human
I am delighted to see you here, said Melmotte, shaking him cordially by the hand.
gpt
You come regularly, and you'll find that it will be worth your while. There's nothing like attending to business. You should be here every Friday.
human
I will,
gpt
And let me see you sometimes up at my place in Abchurch Lane. I can put you more in the way of understanding things there than I can here. This is all a mere formal sort of thing. You can see that.
human
Oh yes, I see that.
gpt
We are obliged to have this kind of thing for men like that fellow Montague. By-the-bye, is he a friend of yours?
human
Not particularly. He is a friend of a cousin of mine; and the women know him at home. He isn't a pal of mine if you mean that.
gpt
If he makes himself disagreeable, he'll have to go to the wall;--that's all. But never mind him at present. Was your mother speaking to you of what I said to her?
human
No, Mr. Melmotte,
gpt
I was talking to her about you, and I thought that perhaps she might have told you. This is all nonsense, you know, about you and Marie. Sir Felix looked into the man's face. It was not savage, as he had seen it. But there had suddenly come upon his brow that heavy look of a determined purpose which all who knew the man were wont to mark. Sir Felix had observed it a few minutes since in the Board-room, when the chairman was putting down the rebellious director.
human
You understand that; don't you? Sir Felix still looked at him, but made no reply.
gpt
It's all d---- nonsense. You haven't got a brass farthing, you know. You've no income at all; you're just living on your mother, and I'm afraid she's not very well off. How can you suppose that I shall give my girl to you? Felix still looked at him but did not dare to contradict a single statement made. Yet when the man told him that he had not a brass farthing he thought of his own thousand pounds which were now in the man's pocket.
human
You're a baronet, and that's about all, you know, continued Melmotte.
gpt
The Carbury property, which is a very small thing, belongs to a distant cousin who may leave it to me if he pleases;--and who isn't very much older than you are yourself.
human
Oh, come, Mr. Melmotte; he's a great deal older than me.
gpt
It wouldn't matter if he were as old as Adam. The thing is out of the question, and you must drop it. Then the look on his brow became a little heavier.
human
You hear what I say. She is going to marry Lord Nidderdale. She was engaged to him before you ever saw her. What do you expect to get by it?
gpt
I suppose it's the old story,
human
Just so;--the old story. You want my money, and she wants you, just because she has been told to take somebody else. You want something to live on;--that's what you want. Come;--out with it. Is not that it? When we understand each other I'll put you in the way of making money.
gpt
Of course I'm not very well off,
human
About as badly as any young man that I can hear of. You give me your written promise that you'll drop this affair with Marie, and you shan't want for money.
gpt
A written promise!
human
Yes;--a written promise. I give nothing for nothing. I'll put you in the way of doing so well with these shares that you shall be able to marry any other girl you please;--or to live without marrying, which you'll find to be better.
gpt
By-the-bye, Mr. Melmotte, said he,
human
What shares?
gpt
Don't you know?--I gave you a thousand pounds, and I was to have ten shares.
human
You must come about that on the proper day, to the proper place.
gpt
When is the proper day?
human
It is the twentieth of each month I think. Sir Felix looked very blank at hearing this, knowing that this present was the twenty-first of the month.
gpt
But what does that signify? Do you want a little money?
human
Well, I do, said Sir Felix.
gpt
A lot of fellows owe me money, but it's so hard to get it.
human
That tells a story of gambling, said Mr. Melmotte.
gpt
You think I'd give my girl to a gambler?
human
Nidderdale's in it quite as thick as I am.
gpt
Nidderdale has a settled property which neither he nor his father can destroy. But don't you be such a fool as to argue with me. You won't get anything by it. If you'll write that letter here now--
human
What;--to Marie?
gpt
No;--not to Marie at all; but to me. It need never be shown to her. If you'll do that I'll stick to you and make a man of you. And if you want a couple of hundred pounds I'll give you a cheque for it before you leave the room. Mind, I can tell you this. On my word of honour as a gentleman, if my daughter were to marry you, she'd never have a single shilling. I should immediately make a will and leave all my property to St. George's Hospital. I have quite made up my mind about that.
human
And couldn't you manage that I should have the shares before the twentieth of next month?
gpt
I'll see about it. Perhaps I could let you have a few of my own. At any rate I won't see you short of money.