I'll trust you. I'll sign anything you
like."
"That confidence becomes you," said Lady Bassett; "and now I have no
objection to show you I deserve it. Here is a letter to Mr. Rolfe, by
which you may learn I have already placed three thousand pounds to his
account, to be laid out by him for your benefit in Australia, where he
has many confidential friends; and this is a check for five hundred
pounds I drew in your favor yesterday. Do me the favor to take it."
He did her that favor with sparkling eyes.
"Now here is the paper I wish you to sign; but your signature will be
of little value to me without Mary Meyrick's."
"Oh, she will sign it directly: I have only to tell her."
"Are you sure? Men can be brought to take a dispassionate view of their
own interest, but women are not so wise. Take it, and try her. If she
refuses, bring her to me _directly._ Do you understand? Otherwise, in
one fatal hour, her tongue will ruin _you,_ and destroy me."
Impressed with these words, Reginald hurried to Mrs. Meyrick, and told
her, in an off-hand way, she must sign that paper directly.
She looked at it and turned very white, but went on her guard directly.
"Sign such a wicked lie as that!" said she. "That I never will. You
_are_ his son, and Huntercombe shall be yours.
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