.The
prudence
of
youth
!
He
paid
off
the
cab
in
Pembroke
Street
,
and
set
about
the
task
of
discovering
Julia
.
He
inquired
at
several
houses
,
but
was
unsuccessful
.
Then
he
walked
slowly
all
down
the
street
,
looking
up
at
all
the
windows
.
And
I
think
,
if
he
had
done
this
the
day
before
,
he
might
have
seen
her
,
or
she
him
:
she
was
so
often
at
the
window
now
.
But
just
then
she
had
company
to
keep
her
in
order
.
He
was
unlucky
in
another
respect
.
Edward
came
out
of
No.
66
and
went
up
the
street
,
when
he
himself
was
going
down
it
not
so
very
many
yards
off
.
If
Alfred
's
face
had
only
been
turned
the
other
way
he
would
have
seen
Edward
,
and
all
would
have
gone
differently
.
The
stoutest
hearts
have
their
moments
of
weakness
and
deep
dejection
.
Few
timings
are
more
certain
,
and
less
realised
by
ordinary
men
than
this
;
from
Palissy
fighting
with
Enamel
to
Layard
disinterring
a
city
,
this
thing
is
so
.
Unable
to
find
Julia
in
the
very
street
she
inhabited
,
Alfred
felt
weak
against
fate
.
He
said
to
himself
,
“
If
I
find
her
,
I
shall
perhaps
wish
I
had
never
sought
her
.
”
In
his
hour
of
dejection
stern
reason
would
be
heard
,
and
asked
him
whether
all
Mrs.
Archbold
had
said
could
be
pure
invention
;
and
he
was
obliged
to
confess
that
was
too
unlikely
.
Then
he
felt
so
sick
at
heart
he
was
half
minded
to
turn
and
fly
the
street
.
But
there
was
a
large
yard
close
by
him
,
entered
by
a
broad
and
lofty
gateway
cut
through
one
of
the
houses
.
The
yard
belonged
to
a
dealer
in
hay
:
two
empty
waggons
were
there
,
but
no
men
visible
,
being
their
dinner-time
.
Alfred
slipped
in
here
,
and
sat
down
on
the
shaft
of
a
waggon
;
and
let
his
courage
ooze
.
He
sighed
,
and
sighed
,
and
feared
to
know
his
fate
.
And
so
he
sat
with
his
face
in
his
hands
unmanned
.
Presently
a
strain
of
music
broke
on
his
ear
.
It
seemed
to
come
from
the
street
.
He
raised
his
head
to
listen
.
He
coloured
,
his
eyes
sparkled
;
he
stole
out
on
tiptoe
with
wondering
,
inquiring
face
into
the
street
.
Once
there
,
he
stood
spell-bound
,
thrilling
from
his
heart
,
that
seemed
now
on
fire
,
to
his
fingers
'
ends
.
For
a
heavenly
voice
was
singing
to
the
piano
,
just
above
his
head
;
singing
in
earnest
,
making
the
very
street
ring
.
Already
listeners
were
gathering
,
and
a
woman
of
the
people
said
,
“
It
's
a
soul
singing
without
a
body
.
”
Amazing
good
things
are
said
in
the
streets
.
The
voice
was
the
voice
of
Julia
;
the
song
was
Aileen
Aroon
,
the
hymn
of
constancy
.
So
sudden
and
full
was
the
bliss
,
which
poured
into
the
long
and
sore-tried
listener
at
this
sudden
answer
to
his
fears
,
that
tears
of
joy
trembled
in
his
eyes
.
“
'
Wretch
that
I
was
to
doubt
her
,
”
he
said
:
and
unable
to
contain
his
longing
,
unable
to
wait
and
listen
even
to
that
which
had
changed
his
griefs
and
doubts
into
rapture
,
he
was
at
the
door
in
a
moment
.
A
servant
opened
it
:
“
Miss
Dodd
?
”
he
said
,
or
rather
panted
;
“
you
need
not
announce
me
.
I
am
an
old
acquaintance
.
”
He
could
not
bear
any
one
should
see
the
meeting
between
him
and
his
beloved
;
he
went
up
the
steep
and
narrow
stair
,
guided
by
the
hymn
of
constancy
.
He
stopped
at
the
door
,
his
heart
was
beating
so
violently
.
Then
he
turned
the
handle
softly
,
and
stepped
into
the
drawing-room
;
it
was
a
double
room
:
he
took
two
steps
and
was
in
the
opening
,
and
almost
at
Julia
's
back
.
Two
young
clergymen
were
bending
devotedly
one
on
each
side
of
her
;
it
was
to
them
she
was
singing
the
hymn
of
constancy
.
Alfred
started
back
as
if
he
had
been
stung
;
and
the
music
stopped
dead
short
.
For
she
had
heard
his
step
,
and
,
womanlike
,
was
looking
into
her
companions
'
eyes
first
,
to
see
if
her
ear
had
deceived
her
.
What
she
saw
there
brought
her
slowly
round
with
a
wild
look
.
Her
hands
rose
toward
her
face
,
and
she
shrank
away
sideways
from
him
as
if
he
was
a
serpent
,
and
her
dilated
eyes
looked
over
her
cringing
shoulder
at
him
,
and
she
was
pale
and
red
and
pale
and
red
a
dozen
times
in
as
many
seconds
.
He
eyed
her
sorrowfully
and
sternly
,
taking
for
shame
that
strange
mixture
of
emotions
which
possessed
her
.
And
so
they
met
.
Strange
meeting
for
two
true
lovers
,
who
had
parted
last
upon
their
wedding
eve
.
No
doubt
,
if
they
had
been
alone
,
one
or
other
would
have
spoken
directly
;
but
the
situation
was
complicated
by
the
presence
of
two
rivals
,
and
this
tied
their
tongues
.
They
devoured
one
another
with
their
eyes
in
silence
;
and
then
Julia
rose
slowly
to
her
feet
,
and
began
to
tremble
from
head
to
foot
,
as
she
looked
at
him
.
“
Is
this
intrusion
agreeable
to
you
,
Miss
Dodd
?
”
said
Mr.
Hurd
respectfully
,
by
way
of
courting
her
.
She
made
no
reply
,
but
only
looked
wildly
at
Alfred
still
,
and
quivered
visibly
.
“
Pray
,
sir
,
”
said
Alfred
,
turning
on
Mr.
Hurd
,
“
have
you
any
right
to
interfere
between
us
two
?
”
“
None
whatever
,
”
said
Julia
hastily
.
“
Mr.
Hurd
,
I
need
no
one
:
I
will
permit
no
one
to
say
a
word
to
him
.
Mr.
Hardie
knows
he
cannot
enter
a
house
where
I
am
—
without
an
explanation
.
”
“
What
,
before
a
couple
of
curates
?
”
“
Do
not
be
insolent
to
my
friends
,
sir
,
”
said
Julia
,
panting
.
This
wounded
Alfred
deeply
.
“
Oh
,
as
you
please
,
”
said
he
.
“
Only
if
you
put
me
on
my
defence
before
strangers
,
I
shall
,
perhaps
,
put
you
to
the
blush
before
them
.
”
“
Why
do
you
come
here
,
sir
?
”
said
Julia
,
not
deigning
to
notice
his
threat
.
“
To
see
my
betrothed
.
”
“
Oh
,
indeed
!
”
said
she
bitterly
;
“
in
that
case
why
have
you
postponed
your
visit
so
long
?
”
“
I
was
in
prison
.
”
“
In
prison
?
”
“
In
the
worst
of
all
prisons
;
where
I
was
put
because
I
loved
you
;
where
I
was
detained
because
I
persisted
in
loving
you
,
you
faithless
,
inconstant
girl
.
”
He
choked
at
these
words
;
she
smiled
—
a
faint
,
uncertain
smile
.
It
died
away
,
and
she
shook
her
head
,
and
said
sadly
—
“
Defend
yourself
,
and
then
call
me
as
many
names
as
you
like
.
Where
was
this
prison
?
”
“
It
was
an
asylum
:
a
madhouse
.
”
The
girl
stared
at
him
bewildered
.
He
put
his
hand
into
his
pocket
and
took
Peggy
's
letter
.
“
Read
that
,
”
he
said
.
She
held
it
in
her
hand
,
and
looked
him
in
the
face
to
divine
the
contents
.
“
Read
it
,
”
said
he
,
almost
fiercely
;
“
that
was
the
decoy
.
”
She
held
it
shaking
in
her
hands
,
and
stared
at
it
.
I
do
n't
know
whether
she
read
it
or
not
.
He
went
on
:
“
The
same
villain
who
defrauded
your
father
of
his
money
,
robbed
me
of
my
wife
and
my
liberty
:
that
Silverton
House
was
a
lunatic
asylum
,
and
ever
since
then
(
Oh
,
Julia
,
the
agony
of
that
day
)
I
have
been
confined
in
one
or
other
of
those
hells
;
sane
amongst
the
mad
;
till
Drayton
House
took
fire
,
and
I
escaped
:
for
what
?
To
be
put
on
my
defence
,
by
you
.
What
have
you
suffered
from
our
separations
compared
with
the
manifold
anguish
I
have
endured
,
that
you
dare
to
receive
the
most
injured
and
constant
of
mankind
like
this
,
you
who
have
had
your
liberty
all
this
time
,
and
have
consoled
yourself
for
my
absence
with
a
couple
of
curates
?
”
“
For
shame
,
”
said
Julia
,
blushing
to
the
forehead
,
yet
smiling
in
a
way
her
companions
could
not
understand
.
“
Miss
Dodd
,
will
you
put
up
with
these
insults
?
”
said
Mr.
Hurd
.
“
Ay
,
and
a
thousand
more
,
”
cried
Julia
,
radiant
,
“
and
thank
Heaven
for
them
;
they
prove
his
sincerity
.
You
,
who
have
thought
proper
to
stay
and
hear
me
insult
my
betrothed
,
and
put
my
superior
on
his
defence
,
look
how
I
receive
his
just
rebuke
:
Dear
,
cruelly
used
Alfred
,
I
never
doubted
you
in
my
heart
,
no
not
for
a
moment
;
forgive
me
for
taunting
you
to
clear
yourself
;
you
who
were
always
the
soul
of
truth
and
honour
.
Forgive
me
:
I
too
have
suffered
;
for
I
thought
my
Alfred
was
dead
.
Forgive
me
.
”
And
with
this
she
was
sinking
slowly
to
her
knees
with
the
most
touching
grace
,
all
blushes
,
tears
,
penitence
,
happiness
,
and
love
;
but
he
caught
her
eagerly
.
“
Oh
!
God
forbid
,
”
he
cried
:
and
in
a
moment
her
head
was
on
his
shoulder
,
and
they
mingled
their
tears
together
.
It
was
Julia
who
recovered
herself
first
,
and
shrank
from
him
a
little
,
and
murmured
,
“
We
are
not
alone
.
”
The
misgiving
came
rather
late
:
and
they
were
alone
.
The
other
gentlemen
had
comprehended
at
last
that
it
was
indelicate
to
remain
:
they
had
melted
quietly
away
;
and
Peterson
rushed
down
the
street
;
but
Hurd
hung
disconsolate
about
that
very
entry
,
where
Alfred
had
just
desponded
before
him
.
“
Sit
by
me
,
my
poor
darling
,
and
tell
me
all
,
”
said
Julia
.
He
began
;
but
,
ere
he
had
told
her
about
his
first
day
at
his
first
asylum
,
she
moaned
and
turned
faint
at
the
recital
,
and
her
lovely
head
sank
on
his
shoulder
.
He
kissed
her
,
and
tried
to
comfort
her
,
and
said
he
would
not
tell
her
any
more
.
But
she
said
somewhat
characteristically
,
“
I
insist
on
your
telling
me
all
—
all
.
It
will
kill
me
.
”
Which
did
not
seem
to
Alfred
a
cogent
reason
for
continuing
his
narrative
.
He
varied
it
by
telling
her
that
through
all
his
misery
the
thought
of
her
had
sustained
him
.
Alas
,
in
the
midst
of
their
Elysium
a
rough
voice
was
heard
in
the
passage
inquiring
for
Mr.
Hardie
.
Alfred
started
up
in
dismay
:
for
it
was
Rooke
's
voice
.
“
I
am
undone
,
”
he
cried
.
“
They
are
coming
to
take
me
again
;
and
,
if
they
do
,
they
will
drug
me
;
I
am
a
dead
man
.
”
“
Fly
!
”
cried
Julia
;
“
fly
!
upstairs
:
the
leads
.
”
He
darted
to
the
door
,
and
out
on
the
landing
.
It
was
too
late
.
Rooke
had
just
turned
the
corner
of
the
stairs
,
and
saw
him
.
He
whistled
and
rushed
after
Alfred
.
Alfred
bounded
up
the
next
flight
of
stairs
:
but
,
even
as
he
went
,
his
fighting
blood
got
up
;
he
remembered
his
pistol
:
he
drew
it
,
turned
on
the
upper
landing
,
and
levelled
the
weapon
full
at
Rooke
's
forehead
.
The
man
recoiled
with
a
yell
,
and
got
to
a
respectful
distance
on
the
second
landing
.
There
he
began
to
parley
.
“
Come
,
Mr.
Hardie
,
sir
,
”
said
he
,
“
that
is
past
a
joke
:
would
you
murder
a
man
?
”
“
It
's
no
murder
to
kill
an
assassin
in
defence
of
life
or
liberty
;
and
I
'll
kill
you
,
Rooke
,
as
I
would
kill
a
wasp
,
if
you
lay
a
finger
on
me
.
”
“
Do
you
hear
that
?
”
shouted
Rooke
to
some
one
below
.
“
Ay
,
I
hear
,
”
replied
the
voice
of
Hayes
.
“
Then
loose
the
dog
.
And
run
in
after
him
.
”
There
was
a
terrible
silence
;
then
a
scratching
was
heard
below
:
and
,
above
,
the
deadly
click
of
the
pistol-hammers
brought
to
full
cock
.
And
then
there
was
a
heavy
pattering
rush
,
and
Vulcan
came
charging
up
the
stairs
like
a
lion
.
He
was
half-muzzled
;
but
that
Alfred
did
not
know
;
he
stepped
forward
and
fired
at
the
tremendous
brute
somewhat
unsteadily
;
and
missed
him
,
by
an
inch
;
the
bullet
glanced
off
the
stairs
and
entered
the
wall
within
a
yard
of
Rooke
's
head
:
ere
Alfred
could
fire
again
,
the
huge
brute
leaped
on
him
,
and
knocked
him
down
like
a
child
,
and
made
a
grab
at
his
throat
;
Alfred
,
with
admirable
presence
of
mind
,
seized
a
banister
,
and
,
drawing
himself
up
,
put
the
pistol
to
Vulcan
's
ear
,
and
fired
the
other
barrel
just
as
Rooke
rushed
up
the
stairs
to
secure
his
prisoner
;
the
dog
bounded
into
the
air
and
fell
over
dead
with
shattered
skull
,
leaving
Alfred
bespattered
with
blood
and
brains
,
and
half
blinded
:
but
he
struggled
up
,
and
tore
the
banister
out
in
doing
so
,
just
as
a
heavy
body
fell
forward
at
his
feet
:
it
was
Rooke
stumbling
over
Vulcan
's
carcass
so
unexpectedly
thrown
in
his
path
:
Alfred
cleared
his
eyes
with
his
hand
,
and
as
Rooke
struggled
up
,
lifted
the
banister
high
above
his
head
,
and
,
with
his
long
sinewy
arm
and
elastic
body
,
discharged
a
blow
frightful
to
look
at
,
for
youth
,
strength
,
skill
,
and
hate
all
swelled
,
and
rose
,
and
struck
together
in
that
one
furious
gesture
.
If
the
wood
had
held
,
the
skull
must
have
gone
.
As
it
was
,
the
banister
broke
over
'
the
man
's
head
(
and
one
half
went
spinning
up
to
the
ceiling
)
.
The
man
's
head
cracked
under
the
banister
like
a
glass
bottle
;
and
Rooke
lay
flat
and
mute
,
within
the
blood
running
from
his
nose
and
ears
.
Alfred
hurled
the
remnant
of
the
banister
down
at
Hayes
and
the
others
,
and
darted
into
a
room
(
it
was
Julia
's
bedroom
)
,
and
was
heard
to
open
the
window
,
and
then
drag
furniture
to
the
door
,
and
barricade
it
.
This
done
,
he
went
to
load
his
pistol
,
which
he
thought
he
had
slipped
into
his
pocket
after
felling
Rooke
.
He
found
to
his
dismay
it
was
not
there
.
The
fact
was
,
it
had
slipped
past
his
pocket
and
fallen
down
.
During
the
fight
,
shriek
upon
shriek
issued
from
the
drawing-room
.
But
now
all
was
still
.
On
the
stairs
lay
Vulcan
dead
,
Rooke
senseless
:
below
,
Julia
in
a
dead
faint
.
And
all
in
little
more
than
a
minute
.
Dr.
Wolf
arrived
with
the
police
and
two
more
keepers
,
new
ones
in
the
place
of
Wales
and
Garrett
discharged
;
and
urged
them
to
break
into
the
bedroom
and
capture
the
maniac
:
but
first
he
was
cautious
enough
to
set
two
of
them
to
watch
the
back
of
the
house
.
“
There
,
”
he
said
,
“
where
that
load
of
hay
is
going
in
:
that
is
the
way
to
it
.
Now
stand
you
in
the
yard
and
watch
.
”
This
last
mandate
was
readily
complied
with
;
for
there
was
not
much
to
be
feared
on
the
stones
below
from
a
maniac
self-immured
on
the
second
story
.
But
to
break
open
that
bedroom
door
was
quite
another
thing
.
The
stairs
were
like
a
shambles
already
—
a
chilling
sight
to
the
eyes
of
mercenary
valour
.
Rooke
was
but
just
sensible
:
the
others
hung
back
.
But
presently
the
pistol
was
found
sticking
in
a
pool
of
gore
.
This
put
a
new
face
on
the
matter
;
and
Dr.
Wolf
himself
showed
the
qualities
of
a
commander
.
He
sent
down
word
to
his
sentinels
in
the
yard
to
be
prepared
for
any
attempt
on
Alfred
's
part
,
however
desperate
:
and
he
sent
a
verbal
message
to
a
stately
gentleman
who
was
sitting
anxious
in
lodgings
over
the
way
,
after
bribing
high
ad
low
,
giving
out
money
like
water
to
secure
the
recapture
,
and
so
escape
what
he
called
his
unnatural
son
's
vengeance
;
for
he
knew
him
to
be
by
nature
bold
and
vindictive
like
himself
.
After
these
preliminaries
,
Doctor
Wolf
headed
his
remaining
forces
—
to
wit
,
two
keepers
,
and
two
policemen
,
and
thundered
at
the
bedroom
door
,
and
summoned
Alfred
to
surrender
.
Now
among
the
spectators
who
watched
and
listened
with
bated
breath
,
was
one
to
whom
this
scene
had
an
interest
of
its
own
.
Mr.
Hurd
,
disconcerted
by
Alfred
's
sudden
reappearance
,
and
the
lovers
'
reconciliation
,
had
hung
about
the
entry
very
miserable
;
for
he
was
sincerely
attached
to
Julia
.
But
,
while
he
was
in
this
stupor
,
came
the
posse
to
recapture
Alfred
,
and
he
heard
them
say
so
.
Then
the
shots
were
fired
within
,
then
Wolf
and
his
men
got
in
,
and
Mr.
Hurd
,
who
was
now
at
the
door
,
got
in
with
them
to
protect
Julia
,
and
see
this
dangerous
and
inconvenient
character
disposed
of
.
He
was
looking
demurely
on
at
a
safish
distance
,
when
his
late
triumphant
rival
was
summoned
to
surrender
.
No
reply
.
Dr.
Wolf
coaxed
.
No
reply
.
Dr.
Wolf
told
him
he
had
police
as
well
as
keepers
,
and
resistance
would
be
idle
.
No
reply
.
Dr.
Wolf
ordered
his
men
to
break
in
the
door
.
After
some
little
delay
,
one
of
the
keepers
applied
a
chisel
,
while
a
policeman
held
his
truncheon
ready
to
defend
the
operator
.
The
lock
gave
way
.
But
the
door
could
not
open
for
furniture
.
After
some
further
delay
they
took
it
off
its
hinges
,
and
the
room
stood
revealed
.
To
their
surprise
no
rush
was
made
at
them
.
The
maniac
was
not
even
in
sight
.
“
He
is
down
upon
his
luck
,
”
whispered
one
of
the
new
keepers
;
“
we
shall
find
him
crouched
somewhere
.
”
They
looked
under
the
bed
.
He
was
not
there
.
They
opened
a
cupboard
;
three
or
four
dresses
hung
from
wooden
pegs
;
they
searched
the
gowns
most
minutely
,
but
found
no
maniac
hid
in
their
ample
folds
.
Presently
some
soot
was
observed
lying
in
the
grate
;
and
it
was
inferred
he
had
gone
up
the
chimney
.
On
inspection
the
opening
appeared
almost
too
narrow
.
Then
Dr.
Wolf
questioned
his
sentinels
in
the
yard
.
“
Have
you
been
there
all
the
time
?
”
“
Yes
,
sir
.
”
“
Seen
nothing
?
”
“
No
,
sir
.
And
our
eyes
have
never
been
off
the
window
and
the
heads
.
”
Here
was
a
mystery
;
and
not
a
clue
to
its
solution
.
The
window
was
open
;
but
five-and-twenty
feet
above
the
paved
yard
;
had
he
leaped
down
he
must
have
been
dashed
to
pieces
.
Many
tongues
began
to
go
at
once
;
in
the
midst
of
which
Edward
burst
in
,
and
found
the
two
dead
men
of
contemporary
history
consisted
of
a
dead
dog
and
a
stunned
man
,
who
,
having
a
head
like
a
bullet
,
was
now
come
to
himself
and
vowing
vengeance
.
He
found
Julia
very
pale
,
supported
and
consoled
by
Mr.
Hurd
.
He
was
congratulating
her
on
her
escape
from
a
dangerous
maniac
.
She
rose
and
tottered
away
from
him
to
her
brother
and
clung
to
him
.
He
said
what
he
could
to
encourage
her
,
then
deposited
her
in
an
arm-chair
and
went
upstairs
;
he
soon
satisfied
himself
Alfred
was
not
in
the
house
.
On
this
he
requested
Dr.
Wolf
and
his
men
to
leave
the
premises
.
The
doctor
demurred
.
Edward
insisted
,
and
challenged
him
to
show
a
magistrate
's
warrant
for
entering
a
private
house
.
The
doctor
was
obliged
to
own
he
had
none
.
Edward
then
told
the
policemen
they
were
engaged
in
an
illegal
act
;
the
police
had
no
authority
to
take
part
in
these
captures
.
Now
the
police
knew
that
very
well
;
but
,
being
handsomely
bribed
,
they
had
presumed
,
and
not
for
the
first
time
,
upon
that
ignorance
of
law
which
is
deemed
an
essential
part
of
a
private
citizen
's
accomplishments
in
modern
days
.
In
a
word
,
by
temper
and
firmness
,
and
a
smattering
of
law
gathered
from
the
omniscient
'
Tiser
,
Edward
cleared
his
castle
of
the
lawless
crew
.
But
they
paraded
the
street
,
and
watched
the
yard
till
dusk
,
when
its
proprietor
ran
rusty
and
turned
them
out
.
Julia
sat
between
Edward
and
Mr.
Hurd
,
with
her
head
thrown
back
and
her
eyes
closed
;
and
received
in
silence
their
congratulations
on
her
escape
.
She
was
thinking
of
his
.
When
they
had
quite
done
,
she
opened
her
eyes
and
said
,
“
Send
for
Dr.
Sampson
.
Nobody
else
knows
anything
.
Oh
pray
,
pray
,
pray
send
for
Dr.
Sampson
.
”
Mr.
Hurd
said
he
would
go
for
Dr.
Sampson
.
She
thanked
him
warmly
.
Then
she
crept
away
to
her
bedroom
,
and
locked
herself
in
,
and
sat
on
the
hearthrug
,
and
thought
,
and
thought
,
and
recalled
every
word
and
tone
of
her
Alfred
;
comparing
things
old
and
new
.
Dr.
Sampson
was
a
few
miles
out
of
town
,
visiting
a
patient
.
It
was
nine
o'clock
in
the
evening
when
he
got
Julia
's
note
;
but
he
came
on
to
Pembroke
Street
at
once
.
Dr.
Wolf
and
his
men
had
retired
;
leaving
a
sentinel
in
the
street
,
on
the
bare
chance
of
Alfred
returning
.
Dr.
Sampson
found
brother
and
sister
sitting
sadly
,
but
lovingly
together
.
Julia
rose
upon
his
entrance
.
“
Oh
,
Doctor
Sampson
!
Now
is
he
—
what
they
say
he
is
?
”
“
How
can
I
tell
,
till
I
see
'
m
?
”
objected
the
doctor
.
“
But
you
know
they
call
people
mad
who
are
nothing
of
the
kind
;
for
you
said
so
.
”
Sampson
readily
assented
to
this
.
“
Why
it
was
but
last
year
a
surjin
came
to
me
with
one
Jackson
,
a
tailor
,
and
said
,
'
Just
sign
a
certificate
for
this
man
:
his
wife
's
mad
.
'
'
Let
me
see
her
,
'
sid
I
.
'
What
for
,
'
sis
he
,
'
when
her
own
husband
applies
.
'
'
Excuse
me
,
'
sis
I
,
'
I
'm
not
a
bat
,
I
'm
Saampson
.
'
I
went
to
see
her
;
she
was
nairvous
and
excited
.
'
Oh
,
I
know
what
you
come
about
,
'
said
she
.
'
But
you
are
mistaken
.
'
I
questioned
her
kindly
,
and
she
told
me
her
husband
was
a
great
trile
t
'
her
nairves
.
I
refused
to
sign
.
On
that
dis
n't
the
tailor
drown
himself
in
the
canal
nixt
day
?
He
was
the
madman
;
and
she
knew
it
all
the
time
,
but
would
n't
tell
us
;
and
that
's
a
woman
all
over
.
”
“
Well
then
,
”
said
Julia
hopefully
.
“
Ay
,
but
,
”
said
Sampson
,
“
these
cases
are
exceptions
after
all
;
and
the
chances
are
nine
to
one
he
's
mad
.
Dau
n't
ye
remember
that
was
one
of
the
solutions
offered
ye
,
whem
he
levanted
on
his
wedding-day
?
”
He
added
satirically
,
“
And
could
n't
all
that
logic
keep
in
a
little
reason
?
”
This
cynical
speech
struck
Julia
to
the
heart
;
she
could
not
bear
it
,
and
retired
to
her
own
room
.
Then
Dr.
Sampson
saw
his
mistake
,
and
said
to
Edward
,
with
some
concern
,
“
Maircy
on
us
,
she
is
not
in
love
with
Him
still
,
is
she
?
I
thought
that
young
parson
was
the
man
now
.
”
Edward
shook
his
head
:
but
declined
to
go
much
into
a
topic
so
delicate
as
his
sister
's
affections
:
and
just
then
an
alarming
letter
was
delivered
from
Mrs.
Dodd
.
She
wrote
to
the
effect
that
David
,
favoured
by
the
wind
,
had
run
into
Portsmouth
harbour
before
their
eyes
,
and
had
disappeared
,
hidden
,
it
was
feared
,
by
one
of
those
low
publicans
,
who
provide
bad
ships
with
sailors
,
receiving
a
commission
.
On
this
an
earnest
conversation
between
Sampson
and
Edward
.
It
was
interrupted
in
its
turn
.
Julia
burst
suddenly
into
the
room
,
pale
and
violently
excited
,
clasping
her
hands
and
crying
,
“
He
is
there
.
His
voice
is
like
a
child
's
.
Oh
,
Help
me
!
He
is
hurt
.
He
is
dying
.
”
CHAPTER
XLVI
JULIA
,
as
I
have
said
,
went
to
her
own
room
,
wounded
unintentionally
by
a
chance
speech
:
she
sat
down
sick
at
heart
;
and
presently
opened
her
window
and
looked
out
upon
the
starry
night
,
and
wondered
where
Alfred
was
now
;
that
Alfred
for
whom
nobody
else
had
a
Human
heart
,
it
seemed
.
“
Alfred
!
my
poor
Alfred
!
”
she
sighed
,
and
half-expected
to
hear
him
reply
.
Then
she
said
to
herself
,
“
They
all
called
you
false
but
me
;
yet
I
was
right
:
and
now
they
all
call
you
mad
;
but
not
I
:
I
believe
nothing
against
you
.
You
are
my
own
Alfred
still
.
Where
have
the
wretches
driven
you
to
?
”
At
this
her
feelings
carried
her
away
,
and
she
cried
aloud
on
him
despairingly
,
and
leaned
upon
the
window-sill
,
and
the
tears
ran
fast
for
him
.
Presently
out
of
the
silence
of
the
night
seemed
to
struggle
a
faint
but
clear
voice
:
“
Julia
.
”
She
started
,
and
a
muffled
scream
came
from
her
.
Then
she
listened
,
all
trembling
.
Again
the
voice
sighed
,
faintly
but
clear
,
“
Julia
!
”
“
Alfred
?
”
said
she
,
quavering
.
“
Yes
.
Pray
be
cautious
;
give
no
alarm
.
The
house
is
watched
;
bring
Edward
.
”
She
flew
downstairs
,
and
electrified
Edward
and
Sampson
with
the
news
.
“
Oh
,
promise
me
not
to
betray
him
!
”
she
cried
.
“
Hut
!
”
said
the
doctor
,
starting
to
his
feet
,
“
what
should
we
betray
him
for
?
I
'll
cure
him
for
you
.
I
can
cure
any
lunatic
that
has
lucid
intervals
.
Where
is
he
?
”
“
Follow
me
,
”
gasped
Julia
.
“
Stay
.
I
'll
get
rid
of
the
servants
first
.
I
'll
not
play
the
fool
,
and
betray
him
to
his
enemies
.
”
She
sent
Sarah
eastward
,
and
Jane
westward
,
and
then
led
the
way
through
the
kitchen
door
into
the
yard
.
They
all
searched
about
,
and
found
nothing
.
Then
Julia
begged
them
to
be
silent
.
She
whispered
,
“
Alfred
!
”
And
instantly
a
faint
voice
issued
from
the
top
of
a
waggon
laden
with
hay
and
covered
with
a
tarpaulin
.
“
Julia
.
”
They
all
stood
staring
.
“
Who
are
those
with
you
?
”
asked
Alfred
uneasily
.
“
Only
friends
,
dear
!
Edward
and
Dr.
Sampson
.
”
“
Ned
,
old
fellow
,
”
groaned
Alfred
,
“
you
pulled
me
out
of
the
fire
,
wo
n't
you
help
me
out
of
this
?
I
think
my
leg
is
broken
.
”
At
this
Julia
wrung
her
hands
,
and
Edward
ran
into
the
house
for
his
rope
,
and
threw
it
over
the
waggon
.
He
told
Julia
and
Sampson
to
hold
on
by
one
end
,
and
seizing
the
other
,
was
up
on
the
waggon
in
a
moment
.
He
felt
about
till
he
came
to
a
protuberance
;
and
that
was
Alfred
under
the
tarpaulin
,
in
which
he
had
cut
breathing-holes
with
his
penknife
.
Edward
sent
Julia
in
for
a
carving-knife
,
and
soon
made
an
enormous
slit
:
through
this
a
well-known
figure
emerged
into
the
moonlight
,
and
seemed
wonderfully
tall
to
have
been
so
hidden
.
His
hands
being
uninjured
,
he
easily
descended
the
rope
,
and
stood
on
one
leg
,
holding
it
.
Then
Sampson
and
Edward
put
each
an
arm
under
his
,
and
helped
him
into
the
house
.
After
the
body
the
mind
.
That
is
the
rule
throughout
creation
.
They
examined
,
not
his
reason
,
but
his
leg
.
Julia
stood
by
with
clasped
hands
,
and
a
face
beaming
with
pity
and
anxiety
,
that
repaid
his
pain
.
Sampson
announced
there
were
no
bones
broken
,
but
a
bad
sprain
,
and
the
limb
very
red
and
swollen
.
“
Now
,
”
inquired
he
briskly
of
the
company
,
“
what
is
the
practice
in
sprains
?
Why
,
leeches
and
cold
water
.
”
Edward
offered
at
once
to
run
and
get
them
.
“
Are
you
mad
?
”
was
the
reply
.
“
Dau
n't
I
tell
ye
that
is
the
practice
?
And
is
n't
the
practice
sure
to
be
th
'
opposite
of
the
remedy
?
So
get
water
as
hot
as
he
can
bear
it
,
and
no
leeches
.
”
Julia
remonstrated
angrily
.
“
Is
this
a
case
for
jesting
?
”
“
Deevil
a
jest
in
it
,
”
replied
the
doctor
.
“
'
Well
then
,
if
ye
must
know
,
th
'
opera-dancers
apply
hot
water
to
sprains
:
now
what
is
their
interest
?
T
'
expedite
the
cure
:
and
the
faculty
apply
cold
water
:
and
what
is
their
interest
?
To
procrastinate
the
cure
,
and
make
a
long
job
of
it
.
So
just
hold
your
toungues
,
and
ring
for
hot
water
.
”
Julia
did
not
ring
;
she
beckoned
Edward
,
and
they
flew
out
and
soon
brought
a
foot-pan
of
hot
water
.
Edward
them
removed
Alfred
's
shoes
and
stockings
,
and
Julia
bared
her
lovely
arms
,
and
blushed
like
a
rose
.
Alfred
divined
her
intention
.
“
Dear
Julia
,
”
he
said
,
“
I
wo
n't
let
you
:
that
is
too
high
an
honour
.
Sarah
can
do
that
.
”
But
Julia
's
blood
was
up
.
“
Sarah
?
”
said
she
contemptuously
;
“
she
is
too
heavy
handed
:
and
—
hold
your
tongue
;
I
do
n't
take
my
orders
from
you
;
”
then
more
humbly
to
the
doctor
,
“
I
am
a
district
visitor
:
I
nurse
all
manner
of
strangers
,
and
he
says
I
must
leave
his
poor
suffering
leg
to
the
servants
.
”
“
Unnatural
young
monster
,
”
said
the
doctor
.
“
G'im
a
good
nip
.
”
Julia
followed
this
advice
by
handling
Alfred
's
swollen
ankle
with
a
tenderness
so
exquisite
,
and
pressing
it
with
the
full
sponge
so
softly
,
that
her
divine
touch
soothed
him
as
much
or
more
than
the
water
.
After
nursing
him
into
the
skies
a
minute
or
two
,
she
looked
up
blushing
in
his
face
,
and
said
coaxingly
,
“
Are
you
mad
,
dear
Alfred
?
Do
n't
be
afraid
to
tell
us
the
truth
.
The
madder
you
are
,
the
more
you
need
me
to
take
care
of
you
,
you
know
.
”
Alfred
smiled
at
this
sapient
discourse
,
and
said
he
was
not
the
least
mad
,
and
hoped
to
take
care
of
her
as
soon
as
his
ankle
was
well
enough
.
This
closed
that
sweet
mouth
of
hers
exceeding
tight
,
and
her
face
was
seen
no
more
for
a
while
,
but
hid
by
bending
earnestly
over
her
work
,
only
as
her
creamy
poll
turned
pink
,
the
colour
of
that
hidden
face
was
not
hard
to
divine
.
Then
Edward
asked
Alfred
how
in
the
world
he
had
escaped
and
got
into
that
waggon
.
The
thing
was
incredible
.
“
Mirawculous
,
”
said
Dr.
Sampson
in
assent
.
“
No
,
”
said
Alfred
,
“
it
looks
stranger
to
you
than
it
is
.
The
moment
I
found
my
pistol
was
gone
,
I
determined
to
run
.
I
looked
down
and
saw
a
spout
with
a
great
ornamental
mouth
,
almost
big
enough
to
sit
on
;
and
,
while
I
was
looking
greedily
at
it
,
three
horses
came
into
the
yard
drawing
a
load
of
hay
.
The
waggoner
was
busy
clearing
the
pavement
with
his
wheel
,
and
the
waggon
almost
stopped
a
moment
right
under
me
.
There
was
a
lot
of
loose
hay
on
the
top
.
I
let
myself
down
,
and
hung
by
the
spout
a
moment
,
and
then
leaped
on
to
the
loose
hay
.
Unfortunately
there
were
the
hard
trusses
beneath
it
,
and
so
I
got
my
sprain
.
Oh
,
I
say
,
did
n't
it
hurt
?
However
,
I
crept
under
the
hay
and
hid
myself
,
and
saw
Wolf
's
men
come
into
the
yard
.
By-and-by
a
few
drops
of
rain
fell
,
and
some
fellows
chucked
down
a
tarpaulin
from
the
loft
,
and
nearly
smothered
me
:
so
I
cut
a
few
air-holes
with
my
penknife
.
And
there
I
lay
,
Heaven
knows
how
long
:
it
seemed
two
days
.
At
last
I
saw
an
angel
at
a
window
I
called
her
by
the
name
she
bears
on
earth
:
to
my
joy
she
answered
,
and
here
I
am
,
as
happy
as
a
prince
among
you
all
,
and
devilish
hungry
.
”
“
What
a
muff
I
was
not
to
think
of
that
,
”
said
Edward
,
and
made
for
the
larder
.
“
Dear
doctor
,
”
said
Julia
,
lifting
a
Madonna-like
face
with
swimming
eyes
,
“
I
see
no
change
in
him
:
he
is
very
brave
,
and
daring
,
and
saucy
.
But
so
he
always
was
.
To
be
sure
he
says
extravagant
things
,
and
stares
one
out
of
countenance
with
his
eyes
:
well
,
and
so
he
always
did
—
ever
since
I
knew
him
.
”
“
May
n't
I
even
look
my
gratitude
?
”
whined
Alfred
.
“
Yes
,
but
you
need
not
stare
it
.
”
“
It
's
your
own
fault
,
Miss
Julee
,
”
said
Sampson
.
“
With
you
fomenting
his
sprain
the
creature
's
fomenting
his
own
insensate
passion
.
Break
every
bone
in
a
puppy
's
body
,
and
it
's
a
puppy
still
;
and
it
does
n't
do
to
spoil
puppies
,
as
ye
're
spoiling
this
one
.
Nlist
me
,
ye
vagabin
.
Take
yonr
eyes
off
the
lady
;
and
look
me
in
the
face
—
if
ye
can
:
and
tell
me
how
you
came
to
leave
us
all
in
the
lurch
on
your
wedding
morn
.
”
Julia
fired
up
.
“
It
was
not
his
fault
,
poor
thing
;
he
was
decoyed
away
after
that
miserable
money
.
Ah
,
you
may
laugh
at
me
for
hating
money
;
but
have
I
not
good
reason
to
hate
it
?
”
“
Whist
,
whist
,
y
'
impetuous
cracter
;
and
let
him
tell
his
own
tale
.
”
Alfred
,
thus
invited
,
delivered
one
of
his
calm
,
luminous
statements
;
which
had
hitherto
been
listened
to
so
coldly
by
one
official
after
another
.
But
the
effect
was
mighty
different
,
falling
now
on
folk
not
paid
to
pity
.
As
for
Dr.
Sampson
,
he
bounced
up
very
early
in
the
narrative
,
and
went
striding
up
and
down
the
room
:
he
was
pale
with
indignation
,
and
his
voice
trembled
with
emotion
,
and
every
now
and
then
he
broke
in
on
the
well-governed
narrative
with
oaths
and
curses
,
and
observations
of
this
kind
—
“
Why
dinnt
ye
kill
um
?
I
'd
have
killed
um
.
I
'd
just
have
taken
the
first
knife
and
killed
um
.
Man
,
our
Liberty
is
our
Life
.
Dith
to
whoever
attacks
it
!
”
And
so
Edward
coming
in
with
Alfred
's
dinner
on
a
tray
,
found
the
soi-disant
maniac
delivering
his
wrongs
with
the
lofty
serenity
of
an
ancient
philosopher
discussing
the
wrongs
of
another
,
Julia
crying
furtively
into
the
tub
,
and
the
good
physician
trampling
and
raving
about
the
room
,
like
what
the
stoical
narrator
was
accused
of
being
.
Edward
stopped
,
and
looked
at
them
all
over
the
tray
.
“
Well
,
”
said
he
,
“
if
there
's
a
madman
in
the
room
,
it
is
not
Hardie
.
Ahem
.
”
“
Madman
?
ye
young
ijjit
,
”
roared
the
doctor
,
“
he
's
no
madder
than
I
am
.
”
“
Heaven
forbid
,
”
said
Alfred
drily
.
“
No
madder
than
you
are
,
ye
young
Pump
.
”
“
That
's
an
ungenerous
skit
on
Edward
's
profession
,
”
objected
the
maniac
.
“
Be
quite
now
,
chattering
,
”
said
the
excited
doctor
;
“
I
tell
ye
ye
niver
were
mad
,
and
niver
will
be
.
It
's
just
the
most
heartless
imposture
,
the
most
rascally
fraud
I
've
ever
caught
the
Mad
Ox
out
in
.
I
'll
expose
it
.
Gimme
pninkpapr
.
Man
,
they
'll
take
y
'
again
if
we
do
n't
mind
.
But
I
'll
stop
that
:
these
ineequities
can
only
be
done
in
the
dark
.
I
'll
shed
the
light
of
day
on
'
em
.
Eat
your
dinner
,
and
hold
your
tongue
a
minute
—
if
ye
can
.
”
The
doctor
had
always
a
high
sense
of
Alfred
's
volubility
.
He
went
to
work
,
and
soon
produced
a
letter
headed
,
“
PRIVATE
MADHOUSES
.
”
In
this
he
related
pithily
Alfred
's
incarceration
,
and
the
present
attempt
to
recapture
him
,
with
the
particulars
of
his
escape
.
“
That
will
interest
th
'
enemy
,
”
said
he
drily
.
He
vouched
for
Alfred
's
sanity
at
both
dates
,
and
pledged
himself
to
swear
to
it
in
a
court
of
law
.
He
then
inquired
what
it
availed
to
have
sent
one
tyrant
to
Phalaris
and
another
to
Versailles
in
defence
of
our
Liberty
,
since
after
all
that
Liberty
lies
grovelling
at
the
mercy
of
Dr.
Pill-box
and
Mr.
Sawbones
,
and
a
single
designing
relative
?
Then
he
drew
a
strong
picture
of
this
free-born
British
citizen
skulking
and
hiding
at
this
moment
from
a
gang
of
rogues
and
conspirators
,
who
in
France
and
other
civilised
countries
that
brag
less
of
liberty
than
we
do
,
would
be
themselves
flying
as
criminals
from
the
officers
of
justice
;
and
he
wound
up
with
a
warm
appeal
to
the
press
to
cast
its
shield
over
the
victim
of
bad
laws
and
foul
practices
.
“
In
England
,
”
said
he
,
“
Justice
is
the
daughter
of
Publicity
.
Throughout
the
world
deeds
of
villainy
are
done
every
day
in
kid
gloves
:
but
,
with
us
,
at
all
events
,
they
have
to
be
done
on
the
sly
!
Here
lies
our
true
moral
eminence
as
a
nation
.
Utter
then
your
'
fiat
lux
,
'
cast
the
full
light
of
publicity
on
this
dark
villainy
;
and
behold
it
will
wither
,
and
your
oppressed
and
injured
fellow-citizen
be
safe
from
that
very
hour
.
”
He
signed
it
and
read
it
out
to
them
,
or
rather
roared
it
.
But
he
had
written
it
so
well
he
could
not
make
it
bad
by
delivery
.
Indeed
,
he
was
a
masterly
writer
of
English
,
you
must
know
.
Julia
was
delighted
,
but
Alfred
shook
his
head
.
“
The
editor
will
not
put
it
in
.
”
“
Th
'
editor
!
D'ye
think
I
'm
so
green
as
to
trust
t
'
any
one
editor
?
D'ye
think
I
've
lived
all
these
years
and
not
learned
what
poor
cowardly
things
men
are
?
Moral
courage
!
where
can
you
find
it
?
Except
in
the
dickshinary
?
Few
to
the
world
their
honest
thoughts
avow
;
the
groveller
policy
robs
justice
now
—
And
none
but
Sampson
dares
to
lift
a
hond
Against
the
curst
corruption
of
the
lond
.
Now
,
lad
,
I
'm
off
to
my
printer
with
this
.
They
are
working
night
and
day
just
now
:
there
will
be
two
hundred
copies
printed
in
half
an
hour
.
”
“
And
me
,
doctor
,
”
said
Julia
.
“
Am
poor
I
to
have
no
hand
in
it
?
How
cruel
of
you
?
Oh
pray
,
pray
,
pray
let
me
help
a
little
.
”
“
Put
on
your
bonnet
,
then
,
directly
,
”
said
he
:
“
in
war
never
lose
a
minute
.
”
“
But
I
am
so
afraid
they
may
be
lying
in
wait
for
him
outside
.
”
“
Then
we
'll
give
them
a
good
hiding
:
there
are
three
of
us
;
all
good
men
and
staunch
,
”
said
the
indomitable
doctor
.
“
No
,
no
,
”
said
the
pugnacious
Alfred
.
“
Julia
does
not
like
fighting
:
I
heard
her
screaming
all
the
time
I
was
defending
myself
on
the
stairs
:
let
us
be
prudent
:
let
us
throw
dust
in
their
eyes
.
Put
me
on
a
bonnet
and
cloak
.
”
“
And
a
nice
little
woman
you
'll
make
,
ye
fathom
.
”
“
Oh
,
I
can
stoop
—
to
conquer
.
”
Julia
welcomed
this
plan
almost
with
glee
,
and
she
and
Edward
very
soon
made
a
handsome
brazen-looking
trollop
six
feet
high
.
Then
it
had
to
stoop
,
and
Edward
and
Julia
helped
it
out
to
the
carriage
,
under
the
very
noses
of
a
policeman
and
a
keeper
,
who
were
watching
for
Alfred
:
seeing
which
—
oh
frailty
of
woman
!
—
the
district
visitor
addressed
it
aloud
as
her
aunt
,
and
begged
it
to
take
care
:
which
she
afterwards
observed
was
acting
a
falsehood
,
and
“
where
was
her
Christianity
?
”
Alfred
was
actually
not
recognised
:
the
carriage
bowled
away
to
the
great
printing
house
;
it
was
on
that
side
the
water
.
The
foreman
entered
into
the
thing
with
spirit
,
and
divided
the
copy
,
small
as
it
was
,
among
two
or
three
compositors
:
so
a
rough
proof
was
ready
in
an
incredibly
short
time
;
the
doctor
corrected
it
:
and
soon
they
began
to
work
off
the
copies
.
The
foreman
found
them
Mitchell
's
newspaper
list
,
and
envelopes
by
the
hundred
,
and
while
the
copies
were
pouring
in
,
all
hands
were
folding
and
addressing
them
to
the
London
and
provincial
editors
.
The
office
lent
the
stamps
.
The
doctor
drove
Alfred
to
his
own
lodgings
,
and
forbade
him
to
reappear
in
Pembroke
Street
until
the
letter
should
come
out
in
the
London
journals
.
That
night
the
letters
were
all
posted
,
and
at
daybreak
were
flying
north
,
south
,
east
and
west
.
In
the
afternoon
the
letter
came
out
in
four
London
evening
papers
,
and
the
next
morning
the
metropolis
and
the
whole
kingdom
were
ringing
with
them
,
and
the
full
blaze
of
publicity
burst
upon
this
dark
deed
.
Ay
,
stout
Sampson
,
well
you
knew
mankind
,
and
well
you
knew
the
nation
you
lived
in
.
Richard
Hardie
,
in
the
very
act
of
setting
detectives
to
find
Alfred
's
lurking-place
,
ran
his
nose
against
this
letter
in
the
Globe
.
He
collapsed
at
the
sight
of
it
;
and
wrote
directly
to
Dr.
Wolf
,
enclosing
it
and
saying
that
it
would
be
unadvisable
to
make
any
fresh
attempt
.
His
letter
was
crossed
by
one
from
Dr.
Wolf
,
containing
Sampson
's
thunderbolt
extracted
from
the
Sun
,
and
saying
that
no
earthly
consideration
should
induce
him
to
meddle
with
Alfred
now
.
Richard
Hardie
flung
himself
into
the
train
,
and
went
down
to
his
brother
at
Clare
Court
.
He
was
ill
at
ease
.
He
felt
like
some
great
general
,
who
has
launched
many
attacks
against
the
foe
,
very
successful
at
first
,
then
less
successful
,
then
repulsed
with
difficulty
,
then
repulsed
with
ease
,
till
at
last
the
foe
stands
before
him
impregnable
.
Then
he
feels
that
ere
long
that
iron
enemy
will
attack
him
in
turn
,
and
that
he
,
exhausted
by
his
own
onslaughts
,
must
defend
himself
how
he
can
.
Yet
there
was
a
pause
;
he
passed
a
whole
quiet
peaceful
day
with
his
brother
,
assuring
him
that
the
affair
would
go
no
further
on
either
side
;
but
in
his
secret
soul
he
felt
this
quiet
day
was
but
the
ominous
pause
between
two
great
battles
:
one
of
the
father
against
the
son
,
the
other
of
the
son
against
the
father
.
And
he
was
right
:
the
very
next
day
the
late
defender
attacked
,
and
in
earnest
.
But
for
certain
reasons
I
prefer
to
let
another
relate
it
:
Hardie
v.
Hardie
.
“
DEAR
SIR
,
—
If
you
had
been
in
my
office
when
I
received
your
favour
of
yesterday
relating
deft.
's
ruffian-like
assault
,
you
would
have
seen
the
most
ridiculous
sight
in
nature
—
videlicet
,
an
attorney
in
a
passion
.
I
threw
professional
courtesy
to
the
winds
,
and
sent
Colls
off
to
Clare
Court
to
serve
the
writ
personally
.
Next
day
,
he
found
the
deft
,
walking
in
his
garden
with
Mr.
Richard
Hardie
.
Having
learned
from
the
servant
which
was
his
man
,
he
stepped
up
and
served
copy
of
the
writ
in
the
usual
way
.
Deft
turned
pale
,
and
his
knees
knocked
together
,
and
Colls
thinks
he
mistook
himself
for
a
felon
,
and
was
going
to
ask
for
mercy
.
But
Mr.
Richard
stopped
him
,
and
said
his
attorneys
were
Messrs.
Heathfield
,
in
Chancery
Lane
;
and
was
this
the
way
Mr.
Compton
did
business
?
serving
a
writ
personally
on
a
gentleman
in
weak
health
.
So
Colls
,
who
can
sneer
in
his
quiet
way
,
told
him
'
No
,
'
but
the
invalid
had
declined
to
answer
my
letter
,
and
the
invalid
had
made
a
violent
attack
upon
our
client
's
person
,
avoiding
his
attorney
,
'
so
,
as
his
proceedings
are
summary
,
we
meet
him
in
kind
,
'
says
little
Colls
.
'
Oho
,
'
says
Mr.
Richard
,
'
your
are
a
wit
,
are
you
?
Come
and
have
some
luncheon
.
'
This
was
to
get
him
away
from
the
weaker
brother
,
I
take
it
.
He
gave
Colls
an
excellent
luncheon
,
and
some
admirable
conversation
on
policy
and
finance
:
and
when
he
was
going
,
says
this
agreeable
host
:
'
Well
,
Mr.
—
—
-
,
you
have
had
your
bellyful
of
chicken
and
Madeira
;
and
your
client
shall
have
his
bellyful
of
law
.
'
And
this
Colls
considers
emphatic
but
coarse
.
—
I
am
,
yours
faithfully
,
“
JOHN
COMPTON
.
”
“
P.S.
—
Colls
elicited
that
no
further
attempt
will
be
made
to
capture
you
.
It
seems
some
injudicious
friend
of
yours
has
been
writing
to
the
newspapers
.
Pray
stop
that
.
”
On
receiving
this
letter
,
Alfred
bought
another
double
pistol
,
loaded
it
,
hired
a
body-guard
of
two
prizefighters
,
and
with
these
at
his
heels
,
repaired
to
66
Pembroke
Street
.
No
enemy
was
near
:
the
press
had
swept
the
street
alike
of
keepers
and
police
with
one
Briarian
gesture
.
He
found
Julia
and
Edward
in
great
anxiety
about
their
father
.
The
immediate
cause
was
a
letter
from
Mrs.
Dodd
,
which
Edward
gave
him
to
read
;
but
not
till
he
had
first
congratulated
him
heartily
on
the
aegis
of
the
press
being
thrown
over
him
.
“
The
'
Tiser
has
a
leader
on
it
,
”
said
he
.
Mrs.
Dodd
's
letter
ran
thus
:
—
“
My
DEAR
DEAR
CHILDREN
,
—
I
am
coming
home
to
you
heartbroken
,
without
your
poor
father
.
I
saw
an
East
Indian
ship
go
to
sea
,
and
some
instinct
whispered
,
suppose
he
should
be
on
board
that
ship
!
But
,
foolishly
,
I
did
not
utter
my
thoughts
:
because
they
call
these
instincts
women
's
fancies
.
But
now
even
Mr.
Green
thinks
he
is
gone
to
sea
;
for
the
town
has
been
ransacked
,
and
no
trace
of
him
can
we
find
.
I
met
my
cousin
,
Captain
Bazalgette
,
here
,
and
he
is
promoted
to
the
Vulture
frigate
,
and
sails
to-day
.
I
have
told
him
all
our
misfortunes
,
and
he
has
promised
to
overhaul
that
merchant
ship
if
he
comes
up
with
her
:
but
I
can
see
by
the
way
his
eye
shuns
mine
he
has
no
real
hopes
.
His
ship
is
the
swifter
,
but
he
may
pass
her
in
the
night
.
And
then
he
is
bound
for
New
Zealand
,
not
India
.
I
told
Reginald
my
poor
husband
's
expression
of
face
is
altered
by
his
affliction
,
and
that
he
takes
himself
for
a
common
sailor
,
and
has
his
medal
still
round
his
neck
.
Our
cousin
is
very
kind
,
and
will
do
all
he
can
.
God
can
protect
my
darling
at
sea
,
as
He
has
ashore
:
and
in
His
power
alone
have
I
any
trust
.
Any
further
stay
here
is
vain
:
my
heart
,
too
,
yearns
for
my
other
treasures
,
and
dreads
lest
whilst
I
am
here
,
and
because
I
am
here
,
some
evil
should
befall
you
too
.
Expect
me
soon
after
this
letter
,
and
let
us
try
and
comfort
one
another
under
this
the
heaviest
of
all
our
many
troubles
.
—
With
sad
heart
,
I
am
,
both
my
darlings
'
loving
mother
and
friend
,
“
LUCY
DODD
”
In
the
discussion
of
this
letter
Alfred
betrayed
a
slight
defect
of
character
.
He
pooh-poohed
the
calamity
:
said
David
had
now
a
chance
,
and
a
good
one
,
of
being
cured
:
whereas
confinement
was
one
of
the
common
causes
of
insanity
even
in
sane
persons
.
And
he
stoutly
maintained
that
David
's
going
to
sea
was
a
happy
inspiration
.
Edward
coloured
,
but
deigned
no
reply
.
Julia
was
less
patient
,
and
though
she
was
too
loving
and
too
womanly
to
tell
Alfred
to
his
face
he
was
deceiving
himself
,
and
arguing
thus
indirectly
to
justify
himself
in
taking
her
father
out
of
the
asylum
at
all
,
yet
she
saw
it
,
and
it
imparted
a
certain
coldness
into
her
replies
.
Alfred
noticed
this
,
and
became
less
confident
and
louder
,
and
prodigiously
logical
.
He
was
still
flowing
on
with
high
imperious
voice
,
which
I
suppose
overpowered
the
sound
of
Mrs.
Dodd
's
foot
,
when
she
entered
suddenly
,
pale
and
weary
,
in
her
travelling-dress
.
Alfred
stopped
,
and
they
all
started
to
their
feet
.
At
sight
of
Alfred
she
stood
dumbfoundered
a
single
moment
;
then
uttered
a
faint
shriek
;
and
looked
at
him
with
unutterable
terror
.
He
stood
disconcerted
.
Julia
ran
,
and
throwing
her
arms
round
Mrs.
Dodd
's
neck
,
entreated
her
not
to
be
afraid
of
him
:
he
was
not
mad
;
Dr.
Sampson
said
so
.
Edward
confirmed
her
words
;
and
then
Julia
poured
out
the
story
of
his
wrongs
with
great
gushes
of
natural
eloquence
that
might
have
melted
a
rock
,
and
,
as
anticlimax
is
part
of
a
true
woman
,
ended
innocently
by
begging
her
mother
not
to
look
so
unkindly
at
him
;
and
his
ankle
so
sprained
,
and
him
in
such
pain
.
For
the
first
time
in
her
life
Mrs.
Dodd
was
deaf
to
her
daughter
's
natural
eloquence
;
it
was
remarkable
how
little
her
countenance
changed
while
Julia
appealed
.
She
stood
looking
askant
with
horror
at
Alfred
all
through
that
gentle
eloquent
appeal
.
But
nevertheless
her
conduct
showed
she
had
heard
every
word
:
as
soon
as
ever
her
daughter
's
voice
stopped
,
she
seemed
to
dilate
bodily
,
and
moved
towards
Alfred
pale
and
lowering
.
Yes
,
for
once
this
gentle
quiet
lady
looked
terrible
.
She
confronted
Alfred
,
“
Is
this
true
,
sir
?
”
said
she
,
in
a
low
stern
voice
.
“
Are
you
not
insane
?
Have
you
never
been
bereft
of
your
reason
?
”
“
No
,
Mrs.
Dodd
,
I
have
not
.
”
“
Then
what
have
you
done
with
my
husband
,
sir
?
”
CHAPTER
XLVII
IT
was
a
thunderbolt
.
Alfred
hung
his
head
,
and
said
humbly
,
“
I
did
but
go
upstairs
for
one
moment
to
wash
my
hands
for
dinner
;
and
he
was
gone
.
”
Mrs.
Dodd
went
on
in
her
low
stern
voice
,
almost
as
if
he
had
not
answered
her
at
all
:
“
By
what
right
did
you
assume
the
charge
of
him
?
Did
I
authorise
you
to
take
him
from
the
place
where
he
was
safe
,
and
under
my
eye
?
”
Alfred
replied
sullenly
:
“
He
was
not
very
safe
,
for
he
was
almost
burnt
to
death
.
The
fire
liberated
him
,
not
I
.
After
the
fire
I
ran
away
from
him
:
he
followed
me
;
and
then
what
could
I
do
?
I
made
the
best
of
it
;
and
gave
up
my
own
desires
to
try
and
cure
him
.
He
longed
for
the
sea
:
I
tried
to
indulge
him
:
I
hoped
to
bring
him
back
to
you
sane
:
but
fate
was
against
me
.
I
am
the
most
unfortunate
of
men
.
”
“
Mr.
Hardie
,
”
said
Mrs.
Dodd
,
“
what
you
have
done
was
the
act
of
a
madman
;
and
,
if
I
believed
you
to
be
anything
but
a
madman
,
the
sight
of
you
would
be
intolerable
to
me
;
for
you
have
made
me
a
widow
,
and
my
children
orphans
.
”
With
this
she
gave
a
great
shudder
,
and
retired
in
tears
.
Alfred
rose
,
pale
and
defiant
.
“
That
is
her
notion
of
justice
,
”
said
he
bitterly
;
“
pray
is
it
yours
,
you
two
?
”
“
Well
,
since
you
ask
my
opinion
,
”
said
Edward
,
“
I
think
it
was
rather
presumptuous
of
you
to
undertake
the
care
of
my
father
:
and
,
having
undertaken
it
,
you
ought
not
to
have
left
him
a
moment
out
of
your
sight
.
”
“
Oh
,
that
is
your
opinion
,
is
it
?
And
you
,
dear
Julia
?
”
Julia
made
no
reply
,
but
hid
her
face
in
her
hands
and
sighed
deeply
.
“
I
see
,
”
said
Alfred
sorrowfully
.
“
Even
you
are
against
me
at
heart
.
You
judge
by
the
event
,
not
the
motive
.
There
is
no
justice
in
this
world
for
me
.
I
'm
sick
of
life
.
I
have
no
right
to
keep
the
mistress
of
the
house
out
of
her
own
room
:
there
,
I
'll
go
,
my
heart
is
broken
.
No
,
it
is
not
,
and
never
shall
be
,
by
anything
that
breathes
.
Thank
Heaven
,
I
have
got
one
friend
left
in
this
bitter
world
:
and
I
'll
make
her
the
judge
whether
I
have
deserved
this
last
injustice
.
I
'll
go
to
my
sister
.
”
He
jumped
up
and
hobbled
slowly
across
the
room
,
while
Julia
and
Edward
sat
chilled
to
the
bone
by
those
five
little
words
,
so
simple
,
so
natural
,
yet
so
incredible
,
and
to
the
hearers
so
awful
.
They
started
,
they
shuddered
,
they
sat
petrified
,
staring
at
him
,
while
he
hobbled
across
the
room
to
go
to
his
