'Ha, ha, ha,' laughed Melmotte, 'very good. I've no doubt there is,-- many a one. But you won't let this stupid nonsense stand in your way with Marie.'
'Upon my word, sir, I don't know about that. Miss Melmotte has given the most convincing proof of her partiality for another gentleman, and of her indifference to me.'
'A foolish baggage! A silly little romantic baggage! She's been reading novels till she has learned to think she couldn't settle down quietly till she had run off with somebody.'
'She doesn't seem to have succeeded on this occasion, Mr Melmotte.'
'No;--of course we had her back again from Liverpool.'
'But they say that she got further than the gentleman.'
'He is a dishonest, drunken scoundrel. My girl knows very well what he is now. She'll never try that game again. Of course, my Lord, I'm very sorry. You know that I've been on the square with you always. She's my only child, and sooner or later she must have all that I possess. What she will have at once will make any man wealthy,--that is, if she marries with my sanction; and in a year or two I expect that I shall be able to double what I give her now, without touching my capital. Of course you understand that I desire to see her occupying high rank. I think that, in this country, that is a noble object of ambition. Had she married that sweep I should have broken my heart. Now, my Lord, I want you to say that this shall make no difference to you. I am very honest with you. I do not try to hide anything. The thing of course has been a misfortune. Girls will be romantic. But you may be sure that this little accident will assist rather than impede your views. After this she will not be very fond of Sir Felix Carbury.'
'I dare say not. Though, by Jove, girls will forgive anything.'
'She won't forgive him. By George, she shan't. She shall hear the whole story. You'll come and see her just the same as ever!'
'I don't know about that, Mr Melmotte.'
'Why not? You're not so weak as to surrender all your settled projects for such a piece of folly as that! He didn't even see her all the time.'
'That wasn't her fault.'
'The money will all be there, Lord Nidderdale.'
'The money's all right, I've no doubt. And there isn't a man in all London would be better pleased to settle down with a good income than I would. But, by Jove, it's a rather strong order when a girl has just run away with another man. Everybody knows it.'