One question first. Did
you guess what I meant to do on that morning when you showed me the
newspaper, and when I read the account of Michael Vanstone's death?"
"Generally," replied Captain Wragge--"I guessed, generally, that you
proposed dipping your hand into his purse and taking from it (most
properly) what was your own. I felt deeply hurt at the time by your not
permitting me to assist you. Why is she so reserved with me? (I remarked
to myself)--why is she so unreasonably reserved?"
"You shall have no reserve to complain of now," pursued Magdalen. "I
tell you plainly, if events had not happened as they did, you _would_
have assisted me. If Michael Vanstone had not died, I should have gone
to Brighton, and have found my way safely to his acquaintance under an
assumed name. I had money enough with me to live on respectably for many
months together. I would have employed that time--I would have waited
a whole year, if necessary, to destroy Mrs. Lecount's influence over
him--and I would have ended by getting that influence, on my own terms,
into my own hands. I had the advantage of years, the advantage of
novelty, the advantage of downright desperation, all on my side, and I
should have succeeded.
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