Inheritance and succession -- Fiction; Marriage -- Fiction
Markworth was proud of his triumph, apart from the consideration that
his own well-being was interested in Susan's recovery. He was proud
that his hand had wrought the cure; and besides, he was really concerned
about the girl on her own account. Her entire faith and confidence, and
her blind worship, touched even him, while her love had made him have a
friendly regard for her, which might or might not grow deeper.
There were one or two good points in his character, as is the case with
all bad men. He was not brutal, or naturally bad hearted, but at the
same time he was careful of his own interests. If he had got Susan's
money, for example, he would not then have turned her adrift. She loved
him like a faithful dog, and it was not in his nature to kick a dog
away. He was kind to her because it suited his purpose: it was
necessary to her cure, and besides he had no reason to be otherwise.
At the end of a month, therefore, he determined to make some move.
He had seen an advertisement for the lost girl in the "Times," which he
had given directions to have sent over to him here. The advertisement
had appeared a very few days after the date on which he had removed
Susan from The Poplars, and had been continued repeatedly since; but
that did not flurry him much. He knew he could not be traced, and as
the had no feelings of compunction for the anxiety which might be
occasioned by her disappearance, he determined to suit his own time when
to make the news known of her safety and present condition.
He was certain that Clara Kingscott would not give any information about
him, as she was a clever woman, and was obliged on her own account not
to implicate herself in the abduction of the girl, and was besides
anxious to get the remainder of the money he had promised her for aiding
him; so he could afford to take his own time and play the game just as
he chose, for the cards were in his hand.
He thus let a month run, and Susan being quite happy and settled down in
their comfortable lodgings with the Mere Cliquelle in the Rue
Montmartre, he thought he would go over to London for a couple of days
or so, and set his plans to work. He also wanted more money, and that
was a potent reason for taking him.
Susan was disturbed at first on learning that he was going away, but was
as quickly consoled when he promised to be back very soon, and to bring
her brother Tom with him; that was the only anxiety she had displayed on
leaving her home. She had retained her love for her brother, and she
feared he was angry at her leaving. She was delighted consequently to
learn from Markworth, as he told her, that he was going to fetch him,
for she was not yet aware of the great interests that hung at stake upon
her.
Susan saw him preparing to start with many tears, and many directions
for him to be back soon; after which Markworth left her to the kindly
care of the Mere Cliquelle, who promised to look after her as her own
child: he then crossed the channel.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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