for the term of his natural life-第41章

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〃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；　with　a　laugh；　cut　short　by　a　flash　of　her　eyes。　　〃There；　I　didn't　mean　to　offend　you。〃

〃Offend　me！　　Go　on。〃

〃Listen　here；〃　said　he　doggedly。　　〃If　you　will　go　away；　and　promise　never　to　interfere　with　me　by　word　or　deed；　I'll　do　what　you　want。〃

〃What　will　you　do？〃　she　asked；　unable　to　suppress　a　smile　at　the　victory　she　had　won。

〃I　will　not　say　all　I　know　about　this　man。　　I　will　say　he　befriended　me。　I　will　do　my　best　to　save　his　life。〃

〃You　can　save　it　if　you　like。〃

〃Well；　I　will　try。　　On　my　honour；　I　will　try。〃

〃I　must　believe　you；　I　suppose？〃　said　she　doubtfully；　and　then；　with　a　sudden　pitiful　pleading；　in　strange　contrast　to　her　former　violence；　〃You　are　not　deceiving　me；　Maurice？〃

〃No。　　Why　should　I？　You　keep　your　promise；　and　I'll　keep　mine。　Is　it　a　bargain？〃

〃Yes。〃

He　eyed　her　steadfastly　for　some　seconds；　and　then　turned　on　his　heel。　As　he　reached　the　door　she　called　him　back。　　Knowing　him　as　she　did；　she　felt　that　he　would　keep　his　word；　and　her　feminine　nature　could　not　resist　a　parting　sneer。

〃There　is　nothing　in　the　bargain　to　prevent　me　helping　him　to　escape！〃　she　said　with　a　smile。

〃Escape！　　He　won't　escape　again；　I'll　go　bail。　　Once　get　him　in　double　irons　at　Port　Arthur；　and　he's　safe　enough。〃

The　smile　on　her　face　seemed　infectious；　for　his　own　sullen　features　relaxed。　〃Good　night；　Sarah；〃　he　said。

She　put　out　her　hand；　as　if　nothing　had　happened。　　〃Good　night；　Captain　Frere。　It's　a　bargain；　then？〃

〃A　bargain。〃

〃You　have　a　long　walk　home。　　Will　you　have　some　brandy？〃

〃I　don't　care　if　I　do；〃　he　said；　advancing　to　the　table；　and　filling　his　glass。　　〃Here's　a　good　voyage　to　you！〃

Sarah　Purfoy；　watching　him；　burst　into　a　laugh。　　〃Human　beings　are　queer　creatures；〃　she　said。　　〃Who　would　have　thought　that　we　had　been　calling　each　other　names　just　now？　I　say；　I'm　a　vixen　when　I'm　roused；　ain't　I；　Maurice？〃

〃Remember　what　you've　promised；〃　said　he；　with　a　threat　in　his　voice；　as　he　moved　to　the　door。　　〃You　must　be　out　of　this　by　the　next　ship　that　leaves。〃

〃Never　fear；　I'll　go。〃

Getting　into　the　cool　street　directly；　and　seeing　the　calm　stars　shining；　and　the　placid　water　sleeping　with　a　peace　in　which　he　had　no　share；　he　strove　to　cast　off　the　nervous　fear　that　was　on　him。　That　interview　had　frightened　him；　for　it　had　made　him　think。　It　was　hard　that；　just　as　he　had　turned　over　a　new　leaf；　this　old　blot　should　come　through　to　the　clean　page。　　It　was　cruel　that；　having　comfortably　forgotten　the　past；　he　should　be　thus　rudely　reminded　of　it。　　




CHAPTER　III。

THE　STORY　OF　TWO　BIRDS　OF　PREY。



The　reader　of　the　foregoing　pages　has　doubtless　asked　himself；　〃what　is　the　link　which　binds　together　John　Rex　and　Sarah　Purfoy？〃

In　the　year　1825　there　lived　at　St。　　Heliers；　Jersey；　an　old　watchmaker；　named　Urban　Purfoy。　　He　was　a　hard…working　man；　and　had　amassed　a　little　moneysufficient　to　give　his　grand…daughter　an　education　above　the　common　in　those　days。　　At　sixteen；　Sarah　Purfoy　was　an　empty…headed；　strong…willed；　precocious　girl；　with　big　brown　eyes。　　She　had　a　bad　opinion　of　her　own　sex；　and　an　immense　admiration　for　the　young　and　handsome　members　of　the　other。　　The　neighbours　said　that　she　was　too　high　and　mighty　for　her　rank　in　life。　　Her　grandfather　said　she　was　a　〃beauty〃；　and　like　her　poor　dear　mother。　　She　herself　thought　rather　meanly　of　her　personal　attractions；　and　rather　highly　of　her　mental　ones。　She　was　brimful　of　vitality；　with　strong　passions；　and　little　religious　sentiment。　　She　had　not　much　respect　for　moral　courage；　for　she　did　not　understand　it；　but　she　was　a　profound　admirer　of　personal　prowess。　　Her　distaste　for　the　humdrum　life　she　was　leading　found　expression　in　a　rebellion　against　social　usages。　　She　courted　notoriety　by　eccentricities　of　dress；　and　was　never　so　happy　as　when　she　was　misunderstood。　　She　was　the　sort　of　girl　of　whom　women　say　〃It　is　a　pity　she　has　no　mother〃；　and　men；　〃It　is　a　pity　she　does　not　get　a　husband〃；　and　who　say　to　themselves；　〃When　shall　I　have　a　lover？〃　There　was　no　lack　of　beings　of　this　latter　class　among　the　officers　quartered　in　Fort　Royal　and　Fort　Henry；　but　the　female　population　of　the　island　was　free　and　numerous；　and　in　the　embarrassment　of　riches；　Sarah　was　overlooked。　　Though　she　adored　the　soldiery；　her　first　lover　was　a　civilian。　　Walking　one　day　on　the　cliff；　she　met　a　young　man。　He　was　tall；　well…looking；　and　well…dressed。　　His　name　was　Lemoine；　he　was　the　son　of　a　somewhat　wealthy　resident　of　the　island；　and　had　come　down　from　London　to　recruit　his　health　and　to　see　his　friends。　Sarah　was　struck　by　his　appearance；　and　looked　back　at　him。　He　had　been　struck　by　hers；　and　looked　back　also。　　He　followed　her；　and　spoke　to　hersome　remark　about　the　wind　or　the　weather　and　she　thought　his　voice　divine。　　They　got　into　conversationabout　scenery；　lonely　walks；　and　the　dullness　of　St。　Heliers。　　〃Did　she　often　walk　there？〃　〃Sometimes。〃　〃Would　she　be　there　tomorrow？〃　　〃She　might。〃　Mr。　Lemoine　lifted　his　hat；　and　went　back　to　dinner；　rather　pleased　with　himself。

They　met　the　next　day；　and　the　day　after　that。　　Lemoine　was　not　a　gentleman；　but　he　had　lived　among　gentlemen；　and　had　caught　something　of　their　manner。　He　said　that；　after　all；　virtue　was　a　mere　name；　and　that　when　people　were　powerful　and　rich；　the　world　respected　them　more　than　if　they　had　been　honest　and　poor。　　Sarah　agreed　with　this　sentiment。　　Her　grandfather　was　honest　and　poor；　and　yet　nobody　respected　himat　least；　not　with　such　respect　as　she　cared　to　acknowledge。　　In　addition　to　his　talent　for　argument；　Lemoine　was　handsome　and　had　moneyhe　showed　her　quite　a　handful　of　bank…notes　one　day。　　He　told　her　of　London　and　the　great　ladies　there；　and　hinting　that　they　were　not　always　virtuous；　drew　himself　up　with　a　moody　air；　as　though　he　had　been　unhappily　the　cause　of　their　fatal　lapse　into　wickedness。　　Sarah　did　not　wonder　at　this　in　the　least。　　Had　she　been　a　great　lady；　she　would　have　done　the　same。　She　began　to　coquet　with　this　seductive　fellow；　and　to　hint　to　him　that　she　had　too　much　knowledge　of　the　world　to　set　a　fictitious　value　upon　virtue。　　He　mistook　her　artfulness　for　innocence；　and　thought　he　had　made　a　conquest。　　Moreover；　the　girl　was　pretty；　and　when　dressed　properly；　would　look　well。　　Only　one　obstacle　stood　in　the　way　of　their　loves　the　dashing　profligate　was　poor。　　He　had　been　living　in　London　above　his　means；　and　his　father　was　not　inclined　to　increase　his　allowance。

Sarah　liked　him　better　than　anybody　else　she　had　seen；　but　there　are　two　sides　to　every　bargain。　　Sarah　Purfoy　must　go　to　London。　　In　vain　her　lover　sighed　and　swore。　　Unless　he　would　promise　to　take　her　away　with　him；　Diana　was　not　more　chaste。　　The　more　virtuous　she　grew；　the　more　vicious　did　Lemoine　feel。　　His　desire　to　possess　her　increased　in　proportionate　ratio　to　her　resistance；　and　at　last　he　borrowed　two　hundred　pounds　from　his　father's　confidential　clerk　（the　Lemoines　were　merchants　by　profession）；　and　acceded　to　her　wishes。　　There　was　no　love　on　either　side　vanity　was　the　mainspring　of　the　whole　transaction。　　Lemoine　did　not　like　to　be　beaten；　Sarah　sold　herself　for　a　passage　to　England　and　an　introduction　into　the　〃great　world〃。

We　need　not　describe　her　career　at　this　epoch。　　Suffice　it　to　say　that　she　discovered　that　vice　is　not　always　conducive　to　happiness；　and　is　not；　even　in　this　world；　so　well　rewarded　as　its　earnest　practice　might　merit。　　Sated；　and　disappointed；　she　soon　grew　tired　of　her　life；　and　longed　to　escape　from　its　wearying　dissipations。　　At　this　juncture　she　fell　in　love。

The　object　of　her　affections　was　one　Mr。　Lionel　Crofton。　　Crofton　was　tall；　well　made；　and　with　an　insinuating　address。　　His　features　were　too　strongly　marked　for　beauty。　　His　eyes　were　the　best　part　of　his　face；　and；　like　his　hair；　they　were　jet　black。　　He　had　broad　shoulders；　sinewy　limbs；　and　small　hands　and　feet。　　His　head　was　round；　and　well…shaped；　but　it　bulged　a　little　over　the　ears　which　were　singularly　small　and　lay　close　to　his　head。　　With　this　man；　barely　four　years　older　than　herself；　Sarah；　at　seventeen；　fell　violently　in　love。　This　was　the　more　strange　as；　though　fond　of　her；　he　would　tolerate　no　caprices；　and　possessed　an　ungovernable　temper；　which　found　vent　in　curses；　and　even　blows。　　He　seemed　to　have　no　profession　or　business；　and　though　he　owned　a　good　address；　he　was　even　less　of　a　gentleman　than　Lemoine。　　Yet　Sarah；　attracted　by　one　of　the　strange　sympathies　which　constitute　the　romance　of　such　women's　lives；　was　devoted　to　him。　Touched　by　her　affection；　and　rating　her　intelligence　and　unscrupulousness　at　their　true　value；　he　told　her　who　he　was。　　He　was　a　swindler；　a　forger；　and　a　thief；　and　his　name　was　John　Rex。　　When　she　heard　this　she　experienced　a　sinister　delight。　　He　told　her　of　his　plots；　his　tricks；　his　escapes；　his　villainies；　and　seeing　how　for　years　this　young　man　had　preyed　upon　the　world　which　had　deceived　and　disowned　her；　her　heart　went　out　to　him。　　〃I　am　glad　you　found　me；〃　she　said。　〃Two　heads　are　better　than　one。　　We　will　work　together。〃

John　Rex；　known　among　his　intimate　associates　as　Dandy　Jack；　was　the　putative　son　of　a　man　who　had　been　for　many　years　valet　to　Lord　Bellasis；　and　who　retired　from　the　service　of　that　profligate　nobleman　with　a　sum　of　money　and　a　wife。　　John　Rex　was　sent　to　as　good　a　school　as　could　be　procured　for　him；　and　at　sixteen　was　given；　by　the　interest　of　his　mother　with　his　father's　former　master；　a　clerkship　in　an　old…established　city　banking…house。　　Mrs。　Rex　was　intensely　fond　of　her　son；　and　imbued　him　with　a　desire　to　shine　in　aristocratic　circles。　He　was　a　clever　lad；　without　any　principle；　he　would　lie　unblushingly；　and　steal　deliberately；　if　he　thought　he　could　do　so　with　impunity。　He　was　cautious；　acquisitive；　imaginative；　self…conceited；　and　destructive。　He　had　strong　perceptive　faculties；　and　much　invention　and　versatility；　but　his　〃moral　sense〃　was　almost　entirely　wanting。　　He　found　that　his　fellow　clerks　were　not　of　that　〃gentlemanly〃　stamp　which　his　mother　thought　so　admirable；　and　therefore　he　despised　them。　　He　thought　he　should　like　to　go　into　the　army；　for　he　was　athletic；　and　rejoiced　in　feats　of　muscular　strength。　　To　be　tied　all　day　to　a　desk　was　beyond　endurance。　But　John　Rex；　senior；　told　him　to　〃wait　and　see　what　came　of　it。〃　He　did　so；　and　in　the　meantime　kept　late　hours；　got　into　bad　company；　and　forged　the　name　of　a　customer　of　the　bank　to　a　cheque　for　twenty　pounds。　The　fraud　was　a　clumsy　one；　and　was　detected　in　twenty…four　hours。　Forgeries　by　clerks；　however　easily　detected；　are　unfortunately　not　considered　to　add　to　the　attractions　of　a　banking…house；　and　the　old…established　firm　decided　not　to　prosecute；　but　dismissed　Mr。　John　Rex　from　their　service。　The　ex…valet；　who　never　liked　his　legalized　son；　was　at　first　for　turning　him　out　of　doors；　but　by　the　entreaties　of　his　wife；　was　at　last　induced　to　place　the　promising　boy　in　a　draper's　shop；　in　the　City　Road。

This　employment　was　not　a　congenial　one；　and　John　Rex　planned　to　leave　it。　He　lived　at　home；　and　had　hi