for the term of his natural life-第56章
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〃No。〃
〃Well; leave it。 It's your own affair; not mine。 If I help you; you must go。〃
〃May I see him?〃
〃No。〃
〃Ah; Maurice!〃
〃You can see him in the dock if you like;〃 says Frere; with a laugh; cut short by a flash of her eyes。 〃There; I didn't mean to offend you。〃
〃Offend me! Go on。〃
〃Listen here;〃 said he doggedly。 〃If you will go away; and promise never to interfere with me by word or deed; I'll do what you want。〃
〃What will you do?〃 she asked; unable to suppress a smile at the victory she had won。
〃I will not say all I know about this man。 I will say he befriended me。 I will do my best to save his life。〃
〃You can save it if you like。〃
〃Well; I will try。 On my honour; I will try。〃
〃I must believe you; I suppose?〃 said she doubtfully; and then; with a sudden pitiful pleading; in strange contrast to her former violence; 〃You are not deceiving me; Maurice?〃
〃No。 Why should I? You keep your promise; and I'll keep mine。 Is it a bargain?〃
〃Yes。〃
He eyed her steadfastly for some seconds; and then turned on his heel。 As he reached the door she called him back。 Knowing him as she did; she felt that he would keep his word; and her feminine nature could not resist a parting sneer。
〃There is nothing in the bargain to prevent me helping him to escape!〃 she said with a smile。
〃Escape! He won't escape again; I'll go bail。 Once get him in double irons at Port Arthur; and he's safe enough。〃
The smile on her face seemed infectious; for his own sullen features relaxed。 〃Good night; Sarah;〃 he said。
She put out her hand; as if nothing had happened。 〃Good night; Captain Frere。 It's a bargain; then?〃
〃A bargain。〃
〃You have a long walk home。 Will you have some brandy?〃
〃I don't care if I do;〃 he said; advancing to the table; and filling his glass。 〃Here's a good voyage to you!〃
Sarah Purfoy; watching him; burst into a laugh。 〃Human beings are queer creatures;〃 she said。 〃Who would have thought that we had been calling each other names just now? I say; I'm a vixen when I'm roused; ain't I; Maurice?〃
〃Remember what you've promised;〃 said he; with a threat in his voice; as he moved to the door。 〃You must be out of this by the next ship that leaves。〃
〃Never fear; I'll go。〃
Getting into the cool street directly; and seeing the calm stars shining; and the placid water sleeping with a peace in which he had no share; he strove to cast off the nervous fear that was on him。 That interview had frightened him; for it had made him think。 It was hard that; just as he had turned over a new leaf; this old blot should come through to the clean page。 It was cruel that; having comfortably forgotten the past; he should be thus rudely reminded of it。
CHAPTER III。
THE STORY OF TWO BIRDS OF PREY。
The reader of the foregoing pages has doubtless asked himself; 〃what is the link which binds together John Rex and Sarah Purfoy?〃
In the year 1825 there lived at St。 Heliers; Jersey; an old watchmaker; named Urban Purfoy。 He was a hard…working man; and had amassed a little moneysufficient to give his grand…daughter an education above the common in those days。 At sixteen; Sarah Purfoy was an empty…headed; strong…willed; precocious girl; with big brown eyes。 She had a bad opinion of her own sex; and an immense admiration for the young and handsome members of the other。 The neighbours said that she was too high and mighty for her rank in life。 Her grandfather said she was a 〃beauty〃; and like her poor dear mother。 She herself thought rather meanly of her personal attractions; and rather highly of her mental ones。 She was brimful of vitality; with strong passions; and little religious sentiment。 She had not much respect for moral courage; for she did not understand it; but she was a profound admirer of personal prowess。 Her distaste for the humdrum life she was leading found expression in a rebellion against social usages。 She courted notoriety by eccentricities of dress; and was never so happy as when she was misunderstood。 She was the sort of girl of whom women say 〃It is a pity she has no mother〃; and men; 〃It is a pity she does not get a husband〃; and who say to themselves; 〃When shall I have a lover?〃 There was no lack of beings of this latter class among the officers quartered in Fort Royal and Fort Henry; but the female population of the island was free and numerous; and in the embarrassment of riches; Sarah was overlooked。 Though she adored the soldiery; her first lover was a civilian。 Walking one day on the cliff; she met a young man。 He was tall; well…looking; and well…dressed。 His name was Lemoine; he was the son of a somewhat wealthy resident of the island; and had come down from London to recruit his health and to see his friends。 Sarah was struck by his appearance; and looked back at him。 He had been struck by hers; and looked back also。 He followed her; and spoke to hersome remark about the wind or the weather and she thought his voice divine。 They got into conversationabout scenery; lonely walks; and the dullness of St。 Heliers。 〃Did she often walk there?〃 〃Sometimes。〃 〃Would she be there tomorrow?〃 〃She might。〃 Mr。 Lemoine lifted his hat; and went back to dinner; rather pleased with himself。
They met the next day; and the day after that。 Lemoine was not a gentleman; but he had lived among gentlemen; and had caught something of their manner。 He said that; after all; virtue was a mere name; and that when people were powerful and rich; the world respected them more than if they had been honest and poor。 Sarah agreed with this sentiment。 Her grandfather was honest and poor; and yet nobody respected himat least; not with such respect as she cared to acknowledge。 In addition to his talent for argument; Lemoine was handsome and had moneyhe showed her quite a handful of bank…notes one day。 He told her of London and the great ladies there; and hinting that they were not always virtuous; drew himself up with a moody air; as though he had been unhappily the cause of their fatal lapse into wickedness。 Sarah did not wonder at this in the least。 Had she been a great lady; she would have done the same。 She began to coquet with this seductive fellow; and to hint to him that she had too much knowledge of the world to set a fictitious value upon virtue。 He mistook her artfulness for innocence; and thought he had made a conquest。 Moreover; the girl was pretty; and when dressed properly; would look well。 Only one obstacle stood in the way of their loves the dashing profligate was poor。 He had been living in London above his means; and his father was not inclined to increase his allowance。
Sarah liked him better than anybody else she had seen; but there are two sides to every bargain。 Sarah Purfoy must go to London。 In vain her lover sighed and swore。 Unless he would promise to take her away with him; Diana was not more chaste。 The more virtuous she grew; the more vicious did Lemoine feel。 His desire to possess her increased in proportionate ratio to her resistance; and at last he borrowed two hundred pounds from his father's confidential clerk (the Lemoines were merchants by profession); and acceded to her wishes。 There was no love on either side vanity was the mainspring of the whole transaction。 Lemoine did not like to be beaten; Sarah sold herself for a passage to England and an introduction into the 〃great world〃。
We need not describe her career at this epoch。 Suffice it to say that she discovered that vice is not always conducive to happiness; and is not; even in this world; so well rewarded as its earnest practice might merit。 Sated; and disappointed; she soon grew tired of her life; and longed to escape from its wearying dissipations。 At this juncture she fell in love。
The object of her affections was one Mr。 Lionel Crofton。 Crofton was tall; well made; and with an insinuating address。 His features were too strongly marked for beauty。 His eyes were the best part of his face; and; like his hair; they were jet black。 He had broad shoulders; sinewy limbs; and small hands and feet。 His head was round; and well…shaped; but it bulged a little over the ears which were singularly small and lay close to his head。 With th