Carrington?"
"Madam, I am at the mercy of your perspicuity," said Victor, with a
mock bow; "however, a truce to badinage--Douglas Dale is a rich man,
and very much in love with Madame Durski; but he is the last man in the
world to interfere with his cousin, by trying to win her affections, if
he believes her attached to Sir Reginald. He is a fool in some things,
as I have said before, and he is much more likely, if he thinks it a
case of mutual desperation, to contribute a thousand a year or so to
set the couple up in a modest competence, like a princely proprietor in
a play, than to advance his own claims. Now, this modest competence
business would not suit Sir Reginald, or Madame Durski, or me, but the
other arrangement would be a capital thing for us all."
"H--m, you see she really loves your friend, Sir Reginald," said Miss
Brewer.
"Tush," ejaculated Victor Carrington, contemptuously; "of course I know
she does, but what does it matter? She would be the most wretched of
women if Reginald married her, and _he won't_,--after all, that's the
great point, he won't. Now Dale will, and will give her unlimited
control of his money--a very nice position, _not_ so elevated as to
ensure an undesirable raking-up of her antecedents, and the means of
proving her gratitude to you, by providing for you comfortably for
life."
"That is all possible," replied Miss Brewer, as calmly as before; "but
what am I to do towards bringing about so desirable a state of
affairs.
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