are
open
to
pay
it
.
”
“
My
dear
sir
,
if
you
were
not
entirely
ignorant
of
business
,
you
would
be
aware
that
these
things
are
not
done
in
this
way
.
Money
received
is
passed
to
account
,
and
the
cashier
is
the
only
person
who
can
honour
your
draft
on
it
.
But
,
stop
;
if
the
cashier
is
in
the
bank
,
we
may
manage
it
for
you
yet
.
Skinner
,
run
and
see
whether
he
has
left
:
and
if
not
,
send
him
to
me
directly
.
”
The
cashier
took
his
cue
and
ran
out
.
David
was
silent
.
The
cashier
speedily
returned
,
saying
,
with
a
disappointed
air
,
“
The
cashier
has
been
gone
this
quarter
of
an
hour
.
”
David
maintained
an
ominous
silence
.
“
That
is
unfortunate
,
”
remarked
Hardie
.
“
But
,
after
all
,
it
is
only
till
to-morrow
morning
.
Still
I
regret
this
circumstance
,
sir
;
and
I
feel
that
all
these
precautions
we
are
obliged
to
take
must
seem
unreasonable
to
you
.
But
experience
dictates
this
severe
routine
,
and
,
were
we
to
deviate
from
it
,
our
friends
'
money
would
not
be
so
safe
in
our
hands
as
it
always
has
been
at
present
.
”
David
eyed
him
sternly
,
but
let
him
run
on
.
When
he
had
concluded
his
flowing
periods
,
David
said
quietly
,
“
So
you
ca
n't
give
me
my
own
because
your
cashier
has
carried
it
away
?
”
Hardie
smiled
.
“
No
,
no
;
but
because
he
has
locked
it
up
and
carried
away
the
key
.
”
“
It
is
not
in
this
room
,
then
?
”
“
No.
”
“
Are
you
sure
?
”
“
Positive
.
”
“
What
,
not
in
that
safe
of
yours
,
there
?
”
“
Certainly
not
,
”
said
Hardie
stoutly
.
“
Open
the
safe
:
the
keys
are
in
it
.
”
“
Open
the
safe
?
What
for
?
”
“
To
show
me
It
is
not
in
the
right-hand
partition
of
that
safe
;
there
:
there
.
”
And
David
pointed
at
the
very
place
where
it
was
.
The
dignified
Mr.
Hardie
felt
ready
to
sink
with
shame
:
a
kind
of
shudder
passed
through
him
,
and
he
was
about
to
comply
,
heart-sick
;
but
then
wounded
pride
and
the
rage
of
disappointment
stung
him
,
and
he
turned
in
defiance
.
“
You
are
impertinent
,
sir
,
and
I
shall
not
reward
your
curiosity
and
your
insolence
by
showing
you
the
contents
of
my
safe
.
”
“
My
money
!
my
money
!
”
cried
David
fiercely
:
“
no
more
words
,
for
I
sha
n't
listen
to
them
:
I
know
you
now
for
what
you
are
—
a
thief
!
I
saw
you
put
it
into
that
safe
:
a
liar
is
always
a
thief
.
You
want
to
steal
my
children
's
money
:
I
'll
have
your
life
first
.
My
money
!
ye
pirate
!
or
I
'll
strangle
you
.
”
And
he
advanced
upon
him
purple
with
rage
,
and
shot
out
his
long
threatening
arm
and
brown
fingers
working
in
the
air
.
“
D'ye
know
what
I
did
to
a
French
land-shark
that
tried
to
rob
me
of
It
?
I
throttled
him
with
these
fingers
till
his
eyes
and
his
tongue
started
out
of
him
.
He
came
for
my
children
's
money
,
and
I
killed
him
so
—
so
—
so
—
as
I
'll
kill
you
,
you
thief
!
you
liar
!
you
scoundrel
!
”
His
face
black
and
convulsed
with
rage
,
and
his
outstretched
fingers
working
convulsively
,
and
hungering
for
a
rogue
's
throat
,
made
the
resolute
Hardie
quake
.
He
whipped
out
of
the
furious
man
's
way
,
and
got
to
the
safe
,
pale
and
trembling
.
“
Hush
!
no
violence
!
”
he
gasped
:
“
I
'll
give
you
your
money
this
moment
you
ruffian
.
”
While
he
unlocked
the
safe
with
trembling
hands
,
Dodd
stood
like
a
man
petrified
,
his
arm
and
fingers
stretched
out
and
threatening
;
and
Skinner
saw
him
pull
at
his
necktie
furiously
,
like
one
choking
.
Hardie
got
the
notes
and
bills
all
in
a
hurry
,
and
held
them
out
to
Dodd
.
In
which
act
,
to
his
consternation
and
surprise
and
indignation
,
he
received
a
back-handed
blow
on
the
eye
that
dazzled
him
for
an
instant
;
and
there
was
David
with
his
arms
struggling
wildly
and
his
fists
clenched
,
his
face
purple
,
and
his
eyes
distorted
so
that
little
was
seen
but
the
whites
the
next
moment
his
teeth
gnashed
loudly
together
,
and
he
fell
headlong
on
the
floor
with
a
concussion
so
momentous
that
the
windows
rattled
and
the
room
shook
violently
;
the
dust
rose
in
a
cloud
.
A
loud
ejaculation
burst
from
Hardie
and
Skinner
,
And
then
there
was
an
awful
silence
.
CHAPTER
XIX
WHEN
David
fell
senseless
on
the
floor
,
Mr.
Hardie
was
somewhat
confused
by
the
back-handed
blow
from
his
convulsed
and
whirling
arm
.
But
Skinner
ran
to
him
,
held
up
his
head
,
and
whipped
off
his
neckcloth
.
Then
Hardie
turned
to
seize
the
bell
and
ring
for
assistance
;
but
Skinner
shook
his
head
and
said
it
was
useless
:
this
was
no
faint
:
old
Betty
could
not
help
him
.
“
It
is
a
bad
day
's
work
,
sir
,
”
said
he
,
trembling
:
“
he
is
a
dead
man
.
”
“
Dead
?
Heaven
forbid
!
”
“
Apoplexy
!
”
whispered
Skinner
.
“
Run
for
a
doctor
then
:
lose
no
time
:
do
n't
let
us
have
his
blood
on
our
hands
!
Dead
?
”
And
he
repeated
the
word
this
time
in
a
very
different
tone
,
a
tone
too
strange
and
significant
to
escape
Skinner
's
quick
ear
.
However
,
he
laid
David
's
head
gently
down
and
rose
from
his
knees
to
obey
.
What
did
he
see
now
,
but
Mr.
Hardie
,
with
his
back
turned
,
putting
the
notes
and
bills
softly
into
the
safe
again
out
of
sight
.
He
saw
,
comprehended
,
and
took
his
own
course
with
equal
rapidity
.
“
Come
,
run
!
”
cried
Mr.
Hardie
;
“
I
'll
take
care
of
him
;
every
moment
is
precious
.
”
(
“
Wants
to
get
rid
of
me
!
”
thought
Skinner
.
)
“
No
,
sir
,
”
said
he
,
“
be
ruled
by
me
:
let
us
take
him
to
his
friends
:
he
wo
n't
live
;
and
we
shall
get
all
the
blame
if
we
doctor
him
.
”
Already
egotism
had
whispered
Hardie
,
“
How
lucky
if
he
should
die
!
”
and
now
a
still
guiltier
thought
flashed
through
him
:
he
did
not
try
to
conquer
it
;
he
only
trembled
at
himself
for
entertaining
it
.
“
At
least
:
give
him
air
!
”
said
he
in
a
quavering
voice
,
consenting
to
a
crime
,
yet
compromising
with
his
conscience
,
feebly
.
He
threw
the
window
,
open
with
great
zeal
—
with
prodigious
zeal
;
for
,
he
wanted
to
deceive
himself
as
well
as
Skinner
.
With
equal
parade
he
helped
carry
Dodd
to
the
window
;
it
opened
,
on
the
ground
:
this
done
,
the
self-deceivers
put
their
heads
together
,
and
soon
managed
matters
so
that
two
porters
,
known
to
Skinner
,
were
introduced
into
the
garden
,
and
informed
that
a
gentleman
had
fallen
down
in
a
fit
,
and
they
were
to
take
him
home
to
his
friends
,
and
not
talk
about
it
:
there
might
be
an
inquest
,
and
that
was
so
disagreeable
to
a
gentleman
like
Mr.
Hardie
.
The
men
agreed
at
once
for
a
sovereign
apiece
.
It
was
all
done
in
a
great
hurry
and
agitation
,
and
while
Skinner
accompanied
the
men
to
see
that
they
did
not
blab
,
Mr.
Hardie
went
into
the
garden
to
breathe
and
think
.
But
he
could
do
neither
.
He
must
have
a
look
at
It
.
He
stole
back
,
opened
the
safe
,
and
examined
the
notes
and
bills
.
He
fingered
them
.
They
seemed
to
grow
to
his
finger
.
He
lusted
after
them
.
He
said
to
himself
,
“
The
matter
has
gone
too
far
to
stop
;
I
must
go
on
borrowing
this
money
of
the
Dodds
,
and
make
it
the
basis
of
a
large
fortune
:
it
will
be
best
for
all
parties
in
the
end
.
”
He
put
It
into
his
pocket-book
;
that
pocket-book
into
his
breast-pocket
;
and
passed
by
his
private
door
into
the
house
,
and
to
his
dressing-room
.
Ten
minutes
later
he
left
the
house
with
a
little
black
bag
in
his
band
.
CHAPTER
XX
“
WHAT
will
ye
give
me
,
and
I
'll
tell
ye
?
”
said
Maxley
to
Alfred
Hardie
.
“
Five
pounds
.
”
“
That
is
too
much
.
”
“
Five
shillings
,
then
.
”
“
That
is
too
little
.
Lookee
here
;
your
garden
owes
me
thirty
shillings
for
work
:
suppose
you
pays
me
,
and
that
will
save
me
from
going
to
your
Dad
for
it
.
”
Alfred
consented
readily
,
and
paid
the
money
.
Then
Maxley
told
him
it
was
Captain
Dodd
he
had
been
talking
with
.
“
I
thought
so
!
I
thought
so
!
”
cried
Alfred
joyfully
,
“
but
I
was
afraid
to
believe
it
:
it
was
too
delightful
.
Maxley
,
you
're
a
trump
you
do
n't
know
what
anxiety
you
have
relieved
me
of
.
Some
fool
has
gone
and
reported
the
Agia
wrecked
;
look
here
!
”
and
he
showed
him
his
Lloyd
's
.
“
Luckily
it
has
only
just
come
,
so
I
have
n't
been
miserable
long
.
”
“
Well
,
to
be
sure
,
news
flies
fast
now-a-days
.
He
have
been
wrecked
for
that
matter
.
”
He
then
surprised
Alfred
by
telling
him
all
he
had
just
learned
from
Dodd
;
and
was
going
to
let
out
about
the
4
,
000
,
l
.
when
he
recollected
this
was
the
banker
's
son
,
and
while
he
was
talking
to
him
,
it
suddenly
struck
Maxley
that
this
young
gentleman
would
come
down
in
the
world
should
the
bank
break
,
and
then
the
Dodds
,
he
concluded
,
judging
others
by
himself
,
would
be
apt
to
turn
their
backs
on
him
.
Now
he
liked
Alfred
,
and
was
disposed
to
do
him
a
good
turn
,
when
he
could
without
hurting
James
Maxley
.
“
Mr.
Alfred
,
”
said
he
,
“
I
know
the
world
better
than
you
do
:
you
be
ruled
by
me
,
or
you
'll
rue
it
.
You
put
on
your
Sunday
coat
this
minute
,
and
off
like
a
shot
to
Albyn
Villee
;
you
'll
get
there
before
the
Captain
;
he
have
got
a
little
business
to
do
first
;
that
is
neither
here
nor
there
:
besides
,
you
are
young
and
lissom
.
You
be
the
first
to
tell
Missus
Dodd
the
good
news
;
and
,
when
the
Captain
comes
,
there
sits
you
aside
Miss
Julee
:
and
do
n't
you
be
shy
and
shamefaced
,
take
him
when
his
heart
is
warm
,
and
tell
him
why
you
are
there
:
'
I
love
her
dear
,
'
says
you
.
He
be
only
a
sailor
and
they
never
has
no
sense
nor
prudence
;
he
is
a'most
sure
to
take
you
by
the
hand
,
at
such
a
time
:
and
once
you
get
his
word
,
he
'll
stand
good
,
to
his
own
hurt
.
He
's
one
of
that
sort
,
bless
his
silly
old
heart
.
”
A
good
deal
of
this
was
unintelligible
to
Alfred
,
but
the
advice
seemed
good
—
advice
generally
does
when
it
squares
with
our
own
wishes
.
He
thanked
Maxley
,
left
him
,
made
a
hasty
toilet
,
and
ran
to
Albion
Villa
.
Sarah
opened
the
door
to
him
in
tears
.
The
news
of
the
wreck
had
come
to
Albion
Villa
just
half
an
hour
ago
,
and
in
that
half
hour
they
had
tasted
more
misery
than
hitherto
their
peaceful
lot
had
brought
them
in
years
.
Mrs.
Dodd
was
praying
and
crying
in
her
room
;
Julia
had
put
on
her
bonnet
,
and
was
descending
in
deep
distress
and
agitation
,
to
go
down
to
the
quay
and
learn
more
if
possible
.
Alfred
saw
her
on
the
stairs
,
and
at
sight
of
her
pale
