human
My dear sir, I am so sorry. You are a punctual man I see. So am I. A man of business should be punctual. But they ain't always. Brehgert,--from the house of Todd, Brehgert, and Goldsheiner, you know,--has just been with me. We had to settle something about the Moldavian loan. He came a quarter late, and of course he went a quarter late. And how is a man to catch a quarter of an hour? I never could do it. Montague assured the great man that the delay was of no consequence.
gpt
And I am so sorry to ask you into such a place as this. I had Brehgert in my room down-stairs, and then the house is so knocked about! We get into a furnished house a little way off in Bruton Street to-morrow. Longestaffe lets me his house for a month till this affair of the dinner is over. By-the-bye, Montague, if you'd like to come to the dinner, I've got a ticket I can let you have. You know how they're run after. Montague had heard of the dinner, but had perhaps heard as little of it as any man frequenting a club at the west end of London. He did not in the least want to be at the dinner, and certainly did not wish to receive any extraordinary civility from Mr. Melmotte's hands. But he was very anxious to know why Mr. Melmotte should offer it. He excused himself saying that he was not particularly fond of big dinners, and that he did not like standing in the way of other people.
human
Ah, indeed, said Melmotte.
gpt
There are ever so many people of title would give anything for a ticket. You'd be astonished at the persons who have asked. We've had to squeeze in a chair on one side for the Master of the Buckhounds, and on another for the Bishop of--; I forget what bishop it is, but we had the two archbishops before. They say he must come because he has something to do with getting up the missionaries for Thibet. But I've got the ticket, if you'll have it. This was the ticket which was to have taken in Georgiana Longestaffe as one of the Melmotte family, had not Melmotte perceived that it might be useful to him as a bribe. But Paul would not take the bribe.
human
You're the only man in London then, said Melmotte, somewhat offended.
gpt
But at any rate you'll come in the evening, and I'll have one of Madame Melmotte's tickets sent to you. Paul, not knowing how to escape, said that he would come in the evening.
human
I am particularly anxious, continued he,
gpt
Have you anything special to say about the Railway?
human
Well, yes. It is so hard to get things said at the Board. Of course there are some there who do not understand matters.
gpt
I doubt if there be any one there who does understand this matter,
human
Well, well; I am not prepared to go quite so far as that. My friend Cohenlupe has had great experience in these affairs, and of course you are aware that he is in Parliament. And Lord Alfred sees farther into them than perhaps you give him credit for.
gpt
He may easily do that.
human
Well, well. Perhaps you don't know him quite as well as I do. The scowl began to appear on Mr. Melmotte's brow. Hitherto it had been banished as well as he knew how to banish it.
gpt
What I wanted to say to you was this. We didn't quite agree at the last meeting.
human
No; we did not.
gpt
I was very sorry for it. Unanimity is everything in the direction of such an undertaking as this. With unanimity we can do--everything. Mr. Melmotte in the ecstasy of his enthusiasm lifted up both his hands over his head.
human
Without unanimity we can do--nothing. And the two hands fell.
gpt
Unanimity should be printed everywhere about a Board-room. It should, indeed, Mr. Montague.
human
But suppose the directors are not unanimous.
gpt
They should be unanimous. They should make themselves unanimous. God bless my soul! You don't want to see the thing fall to pieces!
human
Not if it can be carried on honestly.
gpt
Honestly! Who says that anything is dishonest? Again the brow became very heavy.
human
Look here, Mr. Montague. If you and I quarrel in that Board-room, there is no knowing the amount of evil we may do to every individual shareholder in the Company. I find the responsibility on my own shoulders so great that I say the thing must be stopped. Damme, Mr. Montague, it must be stopped. We mustn't ruin widows and children, Mr. Montague. We mustn't let those shares run down 20 below par for a mere chimera. I've known a fine property blasted, Mr. Montague, sent straight to the dogs,--annihilated, sir;--so that it all vanished into thin air, and widows and children past counting were sent out to starve about the streets,--just because one director sat in another director's chair. I did, by G----! What do you think of that, Mr. Montague? Gentlemen who don't know the nature of credit, how strong it is,--as the air,--to buoy you up; how slight it is,--as a mere vapour,--when roughly touched, can do an amount of mischief of which they themselves don't in the least understand the extent! What is it you want, Mr. Montague?
gpt
What do I want? Melmotte's description of the peculiar susceptibility of great mercantile speculations had not been given without some effect on Montague, but this direct appeal to himself almost drove that effect out of his mind.
human
I only want justice.
gpt
But you should know what justice is before you demand it at the expense of other people. Look here, Mr. Montague. I suppose you are like the rest of us, in this matter. You want to make money out of it.
human
For myself, I want interest for my capital; that is all. But I am not thinking of myself.
gpt
You are getting very good interest. If I understand the matter, --and here Melmotte pulled out a little book, showing thereby how careful he was in mastering details,--
human
I don't know what I've got.
gpt
I can tell you then. You have that, and you've drawn nearly a thousand pounds since Fisker came over, in one shape or another. That's not bad interest on your money.
human
There was back interest due to me.
gpt
If so, it's due still. I've nothing to do with that. Look here, Mr. Montague. I am most anxious that you should remain with us. I was about to propose, only for that little rumpus the other day, that, as you're an unmarried man, and have time on your hands, you should go out to California and probably across to Mexico, in order to get necessary information for the Company. Were I of your age, unmarried, and without impediment, it is just the thing I should like. Of course you'd go at the Company's expense. I would see to your own personal interests while you were away;--or you could appoint any one by power of attorney. Your seat at the Board would be kept for you; but, should anything occur amiss,--which it won't, for the thing is as sound as anything I know,--of course you, as absent, would not share the responsibility. That's what I was thinking. It would be a delightful trip;--but if you don't like it, you can of course remain at the Board, and be of the greatest use to me. Indeed, after a bit I could devolve nearly the whole management on you;--and I must do something of the kind, as I really haven't the time for it. But,--if it is to be that way,--do be unanimous. Unanimity is the very soul of these things;--the very soul, Mr. Montague.
human
But if I can't be unanimous?
gpt
Well;--if you can't, and if you won't take my advice about going out;--which, pray, think about, for you would be most useful. It might be the very making of the railway;--then I can only suggest that you should take your ú6,000 and leave us. I, myself, should be greatly distressed; but if you are determined that way I will see that you have your money. I will make myself personally responsible for the payment of it,--some time before the end of the year.
human
And now, good-bye, said Mr. Melmotte, as he bade his young friend adieu in a hurry.
gpt
I'm afraid that I'm keeping Sir Gregory Gribe, the Bank Director, waiting down-stairs.
human
You may buy what you like, mamma, she said;
gpt
Madame Melmotte groaned, and scolded in English, French, and German, and wished that she were dead; she told Marie that she was a pig, and ass, and a toad, and a dog. And ended, as she always did end, by swearing that Melmotte must manage the matter himself.
human
Nobody shall manage this matter for me, said Marie.
gpt
I know what I'm about now, and I won't marry anybody just because it will suit papa.
human
Que nous Útions encore Ó Francfort, ou New York,