'Yes, I do. Such an undertaking, if intended by Melmotte, would give me a worse opinion of him than I have ever held.'
'He did make it.'
'Then he did very wrong. He must have spoken with the purpose of deceiving.'
'You know my son is one of the Directors of that great American Railway. It was not just as though the promise were made to a young man who was altogether unconnected with him.'
'Sir Felix's name was put there, in a hurry, merely because he has a title, and because Melmotte thought he, as a young man, would not be likely to interfere with him. It may be that he will be able to sell a few shares at a profit; but, if I understand the matter rightly, he has no capital to go into such a business.'
'No;--he has no capital.'
'Dear Lady Carbury, I would place no dependence at all on such a promise as that.'
'You think he should marry the girl then in spite of the father?'
Mr Broune hesitated before he replied to this question. But it was to this question that Lady Carbury especially wished for a reply. She wanted some one to support her under the circumstances of an elopement. She rose from her chair, and he rose at the same time.
'Perhaps I should have begun by saying that Felix is all but prepared to take her off. She is quite ready to go. She is devoted to him. Do you think he would be wrong?'
'That is a question very hard to answer.'
'People do it every day. Lionel Goldsheiner ran away the other day with Lady Julia Start, and everybody visits them.'
'Oh yes, people do run away, and it all comes right. It was the gentleman had the money then, and it is said you know that old Lady Catchboy, Lady Julia's mother, had arranged the elopement herself as offering the safest way of securing the rich prize. The young lord didn't like it, so the mother had it done in that fashion.'
'There would be nothing disgraceful.'
'I didn't say there would;--but nevertheless it is one of those things a man hardly ventures to advise. If you ask me whether I think that Melmotte would forgive her, and make her an allowance afterwards,--I think he would.'
'I am so glad to hear you say that.'
'And I feel quite certain that no dependence whatever should be placed on that promise of assistance.'
'I quite agree with you. I am so much obliged to you,' said Lady Carbury, who was now determined that Felix should run off with the girl. 'You have been so very kind.' Then again she gave him her hand, as though to bid him farewell for the night.