hard cash-第101章
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t 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。 〃Don't make me insult her I love。 They will all be waiting for me。 It is my wedding…day； you can'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 can'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 avaricethat 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 don'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 musn'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 greatoh 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； &c。； before them； which put him to shamebeing a gentlemanalmost 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 yoursif 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…pas
