"Douglas Dale. He is over head and ears in love with the Austrian widow, and will lend her the money she wants. I shall go at once to Madame Durski and give her a few hints as to her line of conduct."
There was a pause, during which the baronet seemed to be thinking deeply.
"Do you think that a wise course?" he asked, at last.
"Do I think what course wise?" demanded his friend.
"The line of conduct you propose. You say Douglas is in love with Paulina, and I myself have seen enough to convince me that you are right. If he is in love with her, he is just the man to sacrifice every other consideration for her sake. What if he should marry her? Would not that be a bad look-out for us?"
"You are a fool, Reginald Eversleigh," cried Victor contemptuously; "you ought to know me better than to fear my discretion. Douglas Dale loves Paulina Durski, and is the very man to sacrifice all worldly interests for her sake; the man to marry her, even were she more unworthy of his love than she is. But he never will marry her, notwithstanding."
"How will you prevent such a marriage?"
"That is my secret. Depend upon it I will prevent it. You remember our compact the night we met at Frimley."
"I do," answered Reginald, in a voice that was scarcely above a whisper.
"Very well; I will be true to my part of that compact, depend upon it.
Before this new-born year is out you shall be a rich man."