for the term of his natural life-第40章

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ed；　pock…pitted　Irish　girl；　who　curtsied　with　servile　recognition　of　the　visitor；　and　ushered　him　upstairs。　The　room　into　which　he　was　shown　was　a　large　one。　　It　had　three　windows　looking　into　the　street；　and　was　handsomely　furnished。　　The　carpet　was　soft；　the　candles　were　bright；　and　the　supper　tray　gleamed　invitingly　from　a　table　between　the　windows。　　As　Frere　entered；　a　little　terrier　ran　barking　to　his　feet。　　It　was　evident　that　he　was　not　a　constant　visitor。　The　rustle　of　a　silk　dress　behind　the　terrier　betrayed　the　presence　of　a　woman；　and　Frere；　rounding　the　promontory　of　an　ottoman；　found　himself　face　to　face　with　Sarah　Purfoy。

〃Thank　you　for　coming；〃　she　said。　　〃Pray；　sit　down。〃

This　was　the　only　greeting　that　passed　between　them；　and　Frere　sat　down；　in　obedience　to　a　motion　of　a　plump　hand　that　twinkled　with　rings。

The　eleven　years　that　had　passed　since　we　last　saw　this　woman　had　dealt　gently　with　her。　　Her　foot　was　as　small　and　her　hand　as　white　as　of　yore。　　Her　hair；　bound　close　about　her　head；　was　plentiful　and　glossy；　and　her　eyes　had　lost　none　of　their　dangerous　brightness。　Her　figure　was　coarser；　and　the　white　arm　that　gleamed　through　a　muslin　sleeve　showed　an　outline　that　a　fastidious　artist　might　wish　to　modify。　The　most　noticeable　change　was　in　her　face。　　The　cheeks　owned　no　longer　that　delicate　purity　which　they　once　boasted；　but　had　become　thicker；　while　here　and　there　showed　those　faint　red　streaksas　though　the　rich　blood　throbbed　too　painfully　in　the　veinswhich　are　the　first　signs　of　the　decay　of　〃fine〃　women。　　With　middle　age　and　the　fullness　of　figure　to　which　most　women　of　her　temperament　are　prone；　had　come　also　that　indescribable　vulgarity　of　speech　and　manner　which　habitual　absence　of　moral　restraint　never　fails　to　produce。

Maurice　Frere　spoke　first；　he　was　anxious　to　bring　his　visit　to　as　speedy　a　termination　as　possible。　　〃What　do　you　want　of　me？〃　he　asked。

Sarah　Purfoy　laughed；　a　forced　laugh；　that　sounded　so　unnatural；　that　Frere　turned　to　look　at　her。　　〃I　want　you　to　do　me　a　favour　a　very　great　favour；　that　is　if　it　will　not　put　you　out　of　the　way。〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　asked　Frere　roughly；　pursing　his　lips　with　a　sullen　air。　〃Favour！　　What　do　you　call　this？〃　striking　the　sofa　on　which　he　sat。　〃Isn't　this　a　favour？　　What　do　you　call　your　precious　house　and　all　that's　in　it？　　Isn't　that　a　favour？　　What　do　you　mean？〃

To　his　utter　astonishment　the　woman　replied　by　shedding　tears。　For　some　time　he　regarded　her　in　silence；　as　if　unwilling　to　be　softened　by　such　shallow　device；　but　eventually　felt　constrained　to　say　something。　〃Have　you　been　drinking　again？〃　he　asked；　〃or　what's　the　matter　with　you？　Tell　me　what　it　is　you　want；　and　have　done　with　it。　　I　don't　know　what　possessed　me　to　come　here　at　all。〃

Sarah　sat　upright；　and　dashed　away　her　tears　with　one　passionate　hand。

〃I　am　ill；　can't　you　see；　you　fool！〃　said　she。　　〃The　news　has　unnerved　me。　If　I　have　been　drinking；　what　then？　It's　nothing　to　you；　is　it？〃

〃Oh；　no；〃　returned　the　other；　〃it's　nothing　to　me。　　You　are　the　principal　party　concerned。　　If　you　choose　to　bloat　yourself　with　brandy；　do　it　by　all　means。〃

〃You　don't　pay　for　it；　at　any　rate！〃　said　she；　with　quickness　of　retaliation　which　showed　that　this　was　not　the　only　occasion　on　which　they　had　quarrelled。

〃Come；〃　said　Frere；　impatiently　brutal；　〃get　on。　　I　can't　stop　here　all　night。〃

She　suddenly　rose；　and　crossed　to　where　he　was　standing。

〃Maurice；　you　were　very　fond　of　me　once。〃

〃Once；〃　said　Maurice。

〃Not　so　very　many　years　ago。〃

〃Hang　it！〃　said　he；　shifting　his　arm　from　beneath　her　hand；　〃don't　let　us　have　all　that　stuff　over　again。　　It　was　before　you　took　to　drinking　and　swearing；　and　going　raving　mad　with　passion；　any　way。〃

〃Well；　dear；〃　said　she；　with　her　great　glittering　eyes　belying　the　soft　tones　of　her　voice；　〃I　suffered　for　it；　didn't　I？　　Didn't　you　turn　me　out　into　the　streets？　　Didn't　you　lash　me　with　your　whip　like　a　dog？　　Didn't　you　put　me　in　gaol　for　it；　eh？　It's　hard　to　struggle　against　you；　Maurice。〃

The　compliment　to　his　obstinacy　seemed　to　please　himperhaps　the　crafty　woman　intended　that　it　shouldand　he　smiled。

〃Well；　there；　let　old　times　be　old　times；　Sarah。　　You　haven't　done　badly；　after　all；〃　and　he　looked　round　the　well…furnished　room。　　〃What　do　you　want？〃

〃There　was　a　transport　came　in　this　morning。〃

〃Well？〃

〃You　know　who　was　on　board　her；　Maurice！〃

Maurice　brought　one　hand　into　the　palm　of　the　other　with　a　rough　laugh。

〃Oh；　that's　it；　is　it！　　'Gad；　what　a　flat　I　was　not　to　think　of　it　before！　You　want　to　see　him；　I　suppose？〃　She　came　close　to　him；　and；　in　her　earnestness；　took　his　hand。　　〃I　want　to　save　his　life！〃

〃Oh；　that　be　hanged；　you　know！　　Save　his　life！　　It　can't　be　done。〃

〃You　can　do　it；　Maurice。〃

〃I　save　John　Rex's　life？〃　cried　Frere。　　〃Why；　you　must　be　mad！〃

〃He　is　the　only　creature　that　loves　me；　Mauricethe　only　man　who　cares　for　me。　He　has　done　no　harm。　　He　only　wanted　to　be　freewas　it　not　natural？　You　can　save　him　if　you　like。　　I　only　ask　for　his　life。　　What　does　it　matter　to　you？　　A　miserable　prisonerhis　death　would　be　of　no　use。　Let　him　live；　Maurice。〃

Maurice　laughed。　　〃What　have　I　to　do　with　it？〃

〃You　are　the　principal　witness　against　him。　　If　you　say　that　he　behaved　well　and　he　did　behave　well；　you　know：　many　men　would　have　left　you　to　starve　they　won't　hang　him。〃

〃Oh；　won't　they！　　That　won't　make　much　difference。〃

〃Ah；　Maurice；　be　merciful！〃　She　bent　towards　him；　and　tried　to　retain　his　hand；　but　he　withdrew　it。

〃You're　a　nice　sort　of　woman　to　ask　me　to　help　your　lovera　man　who　left　me　on　that　cursed　coast　to　die；　for　all　he　cared；〃　he　said；　with　a　galling　recollection　of　his　humiliation　of　five　years　back。　〃Save　him！　　Confound　him；　not　I！〃

〃Ah；　Maurice；　you　will。〃　She　spoke　with　a　suppressed　sob　in　her　voice。　〃What　is　it　to　you？　You　don't　care　for　me　now。　　You　beat　me；　and　turned　me　out　of　doors；　though　I　never　did　you　wrong。　　This　man　was　a　husband　to　me　long；　long　before　I　met　you。　　He　never　did　you　any　harm；　he　never　will。　He　will　bless　you　if　you　save　him；　Maurice。〃

Frere　jerked　his　head　impatiently。　　〃Bless　me！〃　he　said。　　〃I　don't　want　his　blessings。　　Let　him　swing。　　Who　cares？〃

Still　she　persisted；　with　tears　streaming　from　her　eyes；　with　white　arms　upraised；　on　her　knees　even；　catching　at　his　coat；　and　beseeching　him　in　broken　accents。　　In　her　wild；　fierce　beauty　and　passionate　abandonment　she　might　have　been　a　deserted　Ariadnea　suppliant　Medea。　　Anything　rather　than　what　she　wasa　dissolute；　half…maddened　woman；　praying　for　the　pardon　of　her　convict　husband。

Maurice　Frere　flung　her　off　with　an　oath。　　〃Get　up！〃　he　cried　brutally；　〃and　stop　that　nonsense。　　I　tell　you　the　man's　as　good　as　dead　for　all　I　shall　do　to　save　him。〃

At　this　repulse；　her　pent…up　passion　broke　forth。　　She　sprang　to　her　feet；　and；　pushing　back　the　hair　that　in　her　frenzied　pleading　had　fallen　about　her　face；　poured　out　upon　him　a　torrent　of　abuse。　　〃You！　　Who　are　you；　that　you　dare　to　speak　to　me　like　that？　His　little　finger　is　worth　your　whole　body。　　He　is　a　man；　a　brave　man；　not　a　coward；　like　you。　A　coward！　　Yes；　a　coward！　　a　coward！　　A　coward！　　You　are　very　brave　with　defenceless　men　and　weak　women。　　You　have　beaten　me　until　I　was　bruised　black；　you　cur；　but　who　ever　saw　you　attack　a　man　unless　he　was　chained　or　bound？　Do　not　I　know　you？　I　have　seen　you　taunt　a　man　at　the　triangles；　until　I　wished　the　screaming　wretch　could　get　loose；　and　murder　you　as　you　deserve！　　You　will　be　murdered　one　of　these　days；　Maurice　Freretake　my　word　for　it。　　Men　are　flesh　and　blood；　and　flesh　and　blood　won't　endure　the　torments　you　lay　on　it！〃

〃There；　that'll　do；〃　says　Frere；　growing　paler。　　〃Don't　excite　yourself。〃

〃I　know　you；　you　brutal　coward。　　I　have　not　been　your　mistress　God　forgive　me！without　learning　you　by　heart。　　I've　seen　your　ignorance　and　your　conceit。　　I've　seen　the　men　who　ate　your　food　and　drank　your　wine　laugh　at　you。　　I've　heard　what　your　friends　say；　I've　heard　the　comparisons　they　make。　　One　of　your　dogs　has　more　brains　than　you；　and　twice　as　much　heart。　And　these　are　the　men　they　send　to　rule　us！　　Oh；　Heaven！　　And　such　an　animal　as　this　has　life　and　death　in　his　hand！　　He　may　hang；　may　he？　I'll　hang　with　him；　then；　and　God　will　forgive　me　for　murder；　for　I　will　kill　you！〃

Frere　had　cowered　before　this　frightful　torrent　of　rage；　but；　at　the　scream　which　accompanied　the　last　words；　he　stepped　forward　as　though　to　seize　her。　In　her　desperate　courage；　she　flung　herself　before　him。　　〃Strike　me！　You　daren't！　　I　defy　you！　　Bring　up　the　wretched　creatures　who　learn　the　way　to　Hell　in　this　cursed　house；　and　let　them　see　you　do　it。　Call　them！　They　are　old　friends　of　yours。　　They　all　know　Captain　Maurice　Frere。〃

〃Sarah！〃

〃You　remember　Lucy　Barnespoor　little　Lucy　Barnes　that　stole　sixpennyworth　of　calico。　　She　is　downstairs　now。　　Would　you　know　her　if　you　saw　her？　She　isn't　the　bright…faced　baby　she　was　when　they　sent　her　here　to　'reform'；　and　when　Lieutenant　Frere　wanted　a　new　housemaid　from　the　Factory！　　Call　for　her！call！　　do　you　hear？　　Ask　any　one　of　those　beasts　whom　you　lash　and　chain　for　Lucy　Barnes。　　He'll　tell　you　all　about　heray；　and　about　many　moremany　more　poor　souls　that　are　at　the　bidding　of　any　drunken　brute　that　has　stolen　a　pound　note　to　fee　the　Devil　with！　　Oh；　you　good　God　in　Heaven；　will　You　not　judge　this　man？〃

Frere　trembled。　　He　had　often　witnessed　this　creature's　whirlwinds　of　passion；　but　never　had　he　seen　her　so　violent　as　this。　　Her　frenzy　frightened　him。　〃For　Heaven's　sake；　Sarah；　be　quiet。　　What　is　it　you　want？　　What　would　you　do？〃

〃I'll　go　to　this　girl　you　want　to　marry；　and　tell　her　all　I　know　of　you。　I　have　seen　her　in　the　streetshave　seen　her　look　the　other　way　when　I　passed　herhave　seen　her　gather　up　her　muslin　skirts　when　my　silks　touched　herI　that　nursed　her；　that　heard　her　say　her　baby…prayers　（O　Jesus；　pity　me！）and　I　know　what　she　thinks　of　women　like　me。　　She　is　goodand　virtuousand　cold。　　She　would　shudder　at　you　if　she　knew　what　I　know。　　Shudder！　　She　would　hate　you！　And　I　will　tell　her！　　Ay；　I　will！　　You　will　be　respectable；　will　you？　A　model　husband！　　Wait　till　I　tell　her　my　storytill　I　send　some　of　these　poor　women　to　tell　theirs。　　You　kill　my　love；　I'll　blight　and　ruin　yours！〃

Frere　caught　her　by　both　wrists；　and　with　all　his　strength　forced　her　to　her　knees。　　〃Don't　speak　her　name；〃　he　said　in　a　hoarse　voice；　〃or　I'll　do　you　a　mischief。　　I　know　all　you　mean　to　do。　　I'm　not　such　a　fool　as　not　to　see　that。　　Be　quiet！　　Men　have　murdered　women　like　you；　and　now　I　know　how　they　came　to　do　it。〃

For　a　few　minutes　a　silence　fell　upon　the　pair；　and　at　last　Frere；　releasing　her　hands；　fell　back　from　her。

〃I'll　do　what　you　want；　on　one　condition。〃

〃What？〃

〃That　you　leave　this　place。〃

〃Where　for？〃

〃Anywherethe　farther　the　better。　　I'll　pay　your　passage　to　Sydney；　and　you　go　or　stay　there　as　you　please。〃

She　had　grown　calmer；　hearing　him　thus　relenting。　　〃But　this　house；　Maurice？〃

〃You　are　not　in　debt？〃

〃No。〃

〃Well；　leave　it。　　It's　your　own　affair；　not　mine。　　If　I　help　you；　you　must　go。〃

〃May　I　see　him？〃

〃No。〃

〃Ah；　Maurice！〃

〃You　can　see　him　in　the　dock　if　you　like；〃　says　Frere；