human
Thought you were out of town, said Nidderdale.
gpt
Haven't seen you for the last ever so long.
human
I have been out of town, said Felix,--lying;
gpt
They're not going at all;--they're gone,
human
Everything is smashed, said Nidderdale.
gpt
We shall all have to pay, I don't know how much.
human
Wasn't Vossner ever caught?
gpt
Caught! ejaculated Dolly.
human
No;--but he has caught us. I don't know that there has ever been much idea of catching Vossner. We close altogether next Monday, and the furniture is to be gone to law for. Flatfleece says it belongs to him under what he calls a deed of sale. Indeed, everything that everybody has seems to belong to Flatfleece. He's always in and out of the club, and has got the key of the cellar.
gpt
That don't matter, said Nidderdale,
human
He's got most of the forks and spoons, and only lets us use what we have as a favour.
gpt
I suppose one can get a dinner here?
human
Yes; to-day you can, and perhaps to-morrow.
gpt
Isn't there any playing?
human
I haven't seen a card this fortnight, said Dolly.
gpt
There hasn't been anybody to play. Everything has gone to the dogs. There has been the affair of Melmotte, you know;--though, I suppose, you do know all about that.
human
Of course I know he poisoned himself.
gpt
Of course that had effect, said Dolly, continuing his history.
human
Though why fellows shouldn't play cards because another fellow like that takes poison, I can't understand. Last year the only day I managed to get down in February, the hounds didn't come because some old cove had died. What harm could our hunting have done him? I call that rot.
gpt
Melmotte's death was rather awful,
human
Not half so awful as having nothing to amuse one. And now they say the girl is going to be married to Fisker. I don't know how you and Nidderdale like that. I never went in for her myself. Squercum never seemed to see it.
gpt
Poor dear! said Nidderdale.
human
She's welcome for me, and I dare say she couldn't do better with herself. I was very fond of her;--I'll be shot if I wasn't.
gpt
And Carbury too, I suppose,
human
No; I wasn't. If I'd really been fond of her I suppose it would have come off. I should have had her safe enough to America, if I'd cared about it.
gpt
Come into the smoking-room, Dolly, said Nidderdale.
human
I can stand most things, and I try to stand everything; but, by George, that fellow is such a cad that I cannot stand him. You and I are bad enough,--but I don't think we're so heartless as Carbury.
gpt
I don't think I'm heartless at all, said Dolly.
human
I'm good-natured to everybody that is good-natured to me,--and to a great many people who ain't. I'm going all the way down to Caversham next week to see my sister married, though I hate the place and hate marriages, and if I was to be hung for it I couldn't say a word to the fellow who is going to be my brother-in-law. But I do agree about Carbury. It's very hard to be good-natured to him.