Page 570 - for-the-term-of-his-natural-life

‘Go back, then. You have only to say the word!’ And so
they would wrangle, she glorying in her power over the
man who had so long triumphed over her, and he consol-
ing himself with the hope that the day was not far distant
which should bring him at once freedom and fortune. One
day the chance came to him. His wife was ill, and the un-
grateful scoundrel stole five hundred pounds, and taking
two horses reached Sydney, and obtained passage in a ves-
sel bound for Rio.
Having escaped thraldom, John Rex proceeded to play
for the great stake of his life with the utmost caution. He
went to the Continent, and lived for weeks together in the
towns where Richard Devine might possibly have resided,
familiarizing himself with streets, making the acquain-
tance of old inhabitants, drawing into his own hands all
loose ends of information which could help to knit the
meshes of his net the closer. Such loose ends were not nu-
merous; the prodigal had been too poor, too insignificant,
to leave strong memories behind him. Yet Rex knew well by
what strange accidents the deceit of an assumed identity is
often penetrated. Some old comrade or companion of the
lost heir might suddenly appear with keen questions as to
trifles which could cut his flimsy web to shreds, as easily as
the sword of Saladin divided the floating silk. He could not
afford to ignore the most insignificant circumstances. With
consummate skill, piece by piece he built up the story which
was to deceive the poor mother, and to make him possessor
of one of the largest private fortunes in England.
This was the tale he hit upon. He had been saved from