The House of the Seven Gables - Page 147/199

"Clifford!--Clifford know of any hidden wealth? Clifford have it in his

power to make you rich?" cried the old gentlewoman, affected with a

sense of something like ridicule at the idea. "Impossible! You

deceive yourself! It is really a thing to laugh at!"

"It is as certain as that I stand here!" said Judge Pyncheon, striking

his gold-headed cane on the floor, and at the same time stamping his

foot, as if to express his conviction the more forcibly by the whole

emphasis of his substantial person. "Clifford told me so himself!"

"No, no!" exclaimed Hepzibah incredulously. "You are dreaming, Cousin

Jaffrey."

"I do not belong to the dreaming class of men," said the Judge quietly.

"Some months before my uncle's death, Clifford boasted to me of the

possession of the secret of incalculable wealth. His purpose was to

taunt me, and excite my curiosity. I know it well. But, from a pretty

distinct recollection of the particulars of our conversation, I am

thoroughly convinced that there was truth in what he said. Clifford,

at this moment, if he chooses,--and choose he must!--can inform me

where to find the schedule, the documents, the evidences, in whatever

shape they exist, of the vast amount of Uncle Jaffrey's missing

property. He has the secret. His boast was no idle word. It had a

directness, an emphasis, a particularity, that showed a backbone of

solid meaning within the mystery of his expression."

"But what could have been Clifford's object," asked Hepzibah, "in

concealing it so long?"

"It was one of the bad impulses of our fallen nature," replied the

Judge, turning up his eyes. "He looked upon me as his enemy. He

considered me as the cause of his overwhelming disgrace, his imminent

peril of death, his irretrievable ruin. There was no great

probability, therefore, of his volunteering information, out of his

dungeon, that should elevate me still higher on the ladder of

prosperity. But the moment has now come when he must give up his

secret."

"And what if he should refuse?" inquired Hepzibah. "Or,--as I

steadfastly believe,--what if he has no knowledge of this wealth?"

"My dear cousin," said Judge Pyncheon, with a quietude which he had the

power of making more formidable than any violence, "since your

brother's return, I have taken the precaution (a highly proper one in

the near kinsman and natural guardian of an individual so situated) to

have his deportment and habits constantly and carefully overlooked.

Your neighbors have been eye-witnesses to whatever has passed in the

garden. The butcher, the baker, the fish-monger, some of the customers

of your shop, and many a prying old woman, have told me several of the

secrets of your interior. A still larger circle--I myself, among the

rest--can testify to his extravagances at the arched window. Thousands

beheld him, a week or two ago, on the point of flinging himself thence

into the street. From all this testimony, I am led to

apprehend--reluctantly, and with deep grief--that Clifford's

misfortunes have so affected his intellect, never very strong, that he

cannot safely remain at large. The alternative, you must be

aware,--and its adoption will depend entirely on the decision which I

am now about to make,--the alternative is his confinement, probably for

the remainder of his life, in a public asylum for persons in his

unfortunate state of mind."