human
You couldn't cash your I. O. U.'s for me to-morrow;--could you?
gpt
To-morrow! oh, lord!
human
I'll tell you why. You know I'd tell you anything because I think we are really friends. I'm after that daughter of Melmotte's.
gpt
I'm told you're to have her.
human
I don't know about that. I mean to try at any rate. I've gone in you know for that Board in the city.
gpt
I don't know anything about Boards, my boy.
human
Yes, you do, Dolly. You remember that American fellow, Montague's friend, that was here one night and won all our money.
gpt
The chap that had the waistcoat, and went away in the morning to California. Fancy starting to California after a hard night. I always wondered whether he got there alive.
human
Well;--I can't explain to you all about it, because you hate those kinds of things.
gpt
And because I am such a fool.
human
I don't think you're a fool at all, but it would take a week. But it's absolutely essential for me to take up a lot of shares in the city to-morrow;--or perhaps Wednesday might do. I'm bound to pay for them, and old Melmotte will think that I'm utterly hard up if I don't. Indeed he said as much, and the only objection about me and this girl of his is as to money. Can't you understand, now, how important it may be?
gpt
It's always important to have a lot of money. I know that.
human
I shouldn't have gone in for this kind of thing if I hadn't thought I was sure. You know how much you owe me, don't you?
gpt
Not in the least.
human
It's about eleven hundred pounds!
gpt
I shouldn't wonder.
human
And Miles Grendall owes me two thousand. Grasslough and Nidderdale when they lose always pay with Miles's I. O. U.'s.
gpt
So should I, if I had them.
human
It'll come to that soon that there won't be any other stuff going, and they really ain't worth anything. I don't see what's the use of playing when this rubbish is shoved about the table. As for Grendall himself, he has no feeling about it.
gpt
Not the least, I should say.
human
You'll try and get me the money, won't you, Dolly?
gpt
Melmotte has been at me twice. He wants me to agree to sell something. He's an old thief, and of course he means to rob me. You may tell him that if he'll let me have the money in the way I've proposed, you are to have a thousand pounds out of it. I don't know any other way.
human
You could write me that,--in a business sort of way.
gpt
I couldn't do that, Carbury. What's the use? I never write any letters. I can't do it. You tell him that; and if the sale comes off, I'll make it straight.
human
I'm going to take up my shares in that company,
gpt
Ah;--indeed.
human
I didn't quite understand about it, but Nidderdale saw Melmotte and he has explained it. I think I shall go in for a couple of thousand on Wednesday.
gpt
Oh;--ah.
human
It will be the proper thing to do;--won't it?
gpt
Very good--thing to do!
human
Is it always ready money?
gpt
Always ready money,
human
I suppose they allow some time to their own Directors, if a deposit, say 50 per cent., is made for the shares?
gpt
They'll give you half the number, which would come to the same thing.
human
You know I should want to sell again,--for the rise.
gpt
Oh; you'll want to sell again.
human
And therefore I must have the full number.
gpt
You could sell half the number, you know,
human
I'm determined to begin with ten shares;--that's ú1,000. Well;--I have got the money, but I don't want to draw out so much. Couldn't you manage for me that I should get them on paying 50 per cent. down?
gpt
Melmotte does all that himself.
human
You could explain, you know, that you are a little short in your own payments to me.
gpt
That's private,
human
Of course it's private; but if you would pay me the money I could buy the shares with it, though they are public.
gpt
I don't think we could mix the two things together, Carbury.
human
You can't help me?
gpt
Not in that way.
human
Then, when the deuce will you pay me what you owe me? Sir Felix was driven to this plain expression of his demand by the impassibility of his debtor. Here was a man who did not pay his debts of honour, who did not even propose any arrangement for paying them, and who yet had the impudence to talk of not mixing up private matters with affairs of business! It made the young baronet very sick. Miles Grendall smoked on in silence. There was a difficulty in answering the question, and he therefore made no answer.
gpt
Do you know how much you owe me?