Both men knew this well, and Mr. Cooley also knew that whatever exposure and punishment awaited the ward4's uncle would also implicate5 himself. The important thing, therefore, was to put off that day as long as possible, if not altogether, and the resourceful Cooley was not slow in hitting upon an idea. The girl, he said, must not be permitted[Pg 215] to claim her estate. In a few more weeks she would be of age and legally entitled to demand of her uncle an accounting6 of his stewardship7. There was no time to be lost. They must show that the girl was incapable8 of taking care of her own affairs. Was not her conduct strange and eccentric enough to justify9 this belief? Had she not flatly refused to live with her uncle, preferring the small, uncomfortable quarters of a cheap boarding house to a luxurious10 suite11 in a fine residence? Did she not associate habitually12 with socialists13, paupers14, and other undesirables15? Were there not rumors16 that she had affianced herself to the almost imbecile son of her landlady17? Had she not announced her intention to give all her money to these people, once it came into her possession? Was she not at all times highly nervous, morose18, melancholy19? Did she act rationally? What were all these traits and eccentricities20 but proof of an unsound mind?
It was a very sad state of affairs, of course, but the truth was that the young woman was mentally unbalanced and needed the rest cure. She should be sent somewhere where her special case could receive proper attention. At first Jimmy was staggered by this audacious proposal. There were some lengths to which even he hesitated to follow Cooley. But his resistance was not long lived. When[Pg 216] the lawyer, without mincing21 words, showed him in what peril22 he stood and that this step was necessary if he wished to be spared the ignominy of wearing prison stripes, he gave way. The next question was the method of procedure. How could the girl be placed in an institution without regular commitment papers? Again, Mr. Cooley sprang into the breach23. Dr. Zacharie would swear to anything for a consideration.
Mr. Cooley next went before a judge of a competent court, and petitioned for an order for the commitment to an asylum24 of Paula Marsh, a minor25 and ward of his client, Mr. James Marsh, on the alleged26 ground that she was of unsound mind and liable to do injury to someone. At the same time he submitted an affidavit27 sworn to by Dr. Zacharie, a recognized specialist in nervous and mental diseases, to the effect that on several occasions when he had observed and examined the said Paula Marsh, he had found her highly nervous and excitable and subject to hallucinations. On one occasion, in his presence, she had uttered threats of bodily violence against the said James Marsh. The court thereupon appointed physicians to examine the said Paula Marsh, the physicians being Dr. McMutrie, visiting inspector28 of the State Asylum for the Insane, and Professor Bodley, a country[Pg 217] doctor recommended by Cooley. If in the opinion of these medical experts the girl was insane, commitment papers would be granted. Armed with this formidable mandate29 of the court, Mr. Cooley gathered his forces and made his sudden raid on Mrs. Parkes' boarding house.
It was in vain that the landlady tried to bar the way. The burly lawyer, more aggressive than ever, now that he felt himself armed with the authority of the Court, roughly pushed his way in.
"Now, my good lady," he said coaxingly30, in a clumsy effort to be amiable31. "I will assume the entire responsibility and that ought to relieve you of any further anxiety."
"I know, sir," said Mrs. Parkes, "but Mr. Ricaby's orders——"
"Miss Marsh doesn't want to see you," he said. "Her orders were——"
Before he could complete what he was going to say the muscular Mr. Cooley gave him a push that nearly knocked him over.
"All orders are superseded33 by an order of the court!" he retorted. Going back to the door, he called out to others waiting in the hall: "Come in, gentlemen!"[Pg 218]
A strange and lugubrious34 procession filed into the parlor35. First came Dr. Zacharie, his swarthy face beaming with insolent36 triumph. Behind him was Dr. McMutrie, the State Inspector, a smooth-faced keen-eyed man, and close at his heels trotted37 Professor Bodley, a fat, asthmatic person with spectacles and side whiskers. Jimmy Marsh, feeling anything but at ease, brought up the rear. Solemn-faced and ominous-looking, the doctors stood in a row, waiting for further developments.
"This is an outrageous38 intrusion!" cried Mrs. Parkes.
"Nonsense!" retorted Mr. Cooley. Pointing to Jimmy Marsh he exclaimed: "This gentleman is appointed special administrator39 and guardian3 of the Marsh estate, and as such is empowered to take any steps he may deem necessary to effect an interview with his niece." Waving the other gentlemen to chairs, he said: "Sit down, gentlemen."
The doctors, thus invited, took chairs in a semi-circle on one side of the table. Dr. McMutrie, as head of the insanity40 commission, sat in the centre. On his right was Dr. Zacharie and on his left Professor Bodley. Directly they were seated Dr. Zacharie put before his colleagues a number of papers which they proceeded to peruse41 carefully.
Jimmy sat in a corner, nervously42 twirling his thumbs while Mr. Cooley waited impatiently for Paula to come in. At last, his patience exhausted43, he turned to the landlady. Pointing to the room on the left, he asked:
"Isn't that her room?"
"Yes, sir," replied Mrs. Parkes hesitatingly, "but——"
The lawyer advanced as if about to force his way in, but Harry Parkes sprang forward and barred the way. If ever there was an opportunity to display his devotion and heroism44, it was surely now.
"This is an unwarrantable intrusion!" he cried indignantly. "If you don't desist I—I shall call an officer!"
"Please do," he chuckled46, "and I'll have you arrested for obstructing47 a special appointee of the court in the performance of his duty." Staring at Harry, he went on: "Let me see—you're the young chap who entertains the absurd notion of marrying Miss Marsh. You're Henry Parkes, are you not?"
Harry looked uncomfortable.
"Yes, sir."
"Well, let me inform you, Mr. Parkes," said the lawyer grimly, "that any marriage ceremony with[Pg 220] Miss Marsh, without the consent of her uncle, will not only be illegal, but it will also render you liable to imprisonment48 for contempt of court."
"What!" cried Harry frightened. "Imprisonment!"
"Precisely49!" rejoined the lawyer, "and I now notify you that until these gentlemen have decided50 whether Miss Marsh is competent to enter into a marital51 engagement, contract, or promise, any such engagement, contract, or promise is null and void and can in no way or manner become the basis for any legal action on your part. I think that will be about all." He coughed and looked around for admiration52.
"No, sir," exclaimed Mrs. Parkes, with a low curtsy. "Indeed, there isn't."
"A very sensible way to look at it," replied the lawyer with a grim smile of satisfaction, "and now, my good lady, please tell Miss Marsh that we are waiting for her."
Jimmy Marsh came forward, his manner fidgetty and nervous.
"Perhaps my niece may not be quite prepared," he stammered54. "In that case you will tell her that we will wait for her."
"Quite so," chimed in Cooley. "That is—we'll wait a reasonable time."
"We'll be very gentle with her," added Jimmy considerately.
"Very well, sir," said Mrs. Parkes, now thoroughly55 cowed. She crossed the room and knocked at Paula's door. Receiving no answer, she knocked again. At last a voice called out:
"Who's there?"
"It's only me, dear—Mrs. Parkes."
There was the sharp click of a key being turned. The door was opened cautiously. The landlady went in and the door slammed to again.
"And now, young man," said Mr. Cooley, who had watched the proceedings56 without comment. "If you will kindly57 withdraw we shall all regard your absence most favorably."
Thoroughly intimidated58 by the lawyer's domineering manner, Harry went sheepishly towards the door. As he reached the threshold he turned and said timidly:
"Of course you understand, sir, that there is no engagement of any sort—there never was."
With a gesture the lawyer waved him to be gone.
"That's all right," he said disdainfully.
As he disappeared the lawyer turned to see what the commission was doing. All the doctors were busy. Dr. McMutrie was deeply engrossed59 in the reading of a voluminous report. Professor Bodley, not quite sure what was expected of him, was glancing over some newspaper clippings and trying to look wise. Dr. Zacharie rose and held out a paper which he had selected from a number of others spread out on the table before him.
"Do you anticipate any trouble?" whispered Jimmy to Mr. Cooley.
"I don't anticipate it," rejoined the lawyer dryly, "but I'm prepared for it. If it comes, Bascom Cooley will be on deck." Confidently he added: "McMutrie is the only hard nut we have to crack. He's one of those d——d conscientious62 fellows. He may ask awkward questions. Zacharie is ours—and Bodley is a d——d fool. He's liable to jump in any direction, but he'll follow McMutrie in the final say. Zacharie is the family physician, and that always carries conviction."
"We were very lucky to get him," chuckled Jimmy.
"Hush63!" commanded Cooley. "Dr. McMutrie is talking to you." In a warning undertone, he added: "Take care what you say!"
"Has your niece ever threatened you personally, Mr. Marsh?" demanded Dr. McMutrie.
The inspector looked annoyed.
"Excuse me, Mr. Cooley," he snapped. "I addressed Mr. Marsh."
"Yes, I should say so. Yes, her manner was always very—very—I should say quite threatening."
"It's all there in the affidavit," said Mr. Cooley.
Ignoring the interruption, Dr. McMutrie went on:
"Has she ever made a personal threat against your life—in your hearing?" Pointing to the paper in his hand, he said impatiently: "These statements are all more or less vague."
"The affidavit of the family physician bears that out," interrupted Cooley again.
Dr. McMutrie frowned.
"Mr. Marsh, will you please answer my questions? Yes, or no."
"Yes," said Jimmy positively66.
"She has?"
"Yes, sir. I'm in actual fear of my life—that's the whole truth."
Mr. Cooley beamed satisfaction.
"Yes," he said quickly, "my client can never tell when this girl's mania67 for the punishment of imaginary wrongs inflicted68 on her may not assume the form of personal violence. We have thirty witnesses who can prove the existence in this unfortunate girl's mind of the most unaccountable, unreasonable70 desire to—to inflict69 something she calls retribution on this innocent man's head. Oh, it's a positive danger—a positive danger!"
Professor Bodley peered over his spectacles and grew reminiscent.
"I remember," he said, "a case up the State, where that condition resulted in a fatal shooting affair."
"Of course," exclaimed Cooley eagerly, glad to grasp at any straw, "that's just it. It isn't her ridiculous notion about money—or the fact that she is being sought in marriage by penniless paupers. It's the fear of violence which prompts us to ask that she be taken care of, and watched, at least for a time, for her own sake absolutely—for her own sake."
The inspector's face grew grave.
"Quite so—quite so," he said thoughtfully.
Professor Bodley held up a newspaper clipping.
"Is it really a fact," he demanded, "that Miss Marsh stated that she intended to contribute a large sum of money to——" He stopped a moment to consult the clipping and then read on: "An institution for the development of the psychic71 self in domestic animals?"
"It's a positive fact," nodded Dr. Zacharie affirmatively, "she told me so herself."
"Animal-psychology is decidedly far fetched," laughed the professor. "It seems to me that the human race has a hard enough time in developing its own soul."
He threw himself back into his chair convulsed at his own humor.
"Rather good," grinned Cooley, joining in the merriment.
"Of course," went on Dr. Zacharie gravely, "these strange ideas may mean nothing. But with the delusion73 of imaginary wrongs a violent mania may develop. You never can tell where it will lead. A case of this sort needs close study."
Jimmy nodded approval.
"Just so," he said. "A year or so of rest in the calm seclusion74 of some country retreat would do the poor girl so much good. It might work a complete cure—don't you think so?"
Mr. Cooley gave him a nudge.
"Hush!" whispered the lawyer.
Up to this point the lawyer had followed the proceedings eagerly, highly gratified at the progress made, but Jimmy's loquaciousness75 threatened to spoil everything. Aloud he said:
"Er—these gentlemen will form their own opinions. Whatever is best will be done. If your niece is, as I fear, hopelessly incompetent76, you can rely on them to—to—take the proper step to prevent any catastrophe77."
Dr. McMutrie was still sceptical. Dryly he said:
"Yes, it signifies that she dislikes her relatives, but dislike of one's relatives is not necessarily a sign of mental derangement79. I know some very excellent people who cannot bear the sight of their relatives."
"On the other hand," retorted Mr. Cooley, "Hamlet hated his uncle, and it developed into a general mania for killing80 people. If he'd been properly restrained five innocent lives would have been saved."
"Five lives—that is not in the medical records, is it?" demanded Professor Bodley anxiously.
"Shakespeare killed them—not Hamlet," laughed Dr. McMutrie.
"Still," said Mr. Cooley significantly, "it's a good object lesson."
"We don't need object lessons from playwrights," rejoined Dr. McMutrie sharply.
"Certainly not," chuckled the professor.
"Hush!" exclaimed Jimmy. "Here comes my niece!"
The door of the little room opened, but it was not Paula. Mrs. Parkes appeared instead.
"She won't come, sir," said the landlady apologetically. "I told her, and I tried to persuade her, but she wouldn't."
"Then we'll go to her," said Mr. Cooley determinedly81.
He made a motion as if he would use force, but Mrs. Parkes, alarmed, held up her arms entreatingly82.
"No, please, sir, the poor girl's so frightened! Won't you come to-morrow?"
Dr. Zacharie advanced, full of importance and authority.
"I'll get her," he said grimly. "That is, of course, unless I have completely lost my influence over her. In these cases one can never be sure what form the delusion will take."
Dr. Zacharie opened the door and went in. There was a short delay during which the others waited expectantly. In a few moments the door again opened and Paula entered docily, the physician at her side.
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1
marsh
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| n.沼泽，湿地 | |
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guardianship
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| n. 监护, 保护, 守护 | |
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guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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ward
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| n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开 | |
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implicate
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| vt.使牵连其中，涉嫌 | |
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accounting
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| n.会计，会计学，借贷对照表 | |
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stewardship
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| n. n. 管理工作；管事人的职位及职责 | |
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incapable
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| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
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justify
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| vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护 | |
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luxurious
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| adj.精美而昂贵的；豪华的 | |
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suite
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| n.一套(家具)；套房；随从人员 | |
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habitually
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| ad.习惯地，通常地 | |
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socialists
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| 社会主义者( socialist的名词复数 ) | |
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paupers
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| n.穷人( pauper的名词复数 )；贫民；贫穷 | |
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undesirables
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| 不受欢迎的人，不良分子( undesirable的名词复数 ) | |
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rumors
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| n.传闻( rumor的名词复数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷v.传闻( rumor的第三人称单数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷 | |
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landlady
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| n.女房东，女地主 | |
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morose
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| adj.脾气坏的，不高兴的 | |
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melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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eccentricities
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| n.古怪行为( eccentricity的名词复数 )；反常；怪癖 | |
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mincing
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| adj.矫饰的；v.切碎；切碎 | |
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peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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breach
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| n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破 | |
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asylum
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| n.避难所，庇护所，避难 | |
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minor
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| adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修 | |
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alleged
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| a.被指控的，嫌疑的 | |
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affidavit
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| n.宣誓书 | |
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inspector
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| n.检查员，监察员，视察员 | |
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mandate
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| n.托管地；命令，指示 | |
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coaxingly
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| adv. 以巧言诱哄，以甘言哄骗 | |
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amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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superseded
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| [医]被代替的，废弃的 | |
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lugubrious
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| adj.悲哀的，忧郁的 | |
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parlor
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| n.店铺，营业室；会客室，客厅 | |
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insolent
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| adj.傲慢的，无理的 | |
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trotted
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| 小跑，急走( trot的过去分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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outrageous
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| adj.无理的，令人不能容忍的 | |
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administrator
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| n.经营管理者，行政官员 | |
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insanity
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| n.疯狂，精神错乱；极端的愚蠢，荒唐 | |
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peruse
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| v.细读，精读 | |
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nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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heroism
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| n.大无畏精神，英勇 | |
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shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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obstructing
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| 阻塞( obstruct的现在分词 )； 堵塞； 阻碍； 阻止 | |
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imprisonment
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| n.关押，监禁，坐牢 | |
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precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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marital
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| adj.婚姻的，夫妻的 | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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intimidated
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| v.恐吓；威胁adj.害怕的；受到威胁的 | |
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engrossed
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| adj.全神贯注的 | |
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pompously
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| adv.傲慢地，盛大壮观地；大模大样 | |
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growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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conscientious
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| adj.审慎正直的，认真的，本着良心的 | |
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hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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shuffled
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| v.洗（纸牌）( shuffle的过去式和过去分词 )；拖着脚步走；粗心地做；摆脱尘世的烦恼 | |
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positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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mania
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| n.疯狂；躁狂症，狂热，癖好 | |
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inflicted
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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inflict
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| vt.(on)把…强加给，使遭受，使承担 | |
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unreasonable
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| adj.不讲道理的，不合情理的，过度的 | |
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psychic
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| n.对超自然力敏感的人；adj.有超自然力的 | |
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testimony
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| n.证词；见证，证明 | |
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delusion
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| n.谬见，欺骗，幻觉，迷惑 | |
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seclusion
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| n.隐遁，隔离 | |
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loquaciousness
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| n.loquacious（多话的）的变形 | |
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76
incompetent
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| adj.无能力的，不能胜任的 | |
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77
catastrophe
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| n.大灾难，大祸 | |
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pointedly
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| adv.尖地，明显地 | |
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79
derangement
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| n.精神错乱 | |
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80
killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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81
determinedly
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| adv.决意地；坚决地，坚定地 | |
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82
entreatingly
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| 哀求地，乞求地 | |
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assented
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| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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