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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？〃