for the term of his natural life-第3节
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hirty years of age； having lost together with his estates all chance of winning the one woman who might have saved himhis cousin Ellinorhe became that most unhappy of all beings； a well…born blackleg。 When he was told by thin…lipped； cool Colonel Wade that the rich shipbuilder； Sir Richard Devine； had proposed an alliance with fair…haired gentle Ellinor； he swore； with fierce knitting of his black brows； that no law of man nor Heaven should further restrain him in his selfish prodigality。 〃You have sold your daughter and ruined me；〃 he said； 〃look to the consequences。〃 Colonel Wade sneered at his fiery kinsman： 〃You will find Sir Richard's house a pleasant one to visit； Armigell； and he should be worth an income to so experienced a gambler as yourself。〃 Lord Bellasis did visit at Sir Richard's house during the first year of his cousin's marriage； but upon the birth of the son who is the hero of this history； he affected a quarrel with the city knight； and cursing him to the Prince and Poins for a miserly curmudgeon； who neither diced nor drank like a gentleman； departed； more desperately at war with fortune than ever； for his old haunts。 The year 1827 found him a hardened； hopeless old man of sixty； battered in health and ruined in pocket； but who； by dint of stays； hair…dye； and courage； yet faced the world with undaunted front； and dined as gaily in bailiff…haunted Belsize as he had dined at Carlton House。 Of the possessions of the House of Wotton Wade； this old manor； timberless and bare； was all that remained； and its master rarely visited it。
On the evening of May 3； 1827； Lord Bellasis had been attending a pigeon match at Hornsey Wood； and having resisted the importunities of his companion； Mr。 Lionel Crofton （a young gentleman…rake； whose position in the sporting world was not the most secure）； who wanted him to go on into town； he had avowed his intention of striking across Hampstead to Belsize。 〃I have an appointment at the fir trees on the Heath；〃 he said。
〃With a woman？〃 asked Mr。 Crofton。
〃Not at all； with a parson。〃
〃A parson！〃
〃You stare！ Well； he is only just ordained。 I met him last year at Bath on his vacation from Cambridge； and he was good enough to lose some money to me。〃
〃And now waits to pay it out of his first curacy。 I wish your lordship joy with all my soul。 Then； we must push on； for it grows late。〃
〃Thanks； my dear sir； for the 'we；' but I must go alone；〃 said Lord Bellasis dryly。 〃To…morrow you can settle with me for the sitting of last week。 Hark！ the clock is striking nine。 Good night。〃
* * * * * *
At half…past nine Richard Devine quitted his mother's house to begin the new life he had chosen； and so； drawn together by that strange fate of circumstances which creates events； the father and son approached each other。
* * * * * *
As the young man gained the middle of the path which led to the Heath； he met Sir Richard returning from the village。 It was no part of his plan to seek an interview with the man whom his mother had so deeply wronged； and he would have slunk past in the gloom； but seeing him thus alone returning to a desolated home； the prodigal was tempted to utter some words of farewell and of regret。 To his astonishment； however； Sir Richard passed swiftly on； with body bent forward as one in the act of falling； and with eyes unconscious of surroundings； staring straight into the distance。 Half…terrified at this strange appearance； Richard hurried onward； and at a turn of the path stumbled upon something which horribly accounted for the curious action of the old man。 A dead body lay upon its face in the heather； beside it was a heavy riding whip stained at the handle with blood； and an open pocket…book。 Richard took up the book； and read； in gold letters on the cover； 〃Lord Bellasis。〃
The unhappy young man knelt down beside the body and raised it。 The skull had been fractured by a blow； but it seemed that life yet lingered。 Overcome with horrorfor he could not doubt but that his mother's worst fears had been realizedRichard knelt there holding his murdered father in his arms； waiting until the murderer； whose name he bore； should have placed himself beyond pursuit。 It seemed an hour to his excited fancy before he saw a light pass along the front of the house he had quitted； and knew that Sir Richard had safely reached his chamber。 With some bewildered intention of summoning aid； he left the body and made towards the town。 As he stepped out on the path he heard voices； and presently some dozen men； one of whom held a horse； burst out upon him； and； with sudden fury； seized and flung him to the ground。
At first the young man； so rudely assailed； did not comprehend his own danger。 His mind； bent upon one hideous explanation of the crime； did not see another obvious one which had already occurred to the mind of the landlord of the Three Spaniards。
〃God defend me！〃 cried Mr。 Mogford； scanning by the pale light of the rising moon the features of the murdered man； 〃but it is Lord Bellasis！oh； you bloody villain！ Jem； bring him along here； p'r'aps his lordship can recognize him！〃
〃It was not I！〃 cried Richard Devine。 〃For God's sake； my lord say〃 then he stopped abruptly； and being forced on his knees by his captors； remained staring at the dying man； in sudden and ghastly fear。
Those men in whom emotion has the effect of quickening circulation of the blood reason rapidly in moments of danger； and in the terrible instant when his eyes met those of Lord Bellasis； Richard Devine had summed up the chances of his future fortune； and realized to the full his personal peril。 The runaway horse had given the alarm。 The drinkers at the Spaniards' Inn had started to search the Heath； and had discovered a fellow in rough costume； whose person was unknown to them； hastily quitting a spot where； beside a rifled pocket…book and a blood…stained whip； lay a dying man。
The web of circumstantial evidence had enmeshed him。 An hour ago escape would have been easy。 He would have had but to cry； 〃I am the son of Sir Richard Devine。 Come with me to yonder house； and I will prove to you that I have but just quitted it；〃to place his innocence beyond immediate question。 That course of action was impossible now。 Knowing Sir Richard as he did； and believing； moreover； that in his raging passion the old man had himself met and murdered the destroyer of his honour； the son of Lord Bellasis and Lady Devine saw himself in a position which would compel him either to sacrifice himself； or to purchase a chance of safety at the price of his mother's dishonour and the death of the man whom his mother had deceived。 If the outcast son were brought a prisoner to North End House； Sir Richardnow doubly oppressed of fatewould be certain to deny him； and he would be compelled； in self…defence； to reveal a story which would at once bring his mother to open infamy； and send to the gallows the man who had been for twenty years deceivedthe man to whose kindness he owed education and former fortune。 He knelt； stupefied； unable to speak or move。
〃Come；〃 cried Mogford again； 〃say； my lord； is this the villain？〃
Lord Bellasis rallied his failing senses； his glazing eyes stared into his son's face with horrible eagerness； he shook his head； raised a feeble arm as though to point elsewhere； and fell back dead。
〃If you didn't murder him； you robbed him；〃 growled Mogford； 〃and you shall sleep at Bow Street to…night。 Tom； run on to meet the patrol； and leave word at the Gate…house that I've a passenger for the coach！Bring him on； Jack！What's your name； eh？〃
He repeated the rough question twice before his prisoner answered； but at length Richard Devine raised a pale face which stern resolution had already hardened into defiant manhood； and said 〃DawesRufus Dawes。〃
* * * * * *
His new life had begun already： for that night one； Rufus Dawes； charged with murder and robbery； lay awake in prison； waiting for the fortune of the morrow。
Two other men waited as eagerly。 One； Mr。 Lionel Crofton； the other； the horseman who had appointment with the murdered Lord Bellasis under the shadow of the fir trees on Hampstead Heath。 As for Sir Richard Devine； he waited for no one； for upon reaching his room he had fallen senseless in a fit of apoplexy。
BOOK I。THE SEA。 1827。
CHAPTER I。
THE PRISON SHIP。
In the breathless stillness of a tropical afternoon； when the air was hot and heavy； and the sky brazen and cloudless； the shadow of the Malabar lay solitary on the surface of the glittering sea。
The sunwho rose on the left hand every morning a blazing ball； to move slowly through the unbearable blue； until he sank fiery red in mingling glories of sky and ocean on the right handhad just got low enough to peep beneath the awning that covered the poop…deck； and awaken a young man； in an undress military uniform； who was dozing on a coil of rope。
〃Hang it！〃 said he； rising and stretching himself； with the weary sigh of a man who has nothing to do； 〃I must have been asleep〃
