for the term of his natural life-第73章

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gular　bad　one。〃

〃It　does　not　follow　that　she　should　be　bad；〃　said　I。

〃This　one　was；　thoughstock；　lock；　and　barrel。　　But　as　sharp　as　a　needle；　sir；　and　as　immovable　as　a　rock。　　A　fine　woman；　too。〃　I　saw　by　the　expression　of　the　man's　face　that　he　owned　ugly　memories；　and　pressed　him　further。　〃She's　up　country　somewhere；〃　he　said。　　〃Married　her　assigned　servant；　I　was　told；　a　fellow　named　Carr。　　I　haven't　seen　her　for　years；　and　don't　know　what　she　may　be　like　now；　but　in　the　days　when　I　knew　her　she　was　just　what　you　describe。〃　（Let　it　be　noted　that　I　had　described　nothing。）　〃She　came　out　in　the　ship　with　me　as　maid　to　my　wife's　mother。〃

It　was　on　the　tip　of　my　tongue　to　say　that　I　had　met　her；　but　I　don't　know　what　induced　me　to　be　silent。　　There　are　passages　in　the　lives　of　men　of　Captain　Frere's　complexion；　which　don't　bear　descanting　on。　I　expect　there　have　been　in　this　case；　for　he　changed　the　subject　abruptly；　as　his　wife　came　in。　　Is　it　possible　that　these　two　creatures　the　notable　disciplinarian　and　the　wife　of　the　assigned　servant　could　have　been　more　than　friends　in　youth？　　Quite　possible。　　He　is　the　sort　of　man　for　gross　amours。　　（A　pretty　way　I　am　abusing　my　host！）　And　the　supple　woman　with　the　dark　eyes　would　have　been　just　the　creature　to　enthral　him。　　Perhaps　some　such　story　as　this　may　account　in　part　for　Mrs。　Frere's　sad　looks。　　Why　do　I　speculate　on　such　things？　　I　seem　to　do　violence　to　myself　and　to　insult　her　by　writing　such　suspicions。　If　I　was　a　Flagellant　now；　I　would　don　hairshirt　and　up　flail。　〃For　this　sort　cometh　not　out　but　by　prayer　and　fasting。〃

April　7th。Mr。　Pounce　has　arrivedfull　of　the　importance　of　his　mission。　He　walks　with　the　air　of　a　minister　of　state　on　the　eve　of　a　vacant　garter；　hoping；　wondering；　fearing；　and　dignified　even　in　his　dubitancy。　I　am　as　flippant　as　a　school…girl　concerning　this　fatuous　official；　and　yetHeaven　knowsI　feel　deeply　enough　the　importance　of　the　task　he　has　before　him。　　One　relieves　one's　brain　by　these　whirlings　of　one's　mental　limbs。　　I　remember　that　a　prisoner　at　Hobart　Town；　twice　condemned　and　twice　reprieved；　jumped　and　shouted　with　frenzied　vehemence　when　he　heard　his　sentence　of　death　was　finally　pronounced。　　He　told　me；　if　he　had　not　so　shouted；　he　believed　he　would　have　gone　mad。

April　10th。We　had　a　state　dinner　last　night。　　The　conversation　was　about　nothing　in　the　world　but　convicts。　　I　never　saw　Mrs。　Frere　to　less　advantage。　　Silent；　distraite；　and　sad。　　She　told　me　after　dinner　that　she　disliked　the　very　name　of　〃convict〃　from　early　associations。　〃I　have　lived　among　them　all　my　life；〃　she　said；　〃but　that　does　not　make　it　the　better　for　me。　　I　have　terrible　fancies　at　times；　Mr。　North；　that　seem　half…memories。　　I　dread　to　be　brought　in　contact　with　prisoners　again。　　I　am　sure　that　some　evil　awaits　me　at　their　hands。〃

I　laughed；　of　course；　but　it　would　not　do。　　She　holds　to　her　own　opinion；　and　looks　at　me　with　horror　in　her　eyes。　　This　terror　in　her　face　is　perplexing。

〃You　are　nervous；〃　I　said。　　〃You　want　rest。〃

〃I　am　nervous；〃　she　replied；　with　that　candour　of　voice　and　manner　I　have　before　remarked　in　her；　〃and　I　have　presentiments　of　evil。〃

We　sat　silent　for　a　while；　and　then　she　suddenly　turned　her　large　eyes　on　me；　and　said　calmly；　〃Mr。　North；　what　death　shall　I　die？〃　　The　question　was　an　echo　of　my　own　thoughtsI　have　some　foolish　（？）　fancies　as　to　physiognomyand　it　made　me　start。　　What　death；　indeed？　What　sort　of　death　would　one　meet　with　widely…opened　eyes；　parted　lips；　and　brows　bent　as　though　to　rally　fast…flying　courage？　　Not　a　peaceful　death　surely。　　I　brought　my　black　coat　to　my　aid。　　〃My　dear　lady；　you　must　not　think　of　such　things。　　Death　is　but　a　sleep；　you　know。　　Why　anticipate　a　nightmare？〃

She　sighed；　slowly　awaking　as　though　from　some　momentary　trance。　Checking　herself　on　the　verge　of　tears；　she　rallied；　turned　the　conversation；　and　finding　an　excuse　for　going　to　the　piano；　dashed　into　a　waltz。　This　unnatural　gaiety　ended；　I　fancy；　in　an　hysterical　fit。　I　heard　her　husband　afterwards　recommending　sal　volatile。　　He　is　the　sort　of　man　who　would　recommend　sal　volatile　to　the　Pythoness　if　she　consulted　him。

April　26th。All　has　been　arranged；　and　we　start　to…morrow。　　Mr。　Pounce　is　in　a　condition　of　painful　dignity。　　He　seems　afraid　to　move　lest　motion　should　thaw　his　official　ice。　　Having　found　out　that　I　am　the　〃chaplain〃；　he　has　refrained　from　familiarity。　　My　self…love　is　wounded；　but　my　patience　relieved。　　Query：　Would　not　the　majority　of　mankind　rather　be　bored　by　people　in　authority　than　not　noticed　by　them？　James　North　declines　to　answer　for　his　part。　　I　have　made　my　farewells　to　my　friends；　and　on　looking　back　on　the　pleasant　hours　I　have　spent；　felt　saddened。　　It　is　not　likely　that　I　shall　have　many　such　pleasant　hours。　I　feel　like　a　vagabond　who；　having　been　allowed　to　sit　by　a　cheerful　fireside　for　a　while；　is　turned　out　into　the　wet　and　windy　streets；　and　finds　them　colder　than　ever。　　What　were　the　lines　I　wrote　in　her　album？


〃As　some　poor　tavern…haunter　drenched　in　wine　With　staggering　footsteps　through　the　streets　returning；　Seeing　through　blinding　rain　a　beacon　shine　From　household　lamp　in　happy　window　burning；

〃Pauses　an　instant　at　the　reddened　pane　To　gaze　on　that　sweet　scene　of　love　and　duty；　Then　turns　into　the　wild　wet　night　again；　Lest　his　sad　presence　mar　its　homely　beauty。〃


Yes；　those　were　the　lines。　　With　more　of　truth　in　them　than　she　expected；　and　yet　what　business　have　I　sentimentalizing。　　My　socius　thinks　〃what　a　puling　fool　this　North　is！〃

So；　that's　over！　Now　for　Norfolk　Island　and　my　purgation。




CHAPTER　II。

THE　LOST　HEIR。



The　lost　son　of　Sir　Richard　Devine　had　returned　to　England；　and　made　claim　to　his　name　and　fortune。　　In　other　words；　John　Rex　had　successfully　carried　out　the　scheme　by　which　he　had　usurped　the　rights　of　his　old　convict…comrade。

Smoking　his　cigar　in　his　bachelor　lodgings；　or　pausing　in　a　calculation　concerning　a　race；　John　Rex　often　wondered　at　the　strange　ease　with　which　he　had　carried　out　so　monstrous　and　seemingly　difficult　an　imposture。　　After　he　was　landed　in　Sydney；　by　the　vessel　which　Sarah　Purfoy　had　sent　to　save　him；　he　found　himself　a　slave　to　a　bondage　scarcely　less　galling　than　that　from　which　he　had　escapedthe　bondage　of　enforced　companionship　with　an　unloved　woman。　　The　opportune　death　of　one　of　her　assigned　servants　enabled　Sarah　Purfoy　to　instal　the　escaped　convict　in　his　room。　　In　the　strange　state　of　society　which　prevailed　of　necessity　in　New　South　Wales　at　that　period；　it　was　not　unusual　for　assigned　servants　to　marry　among　the　free　settlers；　and　when　it　was　heard　that　Mrs。　Purfoy；　the　widow　of　a　whaling　captain；　had　married　John　Carr；　her　storekeeper；　transported　for　embezzlement；　and　with　two　years　of　his　sentence　yet　to　run；　no　one　expressed　surprise。　Indeed；　when　the　year　after；　John　Carr　blossomed　into　an　〃expiree〃；　master　of　a　fine　wife　and　a　fine　fortune；　there　were　many　about　him　who　would　have　made　his　existence　in　Australia　pleasant　enough。　But　John　Rex　had　no　notion　of　remaining　longer　than　he　could　help；　and　ceaselessly　sought　means　of　escape　from　this　second　prison…house。　For　a　long　time　his　search　was　unsuccessful。　　Much　as　she　loved　the　scoundrel；　Sarah　Purfoy　did　not　scruple　to　tell　him　that　she　had　bought　him　and　regarded　him　as　her　property。　　He　knew　that　if　he　made　any　attempt　to　escape　from　his　marriage…bonds；　the　woman　who　had　risked　so　much　to　save　him　would　not　hesitate　to　deliver　him　over　to　the　authorities；　and　state　how　the　opportune　death　of　John　Carr　had　enabled　her　to　give　name　and　employment　to　John　Rex；　the　absconder。　　He　had　thought　once　that　the　fact　of　her　being　his　wife　would　prevent　her　from　giving　evidence　against　him；　and　that　he　could　thus　defy　her。　　But　she　reminded　him　that　a　word　to　Blunt　would　be　all　sufficient。

〃I　know　you　don't　care　for　me　now；　John；〃　she　said；　with　grim　complacency；　〃but　your　life　is　in　my　hands；　and　if　you　desert　me　I　will　bring　you　to　the　gallows。〃

In　vain；　in　his　secret　eagerness　to　be　rid　of　her；　he　raged　and　chafed。　He　was　tied　hand　and　foot。　　She　held　his　money；　and　her　shrewd　wit　had　more　than　doubled　it。　　She　was　all…powerful；　and　he　could　but　wait　until　her　death　or　some　lucky　accident　should　rid　him　of　her；　and　leave　him　free　to　follow　out　the　scheme　he　had　matured。　〃Once　rid　of　her；〃　he　thought；　in　his　solitary　rides　over　the　station　of　which　he　was　the　nominal　owner；　〃the　rest　is　easy。　　I　shall　return　to　England　with　a　plausible　story　of　shipwreck；　and　shall　doubtless　be　received　with　open　arms　by　the　dear　mother　from　whom　I　have　been　so　long　parted。　　Richard　Devine　shall　have　his　own　again。〃

To　be　rid　of　her　was　not　so　easy。　　Twice　he　tried　to　escape　from　his　thraldom；　and　was　twice　brought　back。　　〃I　have　bought　you；　John；〃　his　partner　had　laughed；　〃and　you　don't　get　away　from　me。　　Surely　you　can　be　content　with　these　comforts。　　You　were　content　with　less　once。　　I　am　not　so　ugly　and　repulsive；　am　I？〃

〃I　am　home…sick；〃　John　Carr　retorted。　　〃Let　us　go　to　England；　Sarah。〃

She　tapped　her　strong　white　fingers　sharply　on　the　table。　　〃Go　to　England？　No；　no。　　That　is　what　you　would　like　to　do。　　You　would　be　master　there。　You　would　take　my　money；　and　leave　me　to　starve。　　I　know　you；　Jack。　We　stop　here；　dear。　　Here；　where　I　can　hand　you　over　to　the　first　trooper　as　an　escaped　convict　if　you　are　not　kind　to　me。〃

〃She…devil！〃

〃Oh；　I　don't　mind　your　abuse。　　Abuse　me　if　you　like；　Jack。　　Beat　me　if　you　will；　but　don't　leave　me；　or　it　will　be　worse　for　you。〃

〃You　are　a　strange　woman！〃　he　cried；　in　sudden　petulant　admiration。

〃To　love　such　a　villain？　I　don't　know　that。　　I　love　you　because　you　are　a　villain。　　A　better　man　would　be　wearisome　to　such　as　I　am。〃

〃I　wish　to　Heaven　I'd　never　left　Port　Arthur。　　Better　there　than　this　dog's　life。〃

〃Go　back；　then。　　You　have　only　to　say　the　word！〃　And　so　they　would　wrangle；　she　glorying　in　her　power　over　the　man　who　had　so　long　triumphed　over　her；　and　he　consoling　himself　with　the　hope　that　the　day　was　not　far　distant　which　should　bring　him　at　once　freedom　and　fortune。　　One　day　the　chance　came　to　him。　　His　wife　was　ill；　and　the　ungrateful　scoundrel　stole　five　hundred　pounds；　and　taking　two　horses　reached　Sydney；　and　obtained　passage　in　a　vessel　bound　for　Rio。

Having　escaped　thraldom；　John　Rex　proceeded　to　play　for　the　great　stake　of　his　life　with　the　utmost　caution。　　He　went　to　the　Continent；　and　lived　for　weeks　together　in　the　towns　where　Richard　Devine　might　possibly　have　resided；　familiarizing　himself　with　streets；　making　the　acquaintance　of　old　inhabitants；　drawing　into　his　own　hands　all　loose　ends　of　information　which　could　help　to　knit　the　meshes　of　his　net　the　closer。　　Such　loose　ends　were　not　numerous；　the　prodigal　had　been　too　poor；　too　insignificant；　to　leave　strong　memories　behind　him。　　Yet　Rex　knew　well　by　what　strange　accidents　the　deceit　of　an　assumed　identity　is　often　penetrated。　　Some　old　comrade　or　companion　of　the　lost　heir　might　suddenly　appear　with　keen　questions　as　to　trifles　which　could　cut　his　flimsy　web　to　shreds；　as　easily　as　the　sword　of　Saladin　divided　the　floating　silk。　　He　could　not　afford　to　ignore　the　most　insignificant　circumstances。　　With　consummate　skil