Page 81 - for-the-term-of-his-natural-life

daspes”. The secret, for the preservation of which Richard
Devine had voluntarily flung away his name, and risked a
terrible and disgraceful death, would be now for ever safe;
for Richard Devine was dead—lost at sea with the crew of
the ill-fated vessel in which, deluded by a skilfully-sent let-
ter from the prison, his mother believed him to have sailed.
Richard Devine was dead, and the secret of his birth would
die with him. Rufus Dawes, his alter ego, alone should live.
Rufus Dawes, the convicted felon, the suspected murderer,
should live to claim his freedom, and work out his ven-
geance; or, rendered powerful by the terrible experience of
the prison-sheds, should seize both, in defiance of gaol or
gaoler.
With his head swimming, and his brain on fire, he ea-
gerly listened for more. It seemed as if the fever which burnt
in his veins had consumed the grosser part of his sense, and
given him increased power of hearing. He was conscious
that he was ill. His bones ached, his hands burned, his head
throbbed, but he could hear distinctly, and, he thought, rea-
son on what he heard profoundly.
‘But we can’t stir without the girl,’ Gabbett said. ‘She’s got
to stall off the sentry and give us the orfice.’
The Crow’s sallow features lighted up with a cunning
smile.
‘Dear old caper merchant! Hear him talk!’ said he, ‘as if
he had the wisdom of Solomon in all his glory? Look here!’
And he produced a dirty scrap of paper, over which his
companions eagerly bent their heads.
‘Where did yer get that?’

0 For the Term of His Natural Life