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s by shirking the painful some live to be silvery old。〃
Next he tried a policeman。 Bobby listened to him erect as a dart。
The certificates were shown him。
He eyed them and said sharply； 〃All right。〃 Nor could Alfred's entreaties and appeals to common sense attract a word or even a look from him。 Alfred cried 〃Help！ murder！ If you are Englishmen； if you are Christians； help me。〃
This soon drew a crowd round him； listening to his fiery tale of wrong； and crying 〃Shame； shame！ Let him go。〃 The keepers touched their heads； winked； and got out and showed the certificates； the crowd melted away like wax before those two suns of evidence （unsworn）。 The train moved on。
It was appalling。 How could he ever get free？ Between his mind and that of his fellows there lay a spiritual barrier more impassible than the walls of fortified cities。
Yet； at the very next station； with characteristic tenacity of purpose； he tried again； for he saw a woman standing near； a buxom country woman of forty。 Then he remembered that the Naked Eye was not yet an extinct institution among her sex。 He told her his tale； and implored her to use her own eyes。 She seemed struck； and did eye him far more closely than the men had： and told the keepers they ought to be ashamed of themselves； he was no madman； for she had seen madmen。 They showed her the certificates。
〃Oh； I am no scholar！〃 said she contemptuously； 〃ye can't write my two eyes out of my head。〃
The keeper whipped off Alfred's cap and showed his shaven crown。
〃La！ so he is；〃 said she； lowering her tone； 〃dear heart； what a pity。 And such a pretty young gentleman。〃 And after that all he could say only drew the dew of patient pity to her eyes。
The train went on； and left her standing there； a statue of negative clemency。 Alfred lost heart。 He felt how impotent he was。 〃I shall die in a madhouse；〃 he said。 He shivered in a corner； hating man； and doubting God。
They reached Dr。 Wycherley's early in the morning。 Alfred was shown into a nice clean bedroom； and asked whether he would like to bathe or sleep。 〃Oh； a bath；〃 he said； and was allowed to bathe himself。 He had not been long in the water when Dr。 Wycherley's medical assistant tapped at the door； and then entered without further ceremonya young gentleman with a longish down on his chin； which； initiated early in the secrets of physiology； he was too knowing to shave off and so go to meet his trouble。 He came in looking like a machine； with a note…book in his hand； and stood by the bath side dictating notes to himself and jotting them down。
〃Six contusions： two on the thorax； one on the abdomen； two on the thighs； one near the patella； turn； please。〃 Alfred turned in the water。 〃A slight dorsal abrasion； also of the wrists； a severe excoriation of the ankle。 Leg…lock； eh？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Iron leg…lock。 Head shaved。 Large blister。 Good！ Any other injuries external or internal under old system？〃
〃Yes； sir； confined as a madman though sane； as _you；_ I am sure； have the sense to see。〃
〃Oh； never mind that； we are all sane hereexcept the governor and I。〃
He whipped out； and entered the condition of the new patient's body with jealous minuteness in the case…book。 As for his mind； he made no inquiry into that： indeed he was little qualified for researches of the kind。
At breakfast Alfred sat with a number of mad ladies and gentlemen； who by firmness； kindness； and routine； had been led into excellent habits： the linen was clean and the food good。 He made an excellent meal； and set about escaping： with this view he explored the place。 Nobody interfered with him； but plenty of eyes watched him。 The house was on the non…restraint system。 He soon found this system was as bad for him as it was good for the insane。 Non…restraint implied a great many attendants； and constant vigilance。 Moreover； the doors were strong； the windows opened only eight inches； and that from the top： their framework was iron； painted like wood； &c。 It was next to impossible to get into the yard at night： and then it looked quite impossible to get any further； for the house was encompassed by high walls。
He resigned all hope of escape without connivance。 He sounded a keeper； the man fired at the first word。 〃Come； none of that； sir； you should know better than tempt a poor man。〃
Alfred coloured to the eyes and sighed deeply。 To have honour thrown in his face； and made the reason for not aiding him to baffle a dishonourable conspiracy！ But he took the reproof so sweetly； the man was touched； and by…and…bye； seeing him deeply dejected； said good…naturedly； 〃Don't be down on your luck； sir。 If you are really better； which you don't look to have much the matter now； why not write to the Commissioners and ask to be let out？〃
〃Because my letters will be intercepted。〃
〃Ay； to your friends； but not to the Commissioners of Lunacy。 Not in this house； any way。〃
〃God bless you！〃 cried Alfred impetuously。 〃You are my benefactor； you are an honest fellow； give me your hand。〃
〃Well； why not？ Only you mustn't excite yourself。 Take it easy。〃 （Formula。）
〃Oh； no cant among friends！〃 said Alfred： 〃wouldn't you be excited at the hope of getting out of prison？〃
〃Well； I don't know but I might。 Bound I am as sick of it as you are。〃
Alfred got paper and sketched the letter on which so much depended。 It took him six hours。 He tore up two； he cooled down the third； and condensed it severely： by this means； after much thought； he produced a close and telling composition。 He also weeded it of every trait and every term he had observed in mad people's talk； or the letters they had shown him。 So there was no incoherency； no heat； no prolixity； no 〃spies；〃 no 〃conspiracy；〃 no italics。 A simple； honest； earnest story； with bitter truth stamped on every line； a sober； strong appeal from a sore heart but hard head to the arbiters of his fate。
To the best of my belief no madman； however slightly touched； or however cunning； ever wrote a letter so gentle yet strong； so earnest yet calm； so short yet full； and withal so lucid and cleanly jointed as this was。 And I am no contemptible judge； for I have accumulated during the last few years a large collection of letters from persons deranged in various degrees； and studied them minutely； more minutely than most Psychologicals study anything but Pounds； Shillings； and Verbiage。
The letter went； and he hoped but scarcely expected an answer by return of post。 It did not come。 He said to his heart； 〃Be still；〃 and waited。 Another day went by； and another： he gnawed his heart and waited： he pined； and waited on。 The Secret Tribunal； which was all a shallow legislature had left him； 〃took it easy。〃 Secret Tribunals always do。
But； while the victim…suitor longed and pined and languished for one sound from the voice of Justice and Humanity； and while the Secret Tribunal； not being in prison itself all this time； 〃took it easy；〃 events occurred at Barkington that bade fair to throw open the prison doors and bring father and son； bride and bridegroom； together again under one roof。
But at what a price。
CHAPTER XXXV
AT sight of Sampson's placard Mr。 Hardie was seized with a tremor that suspended the