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efused point blank。 Let there be a division； but he would not buy a pig in a poke。 Rex was firm； however； it was his only chance； and at last he got a promise of ？0。 That night the glorious achievement known in the annals of Bow Street as 〃The Great Silk Robbery〃 took place； and two days afterwards John Rex and his partner； dining comfortably at Birmingham； read an account of the transactionnot in the least like itin a London paper。
John Rex； who had now fairly broken with dull respectability； bid adieu to his home； and began to realize his mother's wishes。 He was； after his fashion； a 〃gentleman〃。 As long as the ？0 lasted； he lived in luxury； and by the time it was spent he had established himself in his profession。 This profession was a lucrative one。 It was that of a swindler。 Gifted with a handsome person； facile manner； and ready wit； he had added to these natural advantages some skill at billiards； some knowledge of gambler's legerdemain； and the useful consciousness that he must prey or be preyed on。 John Rex was no common swindler； his natural as well as his acquired abilities saved him from vulgar errors。 He saw that to successfully swindle mankind； one must not aim at comparative； but superlative； ingenuity。 He who is contented with being only cleverer than the majority must infallibly be outwitted at last； and to be once outwitted isfor a swindlerto be ruined。 Examining； moreover； into the history of detected crime； John Rex discovered one thing。 At the bottom of all these robberies； deceptions； and swindles； was some lucky fellow who profited by the folly of his confederates。 This gave him an idea。 Suppose he could not only make use of his own talents to rob mankind； but utilize those of others also？ Crime runs through infinite grades。 He proposed to himself to be at the top； but why should he despise those good fellows beneath him？ His speciality was swindling； billiard…playing； card…playing； borrowing money； obtaining goods； never risking more than two or three coups in a year。 But others plundered houses； stole bracelets； watches； diamondsmade as much in a night as he did in six monthsonly their occupation was more dangerous。 Now came the questionwhy more dangerous？ Because these men were mere clods； bold enough and clever enough in their own rude way； but no match for the law； with its Argus eyes and its Briarean hands。 They did the rougher business well enough； they broke locks； and burst doors； and 〃neddied〃 constables； but in the finer arts of plan； attack； and escape； they were sadly deficient。 Good。 These men should be the hands； he would be the head。 He would plan the robberies； they should execute them。
Working through many channels； and never omitting to assist a fellow…worker when in distress； John Rex； in a few years； and in a most prosaic business way； became the head of a society of ruffians。 Mixing with fast clerks and unsuspecting middle…class profligates； he found out particulars of houses ill guarded； and shops insecurely fastened； and 〃put up〃 Blicks's ready ruffians to the more dangerous work。 In his various disguises； and under his many names； he found his way into those upper circles of 〃fast〃 society； where animals turn into birds； where a wolf becomes a rook； and a lamb a pigeon。 Rich spendthrifts who affected male society asked him to their houses； and Mr。 Anthony Croftonbury； Captain James Craven； and Mr。 Lionel Crofton were names remembered； sometimes with pleasure； oftener with regret； by many a broken man of fortune。 He had one quality which； to a man of his profession； was invaluablehe was cautious； and master of himself。 Having made a success； wrung commission from Blicks； rooked a gambling ninny like Lemoine； or secured an assortment of jewellery sent down to his 〃wife〃 in Gloucestershire； he would disappear for a time。 He liked comfort； and revelled in the sense of security and respectability。 Thus he had lived for three years when he met Sarah Purfoy； and thus he proposed to live for many more。 With this woman as a coadjutor； he thought he could defy the law。 She was the net spread to catch his 〃pigeons〃； she was the well…dressed lady who ordered goods in London for her husband at Canterbury； and paid half the price down； 〃which was all this letter authorized her to do；〃 and where a less beautiful or clever woman might have failed； she succeeded。 Her husband saw fortune before him； and believed that； with common prudence； he might carry on his most lucrative employment of 〃gentleman〃 until he chose to relinquish it。 Alas for human weakness！ He one day did a foolish thing； and the law he had so successfully defied got him in the simplest way imaginable。
Under the names of Mr。 and Mrs。 Skinner； John Rex and Sarah Purfoy were living in quiet lodgings in the neighbourhood of Bloomsbury。 Their landlady was a respectable poor woman； and had a son who was a constable。 This son was given to talking； and； coming in to supper one night； he told his mother that on the following evening an attack was to be made on a gang of coiners in the Old Street Road。 The mother； dreaming all sorts of horrors during the night； came the next day to Mrs。 Skinner； in the parlour； and； under a pledge of profound secrecy； told her of the dreadful expedition in which her son was engaged。 John Rex was out at a pigeon match with Lord Bellasis； and when he returned； at nine o'clock； Sarah told him what she had heard。
Now； 4； Bank…place； Old Street Road； was the residence of a man named Green； who had for some time carried on the lucrative but dangerous trade of 〃counterfeiting〃。 This man was one of the most daring of that army of ruffians whose treasure chest and master of the mint was Blicks； and his liberty was valuable。 John Rex； eating his dinner more nervously than usual； ruminated on the intelligence； and thought it would be but wise to warn Green of his danger。 Not that he cared much for Green personally； but it was bad policy to miss doing a good turn to a comrade； and； moreover； Green； if captured might wag his tongue too freely。 But how to do it？ If he went to Blicks； it might be too late； he would go himself。 He went outand was captured。 When Sarah heard of the calamity she set to work to help him。 She collected all her money and jewels； paid Mrs。 Skinner's rent； went to see Rex； and arranged his defence。 Blicks was hopeful； but Greenwho came very near hangingadmitted that the man was an associate of his； and the Recorder； being in a severe mood； transported him for seven years。 Sarah Purfoy vowed that she would follow him。 She was going as passenger； as emigrant； anything； when she saw Mrs。 Vickers's advertisement for a 〃lady's…maid；〃 and answered it。 It chanced that Rex was shipped in the Malabar； and Sarah； discovering this before the vessel had been a week at sea； conceived the bold project of inciting a mutiny for the rescue of her lover。 We know the result of that scheme； and the story of the scoundrel's subsequent escape from Macquarie Harbour。
CHAPTER IV。
〃THE NOTORIOUS DAWES。〃
The mutineers of the Osprey had been long since given up as dead； and the story of their desperate escape had become indistinct to the general public mind。 Now th