for the term of his natural life-第57章
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th this man； barely four years older than herself； Sarah； at seventeen； fell violently in love。 This was the more strange as； though fond of her； he would tolerate no caprices； and possessed an ungovernable temper； which found vent in curses； and even blows。 He seemed to have no profession or business； and though he owned a good address； he was even less of a gentleman than Lemoine。 Yet Sarah； attracted by one of the strange sympathies which constitute the romance of such women's lives； was devoted to him。 Touched by her affection； and rating her intelligence and unscrupulousness at their true value； he told her who he was。 He was a swindler； a forger； and a thief； and his name was John Rex。 When she heard this she experienced a sinister delight。 He told her of his plots； his tricks； his escapes； his villainies； and seeing how for years this young man had preyed upon the world which had deceived and disowned her； her heart went out to him。 〃I am glad you found me；〃 she said。 〃Two heads are better than one。 We will work together。〃
John Rex； known among his intimate associates as Dandy Jack； was the putative son of a man who had been for many years valet to Lord Bellasis； and who retired from the service of that profligate nobleman with a sum of money and a wife。 John Rex was sent to as good a school as could be procured for him； and at sixteen was given； by the interest of his mother with his father's former master； a clerkship in an old…established city banking…house。 Mrs。 Rex was intensely fond of her son； and imbued him with a desire to shine in aristocratic circles。 He was a clever lad； without any principle； he would lie unblushingly； and steal deliberately； if he thought he could do so with impunity。 He was cautious； acquisitive； imaginative； self…conceited； and destructive。 He had strong perceptive faculties； and much invention and versatility； but his 〃moral sense〃 was almost entirely wanting。 He found that his fellow clerks were not of that 〃gentlemanly〃 stamp which his mother thought so admirable； and therefore he despised them。 He thought he should like to go into the army； for he was athletic； and rejoiced in feats of muscular strength。 To be tied all day to a desk was beyond endurance。 But John Rex； senior； told him to 〃wait and see what came of it。〃 He did so； and in the meantime kept late hours； got into bad company； and forged the name of a customer of the bank to a cheque for twenty pounds。 The fraud was a clumsy one； and was detected in twenty…four hours。 Forgeries by clerks； however easily detected； are unfortunately not considered to add to the attractions of a banking…house； and the old…established firm decided not to prosecute； but dismissed Mr。 John Rex from their service。 The ex…valet； who never liked his legalized son； was at first for turning him out of doors； but by the entreaties of his wife； was at last induced to place the promising boy in a draper's shop； in the City Road。
This employment was not a congenial one； and John Rex planned to leave it。 He lived at home； and had his salaryabout thirty shillings a week for pocket money。 Though he displayed considerable skill with the cue； and not infrequently won considerable sums for one in his position； his expenses averaged more than his income； and having borrowed all he could； he found himself again in difficulties。 His narrow escape； however； had taught him a lesson； and he resolved to confess all to his indulgent mother； and be more economical for the future。 Just then one of those 〃lucky chances〃 which blight so many lives occurred。 The 〃shop…walker〃 died； and Messrs。 Baffaty & Co。 made the gentlemanly Rex act as his substitute for a few days。 Shop…walkers have opportunities not accorded to other folks； and on the evening of the third day Mr。 Rex went home with a bundle of lace in his pocket。 Unfortunately； he owed more than the worth of this petty theft； and was compelled to steal again。 This time he was detected。 One of his fellow…shopmen caught him in the very act of concealing a roll of silk； ready for future abstraction； and； to his astonishment； cried 〃Halves！〃 Rex pretended to be virtuously indignant； but soon saw that such pretence was useless； his companion was too wily to be fooled with such affectation of innocence。 〃I saw you take it；〃 said he； 〃and if you won't share I'll tell old Baffaty。〃 This argument was irresistible； and they shared。 Having become good friends； the self…made partner lent Rex a helping hand in the disposal of the booty； and introduced him to a purchaser。 The purchaser violated all rules of romance by beingnot a Jew； but a very orthodox Christian。 He kept a second…hand clothes warehouse in the City Road； and was supposed to have branch establishments all over London。
Mr。 Blicks purchased the stolen goods for about a third of their value； and seemed struck by Mr。 Rex's appearance。 〃I thort you was a swell mobsman；〃 said he。 This； from one so experienced； was a high compliment。 Encouraged by success； Rex and his companion took more articles of value。 John Rex paid off his debts； and began to feel himself quite a 〃gentleman〃 again。 Just as Rex had arrived at this pleasing state of mind； Baffaty discovered the robbery。 Not having heard about the bank business； he did not suspect Rexhe was such a gentlemanly young man but having had his eye for some time upon Rex's partner； who was vulgar； and squinted； he sent for him。 Rex's partner stoutly denied the accusation； and old Baffaty； who was a man of merciful tendencies； and could well afford to lose fifty pounds； gave him until the next morning to confess； and state where the goods had gone； hinting at the persuasive powers of a constable at the end of that time。 The shopman； with tears in his eyes； came in a hurry to Rex； and informed him that all was lost。 He did not want to confess； because he must implicate his friend Rex； but if he did not confess he would be given in charge。 Flight was impossible； for neither had money。 In this dilemma John Rex remembered Blicks's compliment； and burned to deserve it。 If he must retreat； he would lay waste the enemy's country。 His exodus should be like that of the Israeliteshe would spoil the Egyptians。 The shop…walker was allowed half an hour in the middle of the day for lunch。 John Rex took advantage of this half…hour to hire a cab and drive to Blicks。 That worthy man received him cordially； for he saw that he was bent upon great deeds。 John Rex rapidly unfolded his plan of operations。 The warehouse doors were fastened with a spring。 He would remain behind after they were locked； and open them at a given signal。 A light cart or cab could be stationed in the lane at the back； three men could fill it with valuables in as many hours。 Did Blicks know of three such men？ Blicks's one eye glistened。 He thought he did know。 At half…past eleven they should be there。 Was that all？ No。 Mr。 John Rex was not going to 〃put up〃 such a splendid thing for nothing。 The booty was worth at least ？；000 if it was worth a shillinghe must have ？00 cash when the cart stopped at Blicks's door。 Blicks at first refused 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 fro
