for the term of his natural life-第83章

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s？〃

〃I　don't　suppose　you　cared　much。〃

〃Don't　you？　　You　never　thought　about　me　at　all。　　I　have　cared　this　much；　John　Rexbah！　the　door　is　shut　close　enoughthat　I　have　spent　a　fortune　in　hunting　you　down；　and　now　I　have　found　you；　I　will　make　you　suffer　in　your　turn。〃

He　laughed　again；　but　uneasily。　　〃How　did　you　discover　me？〃

With　a　readiness　which　showed　that　she　had　already　prepared　an　answer　to　the　question；　she　unlocked　a　writing…case；　which　was　on　the　side　table；　and　took　from　it　a　newspaper。　　〃By　one　of　those　strange　accidents　which　are　the　ruin　of　men　like　you。　　Among　the　papers　sent　to　the　overseer　from　his　English　friends　was　this　one。〃

She　held　out　an　illustrated　journala　Sunday　organ　of　sporting　opinion　and　pointed　to　a　portrait　engraved　on　the　centre　page。　　It　represented　a　broad…shouldered；　bearded　man；　dressed　in　the　fashion　affected　by　turfites　and　lovers　of　horse…flesh；　standing　beside　a　pedestal　on　which　were　piled　a　variety　of　racing　cups　and　trophies。　　John　Rex　read　underneath　this　work　of　art　the　name；

MR。　RICHARD　DEVINE；　THE　LEVIATHAN　OF　THE　TURF。

〃And　you　recognized　me？〃

〃The　portrait　was　sufficiently　like　you　to　induce　me　to　make　inquiries；　and　when　I　found　that　Mr。　Richard　Devine　had　suddenly　returned　from　a　mysterious　absence　of　fourteen　years；　I　set　to　work　in　earnest。　I　have　spent　a　deal　of　money；　Jack；　but　I've　got　you！〃

〃You　have　been　clever　in　finding　me　out；　I　give　you　credit　for　that。〃

〃There　is　not　a　single　act　of　your　life；　John　Rex；　that　I　do　not　know；〃　she　continued；　with　heat。　　〃I　have　traced　you　from　the　day　you　stole　out　of　my　house　until　now。　　I　know　your　continental　trips；　your　journeyings　here　and　there　in　search　of　a　lost　clue。　　I　pieced　together　the　puzzle；　as　you　have　done；　and　I　know　that；　by　some　foul　fortune；　you　have　stolen　the　secret　of　a　dead　man　to　ruin　an　innocent　and　virtuous　family。〃

〃Hullo！　hullo！〃　said　John　Rex。　　〃Since　when　have　you　learnt　to　talk　of　virtue？〃

〃It　is　well　to　taunt；　but　you　have　got　to　the　end　of　your　tether　now；　Jack。　I　have　communicated　with　the　woman　whose　son's　fortune　you　have　stolen。　I　expect　to　hear　from　Lady　Devine　in　a　day　or　so。〃

〃Welland　when　you　hear？〃

〃I　shall　give　back　the　fortune　at　the　price　of　her　silence！〃

〃Ho！　ho！　Will　you？〃

〃Yes；　and　if　my　husband　does　not　come　back　and　live　with　me　quietly；　I　shall　call　the　police。〃

John　Rex　sprang　up。　　〃Who　will　believe　you；　idiot？〃　he　cried。　〃I'll　have　you　sent　to　gaol　as　an　impostor。〃

〃You　forget；　my　dear；〃　she　returned；　playing　coquettishly　with　her　rings；　and　glancing　sideways　as　she　spoke；　〃that　you　have　already　acknowledged　me　as　your　wife　before　the　landlord　and　the　servants。　　It　is　too　late　for　that　sort　of　thing。　　Oh；　my　dear　Jack；　you　think　you　are　very　clever；　but　I　am　as　clever　as　you。〃

Smothering　a　curse；　he　sat　down　beside　her。　　〃Listen；　Sarah。　　What　is　the　use　of　fighting　like　a　couple　of　children。　　I　am　rich〃

〃So　am　I。〃　〃Well；　so　much　the　better。　　We　will　join　our　riches　together。　I　admit　that　I　was　a　fool　and　a　cur　to　leave　you；　but　I　played　for　a　great　stake。　　The　name　of　Richard　Devine　was　worth　nearly　half　a　million　in　money。　　It　is　mine。　　I　won　it。　　Share　it　with　me！　Sarah；　you　and　I　defied　the　world　years　ago。　　Don't　let　us　quarrel　now。　　I　was　ungrateful。　　Forget　it。　We　know　by　this　time　that　we　are　not　either　of　us　angels。　　We　started　in　life　togetherdo　you　remember；　Sally；　when　I　met　you　first？determined　to　make　money。　　We　have　succeeded。　　Why　then　set　to　work　to　destroy　each　other？　　You　are　handsomer　than　ever；　I　have　not　lost　my　wits。　Is　there　any　need　for　you　to　tell　the　world　that　I　am　a　runaway　convict；　and　that　you　arewell；　no；　of　course　there　is　no　need。　　Kiss　and　be　friends；　Sarah。　　I　would　have　escaped　you　if　I　could；　I　admit。　　You　have　found　me　out。　I　accept　the　position。　　You　claim　me　as　your　husband。　　You　say　you　are　Mrs。　Richard　Devine。　　Very　well；　I　admit　it。　　You　have　all　your　life　wanted　to　be　a　great　lady。　　Now　is　your　chance！〃　Much　as　she　had　cause　to　hate　him；　well　as　she　knew　his　treacherous　and　ungrateful　character；　little　as　she　had　reason　to　trust　him；　her　strange　and　distempered　affection　for　the　scoundrel　came　upon　her　again　with　gathering　strength。　As　she　sat　beside　him；　listening　to　the　familiar　tones　of　the　voice　she　had　learned　to　love；　greedily　drinking　in　the　promise　of　a　future　fidelity　which　she　was　well　aware　was　made　but　to　be　broken；　her　memory　recalled　the　past　days　of　trust　and　happiness；　and　her　woman's　fancy　once　more　invested　the　selfish　　villain　she　had　reclaimed　with　those　attributes　which　had　enchained　her　wilful　and　wayward　affections。　　The　unselfish　devotion　which　had　marked　her　conduct　to　the　swindler　and　convict　was；　indeed；　her　one　redeeming　virtue；　and　perhaps　she　felt　dimlypoor　womanthat　it　were　better　for　her　to　cling　to　that；　if　she　lost　all　the　world　beside。　Her　wish　for　vengeance　melted　under　the　influence　of　these　thoughts。　The　bitterness　of　despised　love；　the　shame　and　anger　of　desertion；　ingratitude；　and　betrayal；　all　vanished。　　The　tears　of　a　sweet　forgiveness　trembled　in　her　eyes；　the　unreasoning　love　of　her　sexfaithful　to　nought　but　love；　and　faithful　to　love　in　deathshook　in　her　voice。　She　took　his　coward　hand　and　kissed　it；　pardoning　all　his　baseness　with　the　sole　reproach；　〃Oh；　John；　John；　you　might　have　trusted　me　after　all？〃

John　Rex　had　conquered；　and　he　smiled　as　he　embraced　her。　　〃I　wish　I　had；〃　said　he；　〃it　would　have　saved　me　many　regrets；　but　never　mind。　　Sit　down；　now　we　will　have　supper。〃

〃Your　preference　has　one　drawback；　Sarah；〃　he　said；　when　the　meal　was　concluded；　and　the　two　sat　down　to　consider　their　immediate　course　of　action；　〃it　doubles　the　chance　of　detection。〃

〃How　so？〃

〃People　have　accepted　me　without　inquiry；　but　I　am　afraid　not　without　dislike。　Mr。　Francis　Wade；　my　uncle；　never　liked　me；　and　I　fear　I　have　not　played　my　cards　well　with　Lady　Devine。　　When　they　find　I　have　a　mysterious　wife　their　dislike　will　become　suspicion。　　Is　it　likely　that　I　should　have　been　married　all　these　years　and　not　have　informed　them？〃

〃Very　unlikely；〃　returned　Sarah　calmly；　〃and　that　is　just　the　reason　why　you　have　not　been　married　all　these　years。　　Really；〃　she　added；　with　a　laugh；　〃the　male　intellect　is　very　dull。　　You　have　already　told　ten　thousand　lies　about　this　affair；　and　yet　you　don't　see　your　way　to　tell　one　more。〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃

〃Why；　my　dear　Richard；　you　surely　cannot　have　forgotten　that　you　married　me　last　year　on　the　Continent？　By　the　way；　it　was　last　year　that　you　were　there；　was　it　not？　　I　am　the　daughter　of　a　poor　clergyman　of　the　Church　of　England；　nameanything　you　please…　and　you　met　mewhere　shall　we　say？　　Baden；　Aix；　Brussels？　　Cross　the　Alps；　if　you　like；　dear；　and　say　Rome。〃　　John　Rex　put　his　hand　to　his　head。　　〃Of　courseI　am　stupid；〃　said　he。　　〃I　have　not　been　well　lately。　　Too　much　brandy；　I　suppose。〃

〃Well；　we　will　alter　all　that；〃　she　returned　with　a　laugh；　which　her　anxious　glance　at　him　belied。　　〃You　are　going　to　be　domestic　now；　JackI　mean　Dick。〃

〃Go　on；〃　said　he　impatiently。　　〃What　then？〃

〃Then；　having　settled　these　little　preliminaries；　you　take　me　up　to　London　and　introduce　me　to　your　relatives　and　friends。〃

He　started。　　〃A　bold　game。〃

〃Bold！　　Nonsense！　The　only　safe　one。　　People　don't；　as　a　rule；　suspect　unless　one　is　mysterious。　　You　must　do　it；　I　have　arranged　for　your　doing　it。　The　waiters　here　all　know　me　as　your　wife。　　There　is　not　the　least　danger　unless；　indeed；　you　are　married　already？〃　she　added；　with　a　quick　and　angry　suspicion。

〃You　need　not　be　alarmed。　　I　was　not　such　a　fool　as　to　marry　another　woman　while　you　were　alivehad　I　even　seen　one　I　would　have　cared　to　marry。　But　what　of　Lady　Devine？　　You　say　you　have　told　her。〃

〃I　have　told　her　to　communicate　with　Mrs。　Carr；　Post　Office；　Torquay；　in　order　to　hear　something　to　her　advantage。　　If　you　had　been　rebellious；　John；　the　'something'　would　have　been　a　letter　from　me　telling　her　who　you　really　are。　　Now　you　have　proved　obedient；　the　'something'　will　be　a　begging　letter　of　a　sort　which　she　has　already　received　hundreds；　and　which　in　all　probability　she　will　not　even　answer。　　What　do　you　think　of　that；　Mr。　Richard　Devine？〃

〃You　deserve　success；　Sarah；〃　said　the　old　schemer；　in　genuine　admiration。　〃By　Jove；　this　is　something　like　the　old　days；　when　we　were　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Crofton。〃

〃Or　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Skinner；　eh；　John？〃　she　said；　with　as　much　tenderness　in　her　voice　as　though　she　had　been　a　virtuous　matron　recalling　her　honeymoon。　〃That　was　an　unlucky　name；　wasn't　it；　dear？　　You　should　have　taken　my　advice　there。〃　And　immersed　in　recollection　of　their　past　rogueries；　the　worthy　pair　pensively　smiled。　　Rex　was　the　first　to　awake　from　that　pleasant　reverie。

〃I　will　be　guided　by　you；　then；〃　he　said。　　〃What　next？〃

〃Nextfor；　as　you　say；　my　presence　doubles　the　dangerwe　will　contrive　to　withdraw　quietly　from　England。　　The　introduction　　to　your　mother　over；　and　Mr。　Francis　disposed　of；　we　will　go　to　Hampstead；　and　live　there　for　a　while。　　During　that　time　you　must　turn　into　cash　as　much　property　as　you　dare。　　We　will　then　go　abroad　for　the　'season'and　stop　there。　After　a　year　or　so　on　the　Continent　you　can　write　to　our　agent　to　sell　more　property；　and；　finally；　when　we　are　regarded　as　permanent　absentees　and　three　or　four　years　will　bring　that　aboutwe　will　get　rid　of　everything；　and　slip　over　to　America。　　Then　you　can　endow　a　charity　if　you　like；　or　build　a　church　to　the　memory　of　the　man　you　have　displaced。〃

John　Rex　burst　into　a　laugh。　　〃An　excellent　plan。　　I　like　the　idea　of　the　charitythe　Devine　Hospital；　eh？〃

〃By　the　way；　how　did　you　find　out　the　particulars　of　this　man's　life。　He　was　burned　in　the　Hydaspes；　wasn't　he？〃

〃No；〃　said　Rex；　with　an　air　of　pride。　　〃He　was　transported　in　the　Malabar　under　the　name　of　Rufus　Dawes。　　You　remember　him。　　It　is　a　long　story。　The　particulars　weren't　numerous；　and　if　the　old　lady　had　been　half　sharp　she　would　have　bowled　me　out。　　But　the　fact　was　she　wanted　to　find　the　fellow　alive；　and　was　willing　to　take　a　good　deal　on　trust。　　I'll　tell　you　all　about　it　another　time。　　I　think　I'll　go　to　bed　now；　I'm　tired；　and　my　head　aches　as　though　it　would　split。〃

〃Then　it　is　decided　that　you　follow　my　directions？〃

〃Yes。〃

She　rose　and　placed　her　hand　on　the　bell。　　〃What　are　you　going　to　do？〃　he　said　uneasily。

〃I　am　going　to　do　nothing。　　You　are　going　to　telegraph　to　your　servants　to　have　the　house　in　London　prepared　for　your　wife；　who　will　return　with　you　the　day　after　to…morrow。〃

John　Rex　stayed　her　hand　with　a　sudden　angry　gesture。　　〃This　is　all　devilish　fine；〃　he　said；　〃but　suppose　it　fails？〃

〃That　is　your　affair；　John。　　You　need　not　go　on　with　this　business　at　all；　unless　you　like。　　I　had　rather　you　didn't。〃

〃What　the　deuce　am　I　to　do；　then？〃

〃I　am　not　as　rich　as　you　are；　but；　with　my　station　and　so　on；　I　am　worth　seven　thousand　a　year。　　Come　back　to　Australia　with　me；　and　let　these　poor　people　enjoy　their　own　again。　　Ah；　John；　it　is　the　best　thing　to　do；　believe　me。　　We　can　afford　to　be　honest　now。〃

〃A　fine　scheme！〃　cried　he。　　〃Give　up　half　a　million　of　money；　and　go　back　to　Australia！　You　must　be　mad！〃

〃Then　telegraph。〃

〃But；　my　dear〃

〃Hush；　here's　the　waiter。〃