!”
Instantly
the
open
windows
were
filled
with
white
faces
,
some
grinning
,
some
exulting
,
all
greatly
excited
;
and
a
hideous
uproar
shook
the
whole
place
—
for
the
poor
souls
were
all
sane
in
their
own
opinion
—
and
the
whole
force
of
attendants
,
two
of
them
bleeding
profusely
from
his
blows
,
made
a
cordon
and
approached
him
.
But
he
was
too
cunning
to
wait
to
be
fairly
surrounded
;
he
made
his
rush
at
an
under-keeper
,
feinted
at
his
head
,
caught
him
a
heavy
blow
in
the
pit
of
the
stomach
,
doubled
him
up
in
a
moment
,
and
off
again
,
leaving
the
man
on
his
knees
vomiting
and
groaning
.
Several
mild
maniacs
ran
out
in
vast
agitation
,
and
,
to
curry
favour
,
offered
to
help
catch
him
.
Vast
was
their
zeal
.
But
when
it
came
to
the
point
,
they
only
danced
wildly
about
and
cried
,
“
Stop
him
!
for
God
's
sake
stop
him
!
he
's
ill
,
dreadfully
ill
;
poor
wretch
!
knock
out
his
brains
!
”
And
,
whenever
he
came
near
them
,
away
they
ran
whining
like
kicked
curs
.
Mrs.
Archbold
,
looking
out
at
a
window
,
advised
them
all
to
let
him
alone
,
and
she
would
come
out
and
persuade
him
.
But
they
would
not
be
advised
:
they
chased
him
about
the
lawn
;
but
so
swift
of
foot
was
he
,
and
so
long
in
the
reach
,
that
no
one
of
them
could
stop
him
,
nor
indeed
come
near
him
,
without
getting
a
facer
that
came
like
a
flash
of
lightning
.
At
last
,
however
,
they
got
so
well
round
him
,
he
saw
his
chance
was
gone
:
he
took
off
his
hat
to
Mrs.
Archbold
at
the
window
,
and
said
quietly
,
“
I
surrender
to
you
,
madam
.
”
At
these
words
they
rushed
on
him
rashly
.
On
this
he
planted
two
blows
right
and
left
,
swift
as
a
cat
attacked
by
dogs
;
administered
two
fearful
black
eyes
,
and
instantly
folded
his
arms
,
saying
haughtily
,
“
It
was
to
the
lady
I
yielded
,
not
to
you
fellows
.
”
They
seized
him
,
shook
their
fists
in
his
face
,
cursed
him
,
and
pinned
him
.
He
was
quite
passive
:
they
handcuffed
him
,
and
drove
him
before
them
,
shoving
him
every
now
and
then
roughly
by
the
shoulders
.
He
made
no
resistance
,
spoke
no
word
.
They
took
him
to
the
strong-room
,
and
manacled
his
ankles
together
with
an
iron
hobble
,
and
then
strapped
them
to
the
bed-posts
,
and
fastened
his
body
down
by
broad
bands
of
ticking
with
leathern
straps
at
the
ends
:
and
so
left
him
more
helpless
than
a
swaddled
infant
.
The
hurry
and
excitement
of
defence
were
over
,
and
a
cold
stupor
of
misery
came
down
and
sat
like
lead
on
him
.
He
lay
mute
as
death
in
his
gloomy
cell
,
a
tomb
within
a
living
tomb
.
And
,
as
he
lay
,
deeper
horror
grew
and
grew
in
his
dilating
eyes
:
gusts
of
rage
swept
over
him
,
shook
him
,
and
passed
:
then
gusts
of
despairing
tenderness
;
all
came
and
went
,
but
his
bonds
.
What
would
his
Julia
think
?
If
he
could
only
let
her
know
!
At
this
thought
he
called
,
he
shouted
,
he
begged
for
a
messenger
;
there
was
no
reply
.
The
cry
of
a
dangerous
lunatic
from
the
strong-room
was
less
heeded
here
than
a
bark
from
any
dog-kennel
in
Christendom
.
“
This
is
my
father
's
doing
,
”
he
said
.
“
Curse
him
!
Curse
him
Curse
him
!
”
and
his
brain
seemed
on
fire
,
his
temples
throbbed
:
he
vowed
to
God
to
be
revenged
on
his
father
.
Then
he
writhed
at
his
own
meanness
in
coming
to
visit
a
servant
and
his
folly
in
being
caught
by
so
shallow
an
artifice
.
He
groaned
aloud
.
The
clock
in
the
hall
struck
ten
.
There
was
just
time
to
get
back
if
they
would
lend
him
a
conveyance
.
He
shouted
,
he
screamed
,
he
prayed
.
He
offered
terms
humbly
,
piteously
;
he
would
forgive
his
father
,
forgive
them
all
,
he
would
say
no
more
about
the
money
,
would
do
anything
,
consent
to
anything
,
if
they
would
only
let
him
keep
faith
with
his
Julia
:
they
had
better
consent
,
and
not
provoke
his
vengeance
.
“
Have
mercy
on
me
!
”
he
cried
.
“
Do
n't
make
me
insult
her
I
love
.
They
will
all
be
waiting
for
me
.
It
is
my
wedding-day
;
you
ca
n't
have
known
it
is
my
wedding-day
;
fiends
,
monsters
,
I
tell
you
it
is
my
wedding-day
.
Oh
,
pray
send
the
lady
to
me
;
she
ca
n't
be
all
stone
,
and
my
misery
might
melt
a
stone
.
”
He
listened
for
an
answer
,
he
prayed
for
an
answer
.
There
was
none
.
Once
in
a
mad-house
,
the
sanest
man
is
mad
,
however
interested
and
barefaced
the
motive
of
the
relative
who
has
brought
two
of
the
most
venal
class
upon
the
earth
to
sign
away
his
wits
behind
his
back
.
And
once
hobbled
and
strapped
,
he
is
a
dangerous
maniac
,
for
just
so
many
days
,
weeks
,
or
years
,
as
the
hobbles
,
handcuffs
,
and
jacket
happen
to
be
left
upon
him
by
inhumanity
,
economy
,
or
simple
carelessness
.
Poor
Alfred
's
cries
and
prayers
were
heard
,
but
no
more
noticed
than
the
night
howl
of
a
wolf
on
some
distant
mountain
.
All
was
sullen
silence
,
but
the
grating
tongue
of
the
clock
,
which
told
the
victim
of
a
legislature
's
shallowness
and
a
father
's
avarice
—
that
Time
,
deaf
to
his
woe
,
as
were
the
walls
,
the
men
,
the
women
,
and
the
cutting
bands
,
was
stealing
away
with
iron
finger
his
last
chance
of
meeting
his
beloved
at
the
altar
.
He
closed
his
eyes
,
and
saw
her
lovelier
than
ever
,
dressed
all
in
white
,
waiting
for
him
with
sweet
concern
in
that
peerless
face
.
“
Julia
!
Julia
!
”
he
cried
,
with
a
loud
heart-broken
cry
.
The
half-hour
struck
.
At
that
he
struggled
,
he
writhed
,
he
bounded
:
he
made
the
very
room
shake
,
and
lacerated
his
flesh
;
but
that
was
all
.
No
answer
.
No
motion
.
No
help
.
No
hope
.
The
perspiration
rolled
down
his
steaming
body
.
The
tears
burst
from
his
young
eyes
and
ran
down
his
cheeks
.
He
sobbed
,
and
sobbing
almost
choked
,
so
tight
were
his
linen
bands
upon
his
bursting
bosom
.
He
lay
still
exhausted
.
The
clock
ticked
harshly
on
:
the
rest
was
silence
.
With
this
miserable
exception
:
ever
and
anon
the
victim
's
jammed
body
shuddered
so
terribly
it
shook
and
rattled
the
iron
bedstead
,
and
told
of
the
storm
within
,
the
agony
of
the
racked
and
all
foreboding
soul
.
For
then
rolled
over
that
young
head
hours
of
mortal
anguish
that
no
tongue
of
man
can
utter
,
nor
pen
can
shadow
.
Chained
sane
amongst
the
mad
;
on
his
wedding-day
;
expecting
with
tied
hands
the
sinister
acts
of
the
soul-murderers
who
had
the
power
to
make
their
lie
a
truth
!
We
can
paint
the
body
writhing
vainly
against
its
unjust
bonds
;
but
who
can
paint
the
loathing
,
agonised
soul
in
a
mental
situation
so
ghastly
?
For
my
part
I
feel
it
in
my
heart
of
hearts
;
but
am
impotent
to
convey
it
to
others
;
impotent
,
impotent
.
Pray
think
of
it
for
yourselves
,
men
and
women
,
if
you
have
not
sworn
never
to
think
over
a
novel
.
Think
of
it
for
your
own
sakes
:
Alfred
's
turn
to-day
,
it
may
be
yours
to-morrow
.
CHAPTER
XXXII
AT
two
o'clock
an
attendant
stole
on
tiptoe
to
the
strong-room
,
unlocked
the
door
,
and
peeped
cautiously
in
.
Seeing
the
dangerous
maniac
quiet
,
he
entered
with
a
plate
of
lukewarm
beef
and
potatoes
,
and
told
him
bluntly
to
eat
.
The
crushed
one
said
he
could
not
eat
.
“
You
must
,
”
said
the
man
.
“
Eat
!
”
said
Alfred
;
“
of
what
do
you
think
I
am
made
!
Pray
put
it
down
and
listen
to
me
.
I
'll
give
you
a
hundred
pounds
to
let
me
out
of
this
place
;
two
hundred
;
three
.
”
A
coarse
laugh
greeted
this
proposal
.
“
You
might
as
well
have
made
it
a
thousand
when
you
was
about
it
.
”
“
So
I
will
,
”
said
Alfred
eagerly
,
“
and
thank
you
on
my
knees
besides
.
Ah
,
I
see
you
do
n't
believe
I
have
money
.
I
give
you
my
honour
I
have
ten
thousand
pounds
:
it
was
settled
on
me
by
my
grandfather
,
and
I
came
of
age
last
week
.
”
“
Oh
,
that
's
like
enough
,
”
said
the
man
carelessly
.
“
Well
,
you
are
green
.
Do
you
think
them
as
sent
you
here
will
let
you
spend
your
money
?
No
,
your
money
is
theirs
now
.
”
And
he
sat
down
with
the
plate
on
his
knee
and
began
to
cut
the
meat
in
small
pieces
;
while
his
careless
words
entered
Alfred
's
heart
,
and
gave
him
such
a
glimpse
of
sinister
motives
and
dark
acts
to
come
as
set
him
shuddering
.
“
Come
none
o
'
that
,
”
said
the
man
,
suspecting
this
shudder
.
He
thought
it
was
the
prologue
to
some
desperate
act
;
for
all
a
chained
madman
does
is
read
upon
this
plan
:
his
terror
passes
for
rage
,
his
very
sobs
for
snarls
.
“
Oh
,
be
honest
with
me
,
”
said
Alfred
imploringly
;
“
do
you
think
it
is
to
steal
my
money
the
wretch
has
stolen
my
liberty
?
”
“
What
wretch
?
”
“
My
father
.
”
“
I
know
nothing
about
it
,
”
said
the
man
sullenly
,
“
in
course
there
's
mostly
money
behind
,
when
young
gents
like
you
come
to
be
took
care
of
.
But
you
mus
n't
go
thinking
of
that
,
or
you
'll
excite
yourself
again
.
Come
you
eat
your
vittles
like
a
Christian
,
and
no
more
about
it
.
”
“
Leave
it
,
that
is
a
good
fellow
;
and
then
I
'll
try
and
eat
a
little
by-and-bye
.
But
my
grief
is
great
—
oh
Julia
!
Julia
!
what
shall
I
do
?
And
I
am
not
used
to
eat
at
this
time
.
Will
you
,
my
good
fellow
?
”
“
Well
,
I
will
,
now
you
behave
like
a
gentleman
,
”
said
the
man
.
Then
Alfred
coaxed
him
to
take
off
the
handcuffs
.
He
refused
,
but
ended
by
doing
it
;
and
so
left
him
.
Four
more
leaden
hours
rolled
by
,
and
then
this
same
attendant
(
his
name
was
Brown
)
brought
him
a
cup
of
tea
.
It
was
welcome
to
his
parched
throat
;
he
drank
it
,
and
ate
a
mouthful
of
the
meat
to
please
the
man
,
and
even
asked
for
some
more
tea
.
At
eight
four
keepers
came
into
his
room
,
undressed
him
,
compelled
him
to
make
his
toilette
,
etc.
,
before
them
,
which
put
him
to
shame
—
being
a
gentleman
—
almost
as
much
as
it
would
a
woman
.
They
then
hobbled
him
,
and
fastened
his
ankles
to
the
bed
,
and
put
his
hands
into
muffles
,
but
did
not
confine
his
body
;
because
they
had
lost
a
lucrative
lodger
only
a
month
ago
,
throttled
at
night
in
a
strait-waistcoat
.
Alfred
lay
in
this
plight
,
and
compared
with
anguish
unspeakable
his
joyful
anticipations
of
this
night
with
the
strange
and
cruel
reality
.
“
My
wedding
night
!
my
wedding
night
!
”
he
cried
aloud
,
and
burst
into
a
passion
of
grief
.
By-and-bye
he
consoled
himself
a
little
with
the
hope
that
he
could
not
long
be
incarcerated
as
a
madman
,
being
sane
;
and
his
good
wit
told
him
his
only
chance
was
calmness
.
He
would
go
to
sleep
and
recover
composure
to
bear
his
wrongs
with
dignity
,
and
quietly
baffle
his
enemies
.
Just
as
he
was
dropping
off
'
he
felt
something
crawl
over
his
face
.
Instinctively
he
made
a
violent
motion
to
put
his
hands
up
.
Both
hands
were
confined
;
he
could
not
move
them
.
He
bounded
,
he
flung
,
he
writhed
.
His
little
persecutors
were
quiet
a
moment
,
but
the
next
they
began
again
.
In
vain
he
rolled
and
writhed
,
and
shuddered
with
loathing
inexpressible
.
They
crawled
,
they
smelt
,
they
bit
.
Many
a
poor
soul
these
little
wretches
had
distracted
with
the
very
sleeplessness
the
madhouse
professed
to
cure
,
not
create
,
in
conjunction
with
the
opiates
,
the
confinement
and
the
gloom
of
Silverton
House
,
they
had
driven
many
a
feeble
mind
across
the
line
that
divides
the
weak
and
nervous
from
the
unsound
.
When
he
found
there
was
no
help
,
Alfred
clenched
his
teeth
and
bore
it
:
—
“
Bite
on
,
ye
little
wretches
,
”
he
said
“
bite
on
,
and
divert
my
mind
from
deeper
stings
than
yours
—
if
you
can
.
”
And
they
did
;
a
little
.
Thus
passed
the
night
in
mental
agony
,
and
bodily
irritation
and
disgust
.
At
daybreak
the
feasters
on
his
flesh
retired
,
and
utterly
worn
out
and
exhausted
,
he
sank
into
a
deep
sleep
.
At
half-past
seven
the
head
keeper
and
three
more
came
in
,
and
made
him
dress
before
them
.
They
handcuffed
him
,
and
took
him
down
to
breakfast
in
the
noisy
ward
;
set
him
down
on
a
little
bench
by
the
wall
like
a
naughty
boy
,
and
ordered
a
dangerous
maniac
to
feed
him
.
The
dangerous
maniac
obeyed
,
and
went
and
sat
beside
Alfred
with
a
basin
of
thick
gruel
and
a
great
wooden
spoon
.
He
shovelled
the
gruel
down
his
charge
's
throat
mighty
superciliously
from
the
very
first
;
and
presently
,
falling
into
some
favourite
and
absorbing
train
of
thought
,
he
fixed
his
eye
on
vacancy
,
and
handed
the
spoonfuls
over
his
left
shoulder
with
such
rapidity
and
recklessness
that
it
was
more
like
sowing
than
feeding
.
Alfred
cried
out
“
Quarter
!
I
ca
n't
eat
so
fast
as
that
,
old
fellow
.
”
Something
in
his
tone
struck
the
maniac
;
he
looked
at
Alfred
full
,
Alfred
looked
at
him
in
return
,
and
smiled
kindly
but
sadly
.
“
Hallo
!
”
cried
the
maniac
.
“
What
's
up
now
?
”
said
a
keeper
fiercely
.
“
Why
this
man
is
sane
.
As
sane
as
I
am
.
”
At
this
there
was
a
horse
laugh
.
“
Saner
,
”
persisted
the
maniac
;
“
for
I
am
a
little
queer
at
times
,
you
know
.
”
“
And
no
mistake
,
Jemmy
.
Now
what
makes
you
think
he
is
sane
?
”
“
Looked
me
full
in
the
face
,
and
smiled
at
me
.
”
“
Oh
,
that
is
your
test
,
is
it
?
”
“
Yes
,
it
is
.
You
try
it
on
any
of
those
mad
beggars
there
and
see
if
they
can
stand
it
.
”
“
Who
invented
gunpowder
?
”
said
one
of
the
insulted
persons
,
looking
as
sly
and
malicious
as
a
magpie
going
to
steal
.
Jemmy
exploded
directly
:
“
I
did
,
ye
rascal
,
ye
liar
,
ye
rogue
,
ye
Baconian
!
”
and
going
higher
,
and
higher
in
this
strain
,
was
very
soon
handcuffed
with
Alfred
's
handcuffs
,
and
seated
on
Alfred
's
bench
and
tied
to
two
rings
in
the
wall
.
On
this
his
martial
ardour
went
down
to
zero
:
“
Here
is
treatment
,
sir
,
”
said
he
piteously
to
Alfred
.
“
I
see
you
are
a
gentleman
;
now
look
at
this
.
All
spite
and
jealousy
because
I
invented
that
invaluable
substance
,
which
has
done
so
much
to
prolong
human
life
and
alleviate
human
misery
.
”
Alfred
was
now
ordered
to
feed
Jemmy
;
which
he
did
:
so
quickly
were
their
parts
inverted
.
Directly
after
breakfast
Alfred
demanded
to
see
the
proprietor
of
the
asylum
.
Answer
:
Does
n't
live
here
.
The
Doctor
then
.
Oh
,
he
has
not
come
.
This
monstrosity
irritated
Alfred
:
“
Well
,
then
,
”
said
he
,
“
whoever
it
is
that
rules
this
den
of
thieves
,
when
those
two
are
out
of
it
.
”
“
I
rule
in
Mr.
Baker
's
absence
,
”
said
the
head
keeper
,
“
and
I
'll
teach
you
manners
,
you
young
blackguard
.
Handcuff
him
.
”
In
five
minutes
Alfred
was
handcuffed
and
flung
into
a
padded
room
.
“
Stay
there
till
you
know
how
to
speak
to
your
betters
,
”
said
the
head
keeper
.
Alfred
walked
up
and
down
grinding
his
teeth
with
rage
for
five
long
hours
.
Just
before
dinner
Brown
came
and
took
him
into
a
parlour
,
where
Mrs.
Archbold
was
seated
writing
.
Brown
retired
.
The
lady
finished
what
she
was
doing
,
and
kept
Alfred
standing
like
a
schoolboy
going
to
be
lectured
.
At
last
she
said
,
“
I
have
sent
for
you
to
give
you
a
piece
of
advice
:
it
is
to
try
and
make
friends
with
the
attendants
.
”
“
Me
make
friends
with
the
scoundrels
!
I
thirst
for
their
lives
.
Oh
,
madam
,
I
fear
I
shall
kill
somebody
here
.
”
“
Foolish
boy
;
they
are
too
strong
for
you
.
Your
worst
enemies
could
wish
nothing
worse
for
you
than
that
you
should
provoke
them
.
”
In
saying
these
words
she
was
so
much
more
kind
and
womanly
that
Alfred
conceived
hopes
,
and
burst
out
,
“
Oh
,
madam
,
you
are
human
then
;
you
seem
to
pity
me
;
pray
give
me
pen
and
paper
,
and
let
me
write
to
my
friends
to
get
me
out
of
this
terrible
place
;
do
not
refuse
me
.
”
Mrs.
Archbold
resumed
her
distant
manner
without
apparent
effort
:
she
said
nothing
,
but
she
placed
writing
materials
before
him
.
She
then
left
the
room
,
and
locked
him
in
.
He
wrote
a
few
hasty
ardent
words
to
Julia
,
telling
her
how
he
had
been
entrapped
,
but
not
a
word
about
his
sufferings
—
he
was
too
generous
to
give
her
needless
pain
—
and
a
line
to
Edward
,
imploring
him
to
come
at
once
with
a
lawyer
and
an
honest
physician
,
and
liberate
him
.
Mrs.
Archbold
returned
soon
after
,
and
he
asked
her
if
she
would
lend
him
sealing-wax
:
“
I
dare
not
trust
to
an
envelope
in
such
a
place
as
this
,
”
said
he
.
She
lent
him
sealing-wax
.
“
But
how
am
I
to
post
it
?
”
said
he
.
“
Easily
:
there
is
a
box
in
the
house
;
I
will
show
you
.
”
She
took
him
and
showed
him
the
box
:
he
put
his
letters
into
it
,
and
in
the
ardour
of
his
gratitude
kissed
her
hand
.
She
winced
a
little
and
said
,
“
Mind
,
this
is
not
by
my
advice
;
I
would
never
tell
my
friends
I
had
been
in
a
madhouse
;
oh
,
never
.
I
would
be
calm
,
make
friends
with
the
servants
—
they
are
the
real
masters
—
and
never
let
a
creature
know
where
I
had
been
.
”
“
Oh
,
you
do
n't
know
my
Julia
,
”
said
Alfred
;
“
she
will
never
desert
me
,
never
think
the
worse
of
me
because
I
have
been
entrapped
illegally
into
a
madhouse
.
”
“
Illegally
,
Mr.
Hardie
!
you
deceive
yourself
;
Mr.
Baker
told
me
the
order
was
signed
by
a
relation
,
and
the
certificates
by
first-rate
lunacy
doctors
.
”
“
What
on
earth
has
that
to
do
with
it
,
madam
,
when
I
am
as
sane
as
you
are
?
”
“
It
has
everything
to
do
with
it
.
Mr.
Baker
could
be
punished
for
confining
a
madman
in
this
house
without
an
order
and
two
certificates
;
but
he
could
n't
for
confining
a
sane
person
under
an
order
and
two
certificates
.
”
Alfred
could
not
believe
this
,
but
she
convinced
him
that
it
was
so
.
Then
he
began
to
fear
he
should
be
imprisoned
for
years
:
he
turned
pale
,
and
looked
at
her
so
piteously
,
that
to
soothe
him
she
told
him
sane
people
were
never
kept
in
asylums
now
;
they
only
used
to
be
.
“
How
can
they
?
”
said
she
.
“
The
London
asylums
are
visited
four
times
a
year
by
the
commissioners
,
and
the
country
asylums
six
times
,
twice
by
the
commissioners
,
and
four
times
by
the
justices
.
We
shall
be
inspected
this
week
or
next
;
and
then
you
can
speak
to
the
justices
:
mind
and
be
calm
;
say
it
is
a
mistake
;
offer
testimony
;
and
ask
either
to
be
discharged
at
once
or
to
have
a
commission
of
lunacy
sit
on
you
.
Ten
to
one
your
friends
will
not
face
public
proceedings
:
but
you
must
begin
at
the
foundation
,
by
making
the
servants
friendly
—
and
by
—
being
calm
.
”
She
then
fixed
her
large
grey
eyes
on
him
and
said
,
“
Now
if
I
let
you
dine
with
me
and
the
first-class
patients
,
will
you
pledge
me
your
honour
to
'
be
calm
,
'
and
not
attempt
to
escape
?
”
Alfred
hesitated
at
that
.
Her
eye
dissected
his
character
all
the
time
.
“
I
promise
,
”
said
he
at
last
with
a
deep
sigh
.
“
May
I
sit
by
you
?
There
is
something
so
repugnant
in
the
very
idea
of
mad
people
.
”
“
Try
and
remember
it
is
their
misfortune
,
not
their
crime
,
”
said
Mrs.
Archbold
,
just
like
a
matronly
sister
admonishing
a
brother
from
school
.
She
then
whistled
in
a
whisper
for
Brown
,
who
was
lurking
about
unseen
all
the
time
.
He
emerged
and
walked
about
with
Alfred
,
and
by-and-bye
,
looking
down
from
a
corridor
,
they
saw
Mrs.
Archbold
driving
the
second-class
women
before
her
to
dinner
like
a
flock
of
animals
.
Whenever
one
stopped
to
look
at
anything
,
or
try
and
gossip
,
the
philanthropic
Archbold
went
at
her
just
like
a
shepherd
's
dog
at
a
refractory
sheep
,
caught
her
by
the
shoulders
,
and
drove
her
squeaking
headlong
.
At
dinner
Alfred
was
so
fortunate
as
to
sit
opposite
a
gentleman
,
who
nodded
and
grinned
at
him
all
dinner
with
a
horrible
leer
.
He
could
not
,
however
,
enjoy
this
to
the
full
for
a
little
distraction
at
his
elbow
:
his
right
hand
neighbour
kept
forking
pieces
out
of
his
plate
and
substituting
others
from
his
own
.
There
was
even
a
tendency
to
gristle
in
the
latter
.
Alfred
remonstrated
gently
at
first
;
the
gentleman
forbore
a
minute
,
then
recommenced
.
Alfred
laid
a
hand
very
quietly
on
his
wrist
and
put
it
back
.
Mrs.
Archbold
's
quick
eye
surprised
this
gesture
:
“
What
is
the
matter
there
?
”
said
she
.
“
Oh
,
nothing
serious
,
madam
,
”
replied
Alfred
;
“
only
this
gentleman
does
me
the
honour
to
prefer
the
contents
of
my
plate
to
his
own
.
”
“
Mr.
Cooper
!
”
said
the
Archbold
sternly
.
Cooper
,
the
head
keeper
,
pounced
on
the
offender
,
seized
him
roughly
by
the
collar
,
dragged
him
from
the
table
,
knocking
his
chair
down
,
and
bundled
him
out
of
the
room
with
ignominy
and
fracas
,
in
spite
of
a
remonstrance
from
Alfred
,
“
Oh
,
do
n't
be
so
rough
with
the
poor
man
.
”
Then
the
novice
laid
down
his
knife
and
fork
,
and
ate
no
more
.
“
I
am
grieved
at
my
own
ill-nature
in
complaining
of
such
a
trifle
,
”
said
he
when
all
was
quiet
.
The
company
stared
considerably
at
this
remark
:
it
seemed
to
them
a
most
morbid
perversion
of
sensibility
;
for
the
deranged
,
thin-skinned
beyond
conception
in
their
own
persons
,
and
alive
to
the
shadow
of
the
shade
of
a
wrong
,
are
stoically
indifferent
to
the
woes
of
others
.
Though
Alfred
was
quiet
as
a
lamb
all
day
,
the
attendants
returned
him
to
the
padded
room
at
night
,
because
he
had
been
there
last
night
.
But
they
only
fastened
one
ankle
to
the
bed-post
:
so
he
encountered
his
Lilliputians
on
tolerably
fair
terms
—
numbers
excepted
:
they
swarmed
.
Unable
to
sleep
,
he
put
out
his
hand
and
groped
for
his
clothes
.
But
they
were
outside
the
door
,
according
to
rule
.
Day
broke
at
last
:
and
he
took
his
breakfast
quietly
with
the
first-class
patients
.
It
consisted
of
cool
tea
in
small
basins
instead
of
cups
,
and
table-spoons
instead
of
tea-spoons
;
and
thick
slices
of
stale
bread
thinly
buttered
.
A
few
patients
had
gruel
or
porridge
instead
of
tea
.
After
breakfast
Alfred
sat
in
the
first-class
patients
'
room
and
counted
the
minutes
and
the
hours
till
Edward
should
come
.
After
dinner
he
counted
the
hours
till
tea-time
.
Nobody
came
;
and
he
went
to
bed
in
such
grief
and
disappointment
as
some
men
live
to
eighty
without
ever
knowing
.
But
when
two
o'clock
came
next
day
,
and
no
Edward
,
and
no
reply
,
then
the
distress
of
his
soul
deepened
.
He
implored
Mrs.
Archbold
to
tell
him
what
was
the
cause
.
She
shook
her
head
and
said
gravely
,
it
was
but
too
common
;
a
man
's
nearest
and
dearest
were
very
apt
to
hold
aloof
from
him
the
moment
he
was
put
into
an
asylum
.
Here
an
old
lady
put
in
her
word
.
“
Ah
,
sir
,
you
must
not
hope
to
hear
from
anybody
in
this
place
.
Why
,
I
have
been
two
years
writing
and
writing
,
and
ca
n't
get
a
line
from
my
own
daughter
.
To
be
sure
she
is
a
fine
lady
now
:
but
it
was
her
poor
neglected
mother
that
pinched
and
pinched
to
give
her
a
good
education
,
and
that
is
how
she
caught
a
good
husband
.
But
it
's
my
belief
the
post
in
our
hall
is
n't
a
real
post
:
but
only
a
box
;
and
I
think
it
is
contrived
so
as
the
letters
fall
down
a
pipe
into
that
Baker
's
hands
,
and
so
then
when
the
postman
comes
—
—
”
The
Archbold
bent
her
bushy
brows
on
this
chatty
personage
.
“
Be
quiet
,
Mrs.
Dent
;
you
are
talking
nonsense
,
and
exciting
yourself
:
you
know
you
are
not
to
speak
on
that
topic
.
Take
care
.
”
The
poor
old
woman
was
shut
up
like
a
knife
;
for
the
Archbold
had
a
way
of
addressing
her
own
sex
that
crushed
them
.
The
change
was
almost
comically
sudden
to
the
mellow
tones
in
which
she
addressed
Alfred
the
very
next
moment
,
on
the
very
same
subject
:
“
Mr.
Baker
,
I
believe
,
sees
the
letters
:
and
,
where
our
poor
patients
(
with
a
glance
at
Dent
)
write
in
such
a
way
as
to
wound
and
perhaps
terrify
those
who
are
in
reality
their
best
friends
,
they
are
not
always
sent
.
But
I
conclude
your
letters
have
gone
.
If
you
feel
you
can
be
calm
,
why
not
ask
Mr.
Baker
?
He
is
in
the
house
now
;
for
a
wonder
.
”
Alfred
promised
to
be
calm
;
and
she
got
him
an
interview
with
Mr.
Baker
.
He
was
a
full-blown
pawnbroker
of
Silverton
town
,
whom
the
legislature
,
with
that
keen
knowledge
of
human
nature
which
marks
the
British
senate
,
permitted
,
and
still
permits
,
to
speculate
in
Insanity
,
stipulating
,
however
,
that
the
upper
servant
of
all
in
his
asylum
should
be
a
doctor
;
but
omitting
to
provide
against
the
instant
dismissal
of
the
said
doctor
should
he
go
and
rob
his
employer
of
a
lodger
—
by
curing
a
patient
.
As
you
are
not
the
British
legislature
,
I
need
not
tell
you
that
to
this
pawnbroker
insanity
mattered
nothing
,
nor
sanity
:
his
trade
lay
in
catching
,
and
keeping
,
and
stinting
,
as
many
lodgers
,
sane
or
insane
,
as
he
could
hold
.
There
are
certain
formulae
in
these
quiet
retreats
,
which
naturally
impose
upon
greenhorns
such
as
Alfred
certainly
was
,
and
some
visiting
justices
and
lunacy
commissioners
would
seem
to
be
.
Baker
had
been
a
lodging-house
keeper
for
certified
people
many
years
,
and
knew
all
the
formulae
:
some
call
them
dodges
:
but
these
must
surely
be
vulgar
minds
.
Baker
worked
“
the
see-saw
formula
.
”
“
Letters
,
young
gentleman
?
”
said
he
:
“
they
are
not
in
my
department
They
go
into
the
surgery
,
and
are
passed
by
the
doctor
,
except
those
he
examines
and
orders
to
be
detained
.
”
Alfred
demanded
the
doctor
.
“
He
is
gone
,
”
was
the
reply
.
(
Formula
.
)
Alfred
found
it
as
hard
to
be
calm
as
some
people
find
it
easy
to
say
that
word
over
the
wrongs
of
others
.
The
next
day
,
but
not
till
the
afternoon
,
he
caught
the
doctor
:
“
My
letters
!
Surely
,
sir
,
you
have
not
been
so
cruel
as
to
intercept
them
?
”
“
I
intercept
no
letters
,
”
said
the
doctor
,
as
if
scandalised
at
the
very
idea
.
“
I
see
who
writes
them
,
and
hand
them
to
Mr.
Baker
,
with
now
and
then
a
remark
.
If
any
are
detained
,
the
responsibility
rests
with
him
.
”
“
He
says
it
rests
with
you
.
”
“
You
must
have
misunderstood
him
.
”
“
Not
at
all
,
sir
.
One
thing
is
clear
;
my
letters
have
been
stolen
either
by
him
or
you
;
and
I
will
know
which
.
”
The
doctor
parried
with
a
formula
.
“
You
are
excited
,
Mr.
Hardie
.
Be
calm
,
sir
,
be
calm
:
or
you
will
be
here
all
the
longer
.
”
All
Alfred
obtained
by
this
interview
was
a
powerful
opiate
.
The
head-keeper
brought
it
him
in
bed
.
He
declined
to
take
it
.
The
man
whistled
,
and
the
room
filled
with
keepers
.
“
Now
,
”
said
Cooper
,
“
down
with
it
,
or
you
'll
have
to
be
drenched
with
this
cowhorn
.
”
“
You
had
better
take
it
,
sir
,
”
said
Brown
;
“
the
doctor
has
ordered
it
you
.
”
“
The
doctor
?
Well
,
let
me
see
the
doctor
about
it
.
”
“
He
is
gone
.
”
“
He
never
ordered
it
me
,
”
said
Alfred
.
Then
fixing
his
eyes
sternly
on
Cooper
,
“
You
miscreants
,
you
want
to
poison
me
.
No
,
I
will
not
take
it
.
Murder
!
murder
!
”
Then
ensued
a
struggle
,
on
which
I
draw
a
veil
:
but
numbers
won
the
day
,
with
the
help
of
handcuffs
and
a
cowhorn
.
Brown
went
and
told
Mrs.
Archbold
,
and
what
Alfred
had
said
.
“
Do
n't
be
alarmed
,
”
said
that
strong-minded
lady
:
“
it
is
only
one
of
the
old
fool
's
composing
draughts
.
It
will
spoil
the
poor
boy
's
sleep
for
one
night
,
that
is
all
.
Go
to
him
the
first
thing
in
the
morning
.
”
About
midnight
Alfred
was
seized
with
a
violent
headache
and
fever
:
towards
morning
he
was
light-headed
,
and
Brown
found
him
loud
and
incoherent
:
only
he
returned
often
to
an
expression
Mr.
Brown
had
never
heard
before
—
“
Justifiable
parricide
.
Justifiable
parricide
.
Justifiable
patricide
.
”
Most
people
dislike
new
phrases
.
Brown
ran
to
consult
Mrs.
Archbold
about
this
one
.
After
the
delay
inseparable
from
her
sex
,
she
came
in
a
morning
wrapper
;
and
they
found
Alfred
leaning
over
the
bed
and
bleeding
violently
at
the
nose
.
They
were
a
good
deal
alarmed
,
and
tried
to
stop
it
:
but
Alfred
was
quite
sensible
now
,
and
told
them
it
was
doing
him
good
.
“
I
can
manage
to
see
now
,
”
he
said
;
“
a
little
while
ago
I
was
blind
with
the
poison
.
”
They
unstrapped
his
ankle
and
made
him
comfortable
,
and
Mrs.
Archbold
sent
Brown
for
a
cup
of
strong
coffee
and
a
glass
of
brandy
.
He
tossed
them
off
;
and
soon
after
fell
into
a
deep
sleep
that
lasted
till
tea-time
.
This
sleep
the
poor
doctor
ascribed
to
the
sedative
effect
of
his
opiate
.
It
was
the
natural
exhaustion
consequent
on
the
morbid
excitement
caused
by
his
cursed
opiate
.
“
Brown
,
”
said
Mrs.
Archbold
,
“
if
Dr.
Bailey
prescribes
again
,
let
me
know
.
He
sha
n't
square
this
patient
with
his
certificates
,
whilst
I
am
here
.
”
This
was
a
shrewd
,
but
uncharitable
,
speech
of
hers
.
Dr.
Bailey
was
not
such
a
villain
as
that
.
He
was
a
less
depraved
,
and
more
dangerous
animal
:
he
was
a
fool
.
The
farrago
he
had
administered
would
have
done
an
excited
maniac
no
good
,
of
course
,
but
no
great
harm
.
It
was
dangerous
to
a
sane
man
:
and
Alfred
to
the
naked
eye
was
a
sane
man
.
But
then
Bailey
had
no
naked
eye
left
:
he
had
been
twenty
years
an
M
.
D
.
The
certificates
of
Wycherley
and
Speers
were
the
green
spectacles
he
wore
—
very
green
ones
—
whenever
he
looked
at
Alfred
Hardie
.
Perhaps
in
time
he
will
forget
those
certificates
,
and
,
on
his
spectacles
dropping
off
,
he
will
see
Alfred
is
sane
.
If
he
does
,
he
will
publish
him
as
one
of
his
most
remarkable
cures
.
Meanwhile
the
whole
treatment
of
this
ill-starred
young
gentleman
gravitated
towards
insanity
.
The
inner
mind
was
exasperated
by
barefaced
injustice
and
oppression
;
above
all
,
by
his
letters
being
stopped
;
for
that
convinced
him
both
Baker
and
Bailey
,
with
their
see-saw
evasions
,
knew
he
was
sane
,
and
dreaded
a
visit
from
honest
,
understanding
men
:
and
the
mind
's
external
organ
,
the
brain
,
which
an
asylum
professes
to
soothe
,
was
steadily
undermined
by
artificial
sleeplessness
.
A
man
ca
n't
sleep
in
irons
till
he
is
used
to
them
and
,
when
Alfred
was
relieved
of
these
,
his
sleep
was
still
driven
away
by
biting
insects
and
barking
dogs
,
two
opiates
provided
in
many
of
these
placid
Retreats
,
with
a
view
to
the
permanence
rather
than
the
comfort
of
the
lodgers
.
On
the
eighth
day
Alfred
succeeded
at
last
in
an
object
he
had
steadily
pursued
for
some
time
:
he
caught
the
two
see-saw
humbugs
together
.
“
Now
,
”
said
he
,
“
you
say
he
intercepts
my
letters
;
and
he
says
it
is
you
who
do
it
.
Which
is
the
truth
?
”
They
were
staggered
,
and
he
followed
up
his
advantage
:
“
Look
me
in
the
face
,
gentlemen
,
”
said
he
.
“
Can
you
pretend
you
do
not
know
I
am
sane
?
Ah
,
you
turn
your
heads
away
.
You
can
only
tell
this
bare-faced
lie
behind
my
back
.
Do
you
believe
in
God
,
and
in
a
judgment
to
come
?
Then
,
if
you
cannot
release
me
,
at
least
do
n't
be
such
scoundrels
as
to
stop
my
letters
,
and
so
swindle
me
out
of
a
fair
trial
,
an
open
,
public
trial
.
”
The
doctor
parried
with
a
formula
.
“
Publicity
would
be
the
greatest
misfortune
could
befall
you
.
Pray
be
calm
.
”
Now
,
an
asylum
is
a
place
not
entirely
exempt
from
prejudices
:
and
one
of
them
is
,
that
any
sort
of
appeal
to
God
Almighty
is
a
sign
or
else
forerunner
of
maniacal
excitement
.
These
philosophers
forget
that
by
stopping
letters
,
evading
public
trials
,
and
,
in
a
word
,
cutting
off
all
appeals
to
human
justice
,
they
compel
the
patient
to
turn
his
despairing
eyes
,
and
lift
his
despairing
voice
to
Him
,
whose
eye
alone
can
ever
really
penetrate
these
dark
abodes
.
However
,
the
patient
who
appealed
to
God
above
a
whisper
in
Silverton
Grove
House
used
to
get
soothed
directly
.
And
the
tranquillising
influences
employed
were
morphia
,
croton
oil
,
or
a
blister
.
The
keeper
came
to
Alfred
in
his
room
.
“
Doctor
has
ordered
a
blister
.
”
“
What
for
?
Send
for
him
directly
.
”
“
He
is
gone
.
”
This
way
of
ordering
torture
,
and
then
coolly
going
,
irritated
Alfred
beyond
endurance
.
Though
he
knew
he
should
soon
be
powerless
,
he
showed
fight
;
made
his
mark
as
usual
on
a
couple
of
his
zealous
attendants
;
but
not
having
room
to
work
in
was
soon
overpowered
,
hobbled
,
and
handcuffed
:
then
they
cut
off
his
hair
,
and
put
a
large
blister
on
the
top
of
his
head
.
The
obstinate
brute
declined
to
go
mad
.
They
began
to
respect
him
for
this
tenacity
of
purpose
:
a
decent
bedroom
was
allotted
him
;
his
portmanteau
and
bag
were
brought
him
,
and
he
was
let
walk
every
day
on
the
lawn
with
a
keeper
;
only
there
were
no
ladders
left
about
,
and
the
trap-door
was
locked
,
i.e.
the
iron
gate
.
On
one
of
these
occasions
he
heard
the
gatekeeper
whistle
three
times
consecutively
;
his
attendant
followed
suit
,
and
hurried
Alfred
into
the
house
,
which
soon
rang
with
treble
signals
.
“
What
is
it
?
”
inquired
Alfred
.
“
The
visiting
justices
are
in
sight
:
go
into
your
room
,
please
.
”
“
Yes
,
I
'll
go
,
”
said
Alfred
,
affecting
cheerful
compliance
,
and
the
man
ran
off
.
The
whole
house
was
in
a
furious
bustle
.
All
the
hobbles
,
and
chains
,
and
instruments
of
restraint
were
hastily
collected
and
bundled
out
of
sight
,
and
clean
sheets
were
being
put
on
many
a
filthy
bed
whose
occupant
had
never
slept
in
sheets
since
he
came
there
,
when
two
justices
arrived
and
were
shown
into
the
drawing-room
.
During
the
few
minutes
they
were
detained
there
by
Mrs.
Archbold
,
who
was
mistress
of
her
whole
business
,
quite
a
new
face
was
put
on
everything
and
everybody
;
ancient
cobwebs
fell
;
soap
and
water
explored
unwonted
territories
:
the
harshest
attendants
began
practising
pleasant
looks
and
kind
words
on
the
patients
,
to
get
into
the
way
of
it
,
so
that
it
might
not
come
too
abrupt
and
startle
the
patients
visibly
under
the
visitors
'
eyes
:
something
like
actors
working
up
a
factitious
sentiment
at
the
wing
for
the
public
display
,
or
like
a
racehorse
's
preliminary
canter
.
Alfred
's
heart
beat
with
joy
inexpressible
.
He
had
only
to
keep
calm
,
and
this
was
his
last
day
at
Silverton
Grove
.
The
first
thing
he
did
was
to
make
a
careful
toilet
.
The
stinginess
of
relations
,
and
the
greed
of
madhouse
proprietors
,
make
many
a
patient
look
ten
times
madder
than
he
is
,
by
means
of
dress
.
Clothes
wear
out
in
an
asylum
,
and
are
not
always
taken
off
,
though
Agriculture
has
long
and
justly
claimed
them
for
her
own
.
And
when
it
is
no
longer
possible
to
refuse
the
Reverend
Mad
Tom
or
Mrs.
Crazy
Jane
some
new
raiment
,
then
consanguineous
munificence
does
not
go
to
Pool
or
Elise
,
but
oftener
to
paternal
or
maternal
wardrobes
,
and
even
to
the
ancestral
chest
,
the
old
oak
one
,
singing
:
“
Poor
things
,
they
are
out
of
the
world
:
what
need
for
them
to
be
in
the
fashion
!
”
(
Formula
.
)
This
arrangement
keeps
the
bump
of
self-esteem
down
,
especially
in
women
,
and
so
co-operates
with
many
other
little
arrangements
to
perpetuate
the
lodger
.
Silverton
Grove
in
particular
was
supplied
with
the
grotesque
in
dress
from
an
inexhaustible
source
.
Whenever
money
was
sent
Baker
to
buy
a
patient
a
suit
,
he
went
from
his
lunacy
shop
to
his
pawnbroker
's
,
dived
headlong
into
unredeemed
pledges
,
dressed
his
patient
as
gentlemen
are
dressed
to
reside
in
cherry-trees
;
and
pocketed
five
hundred
per
cent
.
on
the
double
transaction
.
Now
Alfred
had
already
observed
that
many
of
the
patients
looked
madder
than
they
were
—
thanks
to
short
trousers
and
petticoats
,
holey
gloves
,
ear-cutting
shirt-collars
,
frilled
bosoms
,
shoes
made
for
and
declined
by
the
very
infantry
:
coats
short
in
the
waist
and
long
in
the
sleeves
,
coalscuttle
bonnets
,
and
grand-maternal
caps
.
So
he
made
his
toilet
with
care
,
and
put
his
best
hat
on
to
hide
his
shaven
crown
.
He
then
kept
his
door
ajar
,
and
waited
for
a
chance
of
speaking
to
the
justices
.
One
soon
came
:
a
portly
old
gentleman
,
with
a
rubicund
face
and
honest
eye
,
walked
slowly
along
the
corridor
,
looking
as
wise
as
he
could
,
cringed
on
by
Cooper
and
Dr.
Bailey
;
the
latter
had
arrived
post
haste
,
and
Baker
had
been
sent
for
.
Alfred
came
out
,
touched
his
hat
respectfully
,
and
begged
a
private
interview
with
the
magistrate
.
The
old
gentleman
bowed
politely
,
for
Alfred
's
dress
,
address
,
and
countenance
,
left
no
suspicion
of
insanity
possible
in
an
unprejudiced
mind
.
But
the
doctor
whispered
in
his
ear
,
“
Take
care
,
sir
.
Dangerous
!
”
Now
this
is
one
of
the
most
effective
of
the
formulae
in
a
private
asylum
.
How
can
an
inexperienced
stranger
know
for
certain
that
such
a
statement
is
a
falsehood
?
And
even
the
just
do
not
love
justice
—
to
others
—
quite
so
well
as
they
love
their
own
skins
.
So
Squire
Tollett
very
naturally
declined
a
private
interview
with
Alfred
;
and
even
drew
back
a
step
,
and
felt
uneasy
at
being
so
near
him
.
Alfred
implored
him
not
to
be
imposed
upon
.
“
An
honest
man
does
not
whisper
,
”
said
he
.
“
Do
not
let
him
poison
your
mind
against
me
;
on
my
honour
,
I
am
as
sane
as
you
are
,
and
he
knows
it
.
Pray
,
pray
use
your
own
eyes
and
ears
,
sir
,
and
give
yourself
a
chance
of
discovering
the
truth
in
this
stronghold
of
lies
.
”
“
Do
n't
excite
yourself
,
Mr.
Hardie
,
”
put
in
the
doctor
parentally
.
(
Formula
.
)
“
Do
n't
you
interrupt
me
,
doctor
;
I
am
as
calm
as
you
are
.
Calmer
;
for
,
see
,
you
are
pale
at
this
moment
;
that
is
with
fear
that
your
wickedness
in
detaining
a
sane
man
here
is
going
to
be
exposed
.
Oh
,
sir
,
”
said
he
,
turning
to
the
justice
,
“
fear
no
violence
from
me
,
not
even
angry
words
;
my
misery
is
too
deep
for
irritation
,
or
excitement
.
I
am
an
Oxford
man
,
sir
,
a
prize
man
,
an
Ireland
scholar
.
But
,
unfortunately
for
me
,
my
mother
left
me
ten
thousand
pounds
,
and
a
heart
.
I
love
a
lady
whose
name
I
will
not
pollute
by
mentioning
it
in
this
den
of
thieves
.
My
father
is
the
well-known
banker
,
bankrupt
,
and
cheat
,
of
Barkington
.
He
has
wasted
his
own
money
,
and
now
covets
his
neighbour
's
and
his
son
's
.
He
had
me
entrapped
here
on
my
wedding-day
,
to
get
hold
of
my
money
,
and
rob
me
of
her
I
love
.
I
appeal
to
you
,
sir
,
to
discharge
me
,
or
,
if
you
have
not
so
much
confidence
in
your
own
judgment
as
to
do
that
,
then
I
demand
a
commission
of
lunacy
,
and
a
public
inquiry
.
”
Dr.
Bailey
said
,
“
That
would
be
a
most
undesirable
exposure
,
both
to
yourself
and
your
friends
.
”
(
Formula
.
)
“
It
is
only
the
guilty
who
fear
the
light
,
sir
,
”
was
the
prompt
reply
.
Mr.
Tollett
said
he
thought
the
patient
had
a
legal
right
to
a
commission
of
lunacy
if
there
was
property
,
and
he
took
note
of
the
application
.
He
then
asked
Alfred
if
he
had
any
complaint
to
make
of
the
food
,
the
beds
,
or
the
attendants
.
“
Sir
,
”
said
Alfred
,
“
I
leave
those
complaints
to
the
insane
ones
:
with
me
the
gigantic
wrong
drives
out
the
petty
worries
.
I
cannot
feel
my
stings
for
my
deep
wound
.
”
“
Oh
,
then
,
you
admit
you
are
not
treated
unkindly
here
?
”
“
I
admit
nothing
of
the
kind
,
sir
.
I
merely
decline
to
encumber
your
memory
with
petty
injuries
,
when
you
are
good
enough
to
inquire
into
a
monstrous
one
.
”
“
Now
that
is
very
sensible
and
considerate
,
”
said
Mr.
Tollett
.
“
I
will
see
you
,
sir
,
again
before
we
leave
.
”
With
this
promise
Alfred
was
obliged
to
be
content
.
He
retired
respectfully
,
and
the
justice
said
,
“
He
seems
as
sane
as
I
am
.
”
The
doctor
smiled
.
The
justice
observed
it
,
and
not
aware
that
this
smile
was
a
formula
,
as
much
so
as
a
prizefighter
's
or
a
ballet-dancer
's
,
began
to
doubt
a
little
:
He
reflected
a
moment
,
then
asked
who
had
signed
the
certificates
.
“
Dr.
Wycherley
for
one
.
”
“
Dr.
Wycherley
?
that
is
a
great
authority
.
”
“
One
of
the
greatest
in
the
country
,
sir
.
”
“
Oh
,
then
one
would
think
he
must
be
more
or
less
deranged
.
”
“
Dangerously
so
at
times
.
But
in
his
lucid
intervals
you
never
saw
a
more
quiet
gentlemanly
creature
.
”
(
Formula
.
)
“
How
sad
!
”
“
Very
.
He
is
my
most
interesting
patient
(
formula
)
,
though
terribly
violent
at
times
.
Would
you
like
to
see
the
medical
journal
about
him
?
”
“
Yes
;
by-and-bye
.
”
The
inspection
then
continued
:
the
inspector
admired
the
clean
sheets
that
covered
the
beds
,
all
of
them
dirty
,
some
filthy
:
and
asked
the
more
reasonable
patients
to
speak
freely
and
say
if
they
had
any
complaint
to
make
.
This
question
being
,
with
the
usual
sagacity
of
public
inspectors
,
put
in
the
presence
of
Cooper
and
the
doctor
,
who
stuck
to
Tollett
like
wax
,
the
mad
people
all
declared
they
were
very
kindly
treated
.
The
reason
they
were
so
unanimous
was
this
:
they
knew
by
experience
that
,
if
they
told
the
truth
,
the
justices
could
not
at
once
remedy
their
discomforts
,
whereas
the
keepers
,
the
very
moment
the
justices
left
the
house
,
would
knock
them
down
,
beat
them
,
shake
them
,
strait-jacket
them
,
and
starve
them
:
and
the
doctor
,
less
merciful
,
would
doctor
them
.
So
they
shook
in
their
shoes
,
and
vowed
they
were
very
comfortable
in
Silverton
Grove
.
Thus
,
in
later
days
,
certain
Commissioners
of
Lunacy
inspecting
Accomb
House
,
extracted
nothing
from
Mrs.
Turner
,
but
that
she
was
happy
and
comfortable
under
the
benignant
sway
of
Metcalf
the
mild
—
there
present
.
It
was
only
by
a
miracle
the
public
learned
the
truth
,
and
miracles
are
rare
.
Meantime
,
Alfred
had
a
misgiving
.
The
plausible
doctor
had
now
Squire
Tollett
's
ear
,
and
Tollett
was
old
,
and
something
about
him
reminded
the
Oxonian
of
a
trait
his
friend
Horace
had
detected
in
old
age
:
“
Vel
quod
res
omnes
timide
gelide
que
ministrat
.
Dilator
,
spe
longus
,
iners
,
”
etc.
He
knew
there
was
another
justice
in
the
house
,
but
he
knew
also
he
should
not
be
allowed
to
get
speech
with
him
,
if
by
cunning
or
force
it
could
be
prevented
.
He
kept
his
door
ajar
.
Presently
Nurse
Hannah
came
bustling
along
with
an
apronful
of
things
,
and
let
herself
into
a
vacant
room
hard
by
.
This
Hannah
was
a
young
woman
with
a
pretty
and
rather
babyish
face
,
diversified
by
a
thick
biceps
muscle
in
her
arm
that
a
blacksmith
need
not
have
blushed
for
.
And
I
suspect
it
was
this
masculine
charm
,
and
not
her
feminine
features
,
that
had
won
her
the
confidence
of
Baker
and
Co.
,
and
the
respect
of
his
female
patients
:
big
or
little
,
excited
or
not
excited
,
there
was
not
one
of
them
this
bicipital
baby-face
could
not
pin
by
the
wrists
,
and
twist
her
helpless
into
a
strong-room
,
or
handcuff
her
unaided
in
a
moment
;
and
she
did
it
,
too
,
on
slight
provocation
.
Nurse
Hannah
seldom
came
into
Alfred
's
part
of
the
house
;
but
when
she
did
meet
him
,
she
generally
gave
him
a
kind
look
in
passing
;
and
he
had
resolved
to
speak
to
her
,
and
try
if
he
could
touch
her
conscience
,
or
move
her
pity
.
He
saw
what
she
was
at
,
but
was
too
politic
to
detect
her
openly
and
irritate
her
.
He
drew
back
a
step
,
and
said
softly
,
“
Nurse
Hannah
!
Are
you
there
?
”
“
Yes
,
I
am
here
,
”
said
she
sharply
,
and
came
out
of
the
room
hastily
,
and
shut
it
.
“
What
do
you
want
,
sir
?
”
Alfred
clasped
his
hands
together
.
“
If
you
are
a
woman
,
have
pity
on
me
.
”
She
was
taken
by
surprise
.
“
What
can
I
do
?
”
said
she
in
some
agitation
.
“
I
am
only
a
servant
.
”
“
At
least
tell
me
where
I
can
find
the
Visiting
Justice
,
before
the
keepers
stop
me
.
”
“
Hush
!
Speak
lower
,
”
said
Hannah
.
“
You
have
complained
to
one
,
have
n't
you
?
”
“
Yes
,
but
he
seems
a
feeble
old
fogy
.
Where
is
the
other
?
Oh
,
pray
tell
me
?
”
“
I
must
n't
:
I
must
n't
In
the
noisy
ward
.
There
,
run
.
”
And
run
he
did
.
Alfred
was
lucky
enough
to
get
safe
into
the
noisy
ward
without
being
intercepted
.
And
then
he
encountered
a
sunburnt
gentleman
,
under
thirty
,
in
a
riding-coat
,
with
a
hunting-whip
in
his
hand
:
it
was
Mr.
Vane
,
a
Tory
squire
and
large
landholder
in
the
county
.
Now
,
as
Alfred
entered
at
one
door
,
Baker
himself
came
in
at
the
other
,
and
they
nearly
met
at
Vane
.
But
Alfred
saluted
him
first
,
and
begged
respectfully
for
an
interview
.
“
Certainly
,
sir
,
”
said
Mr.
Vane
.
“
Take
care
,
sir
;
he
is
dangerous
,
”
whispered
Baker
.
Instantly
Mr.
Vane
's
countenance
changed
.
But
this
time
Alfred
overheard
the
formula
,
and
said
quietly
:
“
Do
n't
believe
him
,
sir
.
I
am
not
dangerous
;
I
am
as
sane
as
any
man
in
England
.
Pray
examine
me
,
and
judge
for
yourself
.
”
“
Ah
,
that
is
his
delusion
,
”
said
Baker
.
“
Come
,
Mr.
Hardie
,
I
allow
you
great
liberties
,
but
you
abuse
them
.
You
really
must
not
monopolise
his
Worship
with
your
fancies
.
Consider
,
sir
,
you
are
not
the
only
patient
he
has
to
examine
.
”
Alfred
's
heart
sank
:
he
turned
a
look
of
silent
agony
on
Mr.
Vane
.
Mr.
Vane
,
either
touched
by
that
look
,
or
irritated
by
Baker
's
pragmatical
interference
,
or
perhaps
both
,
looked
that
person
coolly
in
the
face
,
and
said
sternly
:
“
Be
silent
,
sir
;
and
let
the
gentleman
speak
to
me
.
”
CHAPTER
XXXIII
ALFRED
thus
encouraged
told
his
story
with
forced
calmness
,
and
without
a
word
too
much
.
Indeed
,
so
clear
and
telling
was
the
narrative
,
and
the
logic
so
close
,
that
incoherent
patients
one
or
two
stole
up
and
listened
with
wonder
and
a
certain
dreamy
complacency
;
the
bulk
,
however
,
held
aloof
apathetic
:
inextricably
wrapped
in
fictitious
Autobiography
.
His
story
told
,
Alfred
offered
the
Dodds
in
evidence
that
the
fourteen
thousand
pounds
was
no
illusion
,
and
referred
to
his
sister
and
several
friends
as
witnesses
to
his
sanity
,
and
said
the
letters
he
wrote
were
all
stopped
in
the
asylum
:
and
why
?
That
no
honest
man
or
woman
might
know
where
he
was
.
He
ended
by
convincing
Mr.
Vane
he
was
a
sane
and
injured
man
,
and
his
father
a
dark
designing
person
.
Mr.
Vane
asked
him
whether
he
had
any
other
revelations
to
make
.
Alfred
replied
,
“
Not
on
my
own
account
,
but
for
the
sake
of
those
afflicted
persons
who
are
here
for
life
.
Well
,
the
beds
want
repaving
;
the
vermin
thinning
;
the
instruments
of
torture
want
abolishing
,
instead
of
hiding
for
an
hour
or
two
when
you
happen
to
come
:
what
do
the
patients
gain
by
that
?
The
madmen
dare
not
complain
to
you
,
sir
,
because
the
last
time
one
did
complain
to
the
justices
(
it
was
Mr.
Petworth
)
,
they
had
no
sooner
passed
through
the
iron
gate
,
than
Cooper
made
an
example
of
him
;
felled
him
with
his
fist
,
and
walked
up
and
down
him
on
his
knees
,
crying
,
'
I
'll
teach
you
to
complain
to
the
justices
.
'
But
one
or
two
gentlemanly
madmen
,
who
soon
found
out
that
I
am
not
one
of
them
,
have
complained
to
me
that
the
attendants
wash
them
too
much
like
Hansom
cabs
,
strip
them
naked
,
and
mop
them
on
the
flag-stones
,
then
fling
on
their
clothes
without
drying
them
.
They
say
,
too
,
that
the
meat
is
tough
and
often
putrid
,
the
bread
stale
,
the
butter
rancid
,
the
vegetables
stinted
,
since
they
ca
n't
be
adulterated
.
And
as
for
sleep
,
it
is
hardly
known
;
for
the
beds
are
so
short
your
feet
stick
out
;
insects
,
without
a
name
to
ears
polite
,
but
highly
odoriferous
and
profoundly
carnivorous
,
bite
you
all
night
;
and
dogs
howl
eternally
outside
;
and
,
when
exhausted
nature
defies
even
these
enemies
of
rest
,
then
the
doctor
,
who
seems
to
be
in
the
pay
of
Insanity
,
claps
you
on
a
blister
by
brute
force
,
and
so
drives
away
sleep
,
Insanity
's
cure
,
or
hocuses
you
by
brute
force
as
he
did
me
,
and
so
steals
your
sleep
,
and
tries
to
steal
your
reason
,
with
his
opium
,
henbane
,
morphia
,
and
other
tremendous
brain-stealers
.
With
such
a
potion
,
sir
,
administered
by
violence
,
he
gave
me
in
one
night
a
bursting
fever
,
headache
,
loss
of
sight
,
and
bleeding
at
the
nose
;
as
Mrs.
Archbold
will
tell
you
.
Oh
,
look
into
these
things
,
sir
,
in
pity
to
those
whom
Heaven
has
afflicted
:
to
me
they
are
but
strokes
with
a
feather
.
I
am
a
sane
man
torn
from
love
and
happiness
,
and
confined
among
the
mad
;
discomfort
is
nothing
to
me
;
comfort
is
nothing
;
you
can
do
nothing
for
me
but
restore
me
to
my
dignity
as
a
man
,
my
liberty
as
a
Briton
,
and
the
rights
as
a
citizen
I
have
been
swindled
out
of
by
a
fraudulent
bankrupt
and
his
tools
,
two
venal
doctors
,
who
never
saw
me
but
for
one
five
minutes
,
but
came
to
me
ready
bribed
at
a
guinea
apiece
,
and
so
signed
away
my
wits
behind
my
back
.
”
“
Now
,
Mr.
Baker
,
”
said
Vane
,
“
what
do
you
say
to
all
this
?
”
Baker
smiled
with
admirable
composure
,
and
replied
with
crafty
moderation
,
“
He
is
a
gentleman
,
and
believes
