"
"I do."
"Do you know him?"
"Do _you_ know him, Lionel Dale?" demanded the old woman with sudden
intensity.
"I have good reason to know him--he is my first-cousin," answered the
rector.
"You _have_ good reason to know him--a reason that you are ignorant of.
Shall I tell you that reason, Mr. Dale?"
"I am ready to hear what you have to say; but I must warn you that I
shall be but little affected by it."
"Beware how you regard my solemn warning as the raving of a lunatic. It
is your life that is at stake, Lionel Dale--your life! The reason you
ought to know Reginald Eversleigh is, that in him you have a deadly
enemy."
"An enemy! My cousin Reginald, a man whom I never injured by deed or
word in my life! Has _he_ ever tried to injure me?"
"He has."
"How?"
"He schemed and plotted against you and others before your uncle Sir
Oswald's death. His dearest hope was to bring to pass the destruction
of the will which left you five thousand a year."
"Indeed! You seem familiar with my family history," exclaimed Lionel.
"I know the secrets of your family as well as I know those of my own."
"Then you pretend to be a sorceress?"
"I pretend to be nothing but your friend. Sir Reginald Eversleigh has
been your foe ever since the day which disinherited him and made you
rich. Your death would make him master of the wealth which you now
enjoy; your death would give him fortune, position in the world--all
which he most covets.
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