human
I wanted just to ask you something,
gpt
Anything you please, my lord.
human
Don't you think that Carbury and I ought to have some shares to sell?
gpt
No, I don't,--if you ask me.
human
Oh;--I didn't know. But why shouldn't we as well as the others?
gpt
Have you and Sir Felix put any money into it?
human
Well, if you come to that, I don't suppose we have. How much has Lord Alfred put into it?
gpt
said Melmotte, putting very heavy emphasis on the personal pronoun.
human
If it suits me to advance money to Lord Alfred Grendall, I suppose I may do so without asking your lordship's consent, or that of Sir Felix Carbury.
gpt
Oh, certainly. I don't want to make inquiry as to what you do with your money.
human
I'm sure you don't, and, therefore, we won't say anything more about it. You wait awhile, Lord Nidderdale, and you'll find it will come all right. If you've got a few thousand pounds loose, and will put them into the concern, why, of course you can sell; and, if the shares are up, can sell at a profit. It's presumed just at present that, at some early day, you'll qualify for your directorship by doing so, and till that is done, the shares are allocated to you, but cannot be transferred to you.
gpt
That's it, is it,
human
If things go on as we hope they will between you and Marie, you can have pretty nearly any number of shares that you please;--that is, if your father consents to a proper settlement.
gpt
I hope it'll all go smooth, I'm sure, said Nidderdale.
human
Thank you; I'm ever so much obliged to you, and I'll explain it all to Carbury.
gpt
YES;--I'M A BARONET.
human
My dear Felix, she said, standing over his bedside a little before noon,
gpt
It's everything to get him in a good humour,
human
But the young lady will feel that she is ill-used.
gpt
There's no fear of that; she's all right. What am I to say to him about money? That's the question.
human
I shouldn't think of dictating anything, Felix.
gpt
Nidderdale, when he was on before, stipulated for a certain sum down; or his father did for him. So much cash was to be paid over before the ceremony, and it only went off because Nidderdale wanted the money to do what he liked with.
human
You wouldn't mind having it settled?
gpt
No;--I'd consent to that on condition that the money was paid down, and the income insured to me,--say ú7,000 or ú8,000 a year. I wouldn't do it for less, mother; it wouldn't be worth while.
human
But you have nothing left of your own.
gpt
I've got a throat that I can cut, and brains that I can blow out,