human
Where is he now, Lady Carbury;--at this moment?
gpt
I think he's out with the Baron. Being
human
How does he manage it? Whose horses does he ride? Who pays for them?
gpt
Don't be angry with me, Roger. What can I do to prevent it?
human
I think you should refuse to have anything to do with him while he continues in such courses.
gpt
My own son!
human
Yes;--exactly. But what is to be the end of it? Is he to be allowed to ruin you, and Hetta? It can't go on long.
gpt
You wouldn't have me throw him over.
human
I think he is throwing you over. And then it is so thoroughly dishonest,--so ungentlemanlike! I don't understand how it goes on from day to day. I suppose you don't supply him with ready money.
gpt
He has had a little.
human
I can understand that you should provide him with bed and food, but not that you should pander to his vices by giving him money. This was very plain speaking, and Lady Carbury winced under it.
gpt
The kind of life that he is leading requires a large income of itself. I understand the thing, and know that with all I have in the world I could not do it myself.
human
You are so different.
gpt
I am older of course,--very much older. But he is not so young that he should not begin to comprehend. Has he any money beyond what you give him?
human
I think he has been playing.
gpt
That is the way to lose money,--not to get it,
human
I suppose somebody wins,--sometimes.
gpt
They who win are the sharpers. They who lose are the dupes. I would sooner that he were a fool than a knave.
human
O Roger, you are so severe!
gpt
You say he plays. How would he pay, were he to lose?
human
I know nothing about it. I don't even know that he does play; but I have reason to think that during the last week he has had money at his command. Indeed I have seen it. He comes home at all manner of hours and sleeps late. Yesterday I went into his room about ten and did not wake him. There were notes and gold lying on his table;--ever so much.
gpt
Why did you not take them?
human
What; rob my own boy?
gpt
When you tell me that you are absolutely in want of money to pay your own bills, and that he has not hesitated to take yours from you! Why does he not repay you what he has borrowed?
human
Ah, indeed;--why not? He ought to if he has it. And there were papers there;--I. O. U.'s, signed by other men.
gpt
You looked at them.
human
I saw as much as that. It is not that I am curious, but one does feel about one's own son. I think he has bought another horse. A groom came here and said something about it to the servants.
gpt
Oh dear;--oh dear!
human
If you could only induce him to stop the gambling! Of course it is very bad whether he wins or loses,--though I am sure that Felix would do nothing unfair. Nobody ever said that of him. If he has won money, it would be a great comfort if he would let me have some of it,--for, to tell the truth, I hardly know how to turn. I am sure nobody can say that I spend it on myself.
gpt
If he be a man he would sooner break stones than live on you, said Roger. Yes, he would see his cousin to-morrow and speak to him;--that is if he could possibly find him.
human
Young men who gamble all night, and hunt all day are not easily found. But he would come at twelve as Felix generally breakfasted at that hour. Then he gave an assurance to Lady Carbury which to her was not the least comfortable part of the interview. In the event of her son not giving her the money which she at once required he, Roger, would lend her a hundred pounds till her half year's income should be due. After that his voice changed altogether, as he asked a question on another subject,
gpt
Can I see Henrietta to-morrow?
human
Certainly;--why not? She is at home now, I think.
gpt
I will wait till to-morrow,--when I call to see Felix. I should like her to know that I am coming. Paul Montague was in town the other day. He was here, I suppose?
human
Yes;--he called.
gpt
Was that all you saw of him?
human
He was at the Melmottes' ball. Felix got a card for him;--and we were there. Has he gone down to Carbury?
gpt
No;--not to Carbury. I think he had some business about his partners at Liverpool. There is another case of a young man without anything to do. Not that Paul is at all like Sir Felix.
human
Don't be too hard upon poor Felix,
gpt
What the Devil's the use of it?
human
If you speak to me in that way, Felix, I must leave the room.
gpt
But what is the use of his coming to me? I know what he has got to say just as if it were said. It's all very well preaching sermons to good people, but nothing ever was got by preaching to people who ain't good.
human
Why shouldn't you be good?
gpt
I shall do very well, mother, if that fellow will leave me alone. I can play my hand better than he can play it for me. If you'll go now I'll get up. She had intended to ask him for some of the money which she believed he still possessed, but her courage failed her. If she asked for his money, and took it, she would in some fashion recognise and tacitly approve his gambling. It was not yet eleven, and it was early for him to leave his bed; but he had resolved that he would get out of the house before that horrible bore should be upon him with his sermon. To do this he must be energetic. He was actually eating his breakfast at half-past eleven, and had already contrived in his mind how he would turn the wrong way as soon as he got into the street,--towards Marylebone Road, by which route Roger would certainly not come. He left the house at ten minutes before twelve, cunningly turned away, dodging round by the first corner,--and just as he had turned it encountered his cousin. Roger, anxious in regard to his errand, with time at his command, had come before the hour appointed and had strolled about, thinking not of Felix but of Felix's sister. The baronet felt that he had been caught,--caught unfairly, but by no means abandoned all hope of escape.
human
I was going to your mother's house on purpose to see you,
gpt
Were you indeed? I am so sorry. I have an engagement out here with a fellow which I must keep. I could meet you at any other time, you know.
human
You can come back for ten minutes,
gpt
Well;--not conveniently at this moment.
human
You must manage it. I am here at your mother's request, and can't afford to remain in town day after day looking for you. I go down to Carbury this afternoon. Your friend can wait. Come along. His firmness was too much for Felix, who lacked the courage to shake his cousin off violently, and to go his way. But as he returned he fortified himself with the remembrance of all the money in his pocket,--for he still had his winnings,--remembered too certain sweet words which had passed between him and Marie Melmotte since the ball, and resolved that he would not be