human
I'm very glad to see you, and all that, said Melmotte, assuming a certain exaltation of the eyebrows, which they who had many dealings with him often found to be very disagreeable;
gpt
I didn't mean to intrude, Mr. Melmotte,
human
I dare say not. I only thought I'd tell you. You might have been going to speak about that railway.
gpt
Oh dear no.
human
Your mother was saying to me down in the country that she hoped you attended to the business. I told her that there was nothing to attend to.
gpt
My mother doesn't understand anything at all about it,
human
Women never do. Well;--what can I do for you, now that you are here?
gpt
Mr. Melmotte, I'm come,--I'm come to;--in short, Mr. Melmotte, I want to propose myself as a suitor for your daughter's hand.
human
The d---- you do!
gpt
Well, yes; and we hope you'll give us your consent.
human
She knows you're coming then?
gpt
Yes;--she knows.
human
And my wife;--does she know?
gpt
I've never spoken to her about it. Perhaps Miss Melmotte has.
human
And how long have you and she understood each other?
gpt
I've been attached to her ever since I saw her, said Sir Felix.
human
I have indeed. I've spoken to her sometimes. You know how that kind of thing goes on.
gpt
I'm blessed if I do. I know how it ought to go on. I know that when large sums of money are supposed to be concerned, the young man should speak to the father before he speaks to the girl. He's a fool if he don't, if he wants to get the father's money. So she has given you a promise?
human
I don't know about a promise.
gpt
Do you consider that she's engaged to you?
human
Not if she's disposed to get out of it, said Sir Felix, hoping that he might thus ingratiate himself with the father.
gpt
Of course, I should be awfully disappointed.
human
She has consented to your coming to me?
gpt
Well, yes;--in a sort of a way. Of course she knows that it all depends on you.
human
Not at all. She's of age. If she chooses to marry you, she can marry you. If that's all you want, her consent is enough. You're a baronet, I believe?
gpt
Oh, yes, I'm a baronet.
human
And therefore you've come to your own property. You haven't to wait for your father to die, and I dare say you are indifferent about money.
gpt
Not exactly that, he said.
human
I suppose you will give your daughter a fortune, of course.
gpt
Then I wonder you didn't come to me before you went to her. If my daughter marries to please me, I shall give her money, no doubt. How much is neither here nor there. If she marries to please herself, without considering me, I shan't give her a farthing.
human
I had hoped that you might consent, Mr. Melmotte.
gpt
I've said nothing about that. It is possible. You're a man of fashion and have a title of your own,--and no doubt a property. If you'll show me that you've an income fit to maintain her, I'll think about it at any rate. What is your property, Sir Felix?
human
It isn't a large property, you know,
gpt
Not like the Marquis of Westminster's, I suppose,
human
No;--not quite like that,
gpt
But you have got enough to support a baronet's title?
human
That depends on how you want to support it,
gpt
Where's your family seat?
human
Carbury Manor, down in Suffolk, near the Longestaffes, is the old family place.
gpt
That doesn't belong to you,
human
No; not yet. But I'm the heir.
gpt
Oh, the heir are you? But how did he get it before you? You're the head of the family?
human
Yes, I am the head of the family, of course, said Sir Felix, lying directly.
gpt
But the place won't be mine till he dies. It would take a long time to explain it all.
human
He's a young man, isn't he?
gpt
No,--not what you'd call a young man. He isn't very old.
human
If he were to marry and have children, how would it be then?
gpt
I don't quite know how it would be. I have always understood that I am the heir. It's not very likely that he will marry.
human
And in the meantime what is your own property?
gpt
In the meantime what is your own property?
human
My father left me money in the funds and in railway stock,--and then I am my mother's heir.
gpt
You have done me the honour of telling me that you wish to marry my daughter.
human
Certainly.
gpt
Would you then object to inform me the amount and nature of the income on which you intend to support your establishment as a married man? I fancy that the position you assume justifies the question on my part. The bloated swindler, the vile city ruffian, was certainly taking a most ungenerous advantage of the young aspirant for wealth. It was then that Sir Felix felt his own position. Was he not a baronet, and a gentleman, and a very handsome fellow, and a man of the world who had been in a crack regiment? If this surfeited sponge of speculation, this crammed commercial cormorant, wanted more than that for his daughter, why could he not say so without asking disgusting questions such as these,--questions which it was quite impossible that a gentleman should answer? Was it not sufficiently plain that any gentleman proposing to marry the daughter of such a man as Melmotte, must do so under the stress of pecuniary embarrassment? Would it not be an understood bargain that as he provided the rank and position, she would provide the money? And yet the vulgar wretch took advantage of his assumed authority to ask these dreadful questions! Sir Felix stood silent, trying to look the man in the face, but failing;--wishing that he was well out of the house, and at the Beargarden.
human
You don't seem to be very clear about your own circumstances, Sir Felix. Perhaps you will get your lawyer to write to me.
gpt
Perhaps that will be best,
human
Either that, or to give it up. My daughter, no doubt, will have money; but money expects money. At this moment Lord Alfred entered the room.
gpt
You're very late to-day, Alfred. Why didn't you come as you said you would?
human
I was here more than an hour ago, and they said you were out.
gpt
I haven't been out of this room all day,--except to lunch. Good morning, Sir Felix. Ring the bell, Alfred, and we'll have a little soda and brandy. Sir Felix had gone through some greeting with his fellow Director, Lord Alfred, and at last succeeded in getting Melmotte to shake hands with him before he went.
human
Do you know anything about that young fellow?
gpt
He's a baronet without a shilling;--was in the army and had to leave it,
human
Without a shilling! I supposed so. But he's heir to a place down in Suffolk;--eh?
gpt
Not a bit of it. It's the same name, and that's about all. Mr. Carbury has a small property there, and he might give it to me to-morrow. I wish he would, though there isn't much of it. That young fellow has nothing to do with it whatever.
human
Hasn't he now?