Читать книгу Under the Broad Arrow - George Forbes - Страница 9

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CONSTABLE FITCH, after having been acquitted by a sympathetic jury of a crime of which he was undoubtedly guilty, continued to pick up a precarious living in Sydney, during which time he managed to considerably extend his reputation for gallantry.

Among the officers in the regiments quartered in Sydney at this time there were some who had known Fitch before his conviction and sentence, and who, from a moral standpoint, were little better than he was himself, except from the fact that they had not yet been found out. One of these officers, Lieutenant Parkhurst, whom he had formerly known in the days of his prosperity, openly made a friend of Fitch, and together the pair might frequently be seen consorting with other companions of questionable character.

Parkhurst and Fitch, at this time, were concerned in many shady transactions, not the least of which were those adventures which they were pleased to term "affairs of gallantry," and upon one of his frequent perambulations through the town of Sydney, with his dissolute acquaintance, John Fitch suddenly found himself face to face with Jane Harding, from whom he had parted six years ago in London.

Jane was standing upon the verandah of the cottage in which she resided, her boy beside her, waiting to give her husband a welcome on his return from his work, when suddenly the evil genius of her life appeared before her. The recognition was mutual, and while in Fitch it aroused no more than a feeling of surprise, to poor Jane it brought such a flood of cruel and bitter memories that on hastily re-entering the house her senses forsook her.

But if Fitch was startled at the meeting with the girl he had betrayed, his companion appeared to see in it an adventure exactly to his liking, and making a note of the situation of the premises, the pair passed quietly on, each resolving in his own mind to profit by the unexpected discovery of Jane's whereabouts.

Leading the way into the parlor of an inn which they were in the habit of frequenting, and where they could talk undisturbed, Fitch confided to his companion the history of his elopement with Jane Harding, and transportation for seven years to Hobart Town.

"But how long ago is that?" inquired Parkhurst, deeply interested.

"It must be six years or thereabouts," replied Fitch.

"Then she cannot have served her sentence yet?" said Parkhurst.

"Not unless she has been pardoned," answered Fitch.

"Not likely," replied Parkhurst. "More probable she is on ticket of leave, and possibly an assigned servant. If so, I think I can get her transferred to a friend of mine."

At this they both laughed, for the friend to whom Parkhurst referred was known to Fitch to be an unscrupulous woman, who, for money, would be ready to assist him in any shameful project.

"I'll see about it now," said Parkhurst, presently, and making an appointment with Fitch to meet him later in the day, the King's officer swaggered out of the inn, followed to the door by an obsequious landlord who wished his honor good-day and a speedy return.

Arrived at the barracks, Lieutenant Parkhurst lost no time in despatching his military servant to an official with whom he he was acquainted, inviting him to lunch with him that day at the officers' mess.

After luncheon, and when the pair were seated together, with a spirit decanter between them, Parkhurst mentioned casually that a friend of his was in want of a convict servant.

The official could not repress a smile, when he heard the name of the applicant, but he answered gravely that he would see what could be done.

"I saw a likely-looking girl to-day," continued Parkhurst, mentioning the house in which Jane lived.

"I know them," replied the official—"the News. They come from Van Diemen's Land. New is a free man, and married to his wife, who is assigned to him."

"That makes no difference, does it?" said Parkhurst.

"Not in law," replied the official. "That is, if she has done anything to forfeit her ticket-of-leave. It rests with the Governor, of course."

"I will arrange all that," replied Parkhurst.

"Very well," answered the official, yawning, for the summer's day suggested an afternoon siesta. "Let me know how I can be of use to you, and we'll see what can be done."