hard cash-第51部分

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f　these　premises；　when　you　will　be　bundled　off　them　yourself　before　the　week　is　out？〃

〃You　insolent　scoundrel！　Humph！　Explain；　Mr。　Skinner。〃

〃Ah！　what；　have　I　warmed　your　marble　up　a　bit？　Yes；　I'll　explain。　The　bank　is　rotten；　and　can't　last　forty…eight　hours。〃

〃Oh；　indeed！　blighted　in　a　dayby　the　dismissal　of　Mr。　Noah　Skinner。　Do　not　repeat　that　after　you　have　been　turned　into　the　streets；　or　you　will　be　indicted：　at　present　we　are　confidential。　Anything　more　before　you　quit　the　rotten　bank？〃

〃Yes；　sir；　plenty。　I'll　tell　you　your　own　history；　past；　present；　and　to　come。　The　road　to　riches　is　hard　and　rugged　to　the　likes　of　me；　but　your　good　father　made　it　smooth　and　easy　to　you；　sir。　You　had　only　to　take　the　money　of　a　lot　of　fools　that　fancy　they　can't　keep　it　themselves；　invest　it　in　Consols　and　Exchequer　bills；　live　on　half　the　profits；　put　by　the　rest；　and　roll　in　wealth。　But　this　was　too　slow　and　too　sure　for　you：　you　must　be　Rothschild　in　a　day；　so　you　went　into　blind　speculation；　and　flung　old　Mr。　Hardie's　savings　into　a　well。　And　now　for　the　last　eight　months　you　have　been　doctoring　the　ledgerHardie　winced　just　perceptibly〃You　have　put　down　our　gains　in　white；　our　losses　in　black；　and　so　you　keep　feeding　your　pocket…book　and　empty　our　tills；　the　pear　will　soon　be　ripe；　and　then　you　will　let　it　drop；　and　into　the　Bankruptcy　Court　we　go。　But；　what　you　forget；　fraudulent　bankruptcy　isn't　the　turnpike　way　of　trade：　it　is　a　broad　road；　but　a　crooked　one：　skirts　the　prison　wall；　sir；　and　sights　the　herring…pond。〃

An　agony　went　across　Mr。　Hardie's　great　face；　and　seemed　to　furrow　as　it　ran。

〃Not　but　what　you　are　all　right；　sir；〃　resumed　his　little　cat…like　tormentor；　letting　him　go　a　little　way；　to　nail　him　again　by…and…bye：　〃You　have　cooked　the　books　in　time：　and　Cocker　was　a　fool　to　you。　'Twill　be　all　down　in　black　and　white。　Great　sacrifices：　no　reserve：　creditors　take　everything；　dividend　fourpence　in　the　pound；　furniture　of　house　and　bank；　Mrs。　Hardie's　portrait；　and　down　to　the　coalscuttle。　Bankrupt　saves　nothing　but　his　honour；　andthe　six　thousand　pounds　or　so　he　has　stitched　into　his　old　great…coat：　hands　his　new　one　to　the　official　assignees；　like　an　honest　man。〃

Hardie　uttered　something　between　a　growl　and　a　moan。

〃Now　comes　the　per　contra：　poor　little　despised　Noah　Skinner　has　kept　genuine　books　while　you　have　been　preparing　false　ones。　I　took　the　real　figures　home　every　afternoon　on　loose　leaves；　and　bound　'em：　and　very　curious　they　will　read　in　court　alongside　of　yours。　I　did　it　for　amusement　o'　nights：　I'm　so　solitary；　and　so　fond　of　figures。　I　must　try　and　turn　them　to　profit；　for　I'm　out　of　place　now　in　my　old　age。　Dearee　me！　how　curious　that　you　should　go　and　pick　out　me　of　all　men　to　turn　into　the　streetlike　a　doglike　a　doglike　a　dog。〃

Hardie　turned　his　head　away；　and　in　that　moment　of　humiliation　and　abject　fear；　drank　all　the　bitterness　of　moral　death。

His　manhood　urged　him　to　defy　Skinner　and　return　to　the　straight　path；　cost　what　it　might。　But　how　could　he？　His　own　books　were　all　falsified。　He　could　place　a　true　_total_　before　his　creditors　by　simply　adding　the　contents　of　his　secret　hoard　to　the　assets　of　the　Bank；　but　with　this　true　arithmetical　result　he　could　not　square　his　books；　except　by　conjectural　and　fabricated　details；　which　would　be　detected；　and　send　him　to　prison；　for　who　would　believe　he　was　lying　in　figures　only　to　get　back　to　the　truth？　No；　he　had　entangled　himself　in　his　own　fraud；　and　was　at　the　mercy　of　his　servant。　He　took　his　line。　〃Skinner；　it　was　your　interest　to　leave　me　whilst　the　bank　stood；　then　you　would　have　got　a　place　directly；　but　since　you　take　umbrage　at　my　dismissing　you　for　your　own　good；　I　must　punish　youby　keeping　you。〃

〃I　am　quite　ready　to　stay　and　serve　you；　sir；〃　replied　Skinner　hastily　〃and　as　for　my　angry　words；　think　no　more　of　them！　It　went　to　my　heart　to　be　turned　away　at　the　very　time　you　need　me　most。〃

（〃Hypocritical　rogue！〃　thought　Hardie。）　〃That　is　true；　Skinner；〃　said　he；　〃I　do　indeed　need　a　faithful　and　sympathising　servant；　to　advise；　support；　and　aid　me。　Ask　yourself　whether　any　man　in　England　needs　a　confidant　more　than　I。　It　was　bitter　at　first　to　be　discovered　even　by　you：　but　now　I　am　glad　you　know　all；　for　I　see　I　have　undervalued　your　ability　as　well　as　your　zeal。〃

Thus　Mr。　Hardie　bowed　his　pride　to　flatter　Skinner；　and　soon　saw　by　the　little　fellow's　heightened　colour　that　this　was　the　way　to　make　him　a　clerk　of　wax。

The　banker　and　his　clerk　were　reconciled。　Then　the　latter　was　invited　to　commit　himself　by　carrying　on　the　culinary　process　in　his　own　hand。　He　trembled　a　little；　but　complied；　and　so　became　an　accomplice。　On　this　his　master　took　him　into　his　confidence；　and　told　him　everything　it　was　impossible　to　hide　from　him。

〃And　now；　sir；〃　said　Skinner；　〃let　me　tell　you　what　I　did　for　you　this　morning。　Then　perhaps　you　won't　wonder　at　my　being　so　peppery。　Maxley　_suspects：_　he　came　here　and　drew　out　every　shilling。　I　was　all　in　a　perspiration　what　to　do。　But　I　put　a　good　face　on；　and〃

Skinner　then　confided　to　his　principal　how　he　had　evaded　Maxley　and　saved　the　Bank；　and　the　stratagem　seemed　so　incredible　and　droll；　that　they　both　laughed　over　it　long　and　loud。　And　in　fact　it　turned　out　a　first…rate　practical　jest：　cost　two　lives。

While　they　were　laughing；　the　young　clerk　looked　in　and　said；　〃Captain　Dodd；　to　speak　with　you；　sir！〃

〃Captain　Dodd！！！〃　And　all　Mr。　Hardie's　forced　merriment　died　away；　and　his　face　betrayed　his　vexation　for　once。　〃Did　you　go　and　tell　him　I　was　here？〃

〃Yes；　sir：　I　had　no　orders；　and　he　said　you　would　be　sure　to　see　_him。_〃

〃Unfortunate！　Well；　you　may　show　him　in　when　I　ring　your　bell。〃

The　youngster　being　gone；　Mr。　Hardie　explained　to　his　new　ally　in　a　few　hurried　words　the　danger　that　threatened　him　from　Miss　Julia　Dodd。　〃And　now；〃　said　he；　〃the　women　have　sent　her　father　to　soften　his。　I　shall　be　told　his　girl　will　die　if　she　can't　have　my　boy；　&c。　As　if　I　care　who　lives　or　dies。〃

On　this　Skinner　got　up　all　in　a　hurry　and　offered　to　go　into　the　office。

〃On　no　account；〃　said　Mr。　Hardie　sharply。　〃I　shall　make　my　business　with　you　the　excuse　for　cutting　this　love…nonsense　mighty　short。　Take　your　book　to　the　desk；　and　seem　buried　in　it。〃

He　then　touched　the　bell；　and　both　confederates　fell　into　an　attitude：　never　were　a　pair　so　bent　over　their　little　accountslies；　like　themselves。

Instead　of　the　heart…broken　father　their　comedy　awaited；　in　came　the　gallant　sailor　with　a　brown　cheek　reddened　by　triumph　and　excitement　and　almost　shouted　in　a　genial　jocund　voice；　〃How　d'ye　do　sir？　It　is　a　long　time　since　I　came　across　your　hawse。〃　And　with　this　he　held　out　his　hand　cordially。　Hardie　gave　his　mechanically；　and　remained　on　his　guard；　but　somewhat　puzzled。　Dodd　shook　his　cold　hand　heartily。　〃Well；　sir；　here　I　am；　just　come　ashore；　and　visiting　you　before　my　very　wife；　what　d'ye　think　of　that？〃

〃I　am　highly　honoured；　sir；〃　said　Hardie：　then；　rather　stiffly　and　incredulously；　〃and　to　what　may　I　owe　this　extraordinary　preference？　Will　you　be　good　enough　to　state　the　purport　of　this　visitbrieflyas　Mr。　Skinner　and　I　are　much　occupied？〃

〃The　purport？　Why；　what　does　one　come　to　a　banker　about？　I　have　got　a　lot　of　money　I　want　to　get　rid　of。〃

Hardie　stared；　but　was　as　much　on　his　guard　as　ever；　only　more　and　more　puzzled。

Then　David　winked　at　him　with　simple　cunning；　took　out　his　knife；　undid　his　shirt；　and　began　to　cut　the　threads　which　bound　the　Cash　to　his　flannel。

At　this　Skinner　wheeled　round　on　his　stool　to　look；　and　both　he　and　Mr。　Hardie　inspected　the　unusual　pantomime　with　demure　curiosity。

Dodd　next　removed　the　oilskin　cover；　and　showed　the　pocket…book；　brought　it　down　with　a　triumphant　smack　on　the　hollow　of　his　hand；　and；　in　the　pride　of　his　heart；　the　joy　of　his　bosom　and　the　fever　of　his　bloodfor　there　were　two　red　spots　on　his　cheek　all　the　timetold　the　cold　pair　Its　adventures　in　a　few　glowing　words：　the　Calcutta　firmthe　two　piratesthe　hurricanethe　wreckthe　land…sharkshe　had　saved　it　from。　〃And　here　It　is；　safe　in　spite　of　them　all。　But　I　won't　carry　It　on　me　any　more：　it　is　unlucky；　so　you　must　be　so　good　as　to　take　charge　of　It　for　me；　sir。〃

〃Very　well；　Captain　Dodd。　You　wish　it　placed　to　Mrs。　Dodd's　account；　I　suppose？〃

〃No！　no！　I　have　nothing　to　do　with　that：　this　is　between　you　and　me。〃

〃As　you　please。〃

〃Ye　see　it　is　a　good　lump；　sir。〃

〃Oh；　indeed！〃　said　Hardie　a　little　sneeringly。

〃I　call　it　a　thundering　lot　o'　money。　But　I　suppose　it　is　not　much　to　a　rich　banker　like　you。〃　Then　he　lowered　his　voice；　and　said　with　a　certain　awe：　〃It'sfourteenthousand　pounds。〃

〃Fourteen　thousand　pounds！！！〃　cried　Hardie。　Then　with　sudden　and　consummate　coolness；　〃Why；　certainly　an　established　bank　like　this　deals　with　more　considerable　deposits　than　that。　Skinner；　why　don't　you　give　the　Captain　a　chair？〃

〃No！　no！〃　said　Dodd。　〃I'll　heave…to　till　I　get　this　off　my　mind；　but　I　won't　anchor　anywhere　but　at　home。〃　He　then　opened　the　pocket…book　and　spread　the　contents　out　before　Mr。　Hardie；　who　ran　over　the　notes　and　bills；　and　said　the　amount　was　L。　14；010；　12s。　6d。

Dodd　asked　for　a　receipt。

〃Why；　it　is　not　usual　when　there　is　an　account。〃

Dodd's　countenance　fell：　〃Oh；　I　should　not　like　to　part　with　it　unless　I　had　a　receipt。〃

〃You　mistake　me；〃　said　Hardie　with　a　smile。　〃An　entry　in　your　banker's　book　is　a　receipt。　However；　you　can　have　one　in　another　form。〃　He　then　unlocked　a　desk；　took　out　a　banker's　receipt；　and　told　Skinner　to　fill　it　in。　This　done；　he　seemed　to　be　absorbed　in　some　more　important　matter。

Skinner　counted　the　notes　and　left　them　with　Mr。　Hardie；　the　bills　he　took　to　his　desk　to　note　them　on　the　back　of　the　receipt。　Whilst　he　was　writing　this　with　his　usual　slowness　and　precision；　poor　Dodd's　heart　overflowed。　〃It　is　my　children's　fortune；　ye　see：　I　don't　look　on　a　sixpence　of　it　as　mine：　that　it　is　what　made　me　so　particular。　It　belongs　to　my　little　Julia；　bless　her：she　is　a　rosebud　if　ever　there　was　one；　and　oh！　such　a　heart；　and　so　fond　of　her　poor　father；　but　not　fonder　than　he　is　of　herand　to　my　dear　boy　Edward；　he　is　the　honestest　young　chap　you　ever　saw：　what　he　says；　you　may　swear　to　with　yo