按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ficult 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 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 fir