The hold which Paulina had
obtained upon Douglas Dale's affection was secure; he had proposed to
her much sooner than Victor had anticipated; the perfect understanding
and confidence subsisting between them rendered the cautious game which
he had intended to play unnecessary, and he did not now care how soon a
final rupture between Paulina and Reginald should take place. Indeed,
for two of his purposes--the establishment of an avowed quarrel between
Douglas Dale and his cousin, Sir Reginald, and the infliction of ever-
growing injury on Paulina's reputation,--the sooner such a rupture
could be brought about the better. Therefore Victor Carrington assumed
a tone of reserve and mystery, which did not fail to exasperate Sir
Reginald.
"Do not question me, Reginald," he said. "You are afflicted with a lack
of moral courage, and your want of nerve would only enfeeble my hand.
Know nothing--expect nothing. Those who are at work for you know how to
do their work quietly. Oh, by the way, I want you to sign a little
document--very much the style of thing you gave me at Raynham Castle."
Nothing could be more careless than the Frenchman's tone and manner as
he said this; but the document in question was a deed of gift, by which
Reginald Eversleigh bestowed upon Victor Carrington the clear half of
whatever income should arise to him, from real or personal property,
from the date of the first day of June following.
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