As to Narvaez, Enistor hoped that shortly the magician--physically at
all events--would remove himself from his path. If Montrose would only
act sensibly and escape to Australia or America, after giving up the
fortune, then Alice could marry Don Pablo, and go with him to Spain.
Thus Enistor would be left free from all domestic relations and with
five thousand a year to act as his ambition urged him. And of course the
girl would think she was marrying Julian, for whom she had a great
regard; so, failing the fugitive becoming her husband, which on the face
of it was impossible, Narvaez, in the body of Hardwick, would have
little difficulty in gaining his ends. In this way everything would be
very nicely arranged and he could dispense with the assistance of
Eberstein. In his insane egotism, strengthened by the wicked teaching of
Don Pablo, the Squire never gave a thought to the idea that he was
deliberately ruining an innocent man. He was too imbued with the iron
rule of the Left-hand Path to flinch at such villainy, and considered
that the weaker must give way to the stronger. That was only fair and
logical. The irony of this thought was that Enistor, as inferior to Don
Pablo, did not wish to submit to him, although the strength of the
latter compelled him to do so. Yet he was exercising towards Montrose
the very tyranny he resented being exercised towards himself. But no
amount of argument could have convinced Enistor that he was illogical.
At afternoon tea Alice made her appearance, looking anxious but
determined, since her faith in Eberstein, and in the Great Master of
Eberstein, braced her to face the worst serenely. Things were dreadfully
tangled, the outlook was black, and, humanly speaking, it seemed that
there was no possible chance of happiness for herself and her lover. But
since the doctor had foretold not only the coming of calamity, but the
passing of the same, if bravely endured, Alice was perfectly certain in
her own mind that in some mysterious way God would answer her constant
prayers for joy and peace. Thus, although she was pale, her eyes were
bright and steady, and she behaved in a calm reasonable manner, as
though everything went well with her. Enistor marvelled at her
composure, and would have dearly loved to shake it by announcing that he
knew she had contrived the flight of Montrose. But this he could not do
lest he should place the girl on her guard. Therefore he said nothing,
having arranged mentally to follow her when she stole out to seek the
hiding-place. "There is no news of that young scoundrel," said Enistor,
unable to withstand the gibe. "He has concealed himself very cleverly."
"Douglas is no scoundrel," said Alice steadily; "circumstances are
against him, and he does well to hide, seeing how bitter you are against
him."
"A lie set forth in bad English," sneered the Squire. "He is a
scoundrel, as every murderer is, and I am not bitter against him. I
only wish to see justice done."