第16章

’That’softenthecase，Duchess。’

’Andthecontrary——isn’tit，mydear？ButIshallhaveitoutwithPlantagenet。Ihavetowriteletterstoallthenewspapersmyself，I’llputitright。’Shecertainlycoddledherhusbandlessthantheothers，and，indeedinherheartsofheartsdisapprovedaltogetherofthecoddlingsystem。Butshewaswontatthisparticulartimetobesomewhattendertohimbecauseshewasawarethatsheherselfhadbeenimprudent。SincehehaddiscoveredherinterferenceatSilverbridge，andhadmadeherunderstanditsperniciousresults，shehadbeen，——not，perhaps，shamefaced，forthatworddescribesaconditiontowhichhardlyanyseriesofmisfortunescouldhavereducedtheDuchessofOmnium，——butinclinedtoquiescencebyfeelingsofpenitence。

Shewaslessdisposedthanheretoforetoattackhimwithwhattheworldofyesterdaycalls’chaff’，orwithwhattheworldofto-

daycalls’cheek’。Shewouldnotadmittoherselfthatshewascowed——butthegreatnessofthegameandthehighinterestattachedtoherhusband’spositiondidinsomedegreedismayher。

Neverthelesssheexecutedherpurposeof’havingitoutwithPlantagenet，’’Ihavejustheard，’shesaid，havingknockedatthedoorofhisownroom，andhavingfoundhimalone，——’Ihavejusthear，forthefirsttime，thatthereisarowaboutthemoneyyoupaidtoMrLopez。’

’Whotoldyou？’

’Nobodytoldme，——intheusualsenseoftheword。Ipresumedthatsomethingwasthematter，andthenIgotitfromMarie。Whyhadyounottoldme？’

’WhyshouldItellyou？’

’Butwhynot？Ifanythingtroubledme，Ishouldtellyou。Thatis，ifittroubledmemuch。’

’Youtakeitforgrantedthatthisdoestroublememuch。’Hewassmilingashesaidthis，butthesmilepassedveryquicklyfromhisface。’Iwillnot，however，deceiveyou。Itdoestroubleme。’

’Iknewverywellthatsomethingwaswrong。’

’Ihavenotcomplained。’

’Onecanseeasmuchasthatwithoutwords。Whatisitthatyoufear？Whatcanthemandotoyou？Whatmatterisittoyouifsuchaoneasthatpoursouthismaliceonyou？Letitrunoffliketherainfromthehousetops。Youaretoobigeventobestungbysuchareptileasthat。’Helookedintoherface，admiringtheenergywithwhichshespoketohim。’Asforansweringhim，’shecontinuedtosay，’thatmayormaynotbeproper。Ifitshouldbedone，therearepeopletodoit。ButI

amspeakingofyourowninnerself。Youhaveashieldagainstyourequals，andaswordtoattackthemwithifnecessary。Haveyounoarmourofproofagainstsuchacreatureasthat？Haveyounothinginsideyoutomakeyoufeelthatheistoocontemptibletoberegarded？’

’Nothing。’

’Oh，Plantagenet！’

’Cora，thereadifferentnatureswhichhaveeachtheirownexcellencies，andtheirowndefects。IwillnotadmitthatIamacoward，believingasIdothatIcoulddaretofacenecessarydanger。ButIcannotenduretohavemycharacterimpugned，——

evenbyMrLopez。’

’Whatmatter，——ifyouareintheright？Whyblenchifyourconscienceaccusesyouofnofault？Iwouldnotblenchifitdid。What，——isamantobeputinthefrontofeverything，andthentobejudgedasthoughhecouldgiveallhistimetothepickingofhissteps？’

’Justso！Andhemustpickthemmorewarilythananother。’

’Idonotbelieveit。Youseeallthiswithjaundicedeyes。I

readsomewheretheotherdaythatthegreatshipshavealwayslittlewormsattachedtothem，butthatthegreatshipsswimonandknownothingoftheworms。’

’Thewormsconqueratlast。’

’Theyshouldn’tconquerme！Afterall，whatisitthattheysayaboutthemoney？Thatyououghtnottohavehadit？’

’IbegintothinkIwaswrongtopayit。’

’Youcertainlywerenotwrong。Ihadledthemanon。Ihadbeenmistaken。Ihadthoughthewasagentleman。Havingledhimonatfirst，beforeyouhadspokentome，Ididnotliketogobackfrommyword。IdidgotothemanatSilverbridgewhosellsthepots，andnodoubttheman，whenthusencouraged，tolditalltoLopez。WhenLopezwenttothetownhedidsupposethathewouldhavewhatthepeoplecalltheCastleinterest。’

’AndIhaddonesomuchtopreventit。’

’What’stheuseofgoingbackonthatnow，unlessyouwantmetoputmyneckdowntobetroddenon？IamconfessingmyownsinsasfastasIcan。’

’GodknowsIwouldnothavetroddenonyou。’

’Iamwilling，——ifitbenecessary。Thencamethequestion——

asIhaddonethisevil，howwasittoberectified？Anymanwithaparticleofspiritwouldhavetakenhisrubsandsaidnothingaboutit。Butasthismanaskedforthemoney，itwasrightthatheshouldhaveit。Ifitisallmadepublichewon’tgetverywelloutofit。’

’Whatdoesthatmattertome？’

’NorshallI——onlyluckilyIdonotmindit。’

’ButIminditforyou。’

’Youmustthrowmetothewhale。LetsomebodysayinsomanywordsthattheDuchessdidsoandso。Itwasverywickednodoubt。buttheycan’tkillme，——noryetdismissme。AndIwon’tresign。InpointoffactIshan’tbeapennytheworseforit。’

’ButIshouldresign。’

’IfalltheMinistersofEnglandweretogiveupassoonastheirwivesdofoolishthings，thatquestionaboutQueen’sGovernmentwouldbecomeverydifficult。’

’Theymaydofoolishthings，dear。andyet——’

’Andyetwhat？’

’Andyetnotinterfereinpolitics。’

’That’sallyouknowaboutit，Plantagenet。Doesn’teverybodyknowthatMrsDaubneygotDrMacFuzlemmadeabishop，andthatMrsGreshamgotherhusbandtomakethathazyspeechaboutwomen’srights，sothatnobodyshouldknowwhichwayhemeanttogo？Thereareothersjustasbadasme，onlyIdon’tthinktheygotblownupsomuch。YoudonowasIaskyou。’

’Icouldn’tdoit，Cora。Thoughthestainwerebutalittlespot，andthethingtobeavoidedpoliticaldestruction，Icouldnotrideoutofthepunishmentbyfixingthatstainuponmywife。

Iwillnothaveyournamementioned。Aman’swifeshouldbetalkedaboutbynoone。’

’That’shighfaluting，Plantagenet。’

’Glencora，inthesemattersyoumustallowmetojudgeformyself，andIwilljudge。IwillneversaythatIdidn’tdoit——

butthatitwasmywifewhodid。’

’Adamsaidso，——becausehechosetotellthetruth。’

’AndAdamhasbeendespisedeversince，——notbecauseheatetheapple，butbecauseheimputedtheeatingofittoawoman。I

willnotdoit。Wehavehadenoughofthisnow。’Thensheturnedtogoaway——buthecalledherback。’Kissme，dear，’hesaid。Thenshestoopedoverhimandkissedhim。’DonotthinkI

amangrywithyoubecausethethingvexesme。Iamdreamingalwaysofsomedaywhenwemaygoawaytogetherwiththechildren，andrestinsomeprettyspot，andliveasotherpeoplelive。’

’Itwouldbeverystupid，’shemutteredtoherselfasshelefttheroom。

HedidtouptotownfortheCabinetmeeting。Whatevermayhavebeendoneatthataugustassemblytherewascertainlynoresignation，ortheworldwouldhaveheardit。Itisprobable，too，thatnothingwassaidaboutthesenewspaperarticles。

Thingsiflefttothemselveswillgenerallydieatlast。TheoldDukeandPhineasFinnandBarringtonErlewerealloftheopinionthatthebestplanforthepresentwastodonothing。’Hasanythingbeensettled？’TheDuchessaskedPhineaswhenhecameback。

’Ohyes——theQueen’sSpeech。Butthereisn’tverymuchinit。’

’Butaboutthepaymentofthismoney？’

’Ihaven’theardawordaboutit，’saidPhineas。

’You’rejustasbadasalltherest，MrFinn，withyourpretendedsecrecy。Agirlwithhersweetheartisn’thalfsofussyasayoungCabinetMinister。’

’TheCabinetMinistersgetusedtoitsooner，Ithink，’saidPhineasFinn。

ParliamenthadalreadymetbeforeMrSlidehadquitedeterminedinwhatwayhewouldcarryonthewar。HecouldindeedgoonwritingperniciousarticlesaboutthePrimeMinisteradinfinitum，——fromyear’sendtoyear’send。Itwasanoccupationinwhichhetookdelight，andforwhichheimaginedhimselftobepeculiarlywellsuited。Butreaderswillbecometiredevenofabuseifitbenotvaried。Andtheverycontinuanceofsuchattackswouldseemtoimplythattheywerenotmuchheeded。

Otherpapershadindeedtakenthematterup，——buttheyhadtakenituponlytodropit。Thesubjecthadnotbeentheirown。Thelittlediscoveryhadbeenduenottotheiracumen，anddidnotthereforebearwiththemthehighestinterest。Ithadalmostseemedasthoughnothingwouldcomeofit，——forMrSlideinhiswildestambitioncouldhavehardlyimaginedthevexationandhesitation，thenervousnessandseriousdiscussionwhichhiswordshadoccasionedamongthegreatpeopleatMatching。Butcertainlythethingmustnotbeallowedtopassawayasamatterofnomoment。MrSlidehadalmostworkedhisminduptorealhorrorashethoughtofit。What！Aprimeminister，apeer，agreatduke，——putamanforwardasacandidateforaborough，and，whenthemanwasbeaten，payhisexpenses！Wasthistobedone，——tobedone，andfoundoutandnothingcomeofitinthesedaysofpurity，whenaprivatememberofParliament，somemerenobodyloseshisseatbecausehehasgivenawayafewbushelsofcoalsorascoreortwoofrabbits！MrSlide’senergeticloveofpublicvirtuewasscandalizedashethoughtoftheprobabilityofsuchacatastrophe。Tohisthinkingpublicvirtueconsistedincarpingatmenhighplaced，inabusingministersandjudgesandbishops，——andespeciallyinfindingoutsomethingforwhichtheymightbeabused。Hisownpublicvirtuewasinthismatterverygreat，foritwashewhohadferretedoutthesecret。Forhisintelligenceandenergyinthatmatterthecountryowedhimmuch。

Butthecountrywouldpayhimnothing，wouldgivehimnoneofthecredithedesired，wouldrobhimofthisspecialopportunityofdeclaringadozentimesthatthePeople’sBannerwasthesurestguardianofthepeople’sliberty，——unlesshecouldsucceedinforcingthematterfurtherintopublicnotice。’Howterribleistheapathyofthepeopleatlarge，’saidMrSlidetohimself，’whentheycannotbeawakenedbysucharevelationasthis！’

MrSlideknewverywellwhatoughttobethenextstep。PropernoticeshouldbegivenandaquestionshouldbeaskedinParliament。Somegentlemanshoulddeclarethathehadnoticedsuchandsuchstatementsinthepublicpress，andthathethoughtitrighttoaskwhethersuchandsuchpaymentshadbeenmadebythePrimeMinister。InhismeditationsMrSlidewenttosofarastoarrangetheverywordswhichtheindignantgentlemanshouldutter，amongwhichwordswasagracefulallusiontoacertainpublic-spiritednewspaper。Hedidevengosofarastoarrangeacomplimenttotheeditor，——butindoingsoheknewthathewasthinkingonlyofthatwhichoughttobe，andnotofthatwhichwouldbe。Thetimehadnotcomeasyetinwhichtheeditorofanewspaperinthiscountryreceivedatitheofthehonourduetohim。Butthequestioninanyform，withorwithoutacomplimenttothePeople’sBanner，wouldbethethingthatwasnowdesirable。

Whowastoaskthequestion？Ifpublicspiritwerereallystronginthecountrytherewouldbenotdifficultyonthatpoint。Thecrimecommittedhadbeensohorriblethatallthegreatpoliticiansofthecountryoughttocompeteforthehonourofaskingit。Whatgreaterservicecanbetrustedtothehandsofagreatmanthanthatofexposingthesinsoftherulersofthenation？SothoughtMrSlide。Butheknewthathewasinadvanceofthepeople，andthatthematterwouldnotbeseenintheproperlightbythosewhooughttoseeit。TheremightbeadifficultyingettinganypeertoaskthequestionontheHouseinwhichthePrimeMinisterhimselfsat，andevenintheotherHousetherewasnowbutlittleofthatacrid，indignantoppositionuponwhich，inMrSlide’sopinion，thesafetyofthenationaltogetherdepends。

WhenthestatementwasfirstmadeinthePeople’sBanner，LopezhadcometoMrSlideatonceandhaddemandedhisauthorityformakingit。Lopezhadfoundthestatementtobemostinjurioustohimself。Hehadbeenpaidhiselectionexpensestwiceover，makingaclearprofitof500poundsbythetransaction，and，thoughtthematterhadatoncetimetroubledhisconscience，hehadalreadytaughthimselftoregarditasoneofthosebygonestowhichawisemanseldomrefers。ButnowMrWhartonwouldknowthathehadbeencheated，shouldthestatementreachhim。’Whogaveyouauthoritytopublishallthis？’askedLopez，whoatthistimehadbecomeintimatewithMrSlide。

’Isittrue，Lopez？’askedtheeditor。

’Whateverwasdonewasdoneinprivate，——betweenmeandtheDuke。’

’Dukes，mydearfellow，can’tbeprivate，andcertainlynotwhentheyarePrimeMinisters。’

’Butyou’venorighttopublishthesethingsaboutme。’

’Isittrue？Ifit’strue，Ihavegoteveryrighttopublishit。

Ifit’snottrue，I’vegottherighttoaskthequestion。Ifyouwill’avetodowithPrimeMinistersyoucan’t’ideyourselfunderabushel。Tellmethis——isittrue？Youmightaswellgo’andin’andwithmeinthematter。Youcan’thurtyourself。

Andifyouopposeme，——whyIshallopposeyou。’

’Youcan’tsayanythingofme。’

’Well——Idon’tknowaboutthat。Icangenerally’itpretty’ardifIfeelinclined。ButIdon’twantto’ityou。AsregardsyouIcantellthestoryoneway，——ortheother，justasyouplease。’Lopez，seeingitinamannernotinimicaltohimself。ThepresentprojectofhislifewastoleavehistroublesinEngland，——SextyParkerbeingtheworstofthem，——

andgetawaytoGuatemala。InarrangingthisthegoodwordofMrSlidemightnotbenefithim，buthisillwordmightinjurehim。

Andthenlethimdowhathewould，themattermustbemadepublic。ShouldMrWhartonhearofit，——asofcoursehewould，——

itmustbebrazenedout。HecouldnotkeepitfromMrWharton’searsbyquarrellingwithQuintusSlide。

’Itwastrue，’saidLopez。

’IknewitbeforejustaswellasthoughIhadseenit。Iain’toftenverywronginthesethings。Youaskedhimforthemoney，——

andthreatenedhim。’

’Idon’tknowaboutthreateninghim。’

’’Ewouldn’thavesentitelse。’

’ItoldhimthatIhadbeendeceivedbyhispeopleintheborough，andthatIhadbeenputtoexpensethroughthemisrepresentationsoftheDuchess。Idon’tthinkIdidaskforthemoney。Buthesentacheque，andofcourseItookit。’

Ofcourse——ofcourse。Youcouldn’tgivemeacopyoftheletter？’

’Neverkeptacopy。’Hehadacopyinhisbreastcoat-pocketatthatmomentandSlidedidnotforamomentbelievethestatementmade。Butinsuchdiscussionsonemanhardlyexpectstruthfromanother。MrSlidecertainlyneverexpectedtruthfromanyman。

’Hesentthechequealmostwithoutaword，’saidLopez。

’Hedidwriteanote，Isuppose？’

’Justafewwords。’

’Couldyouletme’avethatnote？’

’Idestroyeditatonce。’Thisalsowasinhisbreastpocketatthetime。

’Did’ewriteit’imself？’

’IthinkitwashisprivateSecretary，MrWarburton。’

’Youmustbesure，youknow。Whichwasit？’

’ItwasMrWarburton。’

’Wasitcivil？’

’Yes，itwas。IfithadbeenuncivilIshouldhavesentitback。

I’mnotthemantotakeimpudenceevenfromaduke。’

’Ifyou’llgivemethosetwoletters，Lopez，I’llsticktoyouthroughthickandthin。ByheavensIwill！ThinkwhatthePeople’sBanneris。Youmaycometowantthatkindofthingsomeofthesedays。’Lopezremainedsilent，lookingintotheotherman’seagerface。’Ishouldn’tpublishthem，youknow。butitwouldbesomuchtometohavetheevidenceinmyhands。Youmightdoworse，youknow，thanmakeafriendofme。’

’Youwon’tpublishthem？’

’Certainlynot。Ishallonlyrefertothem。’

ThenLopezpulledabundleofpapersoutofhispocket。’Theretheyare，’hesaid。

’Well，’saidSlide，whenhehadreadthem，’itisoneoftherummiesttransactionsIever’eardof。Whydid’esendthemoney？That’swhatIwanttoknow。Asfarastheclaimgoes，you’adn’talegtostandon。’

’Notlegally。’

’You’adn’talegtostandonanyway。Butthatdoesn’tmuchmatter。Hesentthemoney，andthesendingofthemoneywascorrupt。WhoshallIgettoaskthequestion。IsupposeyoungArthurFletcherwouldn’tdoit。’

’They’rebirdsofafeather，’saidLopez。

’Birdsofafeatherdofalloutsometimes。OrSirOrlandoDrought？IwonderwhetherSirOrlandoDroughtwoulddoit。Ifanyman’atedanother，SirOrlandoDroughtmust’atetheDukeofOmnium。’

’Idon’tthinkhewouldlethimselfdowntothatkindofthing。’

’Let’imselfdown！Idon’tseeanylettingdowninit。Butthosemenwhohavebeenincabinetsdosticktooneanotherevenwhentheyareenemies。Theythinkthemselvessomightythattheyoughtn’ttobe’andledlikeothermen。ButI’llletthemknowthatI’ll’andlethem。ACabinetMinisteroracowboyisthesametoQuintusSlidewhenhehasgothispenin’ishand。’

OnthenextmorningtherecameoutanotherarticleinthePeople’sBanner，inwhichthewriterdeclaredthathehadinhisownpossessionthedamnatorycorrespondencebetweenthePrimeMinisterandthelatecandidateatSilverbridge。’ThePrimeMinistermaydenythefact，’saidthearticle。’Wedonotthinkitprobable，butitispossible。Wewishtobefairandaboveboardineverything。AndthereforeweatonceinformthenobleDukethattheentirecorrespondenceisinourhands。’InsayingthisMrQuintusSlidethoughtthathehadquitekeptthepromisewhichhemadewhensaidthathewouldonlyrefertotheletters。

CHAPTER52

’ICANSLEEPHERETO-NIGHT，ISUPPOSE？’

ThatschemeofgoingtoGuatemalahadbeeninthefirstinstancepropoundedbyLopezwiththeobjectoffrighteningMrWhartonintoterms。Therehad，indeed，beensomepreviousthoughtsonthesubject，——someplanprojectedbeforehismarriage，butithadbeenresuscitatedmainlyinthehopethatitmightbeefficacioustoextractmoney。Whenbydegreestheson-in-lawbegantofeelthateventhiswouldnotbeoperativeonhisfather-in-law’spurse，——whenunderthisthreatneitherWhartonnorEmilygaveway，——andwhen，withtheviewofstrengtheninghisthreat，herenewedhisinquiresastoGuatemalaandfoundthattheremightstillanopeningforhiminthatdirection，——

thethreattooktheshapeofatruepurpose，andhebegantothinkthathewouldinrealearnesttryhisfortunesinanewworld。Fromdaytodaythingsdidnotgowellwithhim，andfromdaytodaySextyParkerbecamemoreunendurable。Itwasimpossibleforhimtokeepfromhispartnerthisplanofemigration，——butheendeavouredtomakeParkerbelievethatthething，ifdoneatall，wasnottobedonetillallhisaffairsweresettled，——orinotherwordsallhisembarrassmentsclearedbydownrightmoneypayments，andthatMrWhartonwastomakethesepaymentsontheconditionthathethusexpatriatedhimself。

ButMrWhartonhadmadenosuchpromise。Thoughthethreateneddaycamenearerandnearerhecouldnotbringhimselftopurchaseashortrespiteforhisdaughterbypayingmoneytoascoundrel，——whichpaymenthefeltsurewouldbeofnopermanentservice。

DuringallthistimeMrWhartonwasverywretched。Ifhecouldhavefreedhisdaughterfromhermarriagebyhalfhisfortunehewouldhavedoneitwithoutasecondthought。Ifhecouldhaveassuredlypurchasedthepermanentabsenceofherhusband，hewouldhavedoneitatalargeprice。Butlethimpaywhathewould，hecouldseehiswaytonosecurity。Fromdaytodayhebecamemorestronglyconvincedoftherascalityofthismanwhowashisson-in-law，andwhowasstillaninmateinhisownhouse。

Ofcoursehehadaccusationsenoughtomakewithinhisownbreastagainsthisdaughter，who，whenthechoicewasopentoher，wouldnottakethealtogetherfittinghusbandprovidedforher，buthaddeclaredherselftobebroken-heartedforeversinceshewereallowedtothrowherselfawayuponthiswretchedcreature。Butheblamedhimselfasmuchashedidher。Whyhadheallowedhimselftobesoenervatedbyherprayersatlastastosurrendereverything，——ashehaddone？Howcouldhepresumetothinkthatheshouldbeallowedtoescape，whenhehaddonesolittletopreventthemisery？

HespoketoEmilyaboutit，——notoften，indeed，butwithgreatearnestness。’Ihavedoneitmyself，’shesaid，’andIwillbearit。’

’Tellhimyoucannotgotillyouknowtowhathomeyouaregoing。’

’Thatisforhimtoconsider。Ihavebeggedhimtoletmeremain，andIcansaynomore。Ifhechoosestotakeme，Ishallgo。’

Thenhespoketoheraboutmoney。’OfcourseIhavemoney，’hesaid。’OfcourseIhaveenoughbothforyouandEverett。IfI

coulddoanygoodbygivingittohim，heshouldhaveit。’

’Papa，’sheanswered，’Iwillneveragainaskyoutogivehimasinglepenny。Thatmustbealtogetherbetweenyouandhim。Heiswhattheycallaspeculator。Moneyisnotsafewithhim。’

’Ishallhavetosendittoyouwhenyouareinwant。’

’WhenIam——deadtherewillbenomoretobesent。Donotlooklikethat，papa。IknowwhatIhavedone，andImustbearit。I

havethrownawaymylife，itisjustthat。Ifbabyhadliveditwouldhavebeendifferent。’ThiswasabouttheendofJanuary，andthenMrWhartonheardofthegreatattackmadebyMrQuintusSlideagainstthePrimeMinister，andheard，ofcourse，ofthepaymentallegedtohavebeenmadetoFerdinandLopezbytheDukeonthescoreoftheelectionatSilverbridge。Somepersonsspoketohimonthesubject。Oneortwofriendsattheclubaskedhimwhathesupposedtobethetruthinthematter，andMrsRobyinquiredofhimonthesubject。’IhaveaskedLopez，’shesaid，’andIamsurefromhismannerthathedidgetthemoney。’

’Idon’tknowanythingaboutit，’saidMrWharton。

’IfhedidgetitIthinkhewasveryclever。’ItwaswellknownatthistimetoMrsRobythattheLopezmarriagehadbeenafailure，thatLopezwasnotarichman，andthatEmily，aswellasherfather，wasdiscontentedandunhappy。ShehadlatterlyheardoftheGuatemalascheme，andhadofcourseexpressedherhorror。ButshesympathizedwithLopezratherthanwithhiswife，thinkingthatifMrWhartonwouldonlyopenhispocketswideenoughthingsmightstillberight。’ItwasalltheDuchess’sfault，youknow，’shesaidtotheoldman。

’Iknownothingaboutit，andwhenIwanttoknowIcertainlyshallnotcometoyou。ThemiserythathehasbroughtuponmeissogreatthatitmakesmewishIhadneverseenanyonewhoknewhim。’

’ItwasEverettwhointroducedhimtoyourhouse。’

ItwasyouwhointroducedhimtoEverett。’

’Thereyouarewrong，——asyouoftenare，MrWharton。Everettmethimfirstattheclub。’

’What’stheuseofarguingaboutit？ItwasatyourhousethatEmilymethim。Itwasyouthatdidit。Iwonderyoucanhavethefacetomentionhisnametome。’

’Andthemanlivingallthetimeinyourhouse！’

UptothistimeMrWhartonhadnotmentionedtoasinglepersonthefactthathehadpaidhisson-in-law’selectionexpensesatSilverbridge。Hehadgivenhimthechequewithoutmuchconsideration，withthefeelingthatbydoingsohewouldinsomedegreebenefithisdaughter，andhadsinceregrettedtheact，findingthatnosuchpaymentfromhimcouldbeofanyservicetoEmily。Butthethinghadbeendone，——andtherehadbeen，sofar，anendofit。InnosubsequentdiscussionwouldMrWhartonhavealludedtoit，hadnotcircumstancesnowasitweredrivenitbackuponhismind。Andsincethedayonwhichhehadpaidthemoneyhehadbeen，ashedeclaredtohimself，swindledoverandoveragainbyhisson-in-law。TherewasthedinneratManchesterSquare，andafterthatthebrougham，andtherent，andascoreofbills，someofwhichhehadpaidandsomedeclinedtopay！Andyethehadsaidbutlittletothemanhimselfofalltheseinjuries。Ofwhatusewasittosayanything？Lopezwouldsimplyreplythathehadaskedhimtopaynothing。’Whatisitall，’Lopezhadoncesaid，’tothefortuneIhadarighttoexpectwithyourdaughter？’’Youhadnorighttoexpectashilling，’Whartonhadsaid。ThenLopezhadshruggedhisshoulders，andtherehadbeenanendofit。

Butnow，ifthisrumourweretrue，therehadbeenapositivedishonesty。Fromwhicheversourcethemanmighthavegotthemoneyfirst，ifthemoneyhadbeentwicegot，thesecondpaymenthadbeenfraudulentlyobtained。SurelyiftheaccusationhadbeenuntrueLopezwouldhavecometohimanddeclaredittobefalse，knowingwhatmustotherwisebehisthoughts。Lately，inthedailyworryofhislife，hehadavoidedallconversationwiththeman。Hewouldnotallowhismindtocontemplateclearlywhatwascoming。Heentertainedsomeirrational，undefinedhopethatsomethingwouldatlastsavehisdaughterfromthethreatenedbanishment。Itmightbe，ifheheldhisownhandtightenough，thattherewouldnotbemoneyenougheventopayforherpassageout。Asforheroutfit，LopezwouldofcourseorderwhathewantedandhavethebillssenttoManchesterSquare。WhetherornotthiswasbeingdoneneitherhenorEmilyknew。Andthusmatterswentonwithoutmuchspeechbetweenthetwomen。Butnowtheoldbarristerthoughtthathewasboundtospeak。HethereforewaitedonacertainmorningtillLopezhadcomedown，havingpreviouslydesiredhisdaughtertoleavetheroom。

’Lopez，’heasked，’whatisthisthatthenewspapersaresayingaboutyourexpensesatSilverbridge？’

Lopezhadexpectedtheattackandhadendeavouredtopreparehimselfforit。’Ishouldhavethought，sir，thatyouwouldnothavepaidmuchattentiontosuchstatementsinanewspaper。’

’Whentheyconcernmyself，Ido。Ipaidyourelectioneeringexpenses。

’Youcertainlysubscribed500poundstowardsthem，MrWharton。’

’Isubscribednothing，sir。Therewasnoquestionofasubscription，——bywhichyouintendtoimplycontributionfromothersources。Youtoldmethatthecontestcostyou500poundsandthatsumIhandedtoyou，withthefullunderstandingonyourpart，aswellasonmine，thatIwaspayingforthewhole。Wasthatso？’

’Haveityourownway，sir。’

’Ifyouarenotmoreprecise，Ishallthinkthatyouhavedefraudedme。’

’Defraudedyou？’

’Yes，sir——defraudedmetotheDukeofOmnium。Themoneyisgone，anditmatterslittlewhich。ButifthatbesoIshallknowthateitherfromhimorfrommeyouhaveraisedmoneyunderfalsepretences。’

’Ofcourse，MrWharton，fromyouImustbearwhateveryoumaychoosetosay。’

’IsittruethatyouhaveappliedtotheDukeofOmniumformoneyonaccountofyourexpensesatSilverbridge，andisittruethathehaspaidyouonthatscore？’

’MrWharton，asIhavesaidjustnow，Iamboundtohearandtobearfromanythingyoumaychoosetosay。Yourconnectionwithmywifeandyouragealikerestrainmyresentment。ButIamnotboundtoansweryourquestionswhentheyareaccompaniedbysuchlanguageasyouhavechosentouse，andIrefusetoanswerfurtherquestionsonthissubject。’

’OfcourseIknowthatyouhavetakenthemoneyfromtheDuke。’

’Thenwhydoyouaskme？’

’AndofcourseIknowyouarewellawareasIamofthenatureofthetransaction。Thatyoucanbrazenitoutwithoutablushonlyprovestomethatyouhavegotbeyondthereachofshame。’

’Verywell，sir。’

’Andyouhavenofurtherexplanationtomake？’

’Whatdoyouexpectmetosay？Withoutknowinganyofthefactsofthecase，——excepttheone，thatyoucontributed500poundstomyelectionexpenses，youtakeuponyourselftotellmethatIamashameless，fraudulentswindler。Andthenyouaskforafurtherexplanation！InsuchapositionisitlikelythatIshallexplainanything——thatIcanbeinahumourtobeexplanatory？

Justturnitalloverinyourownmind，andaskyourselfthequestion。’

’Ihaveturneditoverinmymind，andIhaveaskedmyselfthequestion，andIdonotthinkitprobablethatyoushouldwishtoexplainanything。IshalltakestepstolettheDukeknowthatI

asyourfather-in-lawhadpaidthefullsumwhichyouhadstatedthatyouhadspentatSilverbridge。’

’MuchtheDukewillcareaboutthat。’

’AndafterwhathaspassedIamobligedtosaythatthesooneryouleavethishousethebetterIshallbepleased。’

’Verywell，sir。OfcourseIshalltakemywifewithme。’

’Thatmustbeasshepleases。’

’No，MrWharton。ThatmustbeasIplease。Shebelongstome，——

nottoyouortoherself。Underyourinfluenceshehasforgottenmuchofwhatbelongstothedutyofawife，butIdonotthinkthatshewillsofarhaveforgottenherselfastogivememoretroublethantobidhercomewithmewhenIdesireit。’

’Letthatbeasitmay。Imustrequestthatyou，sir，willabsentyourself。Iwillnotentertainasmyguestamanwhohasactedasyouhavedoneinthismatter，——eventhoughhebemyson-in-law。’

’Icansleepheretonight，Isuppose？’

’Orto-morrowifitsuitsyou。AsforEmily，shecanremainhere，ifyouwillallowhertodoso。’

’Thatwillnotsuitme，’saidLopez。

’Inthatcase，asfarasIamconcerned，Ishalldowhatevershemayaskmetodo。Goodmorning。’

MrWhartonlefttheroom，butdidnotleavethehouse。Beforehedidsohewouldseehisdaughter，and，thinkingitprobablethatLopezwouldalsochoosetoseehiswife，hepreparedtowaitinhisownroom。But，inabouttenminutes，Lopezstartedfromthehalldoorinacab，anddidsowithoutgoingupstairs。MrWhartonhadreasontobelievethathisson-in-lawwasalmostdestituteofmoneyforimmediatepurposes。Whateverhemighthavewouldatanyratebeserviceableforhimbeforehestarted。

AnyhomeforEmilymustbeexpensive。andnohomeintheirpresentcircumstancescouldbesoreputableforherasoneunderherfather’sroof。Hethereforealmosthopedthatshemightstillbeleftwithhimtillthathorriddayshouldcome，——ifiteverdidcome，——inwhichshewouldbetakenawayfromhimforever。’Ofcourse，papa，Ishallgoifhebidsme，’shesaid，whenhetoldherallthathethoughtitrighttotellherofthatmorning’sinterview。

’Ihardlyknowhowtoadviseyou，’saidthefather，meaningintruthtobringhimselfroundtothegivingofsomeadviceadversetoherhusband’swill。

’Iwantnoadvice，papa。’

’Wantnoadvice！Ineverknewawomanwhowanteditmore。’

’No，papa。Iamboundtodoashetellsme。IknowwhatIhavedone。Whensomepoorwretchhasgothimselfintoperpetualprisonbyhismisdeeds，noadvicecanservehim。Soitiswithme。’

’Youcanatanyrateescapefromyourprison。’

’No——no。IhaveafeelingofpridewhichtellsmethatasI

chosetobecomethewifeofmyhusband，——soIinsistedonitinoppositiontoallmyfriends，——asIwouldjudgeformyself，——I

amboundtoputupwithmychoice。Ifthishadcomeuponmethroughtheauthorityofothers，ifIhadbeenconstrainedtomarryhim，IthinkIcouldhavereconciledmyselftodesertinghim。ButIdiditmyself，andIwillabidebyit。Whenhebidsmetogo，Ishallgo。’PoorMrWhartonwenttohischambers，andsattherethewholedaywithouttakingabookorapaperintohishands。Couldtherebenorescue，noprotection，norelief？Heturnedoverinhisheadvariousplans，butinavagueanduselessmanner。WhatiftheDukeweretoprosecuteLopezforthefraud！

WhatifhecouldimploreLopeztoabandonhiswife，——pledginghimselfbysomedeednottoreturntoher，——for，say，twentyoreventhirtythousandpounds！Whatifhehimselfwerecarryhisdaughterawaytothecontinent，halfforcingandhalfpersuadinghertomakethejourney！Surelytheremightbesomemeansfoundbywhichthemanmightbefrightenedintocompliance。Buttherehesat，——anddidnothing。AndintheeveningheateasolitarymuttonchopatTheJollyBlackbird，becausehecouldnotbeartofaceevenhisclub，andthenreturnedtohischambers，——tothegreatdisgustoftheoldwomanwhohadtheminchargeatnights。

Andataboutmidnighthecreptawaytohisownhouse，awretchedoldman。

LopezwhenheleftManchesterSquarehedidnotgoinsearchofanewhomeforhimselfandhiswife，norduringthewholeofthedaydidhetroublehimselfonthatsubject。HespentmostofthedayattheroomsinColemanStreetoftheSanJuanMiningAssociation，ofwhichMrMillsHappertonhadoncebeenChairman。

TherewasnowanotherChairmanandotherDirectors。butMrMillsHapperton’sinfluencehadsofarremainedwiththeCompanyastoenableLopeztobecomewell-knownintheCompany’soffices，andacknowledgedasaclaimantfortheofficeofresidentManageratSanJuaninGuatemala。Nowthepresentprojectwasthis，——thatLopezwastostartonbehalfoftheCompanyearlyinMay，thattheCompanywastopayhisownpersonalexpensesouttoGuatemala，andthattheyshouldallowhimwhilethereasalaryof1，000poundsayearformanagingtheaffairsofthemine。Asfarasthisofferwent，thethingwastrueenough。ItwastruethatLopezhadabsolutelysecuredtheplace。Buthedonesosubjecttotheburdenofoneveryseriousstipulation。Hewastobecometheproprietoroffiftysharesinthemine，andtopayup100

poundseachonthoseshares。Itwasconsideredthatthemanwhowastoget1，000poundsayearinGuatemalaformanagingtheaffair，shouldatanyrateassisttheaffair，andshowhisconfidenceintheaffair，toanextentasgreatasthat。Ofcoursetheholderofthesefiftyshareswouldbefullyentitledasanyothershareholdertothattwentypercentwhichthoseshareswhopromotedtheminepromisedastheimmediateresultofthespeculation。

AtfirstLopezhadhopedthathemightbeenabledtodefertheactualpaymentofthe5，000poundstillafterhehadsailed。

WhenonceoutinGuatemalaasmanager，asmanagerhewoulddoubtlessremain。Butbydegreeshefoundthatthepaymentmustactuallybemadeinadvance。NowtherewasnobodytowhomhecouldapplybutMrWharton。Hewas，indeed，forcedtodeclareattheofficethatthemoneywastocomefromMrWharton，andhadgivensomeexcellentbutfictitiousreasonwhyMrWhartoncouldnotpaythemoneytillFebruary。

AndinspiteofallthathadcomeandgonehestilldidhopethatiftheneedtogowereactuallytherehemightevengetthemoneyfromMrWharton。SurelyMrWhartonwouldsoonerpaysuchasumthanbetroubledathomewithsuchason-in-law。Shouldtheworstcometotheworst，ofcoursehecouldraisethemoneybyconsentingtoleavehiswifeathome。Butthiswasnotpartofhisplan，ifhecouldavoidit。5，000poundswouldbeaverylowpriceatwhichtosellhiswife，andallthathemightgetfromhisconnectionwithher。AslongashekeptherwithhimhewasinpossessionatanyrateofallthatMrWhartonwoulddoforher。Hehadnotthereforeasyetmadeuphisfinalapplicationtohisfather-in-lawforthemoney，havingfounditpossibletopostponetheypaymenttillthemiddleofFebruary。HisquarrelwithMrWhartonthismorningheregardedashavinglittleornoeffectuponhiscircumstances。MrWhartonwouldnotgivehimthemoneybecausehelovedhim，noryetfrompersonalrespect，norfromanysenseofdutyastowhathemightoweason-in-law。Itwouldsimplybegivenasthepricebywhichhisabsencemightbepurchased，andhisabsencewouldnotbethelessdesirablebecauseofthismorning’squarrel。

But，evenyet，hewasnotquiteresolvedastogoingtoGuatemala。SextyParkerhadbeensuckednearlydry，andwasintruthatthismomentsoviolentwithindignationandfearandremorsethatLopezdidnotdaretoshowhimselfinLittleTankardYard。butstilltherewere，evenyet，certainhopesinthatdirectionfromwhichgreaterresultsmightcome。IfacertainnewspiritwhichhadjustbeenconcoctedfromthebarkoftreesinCentralAfrica，andwhichwascalledBios，couldonlybemadetogoupinthemarket，everythingmightbesatisfactorilyarranged。ThehoardingsofLondonwerealreadytellingthepublicifitwishedtogetdrunkwithoutanyoftheusualtroublesofintoxicationitmustdrinkBios。Thepublicnodoubtdoesreadtheliteratureofthehoardings，butthenitreadssoslowly！ThisBioshadhardlybeentwelvemonthsontheboardsasyet！Buttheywerenowincreasingthesizeofthelettersintheadvertisementsandthejocundityofthepictures，——andthethingmightbedone。Therewas，too，anotherhope，——

anotherhopeofinstantmoneysbywhichGuatemalamightbestavedoff，astowhichfurtherexplanationshallbegiveninafurtherchapter。

’IsupposeIshallfindDixonadecentsortoffellow？’saidLopeztotheSecretaryoftheAssociationinColemanStreet。

’Rough，youknow，’

’Buthonest？’

’Ohyes，——he’sallthat。’

’Ifhe’shonest，andwhatIcallloyal，Idon’tcareastrawforanythingelse。Onedoesn’texpectWest-endmannersinGuatemala。

ButIshallhaveadealtodowithhim，——andIhateafellowthatyoucan’tdependon。’

’MrHappertonusedtothinkagreatdealofDixon。’

’That’sallright，’saidLopez。MrDixonwastheundergroundmanageroutattheSanJuanmine，andwasperhapsasanxiousforaloyalandhonestcolleagueaswasMrLopez。Ifso，MrDixonwasverymuchinthewaytobedisappointed。

LopezstayedattheofficeallthedaystudyingtheaffairsoftheSanJuanmine，andthenwenttotheProgressfordinner。

Hithertohehadtakennostepswhateverastogettinglodgingsforhimselforhiswife。

CHAPTER53

MRHARTLEPOD。

WhenthetimecameatwhichLopezshouldhaveleftManchesterSquarehewasstillthere。MrWharton，indiscussingthematterwithhisdaughter，——whenwishingtopersuadeherthatshemightremaininhishouseeveninoppositiontoherhusband，——hadnottoldherthathehadactuallydesiredLopeztoleaveit。Hehadthenfeltsurethatthemanwouldgoandtakehiswifewithhim，buthedidnotevenyetknowtheobduracyandclevernessandtheimpregnabilityofhisson-in-law。Whenthetimecame，whenhesawhisdaughterinthemorningafterthenoticehadbeengiven，hecouldnotbringhimselfeventhentosaytoherthathehadissuedanorderforhisbanishment。DayswentbyandLopezwasstillthere，andtheoldbarristerhadnofurtherwordonthesubject。Thetwomennevermet——ormetsimplyinthehallorpassages。Whartonhimselfstudiouslyavoidedsuchmeetings，thusdenyinghimselfthecommonestusesofhisownhouse。AtlastEmilytoldhimthatherhusbandhadfixedthedayforherdeparture。ThenextIndianmail-packetbywhichtheywouldleaveEnglandwouldstartfromSouthamptononthe2ndofApril，andshewastobereadytogoonthatday。’Howisittobetillthen？’

thefatheraskedinalow，uncertainvoice。

’IsupposeImayremainwithyou。’

’Andyourhusband？’

’Hewillbehere，too，——Isuppose。’

’Suchamisery，——suchadestructionofeverythingnomaneverheardofbefore！’saidMrWharton。Tothishemadenoreply，butcontinuedworkingatsomenecessarypreparationforherfinaldeparture。’Emily，’hesaid。’Iwillmakeanysacrificetopreventit。Whatcanbedone？ShortofinjuringEverett’sinterests，Iwilldoanything。’

’Idonotknow，’shesaid。

’Youmustunderstandsomethingofhisaffairs。’

’Nothingwhatever。Hehastoldmenothingofthem。Inearlierdays，——soonafterourmarriage，——hebademegetmoneyfromyou。’

’WhenyouwrotetomeformoneyfromItaly？’

’Andafterthat。Ihaverefusedtodoanything，——tosayaword。

Itoldhimthatitmustbebetweenyouandhim。WhatelsecouldIsay？Andnowhetellsmenothing。’

’Icannotthinkthathewantsyoutogowithhim。’Thentherewasagainapause。’Isitbecausehelovesyou？’

’Notthat，papa。’

’Whythenshouldheburdenhimselfwithacompanion？Hismoney，whateverhehas，wouldgofurtherwithoutsuchimpediment。’

’Perhapshethinks，papa，thatwhileIamwithhimhehasaholduponyou。’

’Heshallhaveastrongerholdbyleavingyou。Whatishetogain？IfIcouldonlyknowhisprice。’

’Askhim，papa。’

’IdonotknowhowIamtospeaktohimagain。’

Thenagaintherewasapause。’Papa，’shesaidafterawhile，’I

havedoneitmyself。Letmego。YouwillstillhaveEverett。

AnditmaybethatafteratimeIshallcomebacktoyou。Hewillnotkillme，anditmaybethatIshallnotdie。’

’ByGod！’saidMrWharton，risingfromhischairsuddenly，’iftherewasmoneytobemadebyit，Ibelievehewouldmurderyouwithoutascruple。’Thusitwasthatwithineighteenmonthsofhermarriagethefatherspoketohisdaughterofherhusband。

’WhatamItotakewithme？’shesaidtoherhusbandafewdayslater。

’Youhadbetteraskyourfather。’

’WhyshouldIaskhim，Ferdinand？Howshouldheknow？’

’AndhowshouldI？’

’Ishouldhavethoughtyouwouldinterestyourselfaboutit。’

’UponmywordIhaveenoughtointerestmejustatpresent，withoutthinkingofyourfinery。Isupposeyoumeanwhatclothesyoushouldhave？’

’Iwasnotthinkingofmyselfonly。’

’Youneedthinkofnothingelse。Askhimwhathepleasestoallowyoutospend，andthenIwilltellyouwhattoget。’

’Iwillneveraskhimforanything，Ferdinand。’

’Thenyoumaygowithoutanything。Youmightaswelldoitatonce，foryouwillhavetodoitsoonerorlater。Or，ifyouplease，gotohistradesmenandsaynothingtohimaboutit。

Theywillgiveyoucredit。Youseehowitis，mydear。Hehascheatedmeinamostrascallymanner。Hehasallowedmetomarryhisdaughter，andbecauseIdidnotmakeabargainwithhimasanothermanwouldhavedone，hedeniesmethefortuneIhadarighttoexpectwithyou。YouknowthattheIsraelitesdespoiledtheEgyptians，anditwastakenasmeritontheirpart。YourfatherisaEgyptiantome，andIwilldespoilhim。YoucantellhimthatIsaysoifyouplease。’

AndsothedayswentontillthefirstweekofFebruaryhadpassed，andParliamenthadmet。BothLopezandhiswifewerestilllivinginManchesterSquare。Notanotherwordhadbeensaidastothatnoticetoquit，noranallusionmadetoit。ItwassupposedtobeasettledthingthatLopezwastostartwithhiswifeforGuatemalainthefirstweekofApril。MrWhartonhadhimselffeltthatdifficultyastohisdaughter’soutfit，andhadtoldherthatshemightgetwhateveritpleasedheronhiscredit。’Foryourself，mydear。’

’Papa，Iwillgetnothingtillhebidsme。’

’Butyoucan’tgoacrosstheworldwithoutanything。Whatareyoutodoinsuchaplaceasthatunlessyouhavethethingsyouwant？’

’Whatdopoorpeopledowhohavetogo？WhatshouldIdoifyouhadcastmeoffbecauseofmydisobedience？’

’ButIhavenotcastyouoff。’

’Tellhimthatyouwillgivehimsomuch，andthen，ifhebidsme，Iwillspendit。’

’Letitbeso。Iwilltellhim。’

UponthatMrWhartondidspeaktohisson-in-law——cominguponhimsuddenlyonemorninginthedining-room。’Emilywillwantanoutfitifsheistogotothisplace。’

’Likeotherpeopleshewantsmanythingsthatshecannotget。’

’Iwilltellmytradesmentofurnishherwithwhatshewants，upto，——well，——supposeIsay200pounds。Ihavespokentoherandshewantsyoursanction。’

’Mysanctionforspendingmoney？Shecanhavethatveryquickly。’

’Youcantellherso——orIwilldoso。’

UponthatMrWhartonwasgoing，butLopezstoppedhim。ItwasnowessentialthatthemoneyforthesharesintheSanJuanmineshouldbepaidup，andhisfather-in-law’spocketwasstillthesourcefromwhichtheenterprisingson-in-lawhadhopedtoprocureit。Lopezhadfullymadeuphismindtodemandit，andthoughtthatthetimehadnowcome。Andhewasresolvedthathewouldnotaskitasafavouronbendedknee。Hewasbeginningtofeelhisownpower，andtrustedthathemightprevailbyothermeansthanbegging。’MrWharton，’hesaid，’youandIhavenotbeenverygoodfriendslately。’

’No，indeed。’

’Therewasatime，——averyshorttime，——duringwhichIthoughtthatwemighthititofftogether，andIdidmybest。Youdonot，Ifancy，likemenofmyclass。’

’Well——well！Youhadbettergooniftherebeanythingtosay。’

’Ihavemuchtosay，andIwillgoon。Youarearichman，andI

amyourson-in-law。’MrWhartonputhislefthanduptohisforehead，brushingthefewhairsbackfromhishead，buthesaidnothing。’HadIreceivedfromyouduringthelastmostvitalyearthatassistancewhichIthinkIhadarighttoexpect，I

alsomighthavebeenarichmannow。Itisnogoodgoingbacktothat。’Thenhepaused，butstillMrWhartonsaidnothing。’Nowyouknowwhathascometomeandtoyourdaughter。Wearetobeexpatriated。’

’Isthatmyfault？’

’Ithinkitis，butImeantosaynothingfurtherofthat。ThisCompanywhichissendingmeout，andwhichprobablywillbethemostthrivingthingofthekindwhichhascomeupwithinthesetwentyyears，istopaymeasalaryof1，000poundsayearasresidentmanagerofSanJuan。’

’SoIunderstand。’

’Thesalaryalonewouldbeabeggarlything。Guatemala，Itakeit，isnotthecheapestcountryintheworldinwhichamancanlive。ButIamtogooutthereastheowneroffiftysharesonwhich100poundseachmustbepaidup，andIamentitledtodrawanother1，000poundsayearasdividendontheprofitofthoseshares。’

’Thatwillbetwentypercent。’

’Exactly。’

’Andwilldoubleyousalary。’

’Justso。ButthereisonelittleceremonytobeperfectedbeforeIcanbeallowedtoenteruponsohalcyonastateofexistence。The100poundsasharemustbepaidup。’MrWhartonsimplystaredathim。’Imusthavethe5，000poundstoinvestintheundertakingbeforeIcanstart。’

’Well！’

’NowIhavenotgot5，000poundsmyself，noranypartofit。Youdonotwish，Isuppose，toseeeithermeoryourdaughterstarve。

Andasforme，IhardlyflattermyselfwhenIsaythatyouareveryanxioustoberidofme，5，000poundsisnotverymuchformetoaskofyou，asIregardit。’

’SuchconsummateimpudenceInevermetinmylifebefore！’

’Norperhapssomuchunprevaricatingdownrighttruth。Atanyratesuchistheconditionofmyaffairs。IfIamtogothemoneymustbepaidthisweek。Ihave，perhapsfoolishly，putoffmentioningthemattertillIwassurethatIcouldnotraisethesumelsewhere。ThoughIfeelmyclaimonyoutobegood，MrWharton，itisnotpleasanttometomakeit。’

’Youareaskingmefor5，000poundsdown！’

’CertainlyIam。’

’WhatsecurityamItohave？’

’Security？’

’Yes——thatifIpayitIshallnotbetroubledagainbythemeanestscoundrelthatithaseverbeenmymisfortunetomeet。

HowamItoknowthatyouwillnotcomebackto-morrow？HowamI

toknowthatyouwillgoatall？DoyouthinkitwillbeprobablethatIwillgiveyou5，000poundsonyourownsimpleword？’

’ThenthescoundrelwillstayinEngland，——andwillgenerallyfinditconvenienttoliveinManchesterSquare。’

’I’llbed-difhedoes。Lookhere，sire。Betweenyouandmetherecanbeabargain，andnothingbutabargain。Iwillpaythe5，000pounds，——oncertainconditions。’

’Ididn’tdoubtatallthatyouwouldpayit。’

’IwillgowithyoutotheofficeofthisCompany，andwillpayforthesharesifIcanreceiveassurancetherethatthematterisasyousay，andthattheshareswillnotbeplacedinyourpowerbeforeyouhavereachedGuatemala。’

’Youcancometo-day，sire，andreceiveallthatassurance。’

’AndImusthaveawrittenundertakingfromyou，——adocumentwhichmydaughtercanshowifitbenecessary，——thatyouwillneverclaimhersocietyagainortroubleherwithanyapplication。’

’Youmistakeme，MrWharton。MywifegoeswithmetoGuatemala。’

’ThenIwillnotpayonepenny。WhyshouldI？Whatisyourpresenceorabsencetomeexceptasitconcernsher？DoyouthinkthatIcareforyourthreatsofremaininghere。Thepolicewillsetthatright。’

’WhereverIgo，mywifegoes。’

’We’llseetothattoo。Ifyouwantthemoney，youmustleaveher。Goodmorning。’

MrWhartonashewenttohischambersthoughtthematterover。

Hewascertainlywillingtoriskthe5，000poundsdemandedifhecouldridhimselfandhisdaughterofthisterribleincubus，evenifitwereonlyforatime。IfLopezwouldbutoncegotoGuatemala，leavinghiswifebehindhim，itwouldbecomparativelyeasytokeepthemapartshouldheeverreturn。Thedifficultynowwasnotinhim，butinher。Theman’sconducthadbeensooutrageous，sobarefaced，socruel，thatthelawyerdidnotdoubtbutthathecouldturnherhusbandoutofhishouse，andkeepthewife，evennow，wereitnotthatshewasdeterminedtoobeythemanwhomshe，inoppositiontoallherfriends，hadtakenashermaster。’Ihavedoneitmyself，andIwillbearit，’wasalltheanswershewouldmakewhenherfatherstrovetopersuadehertoseparateherselffromherhusband。’YouhavegotEverett，’shewouldsay。’Whenagirlismarriedsheisdividedfromherfamily——andIamdivided。’ButshewouldwillinglystayifLopezwouldbidherstay。Itnowseemedthathecouldnotgowithoutthe5，000pounds。and，whenthepressurecameuponhim，surelyhewouldgoandleavehiswife。

InthecourseofthatdayMrWhartonwenttotheofficesoftheSanJuanmineandaskedtoseetheDirector。Hewasshownupintoahalf-furnishedroom，twostoreyshigh，inColemanStreet，wherehefoundtwoclerkssittinguponstools——andwhenheaskedfortheDirectorwasshownintothebackroominwhichsattheSecretary。TheSecretarywasadark，plumplittlemanwithagreasyface，whohadthegiftofassuminganairofgreatimportanceashetwistedhischairroundtofacevisitorswhocametoinquireabouttheSanJuanMiningCompany。HisnameasHartlepod。andiftheSanJuanmine’turnedouttrumps’，asheintendedthatitshould，MrHartlepodmeanttobeagreatmaninthecity。ToMrHartlepodMrWhartonwithconsiderableembarrassment，explainedasmuchofthejointhistoryofhimselfandLopezashefoundtobeabsolutelynecessary。’Hehasonlylefttheofficeabouthalfanhour，’saidMrHartlepod。

’Ofcourseyouunderstandheismyson-in-law。’

’Hehasmentionedyournametous，MrWharton，beforenow。’

’AndheisgoingtoGuatemala？’

’Ohyes——he’sgoingout。Hashenottoldyouasmuchhimself？’

’Certainly，sir。AndhehastoldmethatheisdesirousofbuyingcertainsharesintheCompanybeforehestarts。’

’Probably，MrWharton。’

’Indeed，Ibelievehecannotgounlesshebuysthem。’

’Thatmaybeso，MrWharton。Nodoubthehastoldyouallthathimself。’

’Thefactis，MrHartlepod，Iamwilling，undercertainstipulations，toadvancehimthemoney。’MrHartlepodbowed。’I

neednottroubleyouwithmyprivateaffairsbetweenmyselfandmyson-in-law。’AgaintheSecretarybowed。’Butitseemstobeforhisinterestthatheshouldgo。’

’Averygreatopeningindeed，MrWharton。Idon’tseehowamanistohaveabetteropening。Afinesalary！Hisexpensesarepaid！Oneoftheverybestthingsthathascomeupformanyyears！Andasforthecapitalheistoembarkintheaffair，heisassafetogettwentypercentinit，——assafe，——assafeastheBankofEngland。’

’He’llhavetheshares？’

’Ohyes——thescripwillbehandedtohimatonce。’

’And，——and——’

’Ifyoumeanaboutthemine，MrWharton，youmaytakemywordthatit’sallreal。It’snotoneofthoseshamthingsthatmeltawaylikesnowandleavetheshareholdersnowhere。There’stheprospectus，MrWharton。Perhapsyouhavenotseenthatbefore。

Takeitawayandcastyoureyesoveritatyourleisure。’MrWhartonputthesomewhatlengthypamphletintohispocket。’LookatthelistofDirectors。We’vethreemembersofParliament，abaronet，andoneortwoCitynamesthatareasgood，——asgoodastheBankofEngland。Ifthatprospectuswon’tmakeamanconfidentIdon’tknowwhatwill。Why，MrWharton，youdon’tthinkthatyourson-in-lawwouldgetthosefiftysharesatparunlesshewasgoingoutasourgeneralmanager。You’llseeifyoulook。Aboutaquarterofamillionpaidup。Butit’sallinaboxasonemaysay。It’samongourselves。Thesharesain’tinthemarket。Ofcourseit’snotformetosaywhatshouldbedonebetweenyouandyourson-in-law。Lopezisafriendofmine，andamanIesteem，andallthat。NeverthelessIshouldn’tthinkofadvisingyoutodothisorthat，——ornottodoit。Butwhenyoutalkofsafety，MrWharton，——why，MrWharton，Idon’tscrupletotellyouasamanwhoknowswhatthesethingsare，thatthisisanopportunitythatdoesn’tcomeaman’swayperhapstwiceinhislife。’

MrWhartonfoundhehadnothingmoretosay，andwentbacktoLincoln’sInn。HeknewverywellthatMrHartlepod’sassuranceswerenotworthmuch。MrHartlepodhimselfandhisbelongings，theclerksinhisoffice，thelookoftherooms，andtheverynatureofthepraiseswhichhehadsung，alltheminspiredanythingbutconfidence。MrWhartonwasamanoftheworld。and，thoughheknewnothingofCityways，wasquiteawarethatnomaninhissenseswouldlayout5，000poundsonthemerewordofMrHartlepod。Butstillhewasinclinedtomakethepayment。IfonlyhecouldsecuretheabsenceofLopez，——andifcouldbesurethatLopezwouldintruthgotoGuatemala，andalsoifhecouldinducethemantogowithouthiswife，hewouldriskthemoney。

Themoneywould，ofcourse，bethrownaway，——buthewouldthrowitaway。Lopeznodoubtdeclaredthathewouldnotgowithouthiswife，eventhoughthemoneywerepaidforhim。Butthemoneywasanalluringsum！Asthepressureuponthemanbecamegreater，MrWhartonthoughthewouldprobablyconsenttoleavehiswifebehindhim。

Inhisemergencythebarristerwenttohisattorneyandtoldhimeverything。Thetwolawyerswereclosetedtogetherforanhour，andMrWharton’slastwordstohisoldfriendwereasfollows：——

’Iwillriskthemoney，Walker，orratherIwillconsentabsolutelytothrowitaway，——asitwillbethrownaway，——ifitcanbemanagedthatheshallintruthgotothisplacewithouthiswife。’

CHAPTER54

LIZZIE。

ItcannotbesupposedthatFerdinandLopezatthistimewasaveryhappyman。Hehad，atanyrate，oncelovedhiswife，andwouldhavelovedherstillcouldhehavetrainedhertothinkashethought，tosharehiswishes，and’toputherselfintothesameboatwithhim’，——ashewaswonttodescribetheunisonandsympathywhichherequiredfromher。Togivehimhisdue，hedidnotknowthathewasavillain。Whenhewasexhortingherto’getroundherfather’hewasnotawarethathewasgivingherlessonswhichmustshockawell-conditionedgirl。Hedidnotunderstandthateverythingthatshehaddiscoveredofhismoraldispositionsincehermarriagewasofanaturetodisgusther。

And，notunderstandingallthis，heconceivedthathewasgrievouslywrongedbyher，inthatsheadheredtoherfatherratherthantohim。Thismadehimunhappy，anddoublydisappointedhim。Hehadneithergotthewifethathehadexpectednorthefortune。Buthestillthoughtthatthefortunemaycomeifhewouldonlyholdontothewifewhichhehadgot。