everyword
he
says
;
but
it
is
all
his
delusions
.
Why
,
to
begin
,
sir
,
his
father
has
nothing
to
do
with
putting
him
in
here
;
nothing
on
earth
.
(
Alfred
started
;
then
smiled
incredulous
.
)
And
,
in
the
next
place
,
there
are
no
instruments
of
restraint
here
,
but
two
pair
of
handcuffs
and
two
strait
jackets
,
and
these
never
hardly
used
;
we
trust
to
the
padded
rooms
,
you
know
.
And
,
sir
,
”
said
he
,
getting
warm
,
which
instantly
affected
his
pronunciations
“
if
there
's
a
hinsect
in
the
ouse
,
I
'll
heat
im
.
”
Delusion
is
a
big
word
,
especially
in
a
mad-house
;
it
overpowers
a
visitor
's
understanding
.
Mr.
Vane
was
staggered
.
Alfred
,
whose
eager
eyes
were
never
off
his
face
,
saw
this
with
dismay
,
and
feeling
that
,
if
he
failed
in
the
simpler
matter
,
he
should
be
sure
to
fail
in
establishing
his
sanity
,
he
said
with
inward
anxiety
,
though
with
outward
calmness
,
“
Suppose
we
test
these
delusions
?
”
“
With
all
my
heart
,
”
said
Vane
.
Baker
's
countenance
fell
.
“
Begin
with
the
instruments
of
restraint
.
Find
me
them
.
”
Baker
's
countenance
brightened
up
;
he
had
no
fear
of
their
being
found
.
“
I
will
,
”
said
Alfred
:
“
please
to
follow
me
.
”
Baker
grinned
with
anticipated
triumph
.
Alfred
led
the
way
to
a
bedroom
near
his
own
;
and
asked
Mr.
Baker
to
unlock
it
.
Baker
had
not
the
key
;
no
more
had
Cooper
.
The
latter
was
sent
for
it
;
he
returned
,
saying
the
key
was
mislaid
.
“
That
I
expected
,
”
said
Alfred
.
“
Send
for
the
kitchen
poker
,
sir
:
I
'll
soon
unlock
it
.
”
“
Fetch
the
kitchen
poker
,
”
said
Vane
.
“
Good
gracious
!
sir
,
”
said
Cooper
;
“
he
only
wants
that
to
knock
all
our
brains
out
.
You
have
no
idea
of
his
strength
and
ferocity
.
”
“
Well
lied
,
Cooper
,
”
said
Alfred
ironically
.
“
Fetch
me
the
poker
,
”
said
Vane
.
Cooper
went
for
it
,
and
came
back
with
the
key
instead
.
The
door
was
opened
,
and
they
all
entered
.
Alfred
looked
under
the
bed
.
The
rest
stood
round
it
.
There
was
nothing
to
be
seen
but
a
year
's
dust
Alfred
was
dumb-foundered
,
and
a
cold
perspiration
began
to
gather
on
his
brow
.
He
saw
at
once
a
false
move
would
be
fatal
to
him
.
“
Well
,
sir
,
”
said
Vane
grimly
.
“
Where
are
they
?
”
Alfred
caught
sight
of
a
small
cupboard
;
he
searched
it
;
it
was
empty
.
Baker
and
Cooper
grinned
at
his
delusion
quietly
,
but
so
that
Vane
might
see
that
formula
.
Alfred
returned
to
the
bed
and
shook
it
.
Cooper
and
Baker
left
off
grinning
;
Alfred
's
quick
eye
caught
this
,
and
he
shook
the
bed
violently
,
furiously
.
“
Ah
!
”
said
Mr.
Vane
,
“
I
hear
a
chink
.
”
“
It
is
an
iron
bedstead
and
old
,
”
suggested
Baker
.
Alfred
tore
off
the
bed-clothes
,
and
then
the
mattress
.
Below
the
latter
was
a
framework
,
and
below
the
framework
a
receptacle
about
six
inches
deep
,
five
feet
long
,
and
three
broad
,
filled
with
chains
,
iron
belts
,
wrist-locks
,
muffles
,
and
screw-locked
hobbles
,
etc.
;
a
regular
Inquisition
.
If
Baker
had
descended
from
the
Kemble
family
,
instead
of
rising
from
nothing
,
he
could
not
have
acted
better
.
“
Good
Heavens
!
”
cried
he
,
“
where
do
these
come
from
?
They
must
have
been
left
here
by
the
last
proprietor
.
”
Vane
replied
only
by
a
look
of
contempt
,
and
ordered
Cooper
to
go
and
ask
Mr.
Tollett
to
come
to
him
.
Alfred
improved
the
interval
.
“
Sir
,
”
said
he
,
“
all
my
delusions
,
fairly
tested
,
will
turn
out
like
this
.
”
“
They
shall
be
tested
,
sir
;
I
give
you
my
word
.
”
Mr.
Tollett
came
,
and
the
two
justices
commenced
a
genuine
scrutiny
—
their
first
.
They
went
now
upon
the
true
method
,
in
which
all
these
dark
places
ought
to
be
inspected
.
They
did
not
believe
a
word
;
they
suspected
everything
;
they
examined
patients
apart
,
detected
cruelty
,
filth
and
vermin
under
philanthropic
phrases
and
clean
linen
;
and
the
upshot
was
they
reprimanded
Baker
and
the
attendants
severely
,
and
told
him
his
licence
should
never
be
renewed
,
unless
at
their
next
visit
the
whole
asylum
was
reformed
.
They
ordered
all
the
iron
body-belts
,
chains
,
leg-locks
,
wrist-locks
,
and
muffs
,
to
be
put
into
Mr.
Tollett
's
carriage
,
and
concluded
a
long
inspection
by
inquiring
into
Alfred
's
sanity
:
at
this
inquiry
they
did
not
allow
Baker
to
be
even
present
,
but
only
Dr.
Bailey
.
First
they
read
the
order
;
and
found
it
really
was
not
Alfred
's
father
who
had
put
him
into
the
asylum
.
Then
they
read
the
certificates
,
especially
Wycherley
's
.
It
accused
Alfred
of
headache
,
insomnia
,
nightly
visions
,
a
rooted
delusion
(
pecuniary
)
,
a
sudden
aversion
to
an
affectionate
father
;
and
at
the
doctor
's
last
visit
,
a
wild
look
(
formula
)
,
great
excitement
,
and
threats
of
violence
without
any
provocation
to
justify
them
.
This
overpowered
the
worthy
squires
'
understandings
to
begin
.
But
they
proceeded
to
examine
the
three
books
an
asylum
has
to
keep
by
law
:
the
visitor
's
book
,
the
case
book
,
and
the
medical
journal
.
All
these
were
kept
with
the
utmost
looseness
in
Silverton
House
as
indeed
they
are
in
the
very
best
of
these
places
.
However
,
by
combining
the
scanty
notices
in
the
several
books
,
they
arrived
at
this
total
:
“
Admitted
April
11.
Had
a
very
wild
look
,
and
was
much
excited
.
Attempted
suicide
by
throwing
himself
into
a
tank
.
Attacked
the
keepers
for
rescuing
him
,
with
prodigious
strength
and
violence
.
Refused
food
.
”
And
some
days
after
came
an
entry
with
his
initials
instead
of
his
name
,
which
was
contrary
to
law
.
“
A
.
H
.
Much
excited
.
Threats
.
Ordered
composing
draught
.
”
And
a
day
or
two
after
:
“
A
.
H
.
Excited
.
Blasphemous
.
Ordered
blister
.
”
The
first
entry
,
however
,
was
enough
.
The
doctor
had
but
seen
real
facts
through
his
green
spectacles
,
and
lo
!
“
suicide
,
”
“
homicide
,
”
and
“
refusal
of
food
,
”
three
cardinal
points
of
true
mania
.
Mr.
Vane
asked
Dr.
Bailey
whether
he
was
better
since
he
came
.
“
Oh
,
infinitely
better
,
”
said
Dr.
Bailey
.
“
We
hope
to
cure
him
in
a
month
or
two
.
”
They
then
sent
for
Mrs.
Archbold
,
and
had
a
long
talk
with
her
,
recommending
Alfred
to
her
especial
care
:
and
,
having
acted
on
his
judgment
and
information
in
the
teeth
of
those
who
called
him
insane
,
turned
tail
at
a
doctor
's
certificate
;
distrusted
their
eyesight
at
an
unsworn
affidavit
.
Alfred
was
packing
up
his
things
to
go
away
;
bright
as
a
lark
.
Mrs.
Archbold
came
to
him
,
and
told
him
she
had
orders
to
give
him
every
comfort
;
and
the
justices
hoped
to
liberate
him
at
their
next
visit
.
The
poor
wretch
turned
pale
.
“
At
their
next
visit
!
”
he
cried
,
“
What
,
not
to-day
?
When
is
their
next
visit
?
”
Mrs.
Archbold
hesitated
:
but
at
last
she
said
,
“
Why
you
know
;
I
told
you
;
they
come
four
times
every
year
.
”
The
disappointment
was
too
bitter
.
The
contemptible
result
of
all
his
patience
,
self-command
,
and
success
,
was
too
heart-breaking
.
He
groaned
aloud
.
“
And
you
can
come
with
a
smile
and
tell
me
that
;
you
cruel
woman
.
”
Then
he
broke
down
altogether
and
burst
out
crying
.
“
You
were
born
without
a
heart
,
”
he
sobbed
.
Mrs.
Archbold
quivered
at
that
.
“
I
wish
I
had
been
,
”
said
she
,
in
a
strange
,
soft
,
moving
voice
;
then
,
casting
an
eloquent
look
of
reproach
on
him
,
she
went
away
in
visible
agitation
,
and
left
him
sobbing
.
Once
out
of
his
sight
she
rushed
into
another
room
,
and
there
,
taking
no
more
notice
of
a
gentle
madwoman
,
its
occupant
,
than
of
the
bed
or
the
table
,
she
sank
into
a
chair
,
and
,
throwing
her
head
back
with
womanly
abandon
,
hid
her
hand
upon
her
bosom
that
heaved
tempestuously
.
And
soon
the
tears
trickled
out
of
her
imperious
eyes
,
and
ran
unrestrained
.
The
mind
of
Edith
Archbold
corresponded
with
her
powerful
frame
,
and
bushy
brows
.
Inside
this
woman
all
was
vigour
:
strong
passions
,
strong
good
sense
to
check
or
hide
them
;
strong
will
to
carry
them
out
.
And
between
these
mental
forces
a
powerful
struggle
was
raging
.
She
was
almost
impenetrable
to
mere
personal
beauty
,
and
inclined
to
despise
early
youth
in
the
other
sex
;
and
six
months
spent
with
Alfred
in
a
quiet
country
house
would
probably
have
left
her
reasonably
indifferent
to
him
.
But
the
first
day
she
saw
him
in
Silverton
House
he
broke
through
her
guard
,
and
pierced
at
once
to
her
depths
;
first
he
terrified
her
by
darting
through
the
window
to
escape
:
and
terror
is
a
passion
.
So
is
pity
;
and
never
in
her
life
had
she
overflowed
with
it
as
when
she
saw
him
drawn
out
of
the
tank
and
laid
on
the
grass
.
If
,
after
all
,
he
was
as
sane
as
he
looked
,
that
brave
high-spirited
young
creature
,
who
preferred
death
to
the
touch
of
coarse
confining
hands
!
No
sooner
had
he
filled
her
with
dismay
and
pity
,
than
he
bounded
from
the
ground
before
her
eyes
and
fled
.
She
screamed
,
and
hoped
he
would
escape
;
she
could
not
help
it
.
Next
she
saw
him
fighting
alone
against
seven
or
eight
,
and
with
unheard-of
prowess
almost
beating
them
.
She
sat
at
the
window
panting
,
with
clenched
teeth
and
hands
,
and
wished
him
to
beat
,
and
admired
him
,
wondered
at
him
.
He
yielded
,
but
not
to
them
:
to
her
.
All
the
compliments
she
had
ever
received
were
tame
compared
with
this
one
.
It
thrilled
her
vanity
.
He
was
like
the
men
she
had
read
of
,
and
never
seen
:
the
young
knights
of
chivalry
.
She
glowed
all
over
at
him
,
and
detecting
herself
in
time
was
frightened
.
Her
strong
good
sense
warned
her
to
beware
of
this
youth
,
who
was
nine
years
her
junior
,
yet
had
stirred
her
to
all
her
depths
in
an
hour
;
and
not
to
see
him
nor
think
of
him
too
much
.
Accordingly
she
kept
clear
of
him
altogether
at
first
.
Pity
soon
put
an
end
to
that
;
and
she
protected
and
advised
him
,
but
with
a
cold
and
lofty
demeanour
put
on
express
.
What
with
her
kind
acts
and
her
cold
manner
he
did
not
know
what
to
make
of
her
;
and
often
turned
puzzled
earnest
eyes
upon
her
,
as
much
as
to
say
,
Are
you
really
my
friend
or
not
?
Once
she
forgot
herself
and
smiled
so
tenderly
in
answer
to
these
imploring
eyes
,
that
his
hopes
rose
very
high
indeed
.
He
flattered
himself
she
would
let
him
out
of
the
asylum
before
long
.
That
was
all
Julia
's
true
lover
thought
of
.
A
feeling
hidden
,
and
not
suppressed
,
often
grows
fast
in
a
vigorous
nature
.
Mrs.
Archbold
's
fancy
for
Alfred
was
subjected
to
this
dangerous
treatment
;
and
it
smouldered
,
and
smouldered
,
till
from
a
penchant
it
warmed
to
a
fancy
,
from
a
fancy
to
a
passion
.
But
penchant
,
fancy
,
or
passion
,
she
hid
it
with
such
cunning
and
resolution
,
that
neither
Alfred
nor
even
those
of
her
own
sex
saw
it
;
nor
did
a
creature
even
suspect
it
,
except
Nurse
Hannah
;
but
her
eyes
were
sharpened
by
jealousy
,
for
that
muscular
young
virgin
was
beginning
to
sigh
for
him
herself
,
with
a
gentle
timidity
that
contrasted
prettily
with
her
biceps
muscle
and
prowess
against
her
own
sex
.
Mrs.
Archbold
had
more
passion
than
tenderness
,
but
what
woman
is
not
to
be
surprised
and
softened
?
When
her
young
favourite
,
the
greatest
fighter
she
had
ever
seen
,
broke
down
at
the
end
of
his
gallant
effort
and
began
to
cry
like
a
girl
,
her
bowels
of
compassion
yearned
within
her
,
and
she
longed
to
cry
with
him
.
She
only
saved
herself
from
some
imprudence
by
flight
,
and
had
her
cry
alone
.
After
a
flow
of
tears
,
such
a
woman
is
invincible
;
she
treated
Alfred
at
tea-time
with
remarkable
coldness
and
reserve
.
This
piece
of
acting
led
to
unlooked-for
consequences
:
it
emboldened
Cooper
,
who
was
raging
against
Alfred
for
telling
the
justices
,
but
had
forborne
from
violence
for
fear
of
getting
the
house
into
a
fresh
scrape
.
He
now
went
to
the
doctor
,
and
asked
for
a
powerful
drastic
.
Bailey
gave
him
two
pills
,
or
rather
boluses
,
containing
croton
oil
—
inter
alia
;
for
Bailey
was
one
of
the
farraginous
fools
of
the
unscientific
science
.
Armed
with
this
weapon
of
destruction
,
Cooper
entered
Alfred
's
bedroom
at
night
,
and
ordered
him
to
take
them
:
he
refused
.
Cooper
whistled
,
and
four
attendants
came
.
Alfred
knew
he
should
soon
be
powerless
.
He
lost
no
time
,
sprang
at
Cooper
,
and
with
his
long
arm
landed
a
blow
that
knocked
him
against
the
wall
,
and
in
this
position
,
where
his
body
could
not
give
,
struck
him
again
with
his
whole
soul
,
and
cut
his
cheek
right
open
.
The
next
minute
he
was
pinned
,
handcuffed
,
and
in
a
straitjacket
,
after
crippling
one
assailant
with
a
kick
on
the
knee
.
Cooper
,
half
stunned
,
and
bleeding
like
a
pig
,
recovered
himself
now
,
and
burned
for
revenge
.
He
uttered
a
frightful
oath
,
and
jumped
on
Alfred
as
he
lay
bound
and
powerless
,
and
gave
him
a
lesson
he
never
forgot
.
Every
art
has
its
secrets
:
the
attendants
in
such
madhouses
as
this
have
been
for
years
possessed
of
one
they
are
too
modest
to
reveal
to
justices
,
commissioners
,
or
the
public
;
the
art
of
breaking
a
man
's
ribs
,
or
breast-bone
,
or
both
,
without
bruising
him
externally
.
The
convicts
at
Toulon
arrive
at
a
similar
result
by
another
branch
of
the
art
:
they
stuff
the
skin
of
a
conger
eel
with
powdered
stone
;
then
give
the
obnoxious
person
a
sly
crack
with
it
;
and
a
rib
backbone
is
broken
with
no
contusion
to
mark
the
external
violence
used
.
But
Mr.
Cooper
and
his
fellows
do
their
work
with
the
knee-joint
:
it
is
round
,
and
leaves
no
bruise
.
They
subdue
the
patient
by
walking
up
and
down
him
on
their
knees
.
If
they
do
n't
jump
on
him
,
as
well
as
promenade
him
,
the
man
's
spirit
is
often
the
only
thing
broken
;
if
they
do
,
the
man
is
apt
to
be
broken
bodily
as
well
as
mentally
.
Thus
died
Mr.
Sizer
in
1854
,
and
two
others
quite
recently
.
And
how
many
more
God
only
knows
:
we
ca
n't
count
the
stones
at
the
bottom
of
a
dark
well
.
Cooper
then
sprang
furiously
on
Alfred
,
and
went
kneeling
up
and
down
him
.
Cooper
was
a
heavy
man
,
and
his
weight
crushed
and
hurt
the
victim
's
legs
;
but
that
was
a
trifle
:
as
often
as
he
kneeled
on
Alfred
's
chest
,
the
crushed
one
's
whole
framework
seemed
giving
way
,
and
he
could
scarcely
breathe
.
But
Brown
drew
Cooper
back
by
the
collar
,
saying
,
“
D'ye
want
to
kill
him
?
”
And
at
this
moment
Mrs.
Archbold
,
who
was
on
the
watch
,
came
in
with
Hannah
and
another
nurse
,
and
the
three
women
at
a
word
from
their
leader
pinned
Cooper
simultaneously
,
and
,
taking
him
at
a
disadvantage
,
handcuffed
him
in
a
moment
with
a
strength
,
sharpness
,
skill
,
and
determination
not
to
be
found
in
women
out
of
a
madhouse
—
luckily
for
the
newspaper
husbands
.
The
other
keepers
looked
astounded
at
this
masterstroke
;
but
,
as
no
servant
had
ever
affronted
Mrs.
Archbold
without
being
dismissed
directly
,
they
took
their
cue
and
said
,
“
We
advised
him
,
ma'am
,
but
he
would
not
listen
to
us
.
”
“
Cooper
,
”
said
Mrs.
Archbold
as
soon
as
she
recovered
her
breath
,
“
you
are
not
fit
for
your
place
.
To-morrow
you
go
,
or
I
go
.
”
Cooper
,
cowed
in
a
moment
by
the
handcuffs
,
began
to
whine
and
say
that
it
was
all
Alfred
's
fault
.
But
Mrs.
Archbold
was
now
carried
away
by
two
passions
instead
of
one
,
and
they
were
together
too
much
for
prudence
.
She
took
a
handful
of
glossy
locks
out
of
her
bosom
and
shook
them
in
Cooper
's
face
.
“
You
monster
!
”
said
she
;
“
you
should
go
,
for
that
,
if
you
were
my
own
brother
.
”
The
two
young
nurses
assented
loudly
,
and
turned
and
cackled
at
Cooper
for
cutting
off
such
lovely
hair
.
He
shrugged
his
shoulders
at
them
,
and
said
sulkily
to
Mrs.
Archbold
,
“
Oh
,
I
did
n't
know
.
Of
course
,
if
you
have
fallen
in
love
with
him
,
my
cake
is
burnt
.
'
Tis
n't
the
first
lunatic
you
have
taken
a
fancy
to
.
”
At
this
brutal
speech
,
all
the
more
intolerable
for
not
being
quite
false
,
Mrs.
Archbold
turned
ashy
pale
,
and
looked
round
for
a
weapon
to
strike
him
dead
;
but
found
none
so
handy
and
so
deadly
as
her
tongue
.
“
It
's
not
the
first
you
have
tried
to
MURDER
,
”
said
she
.
“
I
know
all
about
that
death
in
Calton
Retreat
:
you
kept
it
dark
before
the
coroner
;
but
it
is
not
too
late
,
I
'll
open
the
world
's
eyes
.
I
was
only
going
to
dismiss
you
,
sir
:
but
you
have
insulted
me
.
I
'll
hang
you
in
reply
.
”
Cooper
turned
very
pale
and
was
silent
;
his
tongue
clove
to
the
roof
of
his
mouth
.
But
a
feeble
,
unexpected
voice
issued
from
the
bed
and
murmured
cheerfully
,
though
with
some
difficulty
,
a
single
word
—
“
Justice
!
”
At
an
expression
so
out
of
place
they
all
started
with
surprise
.
Alfred
went
on
:
“
You
are
putting
the
saddle
on
the
wrong
horse
.
The
fault
lies
with
those
villains
Baker
and
Bailey
.
Cooper
is
only
a
servant
,
you
know
,
and
obeys
orders
.
”
“
What
business
had
the
wretch
to
cut
your
hair
off
?
”
said
Mrs.
Archbold
,
turning
on
Alfred
with
flashing
eyes
.
Her
blood
once
up
,
she
was
ready
to
quarrel
even
with
him
for
taking
part
against
himself
.
“
Because
he
was
ordered
to
put
on
a
blister
,
and
hair
must
come
off
before
a
blister
can
go
on
,
”
replied
Alfred
soberly
.
“
That
is
no
excuse
for
him
beating
you
and
trying
to
break
your
front
teeth
.
”
She
did
n't
mind
so
much
about
his
side
ribs
.
“
No
,
”
replied
Alfred
.
“
But
I
hit
him
first
:
look
at
the
bloke
's
face
.
Dear
Mrs.
Archbold
,
you
are
my
best
friend
in
this
horrid
place
,
and
you
have
beautiful
eyes
;
and
,
talk
of
teeth
,
look
at
yours
!
But
you
have
n't
much
sense
of
justice
,
forgive
me
for
saying
so
.
Put
the
proposition
into
signs
;
there
is
nothing
like
that
for
clearing
away
prejudice
.
B
.
and
C
.
have
a
scrimmage
:
B
begins
it
,
C
.
gets
the
worst
of
it
;
in
comes
A
.
and
turns
away
—
C
.
Is
that
justice
?
It
is
me
you
ought
to
turn
away
;
and
I
wish
to
Heaven
you
would
:
dear
Mrs.
Archbold
,
do
pray
turn
me
away
,
and
keep
the
other
blackguard
.
”
At
this
extraordinary
and
,
if
I
may
be
allowed
the
expression
,
Alfredian
speech
,
the
men
first
stared
,
and
then
laughed
;
the
women
smiled
,
and
then
were
nearer
crying
than
laughing
.
And
so
it
was
,
that
justice
handcuffed
,
straitjacketed
,
blistered
,
and
impartial
,
sent
from
its
bed
of
torture
a
beam
through
Cooper
's
tough
hide
to
his
inner
heart
.
He
hung
his
head
and
stepped
towards
Alfred
:
“
You
're
what
I
call
a
man
,
”
he
said
.
“
I
do
n't
care
a
curse
whether
I
stay
or
go
,
after
what
she
has
said
to
me
.
But
,
come
what
may
,
you
're
a
gentleman
,
and
one
as
can
put
hisself
in
a
poor
man
's
place
.
Why
,
sir
,
I
was
n't
always
so
rough
;
but
I
have
been
twenty
years
at
it
;
and
mad
folk
they
'd
wear
the
patience
out
of
Jove
,
and
the
milk
of
human
kindness
out
of
saints
and
opossums
.
However
,
if
I
was
to
stay
here
all
my
life
,
instead
of
going
to-morrow
,
I
'd
never
lift
hand
to
trouble
you
again
,
for
you
taking
my
part
again
yourself
like
that
.
”
“
I
'll
put
that
to
the
test
,
”
said
Mrs.
Archbold
sharply
.
“
Stay
—
on
your
probation
.
Hannah
!
”
And
Baby-face
biceps
at
a
look
took
off
his
handcuffs
;
which
she
had
been
prominent
in
putting
on
.
This
extraordinary
scene
ended
in
the
men
being
dismissed
,
and
the
women
remaining
and
going
to
work
after
their
kind
.
“
The
bed
is
too
short
for
one
thing
,
”
said
Hannah
.
“
Look
at
his
poor
feet
sticking
out
and
cold
as
a
stone
:
just
feel
of
them
,
Jane
.
”
“
No
,
no
;
murder
!
”
cried
Alfred
;
“
that
tickles
.
”
Hannah
ran
for
a
chair
,
Jane
for
another
pillow
.
Mrs.
Archbold
took
off
his
handcuffs
,
and
,
passing
her
hand
softly
and
caressingly
over
his
head
,
lamented
the
loss
of
his
poor
hair
.
Amongst
them
they
relieved
him
of
his
straitjacket
,
set
up
his
head
,
covered
his
feet
,
and
he
slept
like
a
top
for
want
of
drastics
and
opiates
,
and
in
spite
of
some
brilliant
charges
by
the
Lilliputian
cavalry
.
After
this
the
attendants
never
molested
Alfred
again
;
nor
did
the
doctor
;
for
Mrs.
Archbold
got
his
boluses
,
and
sent
them
up
to
a
famous
analysing
chemist
in
London
,
and
told
him
she
had
;
and
said
,
“
I
'll
thank
you
not
to
prescribe
at
random
for
that
patient
any
more
.
”
He
took
the
lady
's
prescription
,
coming
as
it
did
in
a
voice
quietly
grim
,
and
with
a
momentary
but
wicked
glance
shot
from
under
her
black
brows
.
Alfred
was
all
the
more
miserable
at
his
confinement
:
his
melancholy
deepened
now
there
was
no
fighting
to
excite
him
.
A
handsome
bright
young
face
clouded
with
sadness
is
very
pitiable
,
and
I
need
not
say
that
both
the
women
who
had
fallen
in
love
with
him
had
their
eyes
,
or
at
least
the
tails
of
their
eyes
,
for
ever
on
his
face
.
The
result
varied
with
the
characters
of
the
watchers
.
That
young
face
,
ever
sad
,
made
Mrs.
Archbold
sigh
,
and
long
to
make
him
happy
under
her
wing
.
How
it
wrought
on
the
purer
and
more
womanly
Hannah
will
be
revealed
by
the
incident
I
have
to
relate
.
Alfred
was
sitting
on
a
bench
in
the
corridor
bowed
down
by
grief
,
and
the
Archbold
lurking
in
a
room
hard
by
,
feasting
her
eyes
on
him
through
an
aperture
in
the
door
caused
by
the
inspection
plate
being
under
repair
—
when
an
erotic
maniac
was
driven
past
.
She
had
obtained
access
—
with
marvellous
cunning
—
to
the
men
's
side
;
but
was
now
coming
back
with
a
flea
in
her
ear
,
and
faster
than
she
went
;
being
handcuffed
and
propelled
by
Baby-face
biceps
.
On
passing
the
disconsolate
Alfred
the
latter
eyed
him
coyly
,
gave
her
stray
sheep
a
coarse
push
—
as
one
pushes
a
thing
—
and
laid
a
timid
hand
,
gentle
as
falling
down
,
upon
the
rougher
sex
.
Contrast
sudden
and
funny
.
“
Do
n't
be
so
sad
,
sir
,
”
she
murmured
,
cooing
like
the
gentlest
of
doves
.
“
I
ca
n't
bear
to
see
you
look
like
that
.
”
Alfred
looked
up
,
and
met
her
full
with
his
mournful
honest
eyes
.
“
Ah
,
Hannah
,
how
can
I
be
anything
but
sad
,
imprisoned
here
,
sane
amongst
the
mad
?
”
“
Well
,
and
so
am
I
,
sir
;
so
is
Mrs.
Archbold
herself
.
”
“
Ay
,
but
you
have
not
been
entrapped
,
imprisoned
on
your
wedding-day
.
I
cannot
even
get
a
word
sent
to
my
Julia
,
my
wife
that
ought
to
be
.
Only
think
of
the
affront
they
have
made
me
put
on
her
I
love
better
,
ten
times
better
,
than
myself
.
Why
,
she
must
have
been
waiting
for
me
;
humiliated
perhaps
by
my
absence
.
What
will
she
think
of
me
?
The
rogues
will
tell
her
a
thousand
lies
:
she
is
very
high
spirited
,
Hannah
,
impetuous
like
myself
,
only
so
gentle
and
so
good
.
Oh
,
my
angel
,
my
angel
;
I
shall
lose
you
for
ever
.
”
Hannah
clasped
her
hands
,
with
tears
in
her
eyes
:
“
No
,
no
,
”
she
cried
;
“
it
is
a
burning
shame
to
part
true
lovers
like
you
and
her
.
Hush
!
speak
low
.
Brown
told
me
you
are
as
well
as
he
is
.
”
“
God
bless
him
for
it
,
then
.
”
“
You
have
got
money
,
they
say
;
try
it
on
with
Brown
.
”
“
I
will
.
Oh
you
darling
.
What
is
the
matter
?
”
For
Baby-face
was
beginning
to
whimper
.
“
Oh
,
nothing
,
sir
;
only
you
are
so
glad
to
go
;
and
we
shall
be
sorry
to
part
with
you
:
but
you
wo
n't
care
for
that
—
oh
!
oh
!
oh
!
”
“
What
,
do
you
think
I
shall
forget
you
and
your
kindness
?
Never
:
I
'll
square
accounts
with
friends
and
foes
;
not
one
shall
be
forgotten
.
”
“
Do
n't
offer
me
any
of
your
money
,
”
sobbed
Hannah
,
“
for
I
would
n't
touch
it
.
Good-bye
,
”
said
she
:
“
I
sha
n't
have
as
much
as
a
kiss
for
it
I
'll
be
bound
:
good-bye
,
”
said
she
again
,
and
never
moved
.
“
Oh
,
wo
n't
you
,
though
,
”
cried
Alfred
gaily
.
“
What
is
that
?
and
that
?
and
that
?
Now
,
what
on
earth
are
you
crying
about
?
Dry
your
tears
,
you
dear
good-hearted
girl
:
no
,
I
'll
dry
them
for
you
.
”
He
took
out
a
white
handkerchief
and
dried
her
cheeks
gently
for
her
,
and
gave
her
a
parting
kiss
.
But
the
Archbold
's
patience
was
exhausted
:
a
door
opened
nearly
opposite
,
and
there
she
stood
yellow
with
jealousy
and
sombre
as
night
with
her
ebon
brows
.
At
sight
of
this
lowering
figure
Hannah
uttered
a
squawk
,
and
fled
with
cheeks
red
as
fire
.
Alfred
,
not
aware
of
Mrs.
Archbold
's
smouldering
passion
,
and
little
dreaming
that
jealous
anguish
and
rage
stood
incarnate
before
him
,
burst
out
laughing
like
a
mischievous
boy
!
On
this
she
swept
upon
him
,
and
took
him
by
both
shoulders
,
and
awed
him
with
her
lowering
brows
close
to
his
.
“
You
ungrateful
wretch
,
”
she
said
violently
,
and
panted
.
His
colour
rose
.
“
Ungrateful
?
That
I
am
not
madam
.
Why
do
you
call
me
so
?
”
“
You
are
—
you
are
.
What
have
I
done
to
you
that
you
run
from
me
to
the
very
servants
?
However
,
she
shall
be
packed
off
this
very
night
,
and
you
to
thank
for
it
.
”
This
was
the
way
to
wound
the
generous
youth
.
“
Now
it
is
you
that
are
ungenerous
,
”
he
said
.
“
What
harm
has
the
poor
girl
done
?
She
had
a
virtuous
movement
and
pitied
me
for
the
heartless
fraud
I
suffer
by
;
that
is
all
.
Pray
,
do
you
never
pity
me
?
”
“
Was
it
this
virtuous
movement
set
her
kissing
you
?
”
said
the
Archbold
,
clenching
her
teeth
as
if
the
word
stung
her
,
like
the
sight
.
“
She
did
n't
,
now
,
”
said
Alfred
;
“
it
was
I
kissed
her
.
”
“
And
yet
you
pretend
to
love
your
Julia
so
truly
?
”
“
This
is
no
place
for
that
sacred
name
,
madam
.
But
be
sure
I
have
no
secrets
from
her
,
and
kiss
nobody
she
would
not
kiss
herself
.
”
“
She
must
be
a
very
accommodating
young
lady
.
”
At
this
insult
Alfred
rose
pale
with
anger
,
and
was
about
to
defy
his
monitor
mortally
;
but
the
quick-witted
woman
saw
and
disarmed
him
.
In
one
moment
,
before
ever
he
could
speak
,
she
was
a
transformed
creature
,
a
penitent
;
she
put
her
hands
together
supplicatingly
,
and
murmured
—
“
I
did
n't
mean
it
;
I
respect
her
;
and
your
love
for
her
;
forgive
me
,
Alfred
:
I
am
so
unhappy
,
oh
forgive
me
.
”
And
behold
she
held
his
hand
between
her
soft
,
burning
palms
,
and
her
proud
head
sank
languidly
on
his
shoulder
,
and
the
inevitable
tears
ran
gently
.
Morals
apart
,
it
was
glorious
love-making
.
“
Bother
the
woman
,
”
thought
Alfred
.
“
Promise
me
not
to
do
it
again
,
”
she
murmured
,
“
and
the
girl
shall
stay
.
”
“
Oh
,
lord
,
yes
,
I
promise
;
though
I
ca
n't
see
what
it
matters
to
you
.
”
“
Not
much
,
cruel
boy
,
alas
!
but
it
matters
to
her
;
for
—
—
”
She
kissed
Alfred
's
hand
gently
,
and
rose
to
her
feet
and
moved
away
;
but
at
the
second
step
turned
her
head
sudden
as
a
bird
and
finished
her
sentence
—
“
if
you
kiss
her
before
me
,
I
shall
kill
her
before
you
.
”
Here
was
a
fresh
complication
!
The
men
had
left
off
blistering
,
torturing
,
and
bullying
him
;
but
his
guardian
angels
,
the
women
,
were
turning
up
their
sleeves
to
pull
caps
over
him
,
and
plenty
of
the
random
scratches
would
fall
on
him
.
If
anything
could
have
made
him
pine
more
to
be
out
of
the
horrid
place
,
this
voluptuous
prospect
would
.
He
hunted
everywhere
for
Brown
.
But
he
was
away
the
day
with
a
patient
.
At
night
he
lay
awake
for
a
long
time
,
thinking
how
he
should
open
the
negotiation
.
He
shrank
from
it
.
He
felt
a
delicacy
about
bribing
Beelzebub
's
servant
to
betray
him
.
As
Hannah
had
originated
the
idea
,
he
thought
he
might
very
well
ask
her
to
do
the
dirty
work
of
bribing
Brown
,
and
he
would
pay
her
for
it
;
only
in
money
,
not
kisses
.
With
this
resolution
he
sank
to
sleep
,
and
his
spirit
broke
prison
:
he
stood
with
Julia
before
the
altar
,
and
the
priest
made
them
one
.
Then
the
church
and
the
company
and
daylight
disappeared
,
and
her
own
sweet
low
moving
voice
came
thrilling
,
“
My
own
,
own
,
own
,
”
she
murmured
.
“
I
love
you
ten
times
more
for
all
you
have
endured
for
me
;
”
and
with
this
her
sweet
lips
settled
on
his
like
the
dew
.
Impartial
sleep
flies
at
the
steps
of
the
scaffold
and
the
gate
of
Elysium
:
so
Alfred
awoke
at
the
above
;
but
doubted
whether
he
was
quite
awake
;
for
two
velvet
lips
seemed
to
be
still
touching
his
.
He
stirred
,
and
somebody
was
gone
like
the
wind
,
with
a
rustle
of
flying
petticoats
,
and
his
door
shut
in
a
moment
.
It
closed
with
a
catch-lock
;
this
dastardly
vision
had
opened
it
with
her
key
,
and
left
it
open
to
make
good
her
retreat
if
he
should
awake
.
Alfred
sat
up
in
bed
indignant
,
and
somewhat
fluttered
.
“
Confound
her
impudence
,
”
said
he
.
But
there
was
no
help
for
it
;
he
grinned
and
bore
it
,
as
he
had
the
blisters
,
and
boluses
,
etc.
,
rolled
the
clothes
round
his
shoulders
,
and
off
to
the
sleep
of
the
just
again
.
Not
so
the
passionate
hypocrite
,
who
,
maddened
by
a
paroxysm
of
jealousy
,
had
taken
this
cowardly
advantage
of
a
prisoner
.
She
had
sucked
fresh
poison
from
those
honest
lips
,
and
filled
her
veins
with
molten
fire
.
She
tossed
and
turned
the
livelong
night
in
a
high
fever
of
passion
,
nor
were
the
cold
chills
wanting
of
shame
and
fear
at
what
she
had
done
.
In
the
morning
,
Alfred
remembered
this
substantial
vision
,
and
determined
to
find
out
which
of
those
two
it
was
.
“
I
shall
know
by
her
looks
,
”
said
he
;
“
she
wo
n't
be
able
to
meet
my
eye
.
”
Well
,
the
first
he
saw
was
Mrs.
Archbold
.
She
met
his
eye
full
with
a
mild
and
pensive
dignity
.
“
Come
,
it
is
not
you
,
”
thought
Alfred
.
Presently
he
fell
in
with
Hannah
.
She
wore
a
serene
,
infantine
face
,
the
picture
of
unobtrusive
modesty
.
Alfred
was
dumbfoundered
.
“
It
's
not
this
one
,
either
,
”
said
he
.
“
But
then
,
it
must
.
Confound
her
impudence
for
looking
so
modest
.
”
However
,
he
did
not
speak
to
her
;
he
was
looking
out
for
a
face
that
interested
him
far
more
:
the
weather-beaten
countenance
of
Giles
Brown
.
He
saw
him
once
or
twice
,
but
could
not
get
him
alone
till
the
afternoon
.
He
invited
him
into
his
room
:
and
when
he
got
him
there
,
lost
no
time
.
“
Just
look
me
in
the
face
,
Brown
,
”
said
he
quietly
.
Brown
looked
him
in
the
face
.
“
Now
,
sir
,
am
I
mad
or
sane
?
”
Brown
turned
his
head
away
.
Alfred
laughed
.
“
No
,
no
,
none
of
your
tricks
,
old
fellow
:
look
me
in
the
face
while
you
answer
.
”
The
man
coloured
.
“
I
ca
n't
look
a
gentleman
like
you
in
the
face
,
and
tell
him
he
is
mad
.
”
“
I
should
think
not
.
Well
,
now
;
what
shall
I
give
you
to
help
me
escape
?
”
“
Hush
!
do
n't
mention
that
,
sir
;
it
's
as
much
as
my
place
is
worth
even
to
listen
to
you
.
”
“
Well
!
then
I
must
give
you
as
much
as
your
place
is
worth
.
Please
to
calculate
that
,
and
name
the
figure
.
”
“
My
place
!
I
would
n't
lose
it
for
a
hundred
pounds
.
”
“
Exactly
.
Then
I
'll
give
you
a
hundred
guineas
.
”
“
And
how
am
I
to
get
my
money
,
sir
?
”
“
The
first
time
you
are
out
,
come
to
Albion
Villa
,
in
Barkington
,
and
I
'll
have
it
all
ready
for
you
.
”
“
And
suppose
you
were
to
say
,
'
No
:
you
did
n't
ought
ever
to
have
been
confined
'
?
”
“
I
must
trouble
you
to
look
in
my
face
again
,
Mr.
Brown
.
Now
,
do
you
see
treason
,
bad
faith
,
avarice
,
ingratitude
,
rascality
in
it
?
”
“
Not
a
grain
of
'
em
,
”
said
Brown
,
with
an
accent
of
conviction
.
“
Well
,
now
,
I
'll
tell
you
the
truth
;
I
can
read
a
gent
by
this
time
:
and
I
'm
no
more
afeared
for
the
money
than
if
I
had
it
in
my
hand
.
But
ye
see
,
my
stomach
wo
n't
let
me
do
it
.
”
This
was
a
sad
disappointment
;
so
sudden
,
too
.
“
Your
stomach
?
”
said
Alfred
ruefully
.
“
'
What
do
you
mean
?
”
“
Ay
,
my
stomach
.
Would
n't
your
stomach
rise
against
serving
a
man
that
had
done
you
the
worst
turn
one
man
can
do
another
—
been
and
robbed
you
of
your
sweetheart
?
”
Alfred
stared
with
amazement
.
Brown
continued
,
and
now
with
some
emotion
:
“
Hannah
Blake
and
I
were
very
good
friends
till
you
came
,
and
I
was
thinking
of
asking
her
to
name
the
day
;
but
now
she
wo
n't
look
at
me
.
'
Do
n't
come
teasing
me
,
'
says
she
,
'
I
am
meat
for
your
master
.
'
It
's
you
that
have
turned
the
girl
's
head
,
sir
.
”
“
Bother
the
women
!
”
said
Alfred
cordially
.
“
Oh
,
what
plagues
they
are
!
And
how
unjust
you
are
,
to
spite
me
for
the
fault
of
another
.
Can
I
help
the
fools
from
spooning
upon
me
?
”
He
reflected
a
moment
then
burst
out
:
“
Brown
,
you
are
a
duffer
,
a
regular
duffer
.
What
,
do
n't
you
see
your
game
is
to
get
me
out
of
the
place
?
If
you
do
,
in
forty-eight
hours
I
shall
be
married
to
my
Julia
,
and
that
dumpling-faced
girl
will
be
cured
.
But
if
you
keep
me
here
,
by
Gee
,
sir
,
I
'll
make
hot
love
to
your
Hannah
,
boiling
hot
,
hotter
than
ever
was
—
out
of
the
isles
of
Greece
.
Oh
do
help
me
out
,
and
I
'll
give
you
the
hundred
pounds
,
and
I
'll
give
Hannah
another
hundred
pounds
,
on
condition
she
marries
you
:
and
,
if
she
wo
n't
marry
you
,
she
sha
n't
have
a
farthing
,
only
a
good
hiding
.
”
Brown
was
overpowered
by
his
maniac
's
logic
.
“
You
have
a
head
,
”
said
he
;
“
there
's
my
hand
;
I
'll
go
in
,
if
I
die
for
it
.
”
They
now
put
their
heads
together
over
the
means
.
Brown
's
plan
was
to
wait
,
and
wait
,
for
an
opportunity
.
Alfred
's
was
to
make
one
this
very
night
.
“
But
how
can
I
?
”
said
Brown
.
“
I
sha
n't
have
the
key
of
your
room
.
I
am
not
on
watch
in
your
part
to-night
.
”
“
Borrow
Hannah
's
.
”
“
Hannah
's
?
She
has
got
no
key
of
the
male
patients
rooms
.
”
“
Oh
yes
,
she
has
;
of
mine
,
at
all
events
.
”
“
What
makes
you
think
that
,
sir
?
”
said
Brown
suspiciously
.
Alfred
did
n't
know
what
to
say
:
he
could
not
tell
him
why
he
felt
sure
she
had
a
key
.
“
Just
go
quietly
and
ask
her
for
it
”
said
he
:
“
do
n't
tell
her
I
sent
you
,
now
.
”
Brown
obeyed
,
and
returned
in
half-an-hour
with
the
key
of
the
vacant
bedroom
,
where
the
hobbles
and
chains
were
hidden
on
the
arrival
of
the
justices
.
She
tells
me
this
is
the
only
key
she
has
of
any
room
in
this
corridor
.
“
But
dear
heart
,
”
said
Brown
,
“
how
quicksighted
the
women
are
.
She
said
,
says
she
,
'
If
it
is
to
bring
sorrowful
true
lovers
together
again
,
Giles
,
or
the
like
of
that
I
'll
try
and
get
the
key
you
want
off
Mrs.
Archbold
's
bunch
,
though
I
get
the
sack
for
it
,
'
says
she
.
'
I
know
she
heaves
them
in
the
parlour
at
night
'
says
Hannah
.
She
is
a
trump
,
you
must
allow
.
”
Alfred
coloured
up
.
He
suspected
he
had
been
unjust
.
“
She
is
a
good
,
kind
,
single-hearted
girl
,
”
said
he
;
“
and
neither
of
you
shall
find
me
ungrateful
.
”
It
was
evident
by
the
alacrity
Brown
now
showed
,
that
he
had
got
his
orders
from
Hannah
.
It
was
agreed
that
Alfred
should
be
down
at
night
in
his
clothes
,
ready
to
seize
the
right
moment
;
that
Hannah
should
get
the
key
,
and
watch
the
coast
clear
,
and
let
him
out
into
the
corridor
;
and
Brown
get
him
down
by
a
back
stairs
,
and
out
on
the
lawn
,
There
he
would
find
a
ladder
close
by
the
wall
,
and
his
own
arms
and
legs
must
do
the
rest
.
And
now
Alfred
was
a
changed
creature
:
his
eye
sparkled
;
he
walked
on
air
,
and
already
sniffed
the
air
of
liberty
.
After
tea
Brown
brought
in
some
newspapers
,
and
made
Alfred
a
signal
,
previously
agreed
on
,
that
the
ladder
was
under
the
east
wall
.
He
went
to
bed
early
,
put
on
his
tweed
shooting-jacket
and
trousers
,
and
lay
listening
to
the
clock
with
beating
heart
.
At
first
,
feet
passed
to
and
fro
from
time
to
time
.
These
became
less
frequent
as
the
night
wore
on
.
Presently
a
light
foot
passed
,
stopped
at
the
door
,
and
made
a
sharp
scratch
on
it
with
some
metal
instrument
.
It
was
the
key
.
The
time
was
not
ripe
to
use
it
,
but
good
Hannah
had
taken
this
way
to
let
him
know
she
had
got
it
.
This
little
scratch
outside
his
door
,
oh
it
made
his
heart
leap
and
thrill
.
One
great
difficulty
was
overcome
.
He
waited
,
and
waited
,
but
with
glowing
,
hopeful
heart
;
and
at
last
a
foot
came
swiftly
,
the
key
turned
,
and
Hannah
opened
the
door
.
She
had
a
bull's-eye
lantern
.
“
Take
your
shoes
in
your
hand
,
”
she
whispered
,
“
and
follow
me
.
”
He
followed
her
.
She
led
him
in
and
out
,
to
the
door
of
the
public
room
belonging
to
the
second-class
patients
.
Then
she
drew
her
whistle
,
and
breathed
very
softly
.
Brown
answered
as
softly
from
the
other
end
.
He
was
waiting
at
the
opposite
door
.
“
All
right
,
”
said
she
;
“
the
dangerous
part
is
over
.
”
She
put
a
key
into
the
door
,
and
said
very
softly
,
“
Good-bye
.
”
“
God
bless
you
,
Hannah
,
”
said
Alfred
,
with
deep
emotion
.
“
God
in
heaven
bless
you
for
this
!
”
“
He
will
,
He
does
,
”
said
the
single-hearted
girl
,
and
put
her
other
hand
to
her
breast
with
a
great
gulp
.
She
opened
the
door
slowly
.
“
Good-bye
,
dear
.
I
shall
never
see
you
again
.
”
And
so
these
two
parted
;
for
Hannah
could
not
bear
the
sight
of
Giles
at
that
moment
.
He
was
welcome
to
Alfred
,
though
,
most
welcome
,
and
conducted
him
by
devious
ways
to
the
kitchen
,
lantern
in
hand
.
He
opened
the
kitchen
door
softly
,
and
saw
two
burly
strangers
seated
at
the
table
,
eating
with
all
their
souls
,
and
Mrs.
Archbold
standing
before
the
fire
,
but
looking
towards
him
:
for
she
had
heard
his
footsteps
ever
so
far
off
.
The
men
looked
up
,
and
saw
Alfred
.
They
rose
to
their
feet
,
and
said
,
“
This
will
be
the
gentleman
,
madam
?
”
“
Yes
,
”
said
Mrs.
Archbold
.
“
Your
servant
,
sir
,
”
said
the
man
very
civilly
.
“
If
you
are
ready
we
are
.
”
CHAPTER
XXXIV
SAMPSON
'S
placard
was
on
Barkington
walls
,
and
inside
the
asylum
Alfred
was
softening
hearts
and
buying
consciences
,
as
related
;
so
,
in
fact
,
he
had
two
strings
to
his
bow
.
But
mark
how
strangely
things
turn
;
these
two
strings
got
entangled
.
His
father
,
alarmed
by
the
placard
,
had
called
at
the
pawnbroker
's
shop
,
and
told
him
he
must
move
Alfred
directly
to
a
London
asylum
.
Baker
raised
objections
;
Mr.
Hardie
crushed
them
with
his
purse
,
i.e.
,
with
his
son
's
and
victim
's
sweetheart
's
father
's
money
.
So
then
,
as
Baker
after
all
could
not
resist
the
project
,
but
only
postpone
it
for
a
day
or
two
,
he
preferred
to
take
a
handsome
present
,
and
cooperate
.
He
even
connived
at
Mr.
Hardie
's
signing
the
requisite
name
to
the
new
order
.
This
the
giddy
world
calls
forgery
;
but
,
in
these
calm
retreats
,
far
from
the
public
's
inquisitive
eye
,
it
goes
for
nothing
.
Why
,
Mrs.
Archbold
had
signed
Baker
's
name
and
Dr.
Bailey
's
more
than
a
hundred
several
times
to
orders
,
statements
,
and
certificates
;
depriving
Englishmen
of
their
liberty
and
their
property
with
a
gesture
of
her
taper
fingers
;
and
venting
the
conventional
terms
,
“
Aberration
,
”
“
Exaltation
,
”
“
Depression
,
”
“
Debility
,
”
“
Paralysis
,
”
“
Excitable
,
”
“
Abnormal
,
”
as
boldly
and
blindly
as
any
male
starling
in
the
flock
.
On
the
very
night
,
then
,
of
Alfred
's
projected
escape
,
two
keepers
came
down
from
Dr.
Wycherley
's
asylum
to
Silverton
station
:
Baker
met
them
and
drove
them
to
Silverton
House
in
his
dog-cart
.
They
were
to
take
Alfred
up
by
the
night
train
;
and
,
when
he
came
into
the
kitchen
with
Brown
,
they
suspected
nothing
,
nor
did
Baker
or
Cooper
,
who
presently
emerged
from
the
back
kitchen
.
Brown
saw
,
and
recovered
his
wits
partially
.
“
Shall
I
go
for
his
portmanteau
,
sir
?
”
stammered
he
,
making
a
shrewd
and
fortunate
guess
at
what
was
up
.
Baker
assented
;
and
soon
after
went
out
to
get
the
horse
harnessed
.
On
this
Mrs.
Archbold
,
pale
,
sorrowful
,
and
silent
hitherto
,
beckoned
Alfred
into
the
back
kitchen
,
and
there
gave
him
his
watch
and
his
loose
money
.
“
I
took
care
of
them
for
you
,
”
said
she
;
“
for
the
like
have
often
been
stolen
in
this
place
.
Put
the
money
in
your
shoes
;
it
may
be
useful
to
you
.
”
He
thanked
her
somewhat
sullenly
;
for
his
disappointment
was
so
deep
and
bitter
that
small
kindnesses
almost
irritated
him
.
She
sighed
.
“
It
is
cruel
to
be
angry
with
me
,
”
she
said
:
“
I
am
not
the
cause
of
this
;
it
is
a
heavier
blow
to
me
than
to
you
.
Sooner
or
later
you
will
be
free
—
and
then
you
will
not
waste
a
thought
on
me
,
I
fear
—
but
I
must
remain
in
this
odious
prison
without
your
eyes
and
your
smile
to
lighten
me
,
yet
unable
to
forget
you
.
Oh
,
Alfred
,
for
mercy
's
sake
,
whisper
me
one
kind
word
at
parting
;
give
me
one
kind
look
to
remember
and
dote
upon
.
”
She
put
out
both
hands
as
eloquently
as
she
spoke
,
and
overpowered
his
prudence
so
far
that
he
took
her
offered
hands
—
they
were
as
cold
now
as
they
were
burning
hot
the
last
time
—
and
pressed
them
,
and
said
—
“
I
shall
be
grateful
to
you
while
I
live
.
”
The
passionate
woman
snatched
her
hands
away
.
“
Gratitude
is
too
cold
for
me
,
”
she
cried
;
“
I
scorn
even
yours
.
Love
me
or
hate
me
.
”
He
made
no
reply
.
And
so
they
parted
.
“
Will
you
pledge
your
honour
to
make
no
attempt
at
escape
on
the
road
?
”
asked
the
pawnbroker
on
his
return
.
“
I
'll
see
you
d
—
—
d
first
,
”
replied
the
prisoner
.
On
this
he
was
handcuffed
,
and
helped
into
the
dog-cart
.
They
went
up
to
town
by
the
midnight
train
;
but
,
to
Alfred
's
astonishment
and
delight
did
not
take
a
carriage
to
themselves
.
However
,
station
after
station
was
passed
,
and
nobody
came
into
their
carriage
.
At
last
they
stopped
at
a
larger
station
,
and
a
good
many
people
were
on
the
platform
:
Alfred
took
this
opportunity
and
appealed
in
gentle
but
moving
terms
to
the
first
good
and
intelligent
face
he
saw
.
“
Sir
,
”
said
he
,
“
I
implore
your
assistance
.
”
The
gentleman
turned
courteously
to
him
.
The
keepers
,
to
Alfred
's
surprise
,
did
not
interrupt
.
“
I
am
the
victim
of
a
conspiracy
,
sir
;
they
pretend
I
am
mad
:
and
are
taking
me
by
force
to
a
madhouse
,
a
living
tomb
.
”
“
You
certainly
do
n't
appear
to
be
mad
,
”
said
the
gentleman
.
The
head
keeper
instantly
showed
him
the
order
and
a
copy
of
the
certificates
.
“
Do
n't
look
at
them
,
sir
,
”
cried
Alfred
;
“
they
are
signed
by
men
who
were
bribed
to
sign
them
.
For
pity
's
sake
,
sir
,
judge
for
yourself
.
Test
my
memory
,
my
judgment
,
by
any
question
you
please
.
Use
your
own
good
sense
;
do
n't
let
those
venal
rogues
judge
for
you
.
”
The
gentleman
turned
cold
directly
.
“
I
could
not
take
on
me
to
interfere
,
”
said
he
.
The
unsworn
affidavits
had
overpowered
his
senses
.
He
retired
with
a
frigid
inclination
.
Alfred
wrung
his
handcuffed
hands
,
and
the
connecting
chain
rattled
.
The
men
never
complained
:
his
conduct
was
natural
;
and
they
knew
their
strength
.
At
the
next
station
he
tested
a
snob
's
humanity
instead
of
a
gentleman
's
.
He
had
heard
they
were
more
tender-hearted
.
The
answer
was
a
broad
grin
,
repeated
at
intervals
.
Being
called
mad
was
pretty
much
the
same
thing
as
being
mad
to
a
mind
of
this
class
:
and
Alfred
had
admitted
he
was
called
mad
.
At
the
next
station
he
implored
a
silvery-haired
old
gentleman
.
Old
age
,
he
had
heard
,
has
known
griefs
,
and
learned
pity
.
The
keeper
showed
the
certificates
.
“
Ah
!
”
said
Senex
;
“
poor
young
man
.
Now
do
n't
agitate
yourself
.
It
is
all
for
your
good
.
Pray
go
quietly
.
Very
painful
,
very
painful
.
”
And
he
hobbled
away
as
fast
as
he
could
.
It
is
by
shirking
the
painful
some
live
to
be
silvery
old
.
Next
he
tried
a
policeman
.
Bobby
listened
to
him
erect
as
a
dart
.
The
certificates
were
shown
him
.
He
eyed
them
and
said
sharply
,
“
All
right
.
”
Nor
could
Alfred
's
entreaties
and
appeals
to
common
sense
attract
a
word
or
even
a
look
from
him
.
Alfred
cried
“
Help
!
murder
!
If
you
are
Englishmen
,
if
you
are
Christians
,
help
me
.
”
This
soon
drew
a
crowd
round
him
,
listening
to
his
fiery
tale
of
wrong
,
and
crying
“
Shame
,
shame
!
Let
him
go
.
”
The
keepers
touched
their
heads
,
winked
,
and
got
out
and
showed
the
certificates
;
the
crowd
melted
away
like
wax
before
those
two
suns
of
evidence
(
unsworn
)
.
The
train
moved
on
.
It
was
appalling
.
How
could
he
ever
get
free
?
Between
his
mind
and
that
of
his
fellows
there
lay
a
spiritual
barrier
more
impassible
than
the
walls
of
fortified
cities
.
Yet
,
at
the
very
next
station
,
with
characteristic
tenacity
of
purpose
,
he
tried
again
;
for
he
saw
a
woman
standing
near
,
a
buxom
country
woman
of
forty
.
Then
he
remembered
that
the
Naked
Eye
was
not
yet
an
extinct
institution
among
her
sex
.
He
told
her
his
tale
,
and
implored
her
to
use
her
own
eyes
.
She
seemed
struck
,
and
did
eye
him
far
more
closely
than
the
men
had
:
and
told
the
keepers
they
ought
to
be
ashamed
of
themselves
;
he
was
no
madman
,
for
she
had
seen
madmen
.
They
showed
her
the
certificates
.
“
Oh
,
I
am
no
scholar
!
”
said
she
contemptuously
;
“
ye
ca
n't
write
my
two
eyes
out
of
my
head
.
”
The
keeper
whipped
off
Alfred
's
cap
and
showed
his
shaven
crown
.
“
La
!
so
he
is
,
”
said
she
,
lowering
her
tone
;
“
dear
heart
,
what
a
pity
.
And
such
a
pretty
young
gentleman
.
”
And
after
that
all
he
could
say
only
drew
the
dew
of
patient
pity
to
her
eyes
.
The
train
went
on
,
and
left
her
standing
there
,
a
statue
of
negative
clemency
.
Alfred
lost
heart
.
He
felt
how
impotent
he
was
.
“
I
shall
die
in
a
madhouse
,
”
he
said
.
He
shivered
in
a
corner
,
hating
man
,
and
doubting
God
.
They
reached
Dr.
Wycherley
's
early
in
the
morning
.
Alfred
was
shown
into
a
nice
clean
bedroom
,
and
asked
whether
he
would
like
to
bathe
or
sleep
.
“
Oh
,
a
bath
,
”
he
said
;
and
was
allowed
to
bathe
himself
.
He
had
not
been
long
in
the
water
when
Dr.
Wycherley
's
medical
assistant
tapped
at
the
door
,
and
then
entered
without
further
ceremony
—
a
young
gentleman
with
a
longish
down
on
his
chin
,
which
,
initiated
early
in
the
secrets
of
physiology
,
he
was
too
knowing
to
shave
off
and
so
go
to
meet
his
trouble
.
He
came
in
looking
like
a
machine
,
with
a
note-book
in
his
hand
,
and
stood
by
the
bath
side
dictating
notes
to
himself
and
jotting
them
down
.
“
Six
contusions
:
two
on
the
thorax
,
one
on
the
abdomen
,
two
on
the
thighs
,
one
near
the
patella
;
turn
,
please
.
”
Alfred
turned
in
the
water
.
“
A
slight
dorsal
abrasion
;
also
of
the
wrists
;
a
severe
excoriation
of
the
ankle
.
Leg-lock
,
eh
?
”
“
Yes
.
”
“
Iron
leg-lock
.
Head
shaved
.
Large
blister
.
Good
!
Any
other
injuries
external
or
internal
under
old
system
?
”
“
Yes
,
sir
,
confined
as
a
madman
though
sane
,
as
you
,
I
am
sure
,
have
the
sense
to
see
.
”
“
Oh
,
never
mind
that
;
we
are
all
sane
here
—
except
the
governor
and
I
.
”
He
whipped
out
,
and
entered
the
condition
of
the
new
patient
's
body
with
jealous
minuteness
in
the
case-book
.
As
for
his
mind
,
he
made
no
inquiry
into
that
:
indeed
he
was
little
qualified
for
researches
of
the
kind
.
At
breakfast
Alfred
sat
with
a
number
of
mad
ladies
and
gentlemen
,
who
by
firmness
,
kindness
,
and
routine
,
had
been
led
into
excellent
habits
:
the
linen
was
clean
and
the
food
good
.
He
made
an
excellent
meal
,
and
set
about
escaping
:
with
this
view
he
explored
the
place
.
Nobody
interfered
with
him
;
but
plenty
of
eyes
watched
him
.
The
house
was
on
the
non-restraint
system
.
He
soon
found
this
system
was
as
bad
for
him
as
it
was
good
for
the
insane
