human
Is it business?
gpt
Certainly it is business,
human
Then you had better call at the office in Abchurch Lane,--in the City,
gpt
My business is not of that nature. I am a poor servant of the Cross, who is anxious to know from the lips of Mr. Melmotte himself that his heart is inclined to the true Faith.
human
Some lunatic, said Melmotte.
gpt
See that there ain't any knives about, Alfred.
human
No otherwise mad, sir, than they have ever been accounted mad who are enthusiastic in their desire for the souls of others.
gpt
Just get a policeman, Alfred. Or send somebody; you'd better not go away.
human
You will hardly need a policeman, Mr. Melmotte, continued the priest.
gpt
If I might speak to you alone for a few minutes--
human
Certainly not;--certainly not. I am very busy, and if you will not go away you'll have to be taken away. I wonder whether anybody knows him.
gpt
Mr. Carbury, of Carbury Hall, is my friend.
human
Carbury! D---- the Carburys! Did any of the Carburys send you here? A set of beggars! Why don't you do something, Alfred, to get rid of him?
gpt
You'd better go, said Lord Alfred.
human
Don't make a rumpus, there's a good fellow;--but just go.
gpt
There shall be no rumpus, said the priest, waxing wrathful.
human
I asked for you at the door, and was told to come in by your own servants. Have I been uncivil that you should treat me in this fashion?
gpt
You're in the way,
human
It's a piece of gross impertinence, said Melmotte.
gpt
Go away.
human
Will you not tell me before I go whether I shall pray for you as one whose steps in the right path should be made sure and firm; or as one still in error and in darkness?
gpt
What the mischief does he mean?
human
He wants to know whether you're a papist,
gpt
What the deuce is it to him?
human
That's a remarkable thing, said Melmotte,--
gpt
Even this poor priest's mad visit added to his inflation.
human
I suppose he was in earnest.
gpt
Mad as a hatter,
human
But why did he come to me in his madness--to me especially? That's what I want to know. I'll tell you what it is. There isn't a man in all England at this moment thought of so much as--your humble servant. I wonder whether the 'Morning Pulpit' people sent him here now to find out really what is my religion.
gpt
Mad as a hatter, said Lord Alfred again;--
human
My dear fellow, I don't think you've the gift of seeing very far. The truth is they don't know what to make of me;--and I don't intend that they shall. I'm playing my game, and there isn't one of 'em understands it except myself. It's no good my sitting here, you know. I shan't be able to move. How am I to get at you if I want anything?
gpt
What can you want? There'll be lots of servants about.
human
I'll have this bar down, at any rate. And he did succeed in having removed the bar which had been specially put up to prevent his intrusion on his own guests in his own house.
gpt
I look upon that fellow's coming here as a very singular sign of the times, he went on to say.
human
They'll want before long to know where I have my clothes made, and who measures me for my boots!
gpt
He insulted me,
human
Did he intend to insult you?
gpt
Certainly he did. But what of that? It is not by the hands of polished men, nor even of the courteous, that this work has to be done. He was preparing for some great festival, and his mind was intent upon that.
human
He entertains the Emperor of China this very day,
gpt
The Emperor of China! Ah, that accounts for it. I do think that he is on our side, even though he gave me but little encouragement for saying so. Will they vote for him, here at Westminster?
human
Our people will. They think that he is rich and can help them.
gpt
There is no doubt of his wealth, I suppose,
human
Some people do doubt;--but others say he is the richest man in the world.
gpt
He looked like it,--and spoke like it, said Father Barham.
human
Think what such a man might do, if he be really the wealthiest man in the world! And if he had been against us would he not have said so? Though he was uncivil, I am glad that I saw him.