for the term of his natural life-第89章

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his　heart　jump。

〃I　feel　deuced　shaky；　Sarah；〃　he　said。　　〃Let's　have　a　nip　of　something。〃

〃You've　been　nipping　too　much　for　the　last　five　years；　Dick。〃　（She　had　quite　schooled　her　tongue　to　the　new　name。）　〃Your　'shakiness'　is　the　result　of　'nipping'；　I'm　afraid。〃

〃Oh；　don't　preach；　I　am　not　in　the　humour　for　it。〃

〃Help　yourself；　then。　　You　are　quite　sure　that　you　are　ready　with　your　story？〃

The　brandy　revived　him；　and　he　rose　with　affected　heartiness。　　〃My　dear　mother；　allow　me　to　present　to　you〃　He　paused；　for　there　was　that　in　Lady　Devine's　face　which　confirmed　his　worst　fears。

〃I　wish　to　speak　to　you　alone；〃　she　said；　ignoring　with　steady　eyes　the　woman　whom　she　had　ostensibly　come　to　see。

John　Rex　hesitated；　but　Sarah　saw　the　danger；　and　hastened　to　confront　it。　〃A　wife　should　be　a　husband's　best　friend；　madam。　　Your　son　married　me　of　his　own　free　will；　and　even　his　mother　can　have　nothing　to　say　to　him　which　it　is　not　my　duty　and　privilege　to　hear。　　I　am　not　a　girl　as　you　can　see；　and　I　can　bear　whatever　news　you　bring。〃

Lady　Devine　bit　her　pale　lips。　　She　saw　at　once　that　the　woman　before　her　was　not　gently…born；　but　she　felt　also　that　she　was　a　woman　of　higher　mental　calibre　than　herself。　　Prepared　as　she　was　for　the　worst；　this　sudden　and　open　declaration　of　hostilities　frightened　her；　as　Sarah　had　calculated。　She　began　to　realize　that　if　she　was　to　prove　equal　to　the　task　she　had　set　herself；　she　must　not　waste　her　strength　in　skirmishing。　Steadily　refusing　to　look　at　Richard's　wife；　she　addressed　herself　to　Richard。　〃My　brother　will　be　here　in　half　an　hour；〃　she　said；　as　though　the　mention　of　his　name　would　better　her　　position　in　some　way。　　〃But　I　begged　him　to　allow　me　to　come　first　in　order　that　I　might　speak　to　you　privately。〃

〃Well；〃　said　John　Rex；　〃we　are　in　private。　　What　have　you　to　say？〃

〃I　want　to　tell　you　that　I　forbid　you　to　carry　out　the　plan　you　have　for　breaking　up　Sir　Richard's　property。〃

〃Forbid　me！〃　cried　Rex；　much　relieved。　　〃Why；　I　only　want　to　do　what　my　father's　will　enables　me　to　do。〃

〃Your　father's　will　enables　you　to　do　nothing　of　the　sort；　and　you　know　it。〃　She　spoke　as　though　rehearsing　a　series　of　set…speeches；　and　Sarah　watched　her　with　growing　alarm。

〃Oh；　nonsense！〃　cries　John　Rex；　in　sheer　amazement。　　〃I　have　a　lawyer's　opinion　on　it。〃

〃Do　you　remember　what　took　place　at　Hampstead　this　day　nineteen　years　ago？〃

〃At　Hampstead！〃　said　Rex；　grown　suddenly　pale。　　〃This　day　nineteen　years　ago。　No！　　What　do　you　mean？〃

〃Do　you　not　remember？〃　she　continued；　leaning　forward　eagerly；　and　speaking　almost　fiercely。　　〃Do　you　not　remember　the　reason　why　you　left　the　house　where　you　were　born；　and　which　you　now　wish　to　sell　to　strangers？〃

John　Rex　stood　dumbfounded；　the　blood　suffusing　his　temples。　　He　knew　that　among　the　secrets　of　the　man　whose　inheritance　he　had　stolen　was　one　which　he　had　never　gainedthe　secret　of　that　sacrifice　to　which　Lady　Devine　had　once　referredand　he　felt　that　this　secret　was　to　be　revealed　to　crush　him　now。

Sarah；　trembling　also；　but　more　with　rage　than　terror；　swept　towards　Lady　Devine。　　〃Speak　out！〃　she　said；　〃if　you　have　anything　to　say！　Of　what　do　you　accuse　my　husband？〃

〃Of　imposture！〃　cried　Lady　Devine；　all　her　outraged　maternity　nerving　her　to　abash　her　enemy。　　〃This　man　may　be　your　husband；　but　he　is　not　my　son！〃

Now　that　the　worst　was　out；　John　Rex；　choking　with　passion；　felt　all　the　devil　within　him　rebelling　against　defeat。　　〃You　are　mad；〃　he　said。　　〃You　have　recognized　me　for　three　years；　and　now；　because　I　want　to　claim　that　which　is　my　own；　you　invent　this　lie。　　Take　care　how　you　provoke　me。　If　I　am　not　your　sonyou　have　recognized　me　as　such。　　I　stand　upon　the　law　and　upon　my　rights。〃

Lady　Devine　turned　swiftly；　and　with　both　hands　to　her　bosom；　confronted　him。

〃You　shall　have　your　rights！　　You　shall　have　what　the　law　allows　you！　Oh；　how　blind　I　have　been　all　these　years。　　Persist　in　your　infamous　imposture。　　Call　yourself　Richard　Devine　still；　and　I　will　tell　the　world　the　shameful　secret　which　my　son　died　to　hide。　　Be　Richard　Devine！　Richard　Devine　was　a　bastard；　and　the　law　allows　himnothing！〃

There　was　no　doubting　the　truth　of　her　words。　　It　was　impossible　that　even　a　woman　whose　home　had　been　desecrated；　as　hers　had　been；　would　invent　a　lie　so　self…condemning。　　Yet　John　Rex　forced　himself　to　appear　to　doubt；　and　his　dry　lips　asked；　〃If　then　your　husband　was　not　the　father　of　your　son；　who　was？〃

〃My　cousin；　Armigell　Esm？Wade；　Lord　Bellasis；〃　answered　Lady　Devine。

John　Rex　gasped　for　breath。　　His　hand；　tugging　at　his　neck…cloth；　rent　away　the　linen　that　covered　his　choking　throat。　　The　whole　horizon　of　his　past　was　lit　up　by　a　lightning　flash　which　stunned　him。　　His　brain；　already　enfeebled　by　excess；　was　unable　to　withstand　this　last　shock。　He　staggered；　and　but　for　the　cabinet　against　which　he　leant；　would　have　fallen。　　The　secret　thoughts　of　his　heart　rose　to　his　lips；　and　were　uttered　unconsciously。　　〃Lord　Bellasis！　　He　was　my　father　also；　andI　killed　him！〃

A　dreadful　silence　fell；　and　then　Lady　Devine；　stretching　out　her　hands　towards　the　self…confessed　murderer；　with　a　sort　of　frightful　respect；　said　in　a　whisper；　in　which　horror　and　supplication　were　strangely　mingled；　〃What　did　you　do　with　my　son？　　Did　you　kill　him　also？〃

But　John　Rex；　wagging　his　head　from　side　to　side；　like　a　beast　in　the　shambles　that　has　received　a　mortal　stroke；　made　no　reply。　　Sarah　Purfoy；　awed　as　she　was　by　the　dramatic　force　of　the　situation；　nevertheless　remembered　that　Francis　Wade　might　arrive　at　any　moment；　and　saw　her　last　opportunity　for　safety。　　She　advanced　and　touched　the　mother　on　the　shoulder。

〃Your　son　is　alive！〃

〃Where？〃

〃Will　you　promise　not　to　hinder　us　leaving　this　house　if　I　tell　you？〃

〃Yes；　yes。〃

〃Will　you　promise　to　keep　the　confession　which　you　have　heard　secret；　until　we　have　left　England？〃

〃I　promise　anything。　　In　God's　name；　woman；　if　you　have　a　woman's　heart；　speak！　　Where　is　my　son？〃

Sarah　Purfoy　rose　over　the　enemy　who　had　defeated　her；　and　said　in　level；　deliberate　accents；　〃They　call　him　Rufus　Dawes。　　He　is　a　convict　at　Norfolk　Island；　transported　for　life　for　the　murder　which　you　have　heard　my　husband　confess　to　having　committedAh！〃

Lady　Devine　had　fainted。




CHAPTER　XVI。

FIFTEEN　HOURS。



Sarah　flew　to　Rex。　　〃Rouse　yourself；　John；　for　Heaven's　sake。　We　have　not　a　moment。〃　John　Rex　passed　his　hand　over　his　forehead　wearily。

〃I　cannot　think。　　I　am　broken　down。　　I　am　ill。　　My　brain　seems　dead。〃

Nervously　watching　the　prostrate　figure　on　the　floor；　she　hurried　on　bonnet；　cloak；　and　veil；　and　in　a　twinkling　had　him　outside　the　house　and　into　a　cab。

〃Thirty…nine；　Lombard　Street。　　Quick！〃

〃You　won't　give　me　up？〃　said　Rex；　turning　dull　eyes　upon　her。

〃Give　you　up？　　No。　　But　the　police　will　be　after　us　as　soon　as　that　woman　can　speak；　and　her　brother　summon　his　lawyer。　　I　know　what　her　promise　is　worth。　　We　have　only　got　about　fifteen　hours　start。〃

〃I　can't　go　far；　Sarah；〃　said　he；　〃I　am　sleepy　and　stupid。〃

She　repressed　the　terrible　fear　that　tugged　at　her　heart；　and　strove　to　rally　him。

〃You've　been　drinking　too　much；　John。　　Now　sit　still　and　be　good；　while　I　go　and　get　some　money　for　you。〃

She　hurried　into　the　bank；　and　her　name　secured　her　an　interview　with　the　manager　at　once。

〃That's　a　rich　woman；〃　said　one　of　the　clerks　to　his　friend。　〃A　widow；　too！　　Chance　for　you；　Tom；〃　returned　the　other；　and；　presently；　from　out　the　sacred　presence　came　another　clerk　with　a　request　for　〃a　draft　on　Sydney　for　three　thousand；　less　premium〃；　and　bearing　a　cheque　signed　〃Sarah　Carr〃　for　？00；　which　he　〃took〃　in　notes；　and　so　returned　again。

From　the　bank　she　was　taken　to　Green's　Shipping　Office。　　〃I　want　a　cabin　in　the　first　ship　for　Sydney；　please。〃

The　shipping…clerk　looked　at　a　board。　　〃The　Highflyer　goes　in　twelve　days；　madam；　and　there　is　one　cabin　vacant。〃

〃I　want　to　go　at　onceto…morrow　or　next　day。〃

He　smiled。　　〃I　am　afraid　that　is　impossible；〃　said　he。　　Just　then　one　of　the　partners　came　out　of　his　private　room　with　a　telegram　in　his　hand；　and　beckoned　the　shipping…clerk。　　Sarah　was　about　to　depart　for　another　office；　when　the　clerk　came　hastily　back。

〃Just　the　thing　for　you；　ma'am；〃　said　he。　　〃We　have　got　a　telegram　from　a　gentleman　who　has　a　first　cabin　in　the　Dido；　to　say　that　his　wife　has　been　taken　ill；　and　he　must　give　up　his　berth。〃

〃When　does　the　Dido　sail？〃

〃To…morrow　morning。　　She　is　at　Plymouth；　waiting　for　the　mails。　　If　you　go　down　to…night　by　the　mail…train　which　leaves　at　9。30；　you　will　be　in　plenty　of　time；　and　we　will　telegraph。〃

〃I　will　take　the　cabin。　　How　much？〃

〃One　hundred　and　thirty　pounds；　madam；〃　said　he。

She　produced　her　notes。　　〃Pray　count　it　yourself。　　We　have　been　delayed　in　the　same　manner　ourselves。　　My　husband　is　a　great　invalid；　but　I　was　not　so　fortunate　as　to　get　someone　to　refund　us　our　passage…money。〃

〃What　name　did　you　say？〃　asked　the　clerk；　counting。　　〃Mr。　and　Mrs。　Carr。　Thank　you；〃　and　he　handed　her　the　slip　of　paper。

〃Thank　you；〃　said　Sarah；　with　a　bewitching　smile；　and　swept　down　to　her　cab　again。　　John　Rex　was　gnawing　his　nails　in　sullen　apathy。　She　displayed　the　passage…ticket。　　〃You　are　saved。　　By　the　time　Mr。　Francis　Wade　gets　his　wits　together；　and　his　sister　recovers　her　speech；　we　shall　be　past　pursuit。〃

〃To　Sydney！〃　cries　Rex　angrily；　looking　at　the　warrant。　　〃Why　there　of　all　places　in　God's　earth？〃

Sarah　surveyed　him　with　an　expression　of　contempt。　　〃Because　your　scheme　has　failed。　　Now　this　is　mine。　　You　have　deserted　me　once；　you　will　do　so　again　in　any　other　country。　　You　are　a　murderer；　a　villain；　and　a　coward；　but　you　suit　me。　　I　save　you；　but　I　mean　to　keep　you。　　I　will　bring　you　to　Australia；　where　the　first　trooper　will　arrest　you　at　my　bidding　as　an　escaped　convict。　　If　you　don't　like　to　come；　stay　behind。　　I　don't　care。　I　am　rich。　　I　have　done　no　wrong。　　The　law　cannot　touch　meDo　you　agree？　Then　tell　the　man　to　drive　to　Silver's　in　Cornhill　for　your　outfit。〃

Having　housed　him　at　lastall　gloomy　and　despondentin　a　quiet　tavern　near　the　railway　station；　she　tried　to　get　some　information　as　to　this　last　revealed　crime。

〃How　came　you　to　kill　Lord　Bellasis？〃　she　asked　him　quietly。

〃I　had　found　out　from　my　mother　that　I　was　his　natural　son；　and　one　day　riding　home　from　a　pigeon　match　I　told　him　so。　　He　taunted　me　and　I　struck　him。　　I　did　not　mean　to　kill　him；　but　he　was　an　old　man；　and　in　my　passion　I　struck　hard。　　As　he　fell；　I　thought　I　saw　a　horseman　among　the　trees；　and　I　galloped　off。　　My　ill…luck　began　then；　for　the　same　night　I　was　arrested　at　the　coiner's。〃

〃But　I　thought　there　was　robbery；〃　said　she。

〃Not　by　me。　　But；　for　God's　sake；　talk　no　more　about　it。　　I　am　sickmy　brain　is　going　round。　　I　want　to　sleep。〃

〃Be　careful；　please！　　Lift　him　gently！〃　said　Mrs。　Carr；　as　the　boat　ranged　alongside　the　Dido；　gaunt　and　grim；　in　the　early　dawn　of　a　bleak　May　morning。

〃What's　the　matter？〃　asked　the　officer　of　the　watch；　perceiving　the　bustle　in　the　boat。

〃Gentleman　seems　to　have　had　a　stroke；〃　said　a　boatman。

It　was　so。　　There　was　no　fear　that　John　Rex　would　escape　again　from　the　woman　he　had　deceived。　　The　inf