of what he suspected。 Leaving the room hurriedly； he ran
into his ownopened his desk； wrote two hurried lines；
which he directed to Sir Pitt or Lady Crawley； and
bade the messenger carry them at once to Gaunt Street；
bidding him to take a cab； and promising him a guinea
if he was back in an hour。
In the note he besought his dear brother and sister；
for the sake of God； for the sake of his dear child and
his honour； to come to him and relieve him from his
difficulty。 He was in prison； he wanted a hundred pounds
to set him freehe entreated them to come to him。
He went back to the dining…room after dispatching his
messenger and called for more wine。 He laughed and
talked with a strange boisterousness； as the people
thought。 Sometimes he laughed madly at his own fears
and went on drinking for an hour； listening all the while
for the carriage which was to bring his fate back。
At the expiration of that time； wheels were heard
whirling up to the gatethe young janitor went out
with his gate…keys。 It was a lady whom he let in at the
bailiff's door。
〃Colonel Crawley；〃 she said； trembling very much。 He；
with a knowing look； locked the outer door upon her
then unlocked and opened the inner one； and calling out；
〃Colonel； you're wanted；〃 led her into the back parlour；
which he occupied。
Rawdon came in from the dining…parlour where all
those people were carousing； into his back room； a flare
of coarse light following him into the apartment where
the lady stood； still very nervous。
〃It is I； Rawdon；〃 she said in a timid voice； which
she strove to render cheerful。 〃It is Jane。〃 Rawdon was
quite overcome by that kind voice and presence。 He ran
up to hercaught her in his armsgasped out some
inarticulate words of thanks and fairly sobbed on her
shoulder。 She did not know the cause of his emotion。
The bills of Mr。 Moss were quickly settled； perhaps
to the disappointment of that gentleman； who had counted
on having the Colonel as his guest over Sunday at least；
and Jane； with beaming smiles and happiness in her eyes；
carried away Rawdon from the bailiff's house； and they
went homewards in the cab in which she had hastened
to his release。 〃Pitt was gone to a parliamentary dinner；〃
she said； 〃when Rawdon's note came； and so； dear
Rawdon； II came myself〃； and she put her kind hand in
his。 Perhaps it was well for Rawdon Crawley that Pitt
was away at that dinner。 Rawdon thanked his sister a
hundred times； and with an ardour of gratitude which
touched and almost alarmed that soft…hearted woman。
〃Oh；〃 said he； in his rude； artless way； 〃youyou don't
know how I'm changed since I've known you； andand
little Rawdy。 II'd like to change somehow。 You see
I wantI wantto be〃 He did… not finish the
sentence； but she could interpret it。 And that night after he
left her； and as she sat by her own little boy's bed； she
prayed humbly for that poor way…worn sinner。
Rawdon left her and walked home rapidly。 It was nine
o'clock at night。 He ran across the streets and the great
squares of Vanity Fair； and at length came up breathless
opposite his own house。 He started back and fell against
the railings； trembling as he looked up。 The drawing…
room windows were blazing with light。 She had said that
she was in bed and ill。 He stood there for some time；
the light from the rooms on his pale face。
He took out his door…key and let himself into the
house。 He could hear laughter in the upper rooms。 He
was in the ball…dress in which he had been captured the
night before。 He went silently up the stairs； leaning
against the banisters at the stair…head。 Nobody was
stirring in the house besidesall the servants had been sent
away。 Rawdon heard laughter withinlaughter and singing。
Becky was singing a snatch of the song of the night
before； a hoarse voice shouted 〃Brava！ Brava！〃it was
Lord Steyne's。
Rawdon opened the door and went in。 A little table
with a dinner was laid outand wine and plate。 Steyne
was hanging over the sofa on which Becky sat。 The
wretched woman was in a brilliant full toilette； her arms
and all her fingers sparkling with bracelets and rings；
and the brilliants on her breast which Steyne had given
her。 He had her hand in his； and was bowing over it
to kiss it； when Becky started up with a faint scream
as she caught sight of Rawdon's white face。 At the next
instant she tried a smile； a horrid smile； as if to
welcome her husband； and Steyne rose up； grinding
his teeth； pale； and with fury in his looks。
He； too； attempted a laughand came forward holding
out his hand。 〃What； come back！ How d'ye do； Crawley？〃
he said； the nerves of his mouth twitching as he
tried to grin at the intruder。
There was that in Rawdon's face which caused Becky
to fling herself before him。 〃I am innocent； Rawdon；〃
she said； 〃before God； I am innocent。〃 She clung hold
of his coat； of his hands； her own were all covered with
serpents； and rings； and baubles。 〃I am innocent。 Say I
am innocent；〃 she said to Lord Steyne。
He thought a trap had been laid for him； and was as
furious with the wife as with the husband。 〃You
innocent！ Damn you；〃 he screamed out。 〃You innocent！ Why
every trinket you have on your body is paid for by me。
I have given you thousands of pounds； which this fellow
has spent and for which he has sold you。 Innocent；
by ！ You're as innocent as your mother； the ballet…
girl； and your husband the bully。 Don't think to frighten
me as you have done others。 Make way； sir； and let me
pass〃； and Lord Steyne seized up his hat； and； with
flame in his eyes； and looking his enemy fiercely in the
face； marched upon him； never for a moment doubting
that the other would give way。
But Rawdon Crawley springing out； seized him by the
neckcloth； until Steyne； almost strangled； writhed and
bent under his arm。 〃You lie； you dog！〃 said Rawdon。
〃You lie； you coward and villain！〃 And he struck the
Peer twice over the face with his open hand and flung
him bleeding to the ground。 It was all done before
Rebecca could interpose。 She stood there trembling before
him。 She admired her husband； strong； brave； and
victorious。
〃Come here；〃 he said。 She came up at once。
〃Take off those things。〃 She began； trembling； pulling
the jewels from her arms； and the rings from her shaking
fingers； and held them all in a heap； quivering and looking
up at him。 〃Throw them down；〃 he said； and she
dropped them。 He tore the diamond ornament out of her
breast and flung it at Lord Steyne。 It cut him on his
bald forehead。 Steyne wore the scar to his dying day。
〃Come upstairs；〃 Rawdon said to his wife。 〃Don't kill
me； Rawdon；〃 she said。 He laughed savagely。 〃I want
to see if that man lies about the money as he has about
me。 Has he given you any？〃
〃No；〃 said Rebecca； 〃that is〃
〃Give me your keys；〃 Rawdon answered； and they
went out together。
Rebecca gave him all the keys but one； and she was in
hopes that he would not have remarked the absence of
that。 It belonged to the little desk which Amelia had
given her in early days； and which she kept in a secret
place。 But Rawdon flung open boxes and wardrobes；
throwing the multifarious trumpery of their contents here
and there； and at last he found the desk。 The woman was
forced to open it。 It contained papers； love…letters many
years oldall sorts of small trinkets and woman's
memoranda。 And it contained a pocket…book with bank…notes。
Some of these were dated ten years back； too； and one
was quite a fresh onea note for a thousand pounds
which Lord Steyne had given her。
〃Did he give you this？〃 Rawdon said。
〃Yes；〃 Rebecca answered。
〃I'll send it to him to…day；〃 Rawdon said （for day had
dawned again； and many hours had passed in this search）；
〃and I will pay Briggs； who was kind to the boy； and
some of the debts。 You will let me know where I shall
send the rest to you。 You might have spared me a
hundred pounds； Becky； out of all thisI have always
shared with you。〃
〃I am innocent；〃 said Becky。 And he left her without
another word。
What were her thoughts when he left her？ She
remained for hours after he was gone； the sunshine
pouring into the room； and Rebecca sitting alone on the
bed's edge。 The drawers were all opened and their contents
scattered aboutdresses and feathers； scarfs and trinkets；
a heap of tumbled vanities lying in a wreck。 Her hair
was falling over her shoulders； her gown was torn where
Rawdon had wrenched the brilliants out of it。 She heard
him go downstairs a few minutes after he left her； and
the door slamming and closing on him。 She knew he
would never come back。 He was gone forever。 Would
he kill himself？she thoughtnot until after he had
met Lord Steyne。 She thought of her long past life； and
all the dismal incidents of it。 Ah； how dreary it seemed；
how miserable； lonely and profitless！ Should she take
laudanum； and end it； to have done with all hopes；
schemes； debts； and triumphs？ The French maid found
her in this positionsitting in the midst of her miserable
ruins with clasped hands and dry eyes。 The woman was
her accomplice and in Steyne's pay。 〃Mon Dieu；
madame； what has happened？〃 she asked。
What had happened？ Was she guilty or not？ She said
not； but who could tell what was truth which came from
those lips； or if that corrupt heart was in this case pure？
All her lies and her schemes； an her selfishness and her
wiles； all her wit and genius had come to this
bankruptcy。 The woman closed the curtains and； with some
entreaty and show of kindness； persuaded her mistress
to lie down on the bed。 Then she went below and
gathered up the trinkets which had been lying on the floor
since Rebecca dropped them there at her husband's
orders； and Lord Steyne went away。
CHAPTER LIV
Sunday After the Battle
The mansion of Sir Pitt Crawley； in Great Gaunt Street；
was just beginning to dress itself for the day； as Rawdon；
in his evening costume； which he had now worn
two days； passed by the scared female who was scouring
the steps and entered into his brother's study。 Lady
Jane； in her morning…gown； was up and above stairs in
the nursery superintending the toilettes of her children
and listening to the morning prayers which the littl