“I am almost inclined to let him marry her,” he said, in a low voice. “I should enjoy the misery that would follow! Yes, I’m half inclined——” and an evil light flashed from his eyes.
Spenser Churchill watched him behind the mask of a benevolent smile.
“Oh, no, no,” he murmured; “we really must not, we really must not let dear Cecil ruin himself. My dear marquis, we should not sleep; our consciences——”
The marquis broke in with a cold, sardonic laugh.
“Yes, you are right! After all, it will be more amusing to thwart him—if we can.”
“If we can,” echoed Spenser Churchill with a smile.
“Oh, I don’t doubt your ability,” said the marquis with a sneer; “the devil himself could not be a fitter person for such work. What do you mean to do?” he added, with a half-contemptuous, half-weary gesture.
“Have you a letter of dear Cecil’s?” said Spenser Churchill. “I really am half ashamed! It is only the conviction that I am acting for the dear fellow’s ultimate good that gives me courage——”
The marquis pointed to a cabinet.
“You will find some letters of his there,” he said.