"
"He never had any intention of marrying me," said Paulina, hastily and
bitterly.
"No, I don't believe he had; but he would have liked very well to have
compromised you in the eyes of society, so that no other man would have
married you, to have bragged of relations existing between you which
never did exist, and to have effectually ruined your fortunes in any
other direction than the gaming-table. Now this I am determined he
shall not do, and as I have more power over him than any one else, it
lies with me to prevent it. What that power springs from, or how I have
hitherto exercised it, you need not inquire, Madame Durski; I only wish
you to believe that I exercise it in this instance for your good, for
your protection."
Paulina murmured some vague words of acknowledgment. He continued--
"If Reginald Eversleigh knows I am here, constantly cognizant of the
state of affairs, and prepared to act for your advantage, he will not
dare to come here and compromise you by his violent and unreasonable
jealousy; he will be forced--it is needless to explain how--to keep his
envy and rage to himself, and to suppress the enmity with which he
regards Douglas Dale. Let me tell you, Madame Durski, Reginald's enmity
is no trifling rock ahead in life, and your engaged lover has that rock
to dread."
Paulina turned very pale.
"Save him from it, Mr.
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