for the term of his natural life-第113章
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〃IIthought you might like totopray a bit；〃 said Bland。
The notion seemed to sober the senses of the old man； exalted too fiercely by his good fortune。
〃Ay！〃 he said。 〃Pray！ A good thought！〃 and he knelt down； and shutting his blind eyes'twas as though he was dazzled by some strong lightunseen by his comrades； moved his lips silently。 The silence was at last broken by the footsteps of the warder in the corridor。 Bland hailed it as a reprieve from whatever act of daring he dreaded。 〃We must wait until he goes；〃 he whispered eagerly。 〃He might look in。〃
Dawes nodded； and Mooney； whose quick ear apprised him very exactly of the position of the approaching gaoler； rose from his knees radiant。 The sour face of Gimblett appeared at the trap cell…door。
〃All right？〃 he asked； somewhatso the three thoughtless sourly than usual。
〃All right；〃 was the reply； and Mooney added； 〃Good…night； Mr。 Gimblett。〃
〃I wonder what is making the old man so cheerful；〃 thought Gimblett； as he got into the next corridor。
The sound of his echoing footsteps had scarcely died away； when upon the ears of the two less fortunate casters of lots fell the dull sound of rending woollen。 The lucky man was tearing a strip from his blanket。 〃I think this will do；〃 said he； pulling it between his hands to test its strength。 〃I am an old man。〃 It was possible that he debated concerning the descent of some abyss into which the strip of blanket was to lower him。 〃Here； Bland； catch hold。 Where are ye？don't be faint…hearted； man。 It won't take ye long。〃
It was quite dark now in the cell； but as Bland advanced his face was like a white mask floating upon the darkness； it was so ghastly pale。 Dawes pressed his lucky comrade's hand； and withdrew to the farthest corner。 Bland and Mooney were for a few moments occupied with the ropedoubtless preparing for escape by means of it。 The silence was broken only by the convulsive jangling of Bland's ironshe was shuddering violently。 At last Mooney spoke again； in strangely soft and subdued tones。
〃Dawes； lad； do you think there is a Heaven？〃
〃I know there is a Hell；〃 said Dawes； without turning his face。
〃Ay； and a Heaven； lad。 I think I shall go there。 You will； old chap； for you've been good to meGod bless you； you've been very good to me。〃
* * * * * *
When Troke came in the morning he saw what had occurred at a glance； and hastened to remove the corpse of the strangled Mooney。
〃We drew lots；〃 said Rufus Dawes； pointing to Bland； who crouched in the corner farthest from his victim； 〃and it fell upon him to do it。 I'm the witness。〃
〃They'll hang you for all that；〃 said Troke。
〃I hope so；〃 said Rufus Dawes。
The scheme of escape hit upon by the convict intellect was simply this。 Three men being together； lots were drawn to determine whom should be murdered。 The drawer of the longest straw was the 〃lucky〃 man。 He was killed。 The drawer of the next longest straw was the murderer。 He was hanged。 The unlucky one was the witness。 He had； of course； an excellent chance of being hung also； but his doom was not so certain； and he therefore looked upon himself as unfortunate。
CHAPTER X。
A MEETING。
John Rex found the 〃George〃 disagreeably prepared for his august arrival。 Obsequious waiters took his dressing…bag and overcoat； the landlord himself welcomed him at the door。 Two naval gentlemen came out of the coffee…room to stare at him。 〃Have you any more luggage； Mr。 Devine？〃 asked the landlord； as he flung open the door of the best drawing…room。 It was awkwardly evident that his wife had no notion of suffering him to hide his borrowed light under a bushel。
A supper…table laid for two people gleamed bright from the cheeriest corner。 A fire crackled beneath the marble mantelshelf。 The latest evening paper lay upon a chair； and； brushing it carelessly with her costly dress； the woman he had so basely deserted came smiling to meet him。
〃Well； Mr。 Richard Devine；〃 said she； 〃you did not expect to see me again； did you？〃
Although； on his journey down； he had composed an elaborate speech wherewith to greet her； this unnatural civility dumbfounded him。 〃Sarah！ I never meant to〃
〃Hush； my dear Richardit must be Richard now； I suppose。 This is not the time for explanations。 Besides； the waiter might hear you。 Let us have some supper； you must be hungry； I am sure。〃 He advanced to the table mechanically。 〃But how fat you are！〃 she continued。 〃Too good living； I suppose。 You were not so fat at Port Ar…Oh； I forgot； my dear！ Come and sit down。 That's right。 I have told them all that I am your wife； for whom you have sent。 They regard me with some interest and respect in consequence。 Don't spoil their good opinion of me。〃
He was about to utter an imprecation； but she stopped him by a glance。 〃No bad language； John； or I shall ring for a constable。 Let us understand one another； my dear。 You may be a very great man to other people； but to me you are merely my runaway husbandan escaped convict。 If you don't eat your supper civilly； I shall send for the police。〃
〃Sarah！〃 he burst out； 〃I never meant to desert you。 Upon my word。 It is all a mistake。 Let me explain。〃
〃There is no need for explanations yet； JackI mean Richard。 Have your supper。 Ah！ I know what you want。〃
She poured out half a tumbler of brandy； and gave it to him。 He took the glass from her hand； drank the contents； and then； as though warmed by the spirit； laughed。 〃What a woman you are； Sarah。 I have been a great brute； I confess。〃
〃You have been an ungrateful villain；〃 said she； with sudden passion； 〃a hardened； selfish villain。〃
〃But； Sarah〃
〃Don't touch me！〃 〃'Pon my word； you are a fine creature； and I was a fool to leave you。〃 The compliment seemed to soothe her； for her tone changed somewhat。 〃It was a wicked； cruel act； Jack。 You whom I saved from deathwhom I nursedwhom I enriched。 It was the act of a coward。〃
〃I admit it。 It was。〃 〃You admit it。 Have you no shame then？ Have you no pity for me for what I have suffered all these years？〃
〃I don't suppose you cared much。〃
〃Don't you？ You never thought about me at all。 I have cared this much； John Rexbah！ the door is shut close enoughthat I have spent a fortune in hunting you down； and now I have found you； I will make you suffer in your turn。〃
He laughed again； but uneasily。 〃How did you discover me？〃
With a readiness which showed that she had already prepared an answer to the question； she unlocked a writing…case； which was on the side table； and took from it a newspaper。 〃By one of those strange accidents which are the ruin of men like you。 Among the papers sent to the overseer from his English friends was this one。〃
She held out an illustrated journala Sunday organ of sporting opinion and pointed to a portrait engraved on the centre page。 It represented a broad…shouldered； bearded man； dressed in the fashion affected by turfites and lovers of horse…flesh； standing beside a pedestal on which were piled a variety of racing cups and trophies。 John Rex read underneath 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 wo
