"That fellow would only see the plaintiff's side," said he. "The fool
forgets there is an Act of Parliament, and that we have complied with
its provisions to a T."
"Then why did you not ask his construction of the Act?" suggested
Wheeler.
"Because I don't want his construction. I've read it, and it is plain
enough to anybody but a fool. Well, I have consulted counsel, to please
you; and now I'll go my own way, to please myself."
He went to Burdoch, and struck a bargain, and Sir Charles was to be
shifted to Burdoch's asylum, and nobody allowed to see him there, etc.,
etc.; the old system, in short, than which no better has as yet been
devised for perpetuating, or even causing, mental aberration.
Rolfe baffled this, as described, and Bassett was literally stunned. He
now saw that Sir Charles had an ally full of resources and resolution.
Who could it be? He began to tremble. He complained to the police, and
set them to discover who had thus openly and audaciously violated the
Act of Parliament, and then he went and threatened Dr. Suaby.
But Rolfe and Sir Charles, who loved Suaby as he deserved, had provided
against that; they had not let the doctor into their secret. He
therefore said, with perfect truth, that he had no hand in the matter,
and that Sir Charles, being bound upon his honor not to escape from
Bellevue, would be in the asylum still if Mr.
Pages:
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376