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* So novices sitting at a conjuror see him take a wedding…ring； and put it in a little box before a lady； then cross the theatre with another little box； and put that before another lady： 〃Hey！ presto！ pass！〃 in box 2 is discovered a wedding…ring； which is instantly _assumed_ to be _the_ ring： on this the green minds are fixed； and with this is sham business done： Box 1； containing the real ring all the time； is overlooked： and the confederate； in livery or not； does what he likes with it； imprisons it in an orangefor the good of its health。
So poor Argan； when Fleurant enumerates the consequences of his omitting a singledose shall I say？is terrified by the threatened disorders； which succeed to each other logically enough： all the absurdity being in the first link of the chain； and from that his mind is diverted。
〃Now not a word of this to Alfred；〃 said Mr。 Hardie。 〃I shall propose him a little foreign tour； to amuse his mind。〃
〃Yes； but papa； if some serious change is really going on inside his poor head。〃
Mr。 Hardie smiled sarcastically。 〃Don't you see that if the mind can wound the brain； the mind can cure it？〃 Then； after a while； he said parentally； 〃My child； I must give you a lesson： men of the world use enthusiastslike those two I have just been drawing outfor their tools； we don't let them make tools of us。 Osmond； you know； is jackal to an asylum in London； Dr。 Wycherley； I have heard； keeps two or three such establishments by himself or his agents： blinded by self…interest and that of their cliquewhat an egotistical world it is； to be sure！they would confine a melancholy youth in a gloomy house； among afflicted persons； and give him nothing to do but brood； and so turn the scale against his reason。 But I have my children's interest at heart more than my own： I shall send him abroad； and so amuse his mind with fresh objects； break off sad associations； and restore him to a brilliant career。 I count on you to second me in my little scheme for his good。〃
〃That I will； papa。〃
〃Somehow； I don't know why； he is coolish to me。〃
〃He does not understand you as I do； my own papa。〃
〃But he is affectionate with you； I think。〃
〃Oh yes； more than ever： trouble has drawn us closer。 Papa； in the midst of our sorrow； how much we have to be thankful for to the Giver of all good things！〃
〃Yes； little angel： and you must improve Heaven's goodness by working on your brother's affection； and persuading him to this continental tour。〃
Thus appealed to； Jane promised warmly： and the man of the world； finding he had a blind and willing instrument in the one creature he loved； kissed her on the forehead； and told her to run away； for here was Mr。 Skinner； who no doubt wanted to speak on business。
Skinner； who had in fact been holding respectfully aloof for some time； came forward on Jane's retiring； and in a very obsequious tone requested a private interview。 Mr。 Hardie led the way into the little dining…room。
They were no sooner alone than Skinner left off fawning； very abruptly； and put on a rugged resolute manner that was new to him： 〃I am come for my commission；〃 said he sturdily。
Mr。 Hardie looked an inquiry。
〃Oh； you don't know what I mean； of course；〃 said the little clerk almost brutally： 〃I've waited； and waited； to see if you would have the decency； and the gratitude； and the honesty； to offer me a trifle out of It； but I see I might wait till dooms…day before you would ever think of thinking of anybody but yourself。 So now shell out without more words or I'll blow the gaff〃 The little wretch raised his voice louder and louder at every sentence。
〃Hush！ hush！ Skinner；〃 said Mr。 Hardie anxiously； 〃you are under some delusion。 When did ever I decline to recognise your services？ I always intended to make you a present； a handsome present。〃
〃Then why didn't ye _do_ it without being forced？ Come； sir； you can't draw the wool over Noah Skinner's eyes。 I have had you watched； and you are looking towards the U。 S。； and that is too big a country for me to hunt you in。 I'm not to be trifled with： I'm not to be palavered： give me a thousand pounds of It this moment or I'll blow the whole concern and you along with it。〃
〃A thousand pounds！〃
〃Now look at that！〃 shrieked Skinner。 〃Serves me right for not saying seven thousand。 What right have you to a shilling of it more than I have？ If I had the luck to be a burglar's pal instead of a banker's； I should have half。 Give it me this moment； or I'll go to Albion Villa and have you took up for a thief； as you are。〃
〃But I haven't got it on me。〃
〃That's a lie： you carry it where _he_ did； close to your heart： I can see it bulge： there； Job was a patient man； but his patience went at last。〃 With this he ran to the window and threw it open。
Hardie entreated him to be calm。 〃I'll give it you； Skinner；〃 said he； 〃and with pleasure； if you will give me some security that you will not turn round； as soon as you have got it； and be my enemy。〃
〃Enemy of a gent that pays me a thousand pounds？ Nonsense！ Why should I？ We are in the same boat： behave like a man； and you know you have nothing to fear from me： but I willnotgo halves in a theft for nothing： would _you？_ Come； how is it to be； peace or war？ Will you be content with thirteen thousand pounds that don't belong to you； not a shilling of it； or will you go to jail a felon； and lose it every penny？〃
Mr。 Hardie groaned aloud； but there was no help for it。 Skinner was on sale： and _must_ be bought。
He took out two notes for five hundred pounds each； and laid them on the table； after taking their numbers。
Skinner's eyes glistened： 〃Thank you； sir；〃 said he。 He put them in his pocket。 Then he said quietly； 〃Now you have taken the numbers； sir； so I'll trouble you for a line to make me safe against the criminal law。 You are a deep one； you might say I robbed you。〃
〃That is a very unworthy suspicion； Skinner； and a childish one。〃
〃Oh； it is diamond cut diamond。 A single line； sir； just to say that in return for his faithful services； you have given Noah Skinner two notes for L。 500； Nos。 1084 and 85。〃
〃With all my hearton your giving me a receipt for them。〃
It was Skinner's turn to hesitate。 After reflecting； however； on all the possible consequences； he saw nothing to fear； so he consented。
The business completed； a magic change took place in the little clerk。 〃Now we are friends again； sir： and I'll give you a piece of advice。 Mind your eye with Mr。 Alfred： he is down on us。〃
〃What do you mean？〃 inquired Mr。 Hardie with ill…disguised anxiety。
〃I'll tell you； sir。 He met me this morning： and says he to me； 'Skinner； old boy； I want to speak a word to you。' He puts his hands on my shoulder； and turns me round； and says he all at one time； 'The fourteen thousand pounds！' You might have knocked me down with a feather。 And he looked me through like a gimlet mind ye。 'Come now；' says he； 'you see I know all； make a clean breast of it。' So then I saw he didn't know _all；_ and I brazened up a bit： told him I hadn't a notion what he meant。 'Oh yes； I did；' he said； 'Captain Dodd's fourteen thousand pounds！ It had passed through my hands。' Then I began to funk again at his