"
Miss Brewer's cold smile, and glittering, baleful eye, attracted
Carrington's attention at this point.
"That shocks you, does it, Miss Brewer?" he asked.
"Shock me? Oh no! It rather interests me; there's an eminence of
baseness in it."
"So there is," said Carrington, with pleased assent, "especially to one
who knows, as I do, how Reginald hated his uncle, living-how he hates
his memory, dead. However, he did this, and did it well; but it was
only half his task. Lady Verner would keep herself clear of Lady
Eversleigh, but she must be kept clear of Douglas Dale."
"Ha!" said Miss Brewer, with a slight change of attitude and
expression, "I see now; she must be turned against him by means of
Paulina--poor Paulina! She says she is fatal to him; she says he ought
to fly from her. This looks still more like her being right."
"It does, indeed, Miss Brewer," said Carrington, gravely. "You are
right. It was by means of Madame Durski that the trick was done; but
neither you nor I--and I assure you I like your friend immensely--can
afford to take objection to the manner of doing it. Lady Verner was
made to understand that by extending her countenance to, or enriching
Douglas Dale, she would only be giving additional security and _eclat_
to a marriage scarcely less disgraceful than that which Sir Oswald
Eversleigh had contracted. The device has been successful, so far.
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