for the term of his natural life-第92节
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ad but little acquaintance with him。 The advent of Mr。 Richard Devinea coarse person of unlimited means had therefore chief influence upon that sinister circle of male and female rogues who form the 〃half…world〃。 They began to inquire concerning his antecedents； and； failing satisfactory information； to invent lies concerning him。 It was generally believed that he was a black sheep； a man whose family kept him out of the way； but who was； in a pecuniary sense； 〃good〃 for a considerable sum。
Thus taken upon trust； Mr。 Richard Devine mixed in the very best of bad society； and had no lack of agreeable friends to help him to spend money。 So admirably did he spend it； that Francis Wade became at last alarmed at the frequent drafts； and urged his nephew to bring his affairs to a final settlement。 Richard Devinein Paris； Hamburg； or London； or elsewherecould never be got to attack business； and Mr。 Francis Wade grew more and more anxious。 The poor gentleman positively became ill through the anxiety consequent upon his nephew's dissipations。 〃I wish； my dear Richard； that you would let me know what to do；〃 he wrote。 〃I wish； my dear uncle； that you would do what you think best；〃 was his nephew's reply。
〃Will you let Purkiss and Quaid look into the business？〃 said the badgered Francis。
〃I hate lawyers；〃 said Richard。 〃Do what you think right。〃
Mr。 Wade began to repent of his too easy taking of matters in the beginning。 Not that he had a suspicion of Rex； but that he had remembered that Dick was always a loose fish。 The even current of the dilettante's life became disturbed。 He grew pale and hollow…eyed。 His digestion was impaired。 He ceased to take the interest in china which the importance of that article demanded。 In a word； he grew despondent as to his fitness for his mission in life。 Lady Ellinor saw a change in her brother。 He became morose； peevish； excitable。 She went privately to the family doctor； who shrugged his shoulders。 〃There is no danger；〃 said he； 〃if he is kept quiet； keep him quiet； and he will live for years； but his father died of heart disease； you know。〃 Lady Ellinor； upon this； wrote a long letter to Mr。 Richard； who was at Paris； repeated the doctor's opinions； and begged him to come over at once。 Mr。 Richard replied that some horse…racing matter of great importance occupied his attention； but that he would be at his rooms in Clarges Street （he had long ago established a town house） on the 14th； and would 〃go into matters〃。 〃I have lost a good deal of money lately； my dear mother；〃 said Mr。 Richard； 〃and the present will be a good opportunity to make a final settlement。〃 The fact was that John Rex； now three years in undisturbed possession； considered that the moment had arrived for the execution of his grand coup the carrying off at one swoop of the whole of the fortune he had gambled for。
CHAPTER III。
EXTRACTED FROM THE DIARY OF THE REV。 JAMES NORTH。
May 12thlanded to…day at Norfolk Island； and have been introduced to my new abode； situated some eleven hundred miles from Sydney。 A solitary rock in the tropical ocean； the island seems； indeed； a fit place of banishment。 It is about seven miles long and four broad。 The most remarkable natural object is； of course； the Norfolk Island pine； which rears its stately head a hundred feet above the surrounding forest。 The appearance of the place is very wild and beautiful； bringing to my mind the description of the romantic islands of the Pacific； which old geographers dwell upon so fondly。 Lemon； lime； and guava trees abound； also oranges； grapes； figs； bananas； peaches； pomegranates； and pine…apples。 The climate just now is hot and muggy。 The approach to Kingstown as the barracks and huts are calledis properly difficult。 A long low reef probably originally a portion of the barren rocks of Nepean and Philip Islands； which rise east and west of the settlementfronts the bay and obstructs the entrance of vessels。 We were landed in boats through an opening in this reef； and our vessel stands on and off within signalling distance。 The surf washes almost against the walls of the military roadway that leads to the barracks。 The social aspect of the place fills me with horror。 There seems neither discipline nor order。 On our way to the Commandant's house we passed a low dilapidated building where men were grinding maize； and at the sight of us they commenced whistling； hooting； and shouting； using the most disgusting language。 Three warders were near； but no attempt was made to check this unseemly exhibition。 May 14th。I sit down to write with as much reluctance as though I were about to relate my experience of a journey through a sewer。 First to the prisoners' barracks； which stand on an area of about three acres； surrounded by a lofty wall。 A road runs between this wall and the sea。 The barracks are three storeys high； and hold seven hundred and ninety men （let me remark here that there are more than two thousand men on the island）。 There are twenty…two wards in this place。 Each ward runs the depth of the building； viz。； eighteen feet； and in consequence is simply a funnel for hot or cold air to blow through。 When the ward is filled； the men's heads lie under the windows。 The largest ward contains a hundred men； the smallest fifteen。 They sleep in hammocks； slung close to each other as on board ship； in two lines； with a passage down the centre。 There is a wardsman to each ward。 He is selected by the prisoners； and is generally a man of the worst character。 He is supposed to keep order； but of course he never attempts to do so； indeed； as he is locked up in the ward every night from six o'clock in the evening until sunrise； without light； it is possible that he might get maltreated did he make himself obnoxious。
The barracks look upon the Barrack Square； which is filled with lounging prisoners。 The windows of the hospital…ward also look upon Barrack Square； and the prisoners are in constant communication with the patients。 The hospital is a low stone building； capable of containing about twenty men； and faces the beach。 I placed my hands on the wall； and found it damp。 An ulcerous prisoner said the dampness was owing to the heavy surf constantly rolling so close beneath the building。 There are two gaols； the old and the new。 The old gaol stands near the sea； close to the landing…place。 Outside it； at the door； is the Gallows。 I touched it as I passed in。 This engine is the first thing which greets the eyes of a newly…arrived prisoner。 The new gaol is barely completed； is of pentagonal shape； and has eighteen radiating cells of a pattern approved by some wiseacre in England； who thinks that to prevent a man from seeing his fellowmen is not the way to drive him mad。 In the old gaol are twenty…four prisoners； all heavily ironed； awaiting trial by the visiting Commission； from Hobart Town。 Some of these poor ruffians； having committed their offences just after the last sitting of the Commission； have already been in gaol upwards of eleven months！
At six o'clock we saw the men mustered。 I read prayers before the muster； and was surprised to find that some of the prisoners attended； while some strolled about the yard； whistling； singing； and joking。 The muster is a farce。 The prisoners are not mustered outside and then marched to their wards； but they rush into the barracks indiscriminately； and place themselves dressed or undressed in their hammocks。 A convict sub…overseer then calls out the names； and somebody replies。 If an answer is returned to each name； all is considered right。 The lights are taken away； and save for a few minutes at eight o'clock； when the good…conduct men are let in； the ruffians are left to their own devices until morning。 Knowing what I know of the customs of the convicts； my heart sickens when I in imagination put myself in the place of a newly…transported man； plunged from six at night until daybreak into that foetid den of worse than wild beasts。
May 15th。There is a place enclosed between high walls adjoining the convict barracks； called the Lumber Yard。 This is where the prisoners mess。 It is roofed on two sides； and contains tables and benches。 Six hundred men can mess here perhaps； but as seven hundred are always driven into it； it follows that the weakest men are compelled to sit on the ground。 A more disorderly sight than this yard at meal times I never beheld。 The cook…houses are adjoining it； and the men bake their meal…bread there。 Outside the cook…house door the firewood is piled； and fires are made in all directions on the ground； round which sit the prisoners； frying their rations of fresh pork； baking their hominy cakes； chatting； and even smoking。
The Lumber Yard is a sort of Alsatia； to which the hunted prisoner retires。 I don't think the boldest constable on the island would venture into that place to pick out a man from the seven hundred。 If he did go in I don't think he would come out again alive。
May 16th。A sub…overseer； a man named Hankey； has been talking to me。 He says that there are some forty of the oldest and worst prisoners who form what he calls the 〃Ring〃； and that the members of this 〃Ring〃 are bound by oath to support each o
