At about three on Sunday he knocked at the door in Grosvenor Square and asked for the ladies. Up to the moment of his knocking,--even after he had knocked, and when the big porter was opening the door,--he intended to ask for Mr Melmotte; but at the last his courage failed him, and he was shown up into the drawing-room. There he found Madame Melmotte, Marie, Georgiana Longestaffe, and--Lord Nidderdale. Marie looked anxiously into his face, thinking that he had already been with her father. He slid into a chair close to Madame Melmotte, and endeavoured to seem at his ease. Lord Nidderdale continued his flirtation with Miss Longestaffe,--a flirtation which she carried on in a half whisper, wholly indifferent to her hostess or the young lady of the house. 'We know what brings you here,' she said.
'I came on purpose to see you.'
'I'm sure, Lord Nidderdale, you didn't expect to find me here.'
'Lord bless you, I knew all about it, and came on purpose. It's a great institution; isn't it?'
'It's an institution you mean to belong to,--permanently.'
'No, indeed. I did have thoughts about it as fellows do when they talk of going into the army or to the bar; but I couldn't pass. That fellow there is the happy man. I shall go on coming here, because you're here. I don't think you'll like it a bit, you know.'
'I don't suppose I shall, Lord Nidderdale.'
After a while Marie contrived to be alone with her lover near one of the windows for a few seconds. 'Papa is downstairs in the book-room,' she said. 'Lord Alfred was told when he came that he was out.' It was evident to Sir Felix that everything was prepared for him. 'You go down,' she continued, 'and ask the man to show you into the book-room.'
'Shall I come up again?'
'No; but leave a note for me here under cover to Madame Didon.' Now Sir Felix was sufficiently at home in the house to know that Madame Didon was Madame Melmotte's own woman, commonly called Didon by the ladies of the family. 'Or send it by post,--under cover to her. That will be better. Go at once, now.' It certainly did seem to Sir Felix that the very nature of the girl was altered. But he went, just shaking hands with Madame Melmotte, and bowing to Miss Longestaffe.
In a few moments he found himself with Mr Melmotte in the chamber which had been dignified with the name of the book-room. The great financier was accustomed to spend his Sunday afternoons here, generally with the company of Lord Alfred Grendall. It may be supposed that he was meditating on millions, and arranging the prices of money and funds for the New York, Paris, and London Exchanges. But on this occasion he was waked from slumber, which he seemed to have been enjoying with a cigar in his mouth. 'How do you do, Sir Felix?' he said. 'I suppose you want the ladies.'