Part 4 (1/2)
”Of course, you don't gain anything by it?”
”If my scheme succeeds, you shall share the profits.”
”You will take the lion's share, I have no doubt! and if you fail?”
”I alone will bear the loss.”
”How generous you are!”
”Well, do you consent to join forces? is it settled? Am I to tell Mrs Hartshorne--how pleased she'll be to hear it!--the character of the governess she has got for her daughter, or are we to form an operative alliance!”
”Markworth, you are a villain!”
”Granted,” he said, calmly. ”Do you agree?”
”I suppose I must,” she replied. ”You are not to interfere with me? and I--”
”Will a.s.sist me to the best of your ability. That's a bargain; I thought you would be reasonable, Clara.”
”But what do you want me to do?” she asked, after a slight pause, fixing her eyes searchingly on his face.
”It is nothing criminal. You will not have to commit yourself in any way. I don't want you to do anything, in fact; I only want you to keep in the background, and not spoil sport. Will you do it?”
”Agreed,” she answered. ”And your grand scheme is--”
”Marriage,” he said, curtly. ”Well, it won't be your first attempt in that way at all events! Of course, there's a fortune in view, or you would not try that speculation. But who's the lady--not me, I presume?”
she enquired, with another of those short bitter laughs which sounded so strangely from her lips.
”Not exactly!” he sneered; ”I don't think you and I would just suit one another. Listen,” he resumed, quietly, looking towards the door, and drawing closer to her, and sinking his voice as he spoke, ”The girl is here--you understand?”
”I confess I do not see your drift,” she said, wis.h.i.+ng to draw him on to a full disclosure.
”Pshaw! Clara, you are not a fool; you understand me well enough.”
”Perhaps I do, and perhaps I don't.”
”Your eyes are not so blind that you cannot see when it is to your own interests. But there's no use in beating about the bush or mincing matters; you know this girl here.”
”What! Susan Hartshorne--that poor idiot?” she exclaimed with well-acted amazement and horror.
”That same and no other,” replied Markworth, positively blus.h.i.+ng at being obliged actually to confess his own villainy. ”But she's not an idiot, she's only foolish--half-silly; and there's no harm in it,” he continued, half apologetically.
”And you want to marry her?” said the other.
”I do not _want_ to marry her; I _mean_ to marry her!” answered Markworth, quite himself again, and with his usual coolness and _sang froid_, ”and you must help me. Listen! That girl has a fortune of twenty thousand pounds. I am so hard run for money that unless I get some before the present month is up, I shall be ruined--that girl has money which she does not want, and can never feel the need of--do you follow me?--consequently I mean to marry that girl. n.o.body cares for her here; her mother, I daresay, will be glad to get rid of her, and the girl will suffer no loss.”
”You will take care of her, I suppose!” said the governess, in her pleasant biting way.
”Yes, I will take care of her--as good care, I daresay, as she gets now.”