'Were you indeed? I am so sorry. I have an engagement out here with a fellow which I must keep. I could meet you at any other time, you know.'
'You can come back for ten minutes,' said Roger, taking him by the arm.
'Well;--not conveniently at this moment.'
'You must manage it. I am here at your mother's request, and can't afford to remain in town day after day looking for you. I go down to Carbury this afternoon. Your friend can wait. Come along.' His firmness was too much for Felix, who lacked the courage to shake his cousin off violently, and to go his way. But as he returned he fortified himself with the remembrance of all the money in his pocket,-- for he still had his winnings,--remembered too certain sweet words which had passed between him and Marie Melmotte since the ball, and resolved that he would not be sat upon by Roger Carbury. The time was coming,--he might almost say that the time had come,--in which he might defy Roger Carbury. Nevertheless, he dreaded the words which were now to be spoken to him with a craven fear.
'Your mother tells me,' said Roger, 'that you still keep hunters.'
'I don't know what she calls hunters. I have one that I didn't part with when the others went.'
'You have only one horse?'
'Well;--if you want to be exact, I have a hack as well as the horse I ride.'
'And another up here in town?'
'Who told you that? No; I haven't. At least there is one staying at some stables which, has been sent for me to look at.'
'Who pays for all these horses?'
'At any rate I shall not ask you to pay for them.'
'No;--you would be afraid to do that. But you have no scruple in asking your mother, though you should force her to come to me or to other friends for assistance. You have squandered every shilling of your own, and now you are ruining her.'
'That isn't true. I have money of my own.'
'Where did you get it?'
'This is all very well. Roger; but I don't know that you have any right to ask me these questions. I have money. If I buy a horse I can pay for it. If I keep one or two I can pay for them. Of course I owe a lot of money, but other people owe me money too. I'm all right, and you needn't frighten yourself.'