,“
he
was
killing
God
's
creatures
,
no
allowance
:
so
,
ye
see
,
to
save
their
lives
,
I
was
obliged
.
”
At
this
piece
of
reasoning
,
and
the
simplicity
and
gentle
conviction
with
which
it
was
delivered
,
there
was
a
roar
.
It
subsided
,
and
a
doubt
arose
whether
Billy
was
altogether
in
the
wrong
.
“
Well
,
”
said
one
,
“
I
daresay
life
is
sweet
to
them
little
creatures
,
if
they
could
speak
their
minds
.
”
“
I
've
known
a
ship
founder
in
a
fair
breeze
all
along
of
killing
'
em
,
”
said
one
old
salt
.
Finally
,
several
sided
with
Billy
,
and
intimated
that
“
it
served
the
lubber
right
for
not
listening
to
reason
.
”
And
,
indeed
,
methinks
it
was
lovely
and
touching
that
so
divine
a
ray
of
goodness
and
superior
reason
should
have
shot
from
his
heart
or
from
Heaven
across
that
poor
benighted
brain
.
But
it
must
be
owned
his
mode
of
showing
his
humanity
was
somewhat
excessive
and
abnormal
,
and
smacked
of
lunacy
.
After
this
,
however
,
the
affection
of
his
messmates
was
not
so
contemptuous
.
Now
the
captain
of
the
Vulture
was
Billy
's
cousin
by
marriage
.
Reginald
Bazalgette
.
Twenty
years
ago
,
when
the
captain
was
a
boy
,
they
were
great
friends
:
of
late
Bazalgette
had
seen
less
of
him
;
still
it
seems
strange
he
did
not
recognise
him
in
his
own
ship
.
But
one
or
two
causes
co-operated
to
prevent
that
.
In
the
first
place
,
the
mind
when
turned
in
one
direction
is
not
so
sharp
in
another
;
and
Captain
Bazalgette
had
been
told
to
look
for
David
in
a
merchant
ship
bound
for
the
East
Indies
.
In
the
next
place
,
insanity
alters
the
expression
of
the
face
wonderfully
,
and
the
captain
of
a
frigate
runs
his
eye
over
four
hundred
sailors
at
muster
,
or
a
hundred
at
work
,
not
to
examine
their
features
,
but
their
dress
and
bearing
at
the
one
,
and
their
handiness
at
the
other
.
The
worst
piece
of
luck
was
that
Mrs.
Dodd
did
not
know
David
called
himself
William
Thompson
.
So
there
stood
“
William
Thompson
”
large
as
life
on
the
ship
's
books
,
and
nobody
the
wiser
.
Captain
Bazalgette
had
a
warm
regard
and
affection
for
Mrs.
Dodd
,
and
did
all
he
could
.
Indeed
,
he
took
great
liberties
:
he
stopped
and
overhauled
several
merchant
ships
for
the
truant
;
and
,
by-the-by
,
on
one
occasion
William
Thompson
was
one
of
the
boat
's
crew
that
rowed
a
midshipman
from
the
Vulture
alongside
a
merchant
ship
to
search
for
David
Dodd
.
He
heard
the
name
and
circumstance
mentioned
in
the
boat
,
but
the
very
name
was
new
to
him
.
He
remembered
it
,
but
only
from
that
hour
;
and
told
his
loving
tyrant
,
Georgie
White
,
they
had
been
overhauling
a
merchant
ship
and
looking
for
one
David
Dodd
.
It
was
about
Midsummer
the
Vulture
anchored
off
one
of
the
South
Sea
islands
,
and
sent
a
boat
ashore
for
fruit
.
Billy
and
his
dearly
beloved
little
tyrant
,
Georgie
White
,
were
among
the
crew
.
Off
goes
Georgie
to
bathe
,
and
Billy
sits
down
on
the
beach
with
a
loving
eye
upon
him
.
The
water
was
calm
:
but
the
boy
with
the
heedlessness
of
youth
stayed
in
it
nearly
an
hour
:
he
was
seized
with
cramp
and
screamed
to
his
comrades
.
They
ran
,
but
they
were
half
a
mile
from
the
boat
.
Billy
dashed
into
the
water
and
came
up
with
Georgie
just
as
he
was
sinking
for
the
last
time
;
the
boy
gripped
him
;
but
by
his
great
strength
he
disentangled
himself
and
got
Georgie
on
his
shoulders
,
and
swam
for
the
shore
.
Meantime
the
sailors
got
into
the
boat
,
and
rowed
hastily
towards
them
.
Now
Billy
was
undermost
and
his
head
under
water
at
times
,
and
Georgie
,
some
thought
,
had
helped
strangle
him
by
gripping
his
neck
with
both
arms
.
Anyway
,
by
the
boy
's
account
,
just
as
they
were
getting
into
shallow
water
,
Billy
gave
a
great
shriek
and
turned
over
on
his
back
;
and
Georgie
paddled
with
his
hands
,
but
Billy
soon
after
this
sunk
like
a
dead
body
while
the
boat
was
yet
fifty
yards
off
.
And
Georgie
screamed
and
pointed
to
the
place
,
and
the
boat
came
up
and
took
Georgie
in
;
and
the
water
was
so
clear
that
the
sailors
saw
Billy
lie
motionless
at
the
bottom
,
and
hooked
him
with
a
boat
hook
and
drew
him
up
;
but
his
face
came
up
alongside
a
deadly
white
,
with
staring
eyes
,
and
they
shuddered
and
feared
it
was
too
late
.
They
took
him
into
a
house
and
stripped
him
,
and
rubbed
him
,
and
wrapped
him
in
blankets
,
and
put
him
by
the
hot
fire
.
But
all
would
not
do
.
Then
,
having
dried
his
clothes
,
they
dressed
the
body
again
and
laid
him
in
the
boat
,
and
cast
the
Union
Jack
over
him
,
and
rowed
slowly
and
unwillingly
back
to
the
ship
,
Georgie
sobbing
and
screaming
over
the
body
,
and
not
a
dry
eye
in
the
boat
.
The
body
was
carried
up
the
side
,
and
uncovered
,
just
as
Mrs.
Dodd
saw
in
her
dream
.
The
surgeon
was
sent
for
and
examined
the
body
:
and
then
the
grim
routine
of
a
man-of-war
dealt
swiftly
with
the
poor
skipper
.
He
was
carried
below
to
be
prepared
for
a
sailor
's
grave
.
Then
the
surgeon
walked
aft
and
reported
formally
to
the
officer
of
the
watch
the
death
by
drowning
of
William
Thompson
.
The
officer
of
the
watch
went
instantly
to
the
captain
in
his
cabin
and
reported
the
death
.
The
captain
gave
the
stereotyped
order
to
bury
him
at
noon
next
day
;
and
the
body
was
stripped
that
night
and
sewed
up
in
his
hammock
,
with
a
portion
of
his
clothes
and
bedding
to
conceal
the
outline
of
the
corpse
,
and
two
cannon
balls
at
his
feet
;
and
so
the
poor
skipper
was
laid
out
for
a
watery
grave
,
and
covered
by
the
Union
Jack
.
I
do
n't
know
whether
any
of
my
amorous
young
readers
are
much
affected
by
the
catastrophe
I
have
just
related
.
If
not
,
I
will
just
remind
them
that
even
Edward
Dodd
was
prepared
to
oppose
the
marriage
of
Julia
and
Alfred
,
if
any
serious
ill
should
befall
his
father
at
sea
,
owing
to
Alfred
's
imprudent
interference
in
rescuing
him
from
Drayton
House
.
CHAPTER
L
LAW
MINUTE
study
of
my
fellow-creatures
has
revealed
to
me
that
there
are
many
intelligent
persons
who
think
that
a
suit
at
law
commences
in
court
.
This
is
not
so
.
Many
suits
are
fought
and
decided
by
the
special
pleaders
,
and
so
never
come
into
court
;
and
,
as
a
stiff
encounter
of
this
kind
actually
took
place
in
Hardie
v.
Hardie
,
a
word
of
prefatory
explanation
may
be
proper
.
Suitors
come
into
court
only
to
try
an
issue
:
an
issue
is
a
mutual
lie
direct
:
and
towards
this
both
parties
are
driven
upon
paper
by
the
laws
of
pleading
,
which
may
be
thus
summed
:
1.
Every
statement
of
the
adversary
must
either
be
contradicted
flat
,
or
confessed
and
avoided
:
“
avoided
”
means
neutralised
by
fresh
matter
.
2.
Nothing
must
be
advanced
by
plaintiff
which
does
not
disclose
a
ground
of
action
at
law
.
3.
Nothing
advanced
by
defendant
,
which
,
if
true
,
would
not
be
a
defence
to
the
action
.
These
rules
exclude
in
a
vast
degree
the
pitiable
defects
and
vices
that
mark
all
the
unprofessional
arguments
one
ever
hears
;
for
on
a
breach
of
any
one
of
the
said
rules
the
other
party
can
demur
;
the
demurrer
is
argued
before
the
judges
in
Banco
,
and
,
if
successfully
,
the
faulty
plaint
or
faulty
plea
is
dismissed
,
and
often
of
course
the
cause
won
or
lost
thereby
,
and
the
country
saved
the
trouble
,
and
the
suitors
the
expense
of
trying
an
issue
.
So
the
writ
being
served
by
Plt.
's
attorney
,
and
an
appearance
put
in
by
Deft.
's
,
the
paper
battle
began
by
Alfred
Hardie
,
through
his
attorney
,
serving
on
Deft.
's
attorney
“
THE
DECLARATION
.
”
This
was
drawn
by
his
junior
counsel
,
Garrow
,
and
ran
thus
,
after
specifying
the
court
and
the
date
:
Middlesex
to
wit
Alfred
Hardie
by
John
Compton
his
attorney
sues
Thomas
Hardie
For
that
the
Deft
.
assaulted
Plt
.
gave
him
into
custody
to
a
certain
person
and
caused
him
to
be
imprisoned
for
a
long
space
of
time
in
a
certain
place
to
wit
a
Lunatic
Asylum
whereby
the
Plt
.
was
much
inconvenienced
and
suffered
much
anguish
and
pain
in
mind
and
body
and
was
unable
to
attend
to
his
affairs
and
was
injured
in
his
credit
and
circumstances
.
And
the
Plt
.
claims
5000l
.
.
Mr.
Compton
conveyed
a
copy
of
this
to
Alfred
,
and
said
it
was
a
sweet
“
declaration
.
”
“
What
,
”
said
Alfred
,
“
is
that
all
I
have
suffered
at
these
miscreants
'
hands
?
Why
,
it
is
written
with
an
icicle
.
”
Mr.
Compton
explained
that
this
was
the
outline
:
“
Counsel
will
lay
the
colours
on
in
court
as
thick
as
you
like
.
”
The
defendant
replied
to
the
above
declaration
by
three
pleas
.
By
statute
8
+
9
Vic
.
,
c
.
100
,
s.
105.
1.
The
Deft
.
by
Joseph
Heathfield
his
attorney
says
he
is
not
guilty
.
2.
And
for
a
further
Plea
the
Deft
,
says
that
before
and
at
the
time
of
the
alleged
imprisonment
Plt
,
was
a
person
of
unsound
mind
and
incompetent
to
take
care
of
himself
and
a
proper
person
to
be
taken
care
of
and
detained
and
it
was
unfit
unsafe
improper
and
dangerous
that
he
should
be
at
large
thereupon
the
Deft
,
being
the
uncle
of
the
Plt
.
and
a
proper
person
to
cause
the
Plt
.
to
be
taken
charge
of
under
due
care
and
treatment
in
that
behalf
did
cause
the
Plt
.
to
be
so
taken
charge
of
and
detained
under
due
care
and
treatment
,
etc.
etc.
The
third
plea
was
the
stinger
,
but
too
long
to
cite
verbatim
;
it
went
to
this
tune
,
that
the
plaintiff
at
and
before
the
time
etc.
had
conducted
himself
like
a
person
of
unsound
mind
etc.
and
two
certificates
that
he
was
insane
had
been
given
by
two
persons
duly
authorised
under
the
statute
to
sign
such
certificates
,
and
the
defendant
had
believed
and
did
bona
fide
believe
these
certificates
to
be
true
,
etc.
etc.
The
first
of
these
pleas
was
a
mere
formal
plea
,
under
the
statute
.
The
second
raised
the
very
issue
at
common
law
the
plaintiff
wished
to
try
.
The
third
made
John
Compton
knit
his
brows
with
perplexity
.
“
This
is
a
very
nasty
plea
,
”
said
he
to
Alfred
:
“
a
regular
trap
.
If
we
join
issue
on
it
we
must
be
defeated
;
for
how
can
we
deny
the
certificates
were
in
form
;
and
yet
the
plaguy
thing
is
not
loose
enough
to
be
demurred
to
?
Colls
,
who
drew
these
pleas
for
them
?
”
“
Mr.
Colvin
,
sir
.
”
“
Make
a
note
to
employ
him
in
our
next
stiff
pleading
.
”
Alfred
was
staggered
.
He
had
thought
to
ride
rough-shod
over
defendant
—
a
common
expectation
of
plaintiffs
;
but
seldom
realised
.
Lawyers
fight
hard
.
The
pleas
were
taken
to
Garrow
;
he
said
there
was
but
one
course
,
to
demur
to
No.
3.
So
the
plaintiff
“
joined
issue
on
all
the
defendant
's
pleas
,
and
as
to
the
last
plea
the
plaintiff
said
the
same
was
bad
in
substance
.
”
Defendant
rejoined
that
the
same
was
good
in
substance
,
and
thus
Hardie
v.
Hardie
divided
itself
into
two
cases
,
a
question
of
law
for
the
judges
,
and
an
issue
for
the
mixed
tribunal
loosely
called
a
jury
.
And
I
need
hardly
say
that
should
the
defendant
win
either
of
them
he
would
gain
the
cause
.
Postponing
the
history
of
the
legal
question
,
I
shall
show
how
Messrs.
Heathfield
fought
off
the
issue
,
and
cooled
the
ardent
Alfred
and
sickened
him
of
law
.
In
theory
every
Englishman
has
a
right
to
be
tried
by
his
peers
:
but
in
fact
there
are
five
gentlemen
in
every
court
,
each
of
whom
has
by
precedent
the
power
to
refuse
him
a
jury
,
by
simply
postponing
the
trial
term
after
term
,
until
the
death
of
one
of
the
parties
,
when
the
action
,
if
a
personal
one
,
dies
too
;
and
,
by
a
singular
anomaly
of
judicial
practice
,
if
a
slippery
Deft
.
ca
n't
persuade
A
.
or
B
.
,
judges
of
the
common
law
court
,
to
connive
at
what
I
venture
to
call
THE
POSTPONEMENT
SWINDLE
,
he
can
actually
go
to
C
.
,
D
.
,
and
B
.
,
one
after
another
,
with
his
rejected
application
,
and
the
previous
refusal
of
the
other
judges
to
delay
and
baffle
justice
goes
for
little
or
nothing
;
so
that
the
postponing
swindler
has
five
to
one
in
his
favour
.
Messrs.
Heathfield
began
this
game
unluckily
.
They
applied
to
a
judge
in
chambers
for
a
month
to
plead
.
Mr.
Compton
opposed
in
person
,
and
showed
that
this
was
absurd
.
The
judge
allowed
them
only
four
days
to
plead
.
Issue
being
joined
,
Mr.
Compton
pushed
on
for
trial
,
and
the
cause
was
set
down
for
the
November
term
.
Towards
the
end
of
the
term
Messrs.
Heathfield
applied
to
one
of
the
puisne
judges
for
a
postponement
,
on
the
ground
that
a
principal
witness
could
not
attend
.
Application
was
supported
by
the
attorney
's
affidavit
,
to
the
effect
that
Mr.
Speers
was
in
Boulogne
,
and
had
written
to
him
to
say
that
he
had
met
with
a
railway
accident
,
and
feared
he
could
not
possibly
come
to
England
in
less
than
a
month
.
A
respectable
French
doctor
confirmed
this
by
certificate
.
Compton
opposed
,
but
the
judge
would
hardly
hear
him
,
and
postponed
the
trial
as
a
matter
of
course
;
this
carried
it
over
the
sittings
into
next
term
.
Alfred
groaned
,
but
bore
it
patiently
;
not
so
Dr.
Sampson
:
he
raged
against
secret
tribunals
:
“
See
how
men
deteriorate
the
moment
they
get
out
of
the
full
light
of
publeecity
.
What
English
judge
,
sitting
in
the
light
of
Shorthand
,
would
admit
'
Jack
swears
that
Gill
says
'
for
legal
evidence
.
Speers
has
sworn
to
no
facks
.
Heathfield
has
sworn
to
no
facks
but
th
'
existence
of
Speer
's
hearsay
.
They
are
a
couple
o
'
lyres
.
I
'll
bet
ye
ten
pounds
t
'
a
shilling
Speers
is
as
well
as
I
'm
.
”
Mr.
Compton
quietly
reminded
him
there
was
a
direct
statement
—
the
French
doctor
's
certificate
.
“
A
medical
certificut
!
”
shrieked
Sampson
,
amazed
.
“
Mai
—
dearr
—
sirr
,
a
medical
certificut
is
just
an
article
o
'
commerce
like
an
attorney
's
conscience
.
Gimme
a
guinea
and
I
'll
get
you
sworn
sick
,
diseased
,
disabled
,
or
dead
this
minute
,
whichever
you
like
best
.
”
“
Come
,
doctor
,
do
n't
fly
off
:
you
said
you
'd
bet
ten
pounds
to
a
shilling
Speers
is
not
an
invalid
at
all
.
I
say
done
.
”
“
Done
.
”
“
How
will
you
find
out
?
”
“
How
?
Why
set
the
thief-takers
on
um
,
to
be
sure
.
”
He
wrote
off
to
the
prefect
of
police
at
Boulogne
,
and
in
four
days
received
an
answer
headed
“
Information
in
the
interest
of
families
.
”
The
prefect
informed
him
there
had
been
no
railway
accident
:
but
that
the
Sieur
Speers
,
English
subject
,
had
really
hurt
his
leg
getting
out
of
a
railway
carriage
six
weeks
ago
,
and
had
kept
his
room
some
days
;
but
he
had
been
cured
some
weeks
,
and
going
about
his
business
,
and
made
an
excursion
to
Paris
.
On
this
Compton
offered
Sampson
the
shilling
.
But
he
declined
to
take
it
.
“
The
lie
was
self-evident
,
”
said
he
;
“
and
here
's
a
judge
would
n't
see't
,
and
an
attorney
could
n't
.
Been
all
their
lives
sifting
evidence
,
too
.
Oh
the
darkness
of
the
profissional
mind
!
”
The
next
term
came
.
Mr.
Compton
delivered
the
briefs
and
fees
,
subpoenaed
the
witnesses
,
etc.
,
and
Alfred
came
up
with
a
good
heart
to
get
his
stigma
removed
by
twelve
honest
men
in
the
light
of
day
:
but
first
one
case
was
taken
out
of
its
order
and
put
before
him
,
then
another
,
till
term
wore
near
an
end
.
Then
Messrs.
Heathfield
applied
to
another
judge
of
the
court
for
a
postponement
.
Mr.
Richard
Hardie
,
plaintiff
's
father
,
a
most
essential
witness
,
was
ill
at
Clare
Court
.
Medical
certificate
and
letter
herewith
.
Compton
opposed
.
Now
this
judge
was
a
keen
and
honourable
lawyer
,
with
a
lofty
hatred
of
all
professional
tricks
.
He
heard
the
two
attorneys
,
and
delivered
himself
to
this
effect
,
only
of
course
in
better
legal
phrase
:
“
I
shall
make
no
order
.
The
defendant
has
been
here
before
on
a
doubtful
affidavit
.
You
know
,
Mr.
Heathfield
,
juries
in
these
cases
go
by
the
plaintiff
's
evidence
,
and
his
conduct
under
cross-examination
.
And
I
think
it
would
not
be
just
nor
humane
to
keep
this
plaintiff
in
suspense
,
and
civiliter
mortuum
,
any
longer
.
You
can
take
out
a
commission
to
examine
Richard
Hardie
.
”
To
this
Mr.
Compton
nailed
him
,
but
the
commission
took
time
;
and
while
it
was
pending
,
Mr.
Heathfield
went
to
another
judge
with
another
disabled
witness
:
Peggy
Black
.
That
naive
personage
was
nursing
her
deceased
sister
's
children
—
in
an
affidavit
:
and
they
had
scarlatina
—
surgeon
's
certificate
to
that
effect
.
Compton
opposed
,
and
pointed
out
the
blot
.
“
You
do
n't
want
the
children
in
the
witness-box
,
”
said
he
:
“
and
we
are
not
to
be
robbed
of
our
trial
because
one
of
your
witnesses
prefer
nursing
other
people
's
children
to
facing
the
witness-box
.
”
The
judge
nodded
assent
.
“
I
make
no
order
,
”
said
he
.
Mr.
Heathfield
went
out
from
his
presence
and
sent
a
message
by
telegraph
to
Peggy
Black
.
“
You
must
have
Scar
.
yourself
,
and
telegraph
the
same
at
once
:
certificate
by
post
.
”
The
accommodating
maiden
telegraphed
back
that
she
had
unfortunately
taken
scarlatina
of
the
children
:
medical
certificate
to
follow
by
post
.
Four
judges
out
of
the
five
were
now
awake
to
the
move
.
But
Mr.
Heathfield
tinkered
the
hole
in
his
late
affidavit
with
Peggy
's
telegram
,
and
slipped
down
to
Westminster
to
the
chief
judge
of
the
court
,
who
had
had
no
opportunity
of
watching
the
growth
and
dissemination
of
disease
among
Deft.
's
,
witnesses
.
Compton
fought
this
time
by
counsel
and
with
a
powerful
affidavit
.
But
luck
was
against
him
.
The
judge
had
risen
to
go
home
:
he
listened
standing
;
Compton
's
counsel
was
feeble
;
did
not
feel
the
wrong
.
How
could
he
?
Lawyers
fatten
by
delays
of
justice
,
as
physicians
do
by
tardy
cure
.
The
postponement
was
granted
.
Alfred
cursed
them
all
,
and
his
own
folly
in
believing
that
an
alleged
lunatic
would
be
allowed
fair
play
at
Westminster
,
or
anywhere
else
.
Compton
took
snuff
,
and
Sampson
appealed
to
the
press
again
.
He
wrote
a
long
letter
exposing
with
fearless
irony
the
postponement
swindle
as
it
had
been
worked
in
Hardie
v.
Hardie
:
and
wound
up
with
this
fiery
peroration
:
“
This
Englishman
sues
not
merely
for
damages
,
but
to
recover
lost
rights
dearer
far
than
money
,
of
which
he
says
he
has
been
unjustly
robbed
:
his
right
to
walk
in
daylight
on
the
soil
of
his
native
land
without
being
seized
and
tied
up
for
life
like
a
nigger
or
a
dog
;
his
footing
in
society
;
a
chance
to
earn
his
bread
;
and
a
place
among
mankind
:
ay
,
among
mankind
;
for
a
lunatic
is
an
animal
in
the
law
's
eye
and
society
's
,
and
an
alleged
lunatic
is
a
lunatic
till
a
jury
clears
him
.
“
I
appeal
to
you
,
gentlemen
,
is
not
such
a
suitor
sacred
in
all
wise
and
good
men
's
minds
?
Is
he
not
defendant
as
well
as
plaintiff
?
Why
,
his
stake
is
enormous
compared
with
the
nominal
defendant
's
;
and
,
if
I
know
right
from
wrong
,
to
postpone
his
trial
a
fourth
time
would
be
to
insult
Divine
justice
,
and
trifle
with
human
misery
,
and
shock
the
common
sense
of
nations
.
”
The
doctor
's
pen
neither
clipped
the
words
nor
minced
the
matter
,
you
see
.
Reading
this
the
water
came
into
Alfred
's
eyes
.
“
Ah
,
staunch
friend
,
”
he
said
,
“
how
few
are
like
you
!
To
the
intellectual
dwarfs
who
conspire
with
my
oppressors
,
Hardie
v.
Hardie
is
but
a
family
squabble
.
Parvis
omnia
parva
.
”
Mr.
Compton
read
it
too
;
and
said
from
the
bottom
of
his
heart
,
“
Heaven
defend
us
from
our
friends
!
This
is
enough
to
make
the
courts
decline
to
try
the
case
at
all
.
”
And
,
indeed
,
it
did
not
cure
the
evil
:
for
next
term
another
malade
affidavitaire
was
set
up
.
Speers
to
wit
.
This
gentleman
deposed
to
having
come
over
on
purpose
to
attend
the
trial
;
but
having
inadvertently
stepped
aside
as
far
as
Wales
,
he
lay
there
stricken
with
a
mysterious
malady
,
and
had
just
strength
to
forward
medical
certificate
.
On
this
the
judge
in
spite
of
remonstrance
,
adjourned
Hardie
v.
Hardie
to
the
summer
term
.
Summer
came
,
the
evil
day
drew
nigh
:
Mr.
Heathfield
got
the
venue
changed
from
Westminster
to
London
,
which
was
the
fifth
postponement
.
At
last
the
cause
came
on
:
the
parties
and
witnesses
were
all
in
court
,
with
two
whole
days
before
them
to
try
it
in
.
Dr.
Sampson
rushed
in
furious
.
“
There
is
some
deviltry
afloat
,
”
said
he
.
“
I
was
in
the
House
of
Commons
last
night
,
and
there
I
saw
the
defendant
's
counsel
earwigging
the
judge
.
”
“
Nonsense
,
”
said
Mr.
Compton
,
“
such
suspicions
are
ridiculous
.
Do
you
think
they
can
talk
of
nothing
but
Hardie
v.
Hardie
?
”
“
Mai
—
dearr
sirr
—
my
son
met
one
of
Heathfield
's
clerks
at
dinner
,
and
he
let
out
that
the
trile
was
not
to
come
off
.
Put
this
and
that
together
now
.
”
“
It
will
come
off
,
”
said
Mr.
Compton
,
“
and
in
five
minutes
at
farthest
.
”
In
less
than
that
time
the
learned
judge
came
in
,
and
before
taking
his
seat
made
this
extraordinary
speech
:
“
I
hear
this
cause
will
take
three
days
to
try
;
and
we
have
only
two
days
before
us
.
It
would
be
inconvenient
to
leave
it
unfinished
;
and
I
must
proceed
on
circuit
the
day
after
to-morrow
.
It
must
be
a
remanet
:
no
man
can
do
more
than
time
allows
.
”
Plaintiff
's
counsel
made
a
feeble
remonstrance
;
then
yielded
.
And
the
crier
with
sonorous
voice
called
on
the
case
of
Bread
v.
Cheese
,
in
which
there
were
pounds
at
stake
,
but
no
principle
.
Oh
,
with
what
zest
they
all
went
into
it
;
being
small
men
escaping
from
a
great
thing
to
a
small
one
.
Never
hopped
frogs
into
a
ditch
with
more
alacrity
.
Alfred
left
the
court
and
hid
himself
,
and
the
scalding
tears
forced
their
way
down
his
cheeks
at
this
heartless
proceeding
:
to
let
all
the
witnesses
come
into
court
at
a
vast
expense
to
the
parties
:
and
raise
the
cup
of
justice
to
the
lips
of
the
oppressed
,
and
then
pretend
he
knew
a
trial
would
last
more
than
two
days
,
and
so
shirk
it
.
“
I
'd
have
made
that
a
reason
for
sitting
till
midnight
”
said
poor
Alfred
,
“
not
for
prolonging
a
poor
injured
man
's
agony
four
mortal
months
.
”
He
then
prayed
God
earnestly
for
this
great
postponer
's
death
as
the
only
event
that
could
give
him
back
an
Englishman
's
right
of
being
tried
by
his
peers
,
and
so
went
down
to
Oxford
broken-hearted
.
As
for
Sampson
he
was
most
indignant
,
and
said
a
public
man
had
no
business
with
a
private
ear
:
and
wanted
to
appeal
to
the
press
again
:
but
the
doughty
doctor
had
a
gentle
but
powerful
ruler
at
home
,
as
fiery
houses
are
best
ruled
by
a
gentle
hand
.
Mrs.
Sampson
requested
him
to
write
no
more
,
but
look
round
for
an
M
.
P.
to
draw
these
repeated
defeats
of
justice
to
the
notice
of
the
House
.
Now
there
was
a
Mr.
Bite
,
who
had
taken
a
prominent
and
honourable
part
in
lunacy
questions
;
headed
committees
and
so
on
:
this
seemed
the
man
.
Dr.
Sampson
sent
him
a
letter
saying
there
was
a
flagrant
case
of
a
sane
man
falsely
imprisoned
,
who
had
now
been
near
a
year
applying
for
a
jury
,
and
juggled
out
of
this
constitutional
right
by
arbitrary
and
unreasonable
postponements
:
would
Mr.
Bite
give
him
(
Dr.
Sampson
)
ten
minutes
and
no
more
,
when
he
would
explain
the
case
and
leave
documentary
evidence
behind
him
for
Mr.
Bite
to
test
his
statement
.
The
philanthropical
M
.
P.
replied
promptly
in
these
exact
words
:
“
Mr.
Bite
presents
his
compliments
to
Dr.
Sampson
to
state
that
it
is
impossible
for
him
to
go
into
his
case
,
nor
to
give
him
the
time
he
requests
to
do
so
.
”
Sampson
was
a
little
indignant
at
the
man
's
insolence
;
but
far
more
at
having
been
duped
by
his
public
assumption
of
philanthropy
.
“
The
little
pragmatical
impostor
!
”
he
roared
.
“
With
what
a
sense
o
'
relief
th
'
animal
flings
off
the
mask
of
humanity
when
there
is
no
easy
eclat
to
be
gained
by
putting't
on
.
”
He
sent
the
philanthropical
Bite
's
revelation
of
his
private
self
to
Alfred
,
who
returned
it
with
this
single
remark
:
“
Homunculi
quanti
sunt
!
”
Dishonest
suitors
all
try
to
postpone
;
but
they
do
not
gain
unmixed
good
thereby
.
These
delays
give
time
for
more
evidence
to
come
in
;
and
this
slow
coming
and
chance
evidence
is
singularly
adverse
to
the
unjust
suitor
.
Of
this
came
a
notable
example
in
October
next
,
and
made
Richard
Hardie
determined
to
precipitate
the
trial
,
and
even
regret
he
had
not
fought
it
out
long
ago
.
He
had
just
returned
from
consulting
Messrs.
Heathfield
,
and
sat
down
to
a
nice
little
dinner
in
his
apartments
(
Sackville
Street
)
,
when
a
visitor
was
announced
;
and
in
came
the
slouching
little
figure
of
Mr.
Barkington
,
alias
Noah
Skinner
.
DIAMOND
CUT
DIAMOND
.
Mr.
Hardie
suppressed
a
start
,
and
said
nothing
.
Skinner
bowed
low
with
a
mixture
of
his
old
cringing
way
,
and
a
certain
sly
triumphant
leer
,
so
that
his
body
seemed
to
say
one
thing
,
and
his
face
the
opposite
.
Mr.
Hardie
eyed
him
,
and
saw
that
his
coat
was
rusty
,
and
his
hat
napless
:
then
Mr.
Hardie
smelt
a
beggar
,
and
prepared
to
parry
all
attempts
upon
his
purse
.
“
I
hope
I
see
my
old
master
well
,
”
said
Skinner
coaxingly
.
“
Pretty
well
in
body
,
Skinner
;
thank
you
.
”
“
I
had
a
deal
of
trouble
to
find
you
,
sir
.
But
I
heard
of
the
great
lawsuit
between
Mr.
Alfred
and
you
,
and
I
knew
Mr.
Heathfield
was
your
solicitor
;
so
I
watched
at
his
place
day
after
day
:
and
at
last
you
came
.
Oh
,
I
was
so
pleased
when
I
saw
your
noble
figure
;
but
I
would
n't
speak
to
you
in
the
street
for
fear
of
disgracing
you
.
I
'm
such
a
poor
little
guy
to
be
addressing
a
gentleman
like
you
.
”
Now
this
sounded
well
on
the
surface
,
but
below
there
was
a
subtle
something
Mr.
Hardie
did
not
like
at
all
:
but
he
took
the
cue
,
and
said
,
“
My
poor
Skinner
,
do
you
think
I
would
turn
up
my
nose
at
a
faithful
old
servant
like
you
?
Have
a
glass
of
wine
with
me
,
and
tell
me
how
you
have
been
getting
on
.
”
He
went
behind
a
screen
and
opened
a
door
,
and
soon
returned
with
a
decanter
,
leaving
the
door
open
.
Now
in
the
next
room
sat
,
unbeknown
to
Skinner
,
a
young
woman
with
white
eyelashes
,
sewing
buttons
on
Mr.
Hardie
's
shirts
.
That
astute
gentleman
gave
her
instructions
,
and
important
ones
too
,
with
a
silent
gesture
;
then
reappeared
and
filled
the
bumper
high
to
his
faithful
servant
.
They
drank
one
another
's
healths
with
great
cordiality
,
real
or
apparent
.
Mr.
Hardie
then
asked
Skinner
carelessly
,
if
he
could
do
anything
for
him
.
Skinner
said
,
“
Well
,
sir
,
I
am
very
poor
.
”
“
So
am
I
,
between
you
and
me
,
”
said
Mr.
Hardie
confidentially
;
“
I
do
n't
mind
telling
you
;
those
confounded
Commissioners
of
Lunacy
wrote
to
Alfred
's
trustees
,
and
I
have
been
forced
to
replace
a
loan
of
five
thousand
pounds
.
That
Board
always
sides
with
the
insane
.
That
crippled
me
,
and
drove
me
to
the
Exchange
:
and
now
what
I
had
left
is
all
invested
in
time-bargains
.
A
month
settles
my
fate
:
a
little
fortune
,
or
absolute
beggary
.
”
“
You
'll
be
lucky
,
sir
,
you
'll
be
lucky
,
”
said
Skinner
cheerfully
;
“
you
have
such
a
long
head
;
not
like
poor
little
me
;
the
Exchange
soon
burnt
my
wings
.
Not
a
shilling
left
of
the
thousand
pounds
,
sir
,
you
were
so
good
as
to
give
me
for
my
faithful
services
.
But
you
will
give
me
another
chance
,
sir
,
I
know
;
I
'll
take
better
care
this
time
.
”
Mr.
Hardie
shook
his
head
sorrowfully
,
and
said
it
was
impossible
.
Skinner
eyed
him
askant
,
and
remarked
quietly
,
and
half
aside
,
“
Of
course
,
I
could
go
to
the
other
party
:
but
I
should
n't
like
to
do
that
.
They
would
come
down
handsome
.
”
“
What
other
party
?
”
“
La
,
sir
,
what
other
party
?
Why
Mrs.
Dodd
's
,
or
Mr.
Alfred
's
;
here
's
the
trial
coming
on
,
you
know
,
and
of
course
if
they
could
get
me
to
go
on
the
box
and
tell
all
I
know
,
or
half
what
I
know
,
why
the
judge
and
jury
would
say
locking
Mr.
Alfred
up
for
mad
was
a
conspiracy
.
”
Mr.
Hardie
quaked
internally
:
but
he
hid
it
grandly
,
and
once
more
was
a
Spartan
gnawed
beneath
his
robe
by
this
little
fox
.
“
What
,
”
said
he
sternly
,
“
after
all
I
and
mine
have
done
for
you
and
yours
,
would
you
be
so
base
as
to
go
and
sell
yourself
to
my
enemies
?
”
“
Never
,
sir
,
”
shouted
Skinner
zealously
:
then
in
a
whisper
,
“
Not
if
you
'll
make
a
bid
for
me
.
”
“
How
much
do
you
demand
?
”
“
Only
another
thousand
,
sir
?
”
“
A
thousand
pounds
!
”
“
Why
,
what
is
that
to
you
,
sir
?
you
are
rich
enough
to
buy
the
eighth
commandment
out
of
the
tables
of
ten
per
cent
.
:
and
then
the
lawsuit
,
Hardies
versus
Hardies
!
”
“
You
have
spoken
plainly
at
last
,
”
said
Mr.
Hardie
grimly
.
“
This
is
extorting
money
by
threats
.
Do
you
know
that
nothing
is
more
criminal
,
nor
more
easy
to
punish
?
I
can
take
you
before
a
magistrate
,
and
imprison
you
on
the
instant
for
this
attempt
.
I
will
,
too
.
”
“
Try
it
,
”
said
Skinner
coolly
.
“
Where
's
your
witness
?
”
“
Behind
that
screen
.
”
Peggy
came
forward
directly
with
a
pen
in
her
hand
.
Skinner
was
manifestly
startled
and
disconcerted
.
“
I
have
taken
all
your
words
down
,
Mr.
Skinner
,
”
said
Peggy
softly
;
then
to
her
master
,
“
Shall
I
go
for
a
policeman
,
sir
?
”
Mr.
Hardie
reflected
.
“
Yes
,
”
said
he
sternly
:
“
there
's
no
other
course
with
such
a
lump
of
treachery
and
ingratitude
as
this
.
”
Peggy
whipped
on
her
bonnet
.
“
What
a
hurry
you
are
in
,
”
whined
Skinner
:
“
a
policeman
ought
to
be
the
last
argument
for
old
friends
to
run
to
.
”
Then
,
fawning
spitefully
,
“
Do
n't
talk
of
indicting
me
,
sir
,
”
said
he
;
“
it
makes
me
shiver
:
why
how
will
you
look
when
I
up
and
tell
them
all
how
Captain
Dodd
was
took
with
apoplexy
in
our
office
,
and
how
you
nailed
fourteen
thousand
pounds
off
his
senseless
body
,
and
forgot
to
put
them
down
in
your
balance-sheet
,
so
they
are
not
whitewashed
off
like
the
rest
.
”
“
Any
witnesses
to
all
this
,
Skinner
?
”
“
Yes
,
sir
.
”
“
Who
?
”
“
Well
;
your
own
conscience
for
one
,
”
said
Skinner
.
“
He
is
mad
,
Peggy
,
”
said
Mr.
Hardie
,
shrugging
his
shoulders
.
He
then
looked
Skinner
full
in
the
face
,
and
said
,
“
Nobody
was
ever
seized
with
apoplexy
in
my
office
.
Nobody
ever
gave
me
14
,
000l
.
.
And
if
this
is
the
probable
tale
with
which
you
come
here
to
break
the
law
and
extort
money
,
leave
my
house
this
instant
:
and
if
ever
you
dare
to
utter
this
absurd
and
malicious
slander
,
you
shall
lie
within
four
stone
walls
,
and
learn
what
it
is
for
a
shabby
vagabond
to
come
without
a
witness
to
his
back
,
and
libel
a
man
of
property
and
honour
.
”
Skinner
let
him
run
on
in
this
loud
triumphant
strain
till
he
had
quite
done
;
then
put
out
a
brown
skinny
finger
,
and
poked
him
lightly
in
the
ribs
,
and
said
quite
quietly
,
and
oh
,
so
drily
,
with
a
knowing
wink
—
“
I
've
—
got
—
The
Receipt
.
”
CHAPTER
LI
MR.
HARDIE
collapsed
as
if
he
had
been
a
man
inflated
,
and
that
touch
had
punctured
him
.
“
Ah
!
”
said
he
.
“
Ah
!
”
said
Skinner
,
in
a
mighty
different
tone
:
insolent
triumph
to
wit
.
After
a
pause
,
Mr.
Hardie
made
an
effort
and
said
contemptuously
,
“
The
receipt
(
if
any
)
was
flung
into
the
dusthole
and
carried
away
.
Do
you
think
I
have
forgotten
that
?
”
“
Do
n't
you
believe
it
,
sir
,
”
was
the
reply
.
“
While
you
turned
your
back
and
sacked
the
money
,
I
said
to
myself
,
'
Oho
,
is
that
the
game
?
'
and
nailed
the
receipt
.
What
a
couple
of
scoundrels
we
were
!
I
would
n't
have
her
know
it
for
all
your
money
.
Come
,
sir
,
I
see
its
all
right
;
you
will
shell
out
sooner
than
be
posted
.
”
Here
Peggy
interposed
;
“
Mr.
Skinner
,
be
more
considerate
;
my
master
is
really
poor
just
now
.
”
“
That
is
no
reason
why
I
should
be
insulted
and
indicted
and
trampled
under
foot
,
”
snarled
Skinner
all
in
one
breath
.
“
Show
me
the
receipt
and
take
my
last
shilling
,
you
ungrateful
,
vindictive
viper
,
”
groaned
Mr.
Hardie
.
“
Stuff
and
nonsense
,
”
said
Skinner
.
“
I
'm
not
a
viper
;
I
'm
a
man
of
business
.
Find
me
five
hundred
pounds
;
and
I
'll
show
you
the
receipt
and
keep
dark
.
But
I
ca
n't
afford
to
give
it
you
for
that
,
of
course
.
”
Skinner
triumphed
,
and
made
the
great
man
apologise
,
writhing
all
the
time
,
and
wishing
he
was
a
day
labourer
with
Peggy
to
wife
,
and
fourteen
honest
shillings
a
week
for
his
income
.
Having
eaten
humble
pie
,
he
agreed
to
meet
Skinner
next
Wednesday
at
midnight
,
alone
,
under
a
certain
lamp
on
the
North
Kensington
Road
:
the
interval
(
four
days
)
he
required
to
raise
money
upon
his
scrip
.
Skinner
bowed
himself
out
,
fawning
triumphantly
.
Mr.
Hardie
stood
in
the
middle
of
the
room
motionless
,
scowling
darkly
.
Peggy
looked
at
him
,
and
saw
some
dark
and
sinister
resolve
forming
in
his
mind
:
she
divined
it
,
as
such
women
can
divine
.
She
laid
her
hand
on
his
arm
,
and
said
softly
,
“
Richard
,
it
's
not
worth
that
.
”
He
started
to
find
his
soul
read
through
his
body
so
clearly
.
He
trembled
.
But
it
was
only
for
a
moment
.
“
His
blood
be
on
his
own
head
,
”
he
snarled
.
“
This
is
not
my
seeking
.
He
shall
learn
what
it
is
to
drive
Richard
Hardie
to
despair
.
”
“
No
,
no
,
”
implored
Peggy
;
“
there
are
other
countries
beside
this
:
why
not
gather
all
you
have
,
and
cross
the
water
?
I
'll
follow
you
to
the
world
's
end
,
Richard
.
”
“
Mind
your
own
business
,
”
said
he
fiercely
.
She
made
no
reply
,
but
went
softly
and
sat
down
again
,
and
sewed
the
buttons
on
his
shirts
.
Mr.
Hardie
wrote
to
Messrs.
Heathfield
to
get
Hardie
v.
Hardie
tried
as
soon
as
possible
.
Meantime
came
a
mental
phenomenon
:
gliding
down
Sackville
Street
,
victorious
Skinner
suddenly
stopped
,
and
clenched
his
hands
;
and
his
face
writhed
as
if
he
had
received
a
death-wound
.
In
that
instant
Remorse
had
struck
him
like
lightning
;
and
,
perhaps
,
whence
comes
the
lightning
.
The
sweet
face
and
voice
that
had
smiled
on
him
,
and
cared
for
his
body
,
and
cared
for
his
soul
,
came
to
his
mind
,
and
knocked
at
his
heart
and
conscience
.
He
went
home
miserable
with
an
inward
conflict
;
and
it
lasted
him
all
the
four
days
;
sometimes
Remorse
got
the
better
,
sometimes
Avarice
.
He
came
to
the
interview
still
undecided
what
he
should
do
.
But
,
meantime
,
he
had
gone
to
a
lawyer
and
made
his
will
,
leaving
his
little
all
to
Julia
Dodd
:
a
bad
sign
this
;
looked
like
compounding
with
his
awakened
conscience
.
It
was
a
dark
and
gusty
night
.
Very
few
people
were
about
.
Skinner
waited
a
little
while
,
and
shivered
,
for
his
avarice
had
postponed
the
purchase
of
a
greatcoat
until
Christmas
Day
.
At
last
,
when
the
coast
seemed
clear
,
Mr.
Hardie
emerged
from
a
side
street
.
Skinner
put
his
hand
to
his
bosom
.
They
met
.
Mr.
Hardie
said
quietly
,
“
I
must
ask
you
,
just
for
form
,
to
show
me
you
have
the
Receipt
.
”
“
Of
course
,
sir
;
but
not
so
near
,
please
:
no
snatching
,
if
I
know
it
.
”
“
You
are
wonderfully
suspicious
,
”
said
Mr.
Hardie
,
trying
to
smile
.
Skinner
looked
,
and
saw
by
the
lamplight
he
was
deadly
pale
.
“
Keep
your
distance
a
moment
,
sir
,
”
said
he
,
and
,
on
Mr.
Hardie
's
complying
,
took
the
Receipt
out
,
and
held
it
under
the
lamp
.
Instantly
Mr.
Hardie
drew
a
life-preserver
,
and
sprang
on
him
with
a
savage
curse
—
and
uttered
a
shriek
of
dismay
,
for
he
was
met
by
the
long
shiny
barrel
of
a
horse-pistol
,
that
Skinner
drew
from
his
bosom
,
and
levelled
full
in
the
haggard
face
that
came
at
him
.
Mr.
Hardie
recoiled
,
crying
,
“
No
!
no
!
for
Heaven
's
sake
!
”
“
What
!
”
cried
Skinner
,
stepping
forward
and
hissing
,
“
do
you
think
I
'm
such
a
fool
as
to
meet
a
thief
unarmed
?
Come
,
cash
up
,
or
I
'll
blow
you
to
atoms
.
”
“
No
,
no
,
no
!
”
said
Mr.
Hardie
piteously
,
retreating
as
Skinner
marched
on
him
with
long
extended
pistol
.
“
Skinner
,
”
he
stammered
,
“
th-this
is
n-not
b-b-business
.
”
“
Cash
up
,
then
;
that
's
business
.
Fling
the
five
hundred
pounds
down
,
and
walk
away
.
Mind
it
is
loaded
with
two
bullets
;
I
'll
make
a
double
entry
on
your
great
treacherous
carcass
.
”
“
It
's
no
use
trying
to
deceive
such
a
man
as
you
,
”
said
Mr.
Hardie
,
playing
on
his
vanity
.
“
I
could
not
get
the
money
before
Saturday
,
and
so
I
listened
to
the
dictates
of
despair
.
Forgive
me
.
”
“
Then
come
again
Saturday
night
.
Come
alone
,
and
I
shall
bring
a
man
to
see
I
'm
not
murdered
.
And
look
here
,
sir
,
if
you
do
n't
come
to
the
hour
and
do
the
right
thing
without
any
more
of
these
unbusiness-like
tricks
,
by
Heaven
,
I
'll
smash
you
before
noon
on
Monday
.
”
“
I
'll
come
.
”
“
I
'll
blow
you
to
Mr.
Alfred
and
Miss
Dodd
.
”
“
I
'll
come
,
I
tell
you
.
”
“
I
'll
post
you
for
a
thief
on
every
brick
in
the
Exchange
.
”
“
Have
mercy
,
Skinner
.
Have
pity
on
the
wretched
man
whose
bread
you
have
eaten
.
I
tell
you
I
'll
come
.
”
“
Well
,
mind
you
do
,
then
,
cash
and
all
,
”
said
Skinner
sulkily
,
but
not
quite
proof
against
the
reminiscences
those
humble
words
awakened
.
Each
walked
backwards
a
good
dozen
steps
,
and
then
they
took
different
roads
,
Skinner
taking
good
care
not
to
be
tracked
home
.
He
went
up
the
high
stairs
to
the
hole
in
the
roof
he
occupied
,
and
lighted
a
rushlight
.
He
had
half
a
mind
to
kindle
a
fire
,
he
felt
so
chilly
;
but
he
had
blocked
up
the
vent
,
partly
to
keep
out
the
cold
,
partly
to
shun
the
temptation
of
burning
fuel
.
However
,
he
stopped
the
keyhole
with
paper
,
and
also
the
sides
of
the
window
,
till
he
had
shut
the
wintry
air
all
out
.
Still
,
what
with
the
cold
and
what
with
the
reaction
after
so
great
an
excitement
,
his
feeble
body
began
to
shiver
desperately
.
He
thought
at
last
he
would
light
a
foot-warmer
he
had
just
purchased
for
old
iron
at
a
broker
's
;
that
would
only
spend
a
halfpenneyworth
of
charcoal
.
No
,
he
would
n't
;
he
would
look
at
his
money
;
that
would
cheer
him
.
He
unripped
a
certain
part
of
his
straw
mattress
and
took
out
a
bag
of
gold
.
He
spread
three
hundred
sovereigns
on
the
floor
and
put
the
candle
down
among
them
.
They
sparkled
;
they
were
all
new
ones
,
and
he
rubbed
them
with
an
old
toothbrush
and
whiting
every
week
.
“
That
's
better
than
any
fire
,
”
he
said
,
“
they
warm
the
heart
.
For
one
thing
,
they
are
my
own
:
at
all
events
,
I
did
not
steal
them
,
nor
take
them
of
a
thief
for
a
bribe
to
keep
dark
and
defraud
honest
folk
.
”
Then
remorse
gripped
him
:
he
asked
himself
what
he
was
going
to
do
.
“
To
rob
an
angel
,
”
was
the
answer
.
“
The
fourteen
thousand
pounds
is
all
hers
,
and
I
could
give
it
her
in
a
moment
.
Curse
him
,
he
would
have
killed
me
for
it
.
”
Then
he
pottered
about
and
took
out
his
will
.
“
Ah
,
”
said
he
,
“
that
is
all
right
so
far
.
But
what
is
a
paltry
three
hundred
when
I
help
do
her
out
of
fourteen
thousand
?
Villain
!
”
Then
,
to
ease
his
conscience
,
he
took
a
slip
of
paper
and
wrote
on
it
a
short
account
of
the
Receipt
,
and
how
he
came
by
it
,
and
lo
:
as
if
an
unseen
power
had
guided
his
hand
,
he
added
,
“
Miss
Dodd
lives
at
66
,
Pembroke
Street
,
and
I
am
going
to
take
it
to
her
as
soon
as
I
am
well
of
my
cold
.
”
Whether
this
preceded
an
unconscious
resolve
which
had
worked
on
him
secretly
for
some
time
,
or
whether
it
awakened
such
a
resolve
,
I
hardly
know
:
but
certain
it
is
,
that
having
written
it
,
he
now
thought
seriously
of
doing
it
;
and
,
the
more
seriously
he
entertained
the
thought
,
the
more
good
it
seemed
to
do
him
.
He
got
“
The
Sinner
's
Friend
”
and
another
good
book
she
had
lent
him
,
and
read
a
bit
:
then
,
finding
his
feet
frozen
,
he
lighted
his
chafer
and
blew
it
well
,
and
put
it
under
his
feet
and
read
.
The
good
words
began
to
reach
his
heart
more
and
more
:
so
did
the
thought
of
Julia
's
goodness
.
The
chafer
warmed
his
feet
and
legs
.
“
Ay
,
”
said
he
,
“
men
do
n't
want
fires
;
warm
the
feet
and
the
body
warms
itself
.
”
He
took
out
“
The
Receipt
”
and
held
it
in
his
hand
,
and
eyed
it
greedily
,
and
asked
himself
could
he
really
part
with
it
.
He
thought
he
could
—
to
Julia
.
Still
holding
it
tight
in
his
left
hand
,
he
read
on
the
good
but
solemn
words
that
seemed
to
loosen
his
grasp
upon
that
ill-gotten
paper
.
“
How
good
it
was
of
her
,
”
he
thought
,
“
to
come
day
after
day
and
feed
a
poor
little
fellow
like
him
,
body
and
soul
.
She
asked
nothing
back
.
She
did
n't
know
he
could
make
her
any
return
.
Bless
her
!
bless
her
!
”
he
screamed
.
“
Oh
,
how
cruel
I
have
been
to
her
,
and
she
so
kind
to
me
.
She
would
never
let
me
want
,
if
I
took
her
fourteen
thousand
pounds
.
Like
enough
give
me
a
thousand
,
and
help
me
save
my
poor
soul
,
that
I
shall
damn
if
I
meet
him
again
.
I
wo
n't
go
his
way
again
.
Lead
us
not
into
temptation
.
I
repent
.
Lord
have
mercy
on
me
a
miserable
sinner
.
”
And
tears
bedewed
those
wizened
cheeks
,
tears
of
penitence
,
sincere
,
at
least
for
the
time
.
A
sleepy
languor
now
came
over
him
,
and
the
good
book
fell
from
his
hand
;
but
his
resolution
remained
unshaken
.
By-and-by
waking
up
from
a
sort
of
heavy
dose
,
he
took
,
as
it
were
,
a
last
look
at
the
receipt
,
and
murmured
,
“
My
head
,
how
heavy
it
feels
.
”
But
presently
he
roused
himself
,
full
of
his
penitent
resolution
,
and
murmured
again
brokenly
,
“
I
'll
—
-take
it
to
—
-Pembroke
Street
to
—
-morrow
:
to
—
-mor
—
-row
.
”
CHAPTER
LII
MR.
HARDIE
raised
the
money
on
his
scrip
,
and
at
great
inconvenience
,
for
he
was
holding
on
five
hundred
thousand
pounds
'
worth
of
old
Turkish
Bonds
over
an
unfavourable
settling
day
,
and
wanted
every
shilling
to
pay
his
broker
.
If
they
did
not
rise
by
next
settling
day
,
he
was
a
beggar
.
However
,
being
now
a
desperate
gamester
,
and
throwing
for
his
last
stake
,
he
borrowed
this
sum
,
and
took
it
within
a
heavy
heart
to
his
appointment
with
Skinner
.
Skinner
never
came
.
Mr.
Hardie
waited
till
one
o'clock
.
Two
o'clock
.
No
Skinner
.
Mr.
Hardie
went
home
hugging
his
five
hundred
pounds
,
but
very
uneasy
.
Next
day
he
consulted
Peggy
.
She
shook
her
head
,
and
said
it
looked
very
ugly
.
Skinner
had
most
likely
got
angrier
and
angrier
with
thinking
on
the
assault
.
“
You
will
never
see
him
again
till
the
day
of
the
trial
:
and
then
he
will
go
down
and
bear
false
witness
against
you
.
Why
not
leave
the
country
?
”
“
How
can
I
,
simpleton
?
My
money
is
all
locked
up
in
the
bargains
.
No
,
I
'm
tied
,
tied
to
the
stake
;
I
'll
fight
to
the
last
:
and
,
if
I
'm
defeated
and
disgraced
,
I
'll
die
,
and
end
it
.
”
Peggy
implored
him
not
to
talk
so
.
“
I
've
been
down
to
the
court
,
”
said
she
softly
,
“
to
see
what
it
is
like
.
There
's
a
great
hall
;
and
he
must
pass
through
that
to
get
into
the
little
places
where
they
try
'
em
.
Let
me
be
in
that
hall
with
the
five
hundred
pounds
,
and
I
promise
you
he
shall
never
appear
against
you
.
We
will
both
go
;
you
with
the
money
,
I
with
my
woman
's
tongue
.
”
He
gave
her
his
hand
like
a
shaky
monarch
,
and
said
she
had
more
wit
than
he
had
.
Mr.
Heathfield
,
who
had
contrived
to
postpone
Hardie
v.
Hardie
six
times
in
spite
of
Compton
,
could
not
hurry
it
on
now
with
his
co-operation
.
It
hung
fire
from
some
cause
or
another
a
good
fortnight
:
and
in
this
fortnight
Hardie
senior
endured
the
tortures
of
suspense
.
Skinner
made
no
sign
.
At
last
,
there
stood
upon
the
paper
for
next
day
,
a
short
case
of
disputed
contract
,
and
Hardie
v.
Hardie
.
Now
,
this
day
,
I
must
premise
,
was
to
settle
the
whole
lawsuit
:
for
while
trial
of
the
issue
was
being
postponed
and
postponed
,
the
legal
question
had
been
argued
and
disposed
of
.
The
very
Queen
's
counsel
,
unfavourable
to
the
suit
,
was
briefed
with
Garrow
's
views
,
and
delivered
them
in
court
with
more
skill
,
clearness
,
and
effect
than
Garrow
ever
could
;
then
sat
down
,
and
whispered
over
rather
contemptuously
to
Mr.
Compton
,
“
That
is
your
argument
,
I
think
.
”
“
And
admirably
put
,
”
whispered
the
attorney
,
in
reply
.
“
Well
;
now
hear
Saunders
knock
it
to
pieces
.
”
Instead
of
that
,
it
was
Serjeant
Saunders
that
got
maltreated
:
first
one
judge
had
a
peck
at
him
:
then
another
:
till
they
left
him
scarce
a
feather
to
fly
with
;
and
,
when
Alfred
's
counsel
rose
to
reply
,
the
judges
stopped
him
,
and
the
chief
of
the
court
,
Alfred
's
postponing
enemy
,
delivered
his
judgment
after
this
fashion
:
“
We
are
all
of
opinion
that
this
plea
is
bad
in
law
.
By
the
common
law
of
England
no
person
can
be
imprisoned
as
a
lunatic
unless
actually
insane
at
the
time
.
It
has
been
held
so
for
centuries
,
and
down
to
the
last
case
.
And
wisely
:
for
it
would
be
most
dangerous
to
the
liberty
of
the
subject
,
if
a
man
could
be
imprisoned
without
remedy
unless
he
could
prove
mala
fides
in
the
breast
of
the
party
incarcerating
him
.
As
for
the
statute
,
it
does
not
mend
the
matter
,
but
rather
the
reverse
;
for
it
expressly
protects
duly
authorised
persons
acting
under
the
order
and
certificates
,
and
this
must
be
construed
to
except
from
the
protection
of
the
statute
the
person
making
the
order
.
”
The
three
puisne
judges
concurred
and
gave
similar
reasons
.
One
of
them
said
that
if
A
.
imprisoned
B
.
for
a
felon
,
and
B
.
sued
him
,
it
was
no
defence
to
say
that
B
.
,
in
his
opinion
,
had
imitated
felony
.
They
cited
Elliot
v.
Allen
,
Anderdon
v.
Burrows
,
and
Lord
Mansfield
's
judgment
in
a
very
old
case
,
the
name
of
which
I
have
unfortunately
forgotten
.
Judgment
was
entered
for
the
plaintiff
;
and
the
defendant
's
ingenious
plea
struck
off
the
record
;
and
Hardie
v.
Hardie
became
the
leading
case
.
But
in
law
one
party
often
wins
the
skirmish
and
the
other
the
battle
.
The
grand
fight
,
as
I
have
already
said
,
was
to
be
to-day
.
But
the
high
hopes
and
ardour
with
which
the
young
lovers
had
once
come
into
court
were
now
worn
out
by
the
postponement
swindle
,
and
the
adverse
events
delay
had
brought
on
them
.
Alfred
was
not
there
:
he
was
being
examined
in
the
schools
;
and
had
plumply
refused
to
leave
a
tribunal
that
named
its
day
and
kept
it
—
for
Westminster
,
until
his
counsel
should
have
actually
opened
the
case
.
He
did
not
believe
trial
by
jury
would
ever
be
allowed
him
.
Julia
was
there
,
but
sad
and
comparatively
listless
.
One
of
those
strange
vague
reports
,
which
often
herald
more
circumstantial
accounts
,
had
come
home
,
whispering
darkly
that
her
father
was
dead
,
and
buried
on
an
island
in
the
South
Sea
.
She
had
kept
this
report
from
her
mother
,
contrary
to
Edward
's
wish
:
but
she
implored
him
to
restrain
his
fatal
openness
.
In
one
thing
both
these
sorely
tried
young
people
agreed
,
that
there
could
be
no
marriage
with
Alfred
now
.
But
here
again
Julia
entreated
her
brother
not
to
be
candid
;
not
to
tell
Alfred
this
at
present
.
“
Oh
do
not
go
and
dispirit
him
just
now
,
”
she
said
,
“
or
he
will
do
something
rash
.
No
,
he
must
and
shall
get
his
first-class
,
and
win
his
trial
;
and
then
you
know
any
lady
will
be
too
proud
to
marry
him
,
and
,
when
he
is
married
and
happy
,
you
can
tell
him
I
did
all
I
could
for
him
,
and
hunted
up
the
witnesses
,
and
was
his
loving
friend
,
though
I
could
not
—
be
—
his
—
wife
.
”
She
could
not
say
this
without
crying
;
but
she
said
it
for
all
that
,
and
meant
it
too
.
Besides
helping
Mr.
Compton
to
get
up
the
evidence
,
this
true
and
earnest
friend
and
lover
had
attended
the
court
day
after
day
,
to
watch
how
things
were
done
,
and
,
womanlike
,
to
see
what
pleased
and
what
displeased
the
court
.
The
witnesses
subpoenaed
on
either
side
in
Hardie
v.
Hardie
began
to
arrive
at
ten
o'clock
,
and
a
tall
stately
man
paraded
Westminster
Hall
,
to
see
if
Skinner
came
with
them
.
All
other
anxieties
had
merged
in
this
:
for
the
counsel
had
assured
him
if
nothing
unexpected
turned
up
,
Thomas
Hardie
would
have
a
verdict
,
or
if
not
,
the
damages
would
be
nominal
.
At
last
the
court
crier
cried
,
with
a
loud
voice
,
“
Hardie
v.
Hardie
.
”
Julia
's
eyes
roved
very
anxiously
for
Alfred
,
and
up
rose
Mr.
Garrow
,
and
stated
to
the
court
the
substance
of
the
declaration
:
“
To
this
,
”
he
said
,
“
three
pleas
have
been
pleaded
:
first
,
the
plea
of
not
guilty
,
which
is
a
formal
plea
;
also
another
plea
,
which
has
been
demurred
to
,
and
struck
off
the
record
;
and
,
lastly
,
that
at
the
time
of
the
alleged
imprisonment
the
plaintiff
was
of
unsound
mind
,
and
a
fit
person
to
be
confined
;
which
is
the
issue
now
to
be
tried
.
”
Mr.
Garrow
then
