This plan answered admirably; Paulina was naturally full of the
subject, and the ice of formalism had been sufficiently broken between
her and Victor Carrington, to enable her to refer to the interview
which had taken place between herself and Douglas Dale without any
impropriety. When she had done so, Carrington began to play his part.
He assured Paulina of his warm interest in her, of the influence which
he possessed over Sir Reginald Eversleigh, and the fears which he
entertained of some treacherous proceeding on Reginald's part which
might place her in a most unpleasant position.
"Reginald has no real love for you," said Carrington; "he would not
hesitate to sacrifice you to the meanest of his interests, but his
vanity and his temper are such that it is impossible to calculate upon
what sort of folly he may be guilty."
Paulina Durski was a thorough woman; and, therefore, having utterly
discarded Reginald from her heart, having learned to substitute utter
contempt for love, she was not averse to receiving any information, to
learning any opinion, which tended to justify her change of feeling.
"What harm can he do me with Douglas?" asked Paulina, in alarm.
"Who can tell that, Madame Durski?" replied Carrington. "But this is
not to the purpose. I don't pretend to be wholly disinterested in this
matter. I tell you plainly I am not so; it is very important to me that
Sir Reginald should marry a woman of fortune, and should not marry
you.
Pages:
539
540
541
542
543
544
545
546
547
548
549
550
551
552
553
554
555
556
557
558
559
560
561
562
563