Page 376 - for-the-term-of-his-natural-life

What verse? Seventy-four. Count seventy-four words and
score.’
There was a pause for a few minutes while Mr. Meekin
counted. The letter had really turned out interesting.
‘Read out your marked words now, Meekin. Let’s see
if I’m right.’ Mr. Meekin read with gradually crimsoning
face:—
‘‘I have hope even in this my desolate condition...in
prison Van Diemen’s Land...the authorities are held in...
hatred and contempt of prisoners...read in any colonial
newspaper...accounts of cruelty and tyranny...inflicted by
gaolers on convicts...severe flogging and heavy chaining...
for slight breaches of discipline...I...come...the pious...it...
pays...£1,000...in the old house in Blue Anchor Yard... sto-
len goods and watches studs rings and jewellery...are...now...
placed... safely...I... will...find...some...method of escape...
then...for revenge.’’
‘Well,’ said Maurice, looking round with a grin, ‘what do
you think of that?’
‘Most remarkable!’ said Mr. Pounce.
‘How did you find it out, Frere?’
‘Oh, it’s nothing,’ says Frere; meaning that it was a great
deal. ‘I’ve studied a good many of these things, and this one
is clumsy to some I’ve seen. But it’s pious, isn’t it, Meekin?’
Mr. Meekin arose in wrath.
‘It’s very ungracious on your part, Captain Frere. A capi-
tal joke, I have no doubt; but permit me to say I do not like
jesting on such matters. This poor fellow’s letter to his aged
father to be made the subject of heartless merriment, I con-