for the term of his natural life-第74章

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ing　silk。　　He　could　not　afford　to　ignore　the　most　insignificant　circumstances。　　With　consummate　skill；　piece　by　piece　he　built　up　the　story　which　was　to　deceive　the　poor　mother；　and　to　make　him　possessor　of　one　of　the　largest　private　fortunes　in　England。

This　was　the　tale　he　hit　upon。　　He　had　been　saved　from　the　burning　Hydaspes　by　a　vessel　bound　for　Rio。　　Ignorant　of　the　death　of　Sir　Richard；　and　prompted　by　the　pride　which　was　known　to　be　a　leading　feature　of　his　character；　he　had　determined　not　to　return　until　fortune　should　have　bestowed　upon　him　wealth　at　least　equal　to　the　inheritance　from　which　he　had　been　ousted。　　In　Spanish　America　he　had　striven　to　accumulate　that　wealth　in　vain。　　As　vequero；　traveller；　speculator；　sailor；　he　had　toiled　for　fourteen　years；　and　had　failed。　　Worn　out　and　penitent；　he　had　returned　home　to　find　a　corner　of　English　earth　in　which　to　lay　his　weary　bones。　　The　tale　was　plausible　enough；　and　in　the　telling　of　it　he　was　armed　at　all　points。　　There　was　little　fear　that　the　navigator　of　the　captured　Osprey；　the　man　who　had　lived　in　Chile　and　〃cut　out〃　cattle　on　the　Carrum　Plains；　would　prove　lacking　in　knowledge　of　riding；　seamanship；　or　Spanish　customs。　　Moreover；　he　had　determined　upon　a　course　of　action　which　showed　his　knowledge　of　human　nature。

The　will　under　which　Richard　Devine　inherited　was　dated　in　1807；　and　had　been　made　when　the　testator　was　in　the　first　hopeful　glow　of　paternity。　　By　its　terms　Lady　Devine　was　to　receive　a　life　interest　of　three　thousand　a　year　in　her　husband's　propertywhich　was　placed　in　the　hands　of　two　trusteesuntil　her　eldest　son　died　or　attained　the　age　of　twenty…five　years。　　When　either　of　these　events　should　occur；　the　property　was　to　be　realized；　Lady　Devine　receiving　a　sum　of　a　hundred　thousand　pounds；　which；　invested　in　Consols　for　her　benefit；　would；　according　to　Sir　Richard's　prudent　calculation　exactly　compensate　for　her　loss　of　interest；　the　remainder　going　absolutely　to　the　son；　if　living；　to　his　children　or　next　of　kin　if　dead。　　The　trustees　appointed　were　Lady　Devine's　father；　Colonel　Wotton　Wade；　and　Mr。　Silas　Quaid；　of　the　firm　of　Purkiss　and　Quaid　Thavies　Inn；　Sir　Richard's　solicitors。　Colonel　Wade；　before　his　death　had　appointed　his　son；　Mr。　Francis　Wade；　to　act　in　his　stead。　　When　Mr。　Quaid　died；　the　firm　of　Purkiss　and　Quaid　（represented　in　the　Quaid　branch　of　it　by　a　smart　London…bred　nephew）　declined　further　responsibility；　and；　with　the　consent　of　Lady　Devine；　Francis　Wade　continued　alone　in　his　trust。　　Sir　Richard's　sister　and　her　husband；　Anthony　Frere；　of　Bristol；　were　long　ago　dead；　and；　as　we　know；　their　representative；　Maurice　Frere；　content　at　last　in　the　lot　that　fortune　had　sent　him；　had　given　up　all　thought　of　meddling　with　his　uncle's　business。　　John　Rex；　therefore；　in　the　person　of　the　returned　Richard；　had　but　two　persons　to　satisfy；　his　putative　uncle；　Mr。　Francis　Wade；　and　his　putative　mother；　Lady　Devine。

This　he　found　to　be　the　easiest　task　possible。　　Francis　Wade　was　an　invalid　virtuoso；　who　detested　business；　and　whose　ambition　was　to　be　known　as　man　of　taste。　　The　possessor　of　a　small　independent　income；　he　had　resided　at　North　End　ever　since　his　father's　death；　and　had　made　the　place　a　miniature　Strawberry　Hill。　　When；　at　his　sister's　urgent　wish；　he　assumed　the　sole　responsibility　of　the　estate；　he　put　all　the　floating　capital　into　3　per　cents。；　and　was　content　to　see　the　interest　accumulate。　　Lady　Devine　had　never　recovered　the　shock　of　the　circumstances　attending　Sir　Richard's　death　and；　clinging　to　the　belief　in　her　son's　existence；　regarded　herself　as　the　mere　guardian　of　his　interests；　to　be　displaced　at　any　moment　by　his　sudden　return。　　The　retired　pair　lived　thus　together；　and　spent　in　charity　and　bric…a…brac　about　a　fourth　of　their　mutual　income。　　By　both　of　them　the　return　of　the　wanderer　was　hailed　with　delight。　　To　Lady　Devine　it　meant　the　realization　of　a　lifelong　hope；　become　part　of　her　nature。　　To　Francis　Wade　it　meant　relief　from　a　responsibility　which　his　simplicity　always　secretly　loathed；　the　responsibility　of　looking　after　another　person's　money。

〃I　shall　not　think　of　interfering　with　the　arrangements　which　you　have　made；　my　dear　uncle；〃　said　Mr。　John　Rex；　on　the　first　night　of　his　reception。　〃It　would　be　most　ungrateful　of　me　to　do　so。　　My　wants　are　very　few；　and　can　easily　be　supplied。　　I　will　see　your　lawyers　some　day；　and　settle　it。〃

〃See　them　at　once；　Richard；　see　them　at　once。　　I　am　no　man　of　business；　you　know；　but　I　think　you　will　find　all　right。〃

Richard；　however；　put　off　the　visit　from　day　to　day。　　He　desired　to　have　as　little　to　do　with　lawyers　as　possible。　　He　had　resolved　upon　his　course　of　action。　　He　would　get　money　from　his　mother　for　immediate　needs；　and　when　that　mother　died　he　would　assert　his　rights。　　〃My　rough　life　has　unfitted　me　for　drawing…rooms；　dear　mother；〃　he　said。　　〃Do　not　let　there　be　a　display　about　my　return。　　Give　me　a　corner　to　smoke　my　pipe；　and　I　am　happy。〃　　Lady　Devine；　with　a　loving　tender　pity；　for　which　John　Rex　could　not　altogether　account；　consented；　and　〃Mr。　Richard〃　soon　came　to　be　regarded　as　a　martyr　to　circumstances；　a　man　conscious　of　his　own　imperfections；　and　one　whose　imperfections　were　therefore　lightly　dwelt　upon。　　So　the　returned　prodigal　had　his　own　suite　of　rooms；　his　own　servants；　his　own　bank　account；　drank；　smoked；　and　was　merry。　For　five　or　six　months　he　thought　himself　in　Paradise。　　Then　he　began　to　find　his　life　insufferably　weary。　　The　burden　of　hypocrisy　is　very　heavy　to　bear；　and　Rex　was　compelled　perpetually　to　bear　it。　　His　mother　demanded　all　his　time。　　She　hung　upon　his　lips；　she　made　him　repeat　fifty　times　the　story　of　his　wanderings。　　She　was　never　tired　of　kissing　him；　of　weeping　over　him；　and　of　thanking　him　for　the　〃sacrifice〃　he　had　made　for　her。

〃We　promised　never　to　speak　of　it　more；　Richard；〃　the　poor　lady　said　one　day；　〃but　if　my　lifelong　love　can　make　atonement　for　the　wrong　I　have　done　you〃

〃Hush；　dearest　mother；〃　said　John　Rex；　who　did　not　in　the　least　comprehend　what　it　was　all　about。　　〃Let　us　say　no　more。〃

Lady　Devine　wept　quietly　for　a　while；　and　then　went　away；　leaving　the　man　who　pretended　to　be　her　son　much　bewildered　and　a　little　frightened。　There　was　a　secret　which　he　had　not　fathomed　between　Lady　Devine　and　her　son。　The　mother　did　not　again　refer　to　it；　and；　gaining　courage　as　the　days　went　on；　Rex　grew　bold　enough　to　forget　his　fears。　　In　the　first　stages　of　his　deception　he　had　been　timid　and　cautious。　　Then　the　soothing　influence　of　comfort；　respect；　and　security　came　upon　him；　and　almost　refined　him。　He　began　to　feel　as　he　had　felt　when　Mr。　Lionel　Crofton　was　alive。　The　sensation　of　being　ministered　to　by　a　loving　woman；　who　kissed　him　night　and　morning；　calling　him　〃son〃of　being　regarded　with　admiration　by　rustics；　with　envy　by　respectable　folkof　being　deferred　to　in　all　thingswas　novel　and　pleasing。　　They　were　so　good　to　him　that　he　felt　at　times　inclined　to　confess　all；　and　leave　his　case　in　the　hands　of　the　folk　he　had　injured。　　Yethe　thoughtsuch　a　course　would　be　absurd。　　It　would　result　in　no　benefit　to　anyone；　simply　in　misery　to　himself。　　The　true　Richard　Devine　was　buried　fathoms　deep　in　the　greedy　ocean　of　convict…discipline；　and　the　waves　of　innumerable　punishments　washed　over　him。　　John　Rex　flattered　himself　that　he　had　usurped　the　name　of　one　who　was　in　fact　no　living　man；　and　that；　unless　one　should　rise　from　the　dead；　Richard　Devine　could　never　return　to　accuse　him。　So　flattering　himself；　he　gradually　became　bolder；　and　by　slow　degrees　suffered　his　true　nature　to　appear。　　He　was　violent　to　the　servants；　cruel　to　dogs　and　horses；　often　wantonly　coarse　in　speech；　and　brutally　regardless　of　the　feelings　of　others。　　Governed；　like　most　women；　solely　by　her　feelings；　Lady　Devine　had　at　first　been　prodigal　of　her　affection　to　the　man　she　believed　to　be　her　injured　son。　But　his　rash　acts　of　selfishness；　his　habits　of　grossness　and　self…indulgence；　gradually　disgusted　her。　　For　some　time　shepoor　womanfought　against　this　feeling；　endeavouring　to　overcome　her　instincts　of　distaste；　and　arguing　with　herself　that　to　permit　a　detestation　of　her　unfortunate　son　to　arise　in　her　heart　was　almost　criminal；　but　she　was　at　length　forced　to　succumb。

For　the　first　year　Mr。　Richard　conducted　himself　with　great　propriety；　but　as　his　circle　of　acquaintance　and　his　confidence　in　himself　increased；　he　now　and　then　forgot　the　part　he　was　playing。　　One　day　Mr。　Richard　went　to　pass　the　day　with　a　sporting　friend；　only　too　proud　to　see　at　his　table　so　wealthy　and　wonderful　a　man。　　Mr。　Richard　drank　a　good　deal　more　than　was　good　for　him；　and　returned　home　in　a　condition　of　disgusting　drunkenness。　　I　say　disgusting；　because　some　folks　have　the　art　of　getting　drunk　after　a　humorous　fashion；　that　robs　intoxication　of　half　its　grossness。　　For　John　Rex　to　be　drunk　was　to　be　himselfcoarse　and　cruel。　　Francis　Wade　was　away；　and　Lady　Devine　had　retired　for　the　night；　when　the　dog…cart　brought　home　〃Mr。　Richard〃。　　The　virtuous　butler…porter；　who　opened　the　door；　received　a　blow　in　the　chest　and　a　demand　for　〃Brandy！〃　The　groom　was　cursed；　and　ordered　to　instant　oblivion。　　Mr。　Richard　stumbled　into　the　dining…roomveiled　in　dim　light　as　a　dining…room　which　was　〃sitting　up〃　for　its　master　ought　to　beand　ordered　〃more　candles！〃　The　candles　were　brought；　after　some　delay；　and　Mr。　Richard　amused　himself　by　spilling　their　meltings　upon　the　carpet。　　〃Let's　have　'luminashon！〃　he　cried；　and　climbing　with　muddy　boots　upon　the　costly　chairs；　scraping　with　his　feet　the　polished　table；　attempted　to　fix　the　wax　in　the　silver　sconces；　with　which　the　antiquarian　tastes　of　Mr。　Francis　Wade　had　adorned　the　room。

〃You'll　break　the　table；　sir；〃　said　the　servant。

〃Damn　the　table！〃　said　Rex。　　〃Buy　'nother　table。　　What's　table　t'you？〃　〃Oh；　certainly；　sir；〃　replied　the　man。

〃Oh；　c'ert'nly！　Why　c'ert'nly？　　What　do　you　know　about　it？〃

〃Oh；　certainly　not；　sir；〃　replied　the　man。

〃If　I　hadstockwhip　hereI'd　make　youhicskip！　Whar's　brandy？〃

〃Here；　Mr。　Richard。〃

〃Have　some！　Good　brandy！　Send　for　servantsh　and　have　dance。　D'you　dance；　Tomkins？〃

〃No；　Mr。　Richard。〃

〃Then　you　shall　dance　now；　Tomkins。　　You'll　dance　upon　nothing　one　day；　Tomkins！　Here！　Halloo！　Mary！　Susan！　Janet！　William！　Hey！　Halloo！〃　And　he　began　to　shout　and　blaspheme。

〃Don't　you　think　it's　time　for　bed；　Mr。　Richard？〃　one　of　the　men　ventured　to　suggest。

〃No！〃　roared　the　ex…convict；　emphatically；　〃I　don't！　I've　gone　to　bed　at　daylight　far　too　long。　　We'll　have　'luminashon！　I'm　master　here。　Master　everything。　　Richard　'Vine's　my　name。　　Isn't　it；　Tomkins；　you　villain？〃

〃Oh…h…h！　Yes；　Mr。　Richard。〃

〃Course　it　is；　and　make　you　know　it　too！　I'm　no　painter…picture；　crockery　chap。　　I'm　genelman！　Genelman　seen　the　world！　　Knows　what's　what。　There　ain't　much　I　ain't　fly　to。　　Wait　till　the　old　woman's　dead；　Tomkins；　and　you　shall　see！〃　More　swearing；　and　awful　threats　of　what　the　inebriate　would　do　when　he　was　in　possession。　　〃Bring　up　some　brandy！〃　　Crash　goes　the　bottle　in　the　fire…place。　　〃Light　up　the　droring…rooms；　we'll　have　dance！　I'm　drunk！　What's　that？　　If　you'd　gone　through　what　I　have；　you'd　be　glad　to　be　drunk。　　I　look　a　fool〃this　to　his　image　in　ano