Page 646 - for-the-term-of-his-natural-life

ing that time you must turn into cash as much property as
you dare. We will then go abroad for the ‘season’—and stop
there. After a year or so on the Continent you can write to
our agent to sell more property; and, finally, when we are
regarded as permanent absentees— and three or four years
will bring that about—we will get rid of everything, and slip
over to America. Then you can endow a charity if you like,
or build a church to the memory of the man you have dis-
placed.’
John Rex burst into a laugh. ‘An excellent plan. I like the
idea of the charity—the Devine Hospital, eh?’
‘By the way, how did you find out the particulars of this
man’s life. He was burned in the Hydaspes, wasn’t he?’
‘No,’ said Rex, with an air of pride. ‘He was transport-
ed in the Malabar under the name of Rufus Dawes. You
remember him. It is a long story. The particulars weren’t nu-
merous, and if the old lady had been half sharp she would
have bowled me out. But the fact was she wanted to find the
fellow alive, and was willing to take a good deal on trust. I’ll
tell you all about it another time. I think I’ll go to bed now;
I’m tired, and my head aches as though it would split.’
‘Then it is decided that you follow my directions?’
‘Yes.’
She rose and placed her hand on the bell. ‘What are you
going to do?’ he said uneasily.
‘I am going to do nothing. You are going to telegraph to
your servants to have the house in London prepared for your
wife, who will return with you the day after to-morrow.’
John Rex stayed her hand with a sudden angry gesture.