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〃I mean to do as I please；〃 soliloquized Rex； as he resumed his breakfast。 〃Let him sell his rubbish by auction； and go and live abroad； in Germany or Jerusalem if he likes； the farther the better for me。 I'll sell the property and make myself scarce。 A trip to America will benefit my health。〃
A knock at the door made him start。
〃Come in！ Curse it； how nervous I'm getting。 What's that？ Letters？ Give them to me； and why the devil don't you put the brandy on the table； Smithers？〃
He drank some of the spirit greedily； and then began to open his correspondence。
〃Cussed brute；〃 said Mr。 Smithers； outside the door。 〃He couldn't use wuss langwidge if he was a dook； dam 'im！Yessir；〃 he added； suddenly； as a roar from his master recalled him。
〃When did this come？〃 asked Mr。 Richard； holding out a letter more than usually disfigured with stampings。
〃Lars night； sir。 It's bin to 'Amstead； sir； and come down directed with the h'others。〃 The angry glare of the black eyes induced him to add； 〃I 'ope there's nothink wrong； sir。〃
〃Nothing； you infernal ass and idiot；〃 burst out Mr。 Richard； white with rage； 〃except that I should have had this instantly。 Can't you see it's marked urgent？ Can you read？ Can you spell？ There； that will do。 No lies。 Get out！〃
Left to himself again； Mr。 Richard walked hurriedly up and down the chamber； wiped his forehead； drank a tumbler of brandy； and finally sat down and re…read the letter。 It was short； but terribly to the purpose。
〃THE GEORGE HOTEL； PLYMOUTH；〃 17th April； 1846。
〃MY DEAR JACK；
〃I have found you out； you see。 Never mind how just at present。 I know all about your proceedings； and unless Mr。 Richard Devine receives his 〃wife〃 with due propriety； he'll find himself in the custody of the police。 Telegraph； dear； to Mrs。 Richard Devine； at above address。
〃Yours as ever； Jack； 〃SARAH。
〃To Richard Devine； Esq。； 〃North End House； 〃Hampstead。〃
The blow was unexpected and severe。 It was hard； in the very high tide and flush of assured success； to be thus plucked back into the old bondage。 Despite the affectionate tone of the letter； he knew the woman with whom he had to deal。 For some furious minutes he sat motionless； gazing at the letter。 He did not speakmen seldom do under such circumstances but his thoughts ran in this fashion： 〃Here is this cursed woman again！ Just as I was congratulating myself on my freedom。 How did she discover me？ Small use asking that。 What shall I do？ I can do nothing。 It is absurd to run away； for I shall be caught。 Besides； I've no money。 My account at Mastermann's is overdrawn two thousand pounds。 If I bolt at all； I must bolt at oncewithin twenty…four hours。 Rich as I am； I don't suppose I could raise more than five thousand pounds in that time。 These things take a day or two； say forty…eight hours。 In forty…eight hours I could raise twenty thousand pounds； but forty…eight hours is too long。 Curse the woman！ I know her！ How in the fiend's name did she discover me？ It's a bad job。 However； she's not inclined to be gratuitiously disagreeable。 How lucky I never married again！ I had better make terms and trust to fortune。 After all； she's been a good friend to me。Poor Sally！I might have rotted on that infernal Eaglehawk Neck if it hadn't been for her。 She is not a bad sort。 Handsome woman； too。 I may make it up with her。 I shall have to sell off and go away after all。It might be worse。I dare say the property's worth three hundred thousand pounds。 Not bad for a start in America。 And I may get rid of her yet。 Yes。 I must give in。Oh； curse her！＇ringing the bell＇Smithers！〃 ＇Smithers appears。＇ 〃A telegraph form and a cab！ Stay。 Pack me a dressing…bag。 I shall be away for a day or so。 ＇Sotto voce＇I'd better see her myself。 ＇ Aloud＇Bring me a Bradshaw！ ＇Sotto voce＇Damn the woman。〃
CHAPTER VI。
IN WHICH THE CHAPLAIN IS TAKEN ILL。
Though the house of the Commandant of Norfolk Island was comfortable and well furnished； and though； of necessity； all that was most hideous in the 〃discipline〃 of the place was hidden； the loathing with which Sylvia had approached the last and most dreaded abiding place of the elaborate convict system； under which it had been her misfortune to live； had not decreased。 The sights and sounds of pain and punishment surrounded her。 She could not look out of her windows without a shudder。 She dreaded each evening when her husband returned； lest he should blurt out some new atrocity。 She feared to ask him in the morning whither he was going； lest he should thrill her with the announcement of some fresh punishment。
〃I wish； Maurice； we had never come here；〃 said she； piteously； when he recounted to her the scene of the gaol…gang。 〃These unhappy men will do you some frightful injury one of these days。〃
〃Stuff！〃 said her husband。 〃They've not the courage。 I'd take the best man among them； and dare him to touch me。〃
〃I cannot think how you like to witness so much misery and villainy。 It is horrible to think of。〃
〃Our tastes differ； my dear。Jenkins！ Confound you！ Jenkins； I say。〃 The convict…servant entered。 〃Where is the charge…book？ I've told you always to have it ready for me。 Why don't you do as you are told？ You idle； lazy scoundrel！ I suppose you were yarning in the cookhouse； or〃
〃If you please； sir。〃
〃Don't answer me； sir。 Give me the book。〃 Taking it and running his finger down the leaves； he commented on the list of offences to which he would be called upon in the morning to mete out judgment。
〃Meer…a…seek； having a pipethe rascally Hindoo scoundrel！Benjamin Pellett； having fat in his possession。 Miles Byrne； not walking fast enough。 We must enliven Mr。 Byrne。 Thomas Twist； having a pipe and striking a light。 W。 Barnes； not in place at muster； says he was 'washing himself' I'll wash him！ John Richards； missing muster and insolence。 John Gateby； insolence and insubordination。 James Hopkins； insolence and foul language。 Rufus Dawes； gross insolence； refusing to work。Ah！ we must look after you。 You are a parson's man now； are you？ I'll break your spirit； my man； or I'llSylvia！〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Your friend Dawes is doing credit to his bringing up。〃
〃What do you mean？〃
〃That infernal villain and reprobate； Dawes。 He is fitting himself faster for〃 She interrupted him。 〃Maurice； I wish you would not use such language。 You know I dislike it。〃 She spoke coldly and sadly； as one who knows that remonstrance is vain； and is yet constrained to remonstrate。
〃Oh； dear！ My Lady Proper！ can't bear to hear her husband swear。 How refined we're getting！〃
〃There； I did not mean to annoy you；〃 said she； wearily。 〃Don't let us quarrel； for goodness' sake。〃
He went away noisily； and she sat looking at the carpet wearily。 A noise roused her。 She looked up and saw North。 Her face beamed instantly。 〃Ah！ Mr。 North； I did not expect you。 What brings you here？ You'll stay to dinner； of course。〃 （She rang the bell without waiting for a reply。） 〃Mr。 North dines here； place a chair for him。 And have you brought me the book？ I have been looking for it。〃
〃Here it is；〃 said North； producing a volume of 'Monte Cristo'。 She seized