CHAPTER XLV.
MR. MELMOTTE IS PRESSED FOR TIME.
About this time, a fortnight or nearly so before the election, Mr.Longestaffe came up to town and saw Mr. Melmotte very frequently. Hecould not go into his own house, as he had let that for a month tothe great financier, nor had he any establishment in town; but heslept at an hotel and lived at the Carlton. He was quite delighted tofind that his new friend was an honest Conservative, and he himselfproposed the honest Conservative at the club. There was some idea ofelecting Mr. Melmotte out of hand, but it was decided that the clubcould not go beyond its rule, and could only admit Mr. Melmotteout of his regular turn as soon as he should occupy a seat in theHouse of Commons. Mr. Melmotte, who was becoming somewhat arrogant,was heard to declare that if the club did not take him when he waswilling to be taken, it might do without him. If not elected at once,he should withdraw his name. So great was his prestige at this momentwith his own party that there were some, Mr. Longestaffe among thenumber, who pressed the thing on the committee. Mr. Melmotte was notlike other men. It was a great thing to have Mr. Melmotte in theparty. Mr. Melmotte's financial capabilities would in themselves bea tower of strength. Rules were not made to control the club in amatter of such importance as this. A noble lord, one among seven whohad been named as a fit leader of the Upper House on the Conservativeside in the next session, was asked to take the matter up; and menthought that the thing might have been done had he complied. But hewas old-fashioned, perhaps pig-headed; and the club for the time lostthe honour of entertaining Mr. Melmotte.
It may be remembered that Mr. Longestaffe had been anxious to becomeone of the directors of the Mexican Railway, and that he was rathersnubbed than encouraged when he expressed his wish to Mr. Melmotte.Like other great men, Mr. Melmotte liked to choose his own time forbestowing favours. Since that request was made the proper time hadcome, and he had now intimated to Mr. Longestaffe that in a somewhataltered condition of things there would be a place for him at theBoard, and that he and his brother directors would be delighted toavail themselves of his assistance. The alliance between Mr. Melmotteand Mr. Longestaffe had become very close. The Melmottes had visitedthe Longestaffes at Caversham. Georgiana Longestaffe was stayingwith Madame Melmotte in London. The Melmottes were living in Mr.Longestaffe's town house, having taken it for a month at a veryhigh rent. Mr. Longestaffe now had a seat at Mr. Melmotte's board.And Mr. Melmotte had bought Mr. Longestaffe's estate at Pickeringon terms very favourable to the Longestaffes. It had been suggestedto Mr. Longestaffe by Mr. Melmotte that he had better qualify forhis seat at the Board by taking shares in the Company to the amountof--perhaps two or three thousand pounds, and Mr. Longestaffe hadof course consented. There would be no need of any transaction inabsolute cash. The shares could of course be paid for out of Mr.Longestaffe's half of the purchase money for Pickering Park, andcould remain for the present in Mr. Melmotte's hands. To this alsoMr. Longestaffe had consented, not quite understanding why the scripshould not be made over to him at once.
It was a part of the charm of all dealings with this great man thatno ready money seemed ever to be necessary for anything. Greatpurchases were made and great transactions apparently completedwithout the signing even of a cheque. Mr. Longestaffe found himselfto be afraid even to give a hint to Mr. Melmotte about ready money.In speaking of all such matters Melmotte seemed to imply thateverything necessary had been done, when he had said that it wasdone. Pickering had been purchased and the title-deeds made overto Mr. Melmotte; but the L80,000 had not been paid,--had not beenabsolutely paid, though of course Mr. Melmotte's note assentingto the terms was security sufficient for any reasonable man. Theproperty had been mortgaged, though not heavily, and Mr. Melmottehad no doubt satisfied the mortgagee; but there was still a sum ofL50,000 to come, of which Dolly was to have one half and the otherwas to be employed in paying off Mr. Longestaffe's debts to tradesmenand debts to the bank. It would have been very pleasant to have hadthis at once,--but Mr. Longestaffe felt the absurdity of pressingsuch a man as Mr. Melmotte, and was partly conscious of the gradualconsummation of a new aera in money matters. "If your banker ispressing you, refer him to me," Mr. Melmotte had said. As for manyyears past we have exchanged paper instead of actual money for ourcommodities, so now it seemed that, under the new Melmotte regime, anexchange of words was to suffice.
But Dolly wanted his money. Dolly, idle as he was, foolish as he was,dissipated as he was and generally indifferent to his debts, liked tohave what belonged to him. It had all been arranged. L5,000 would payoff all his tradesmen's debts and leave him comfortably possessed ofmoney in hand, while the other L20,000 would make his own propertyfree. There was a charm in this which awakened even Dolly, and forthe time almost reconciled him to his father's society. But now ashade of impatience was coming over him. He had actually gone downto Caversham to arrange the terms with his father,--and had in factmade his own terms. His father had been unable to move him, andhad consequently suffered much in spirit. Dolly had been almosttriumphant,--thinking that the money would come on the next day, orat any rate during the next week. Now he came to his father early inthe morning,--at about two o'clock,--to enquire what was being done.He had not as yet been made blessed with a single ten-pound note inhis hand, as the result of the sale.
"Are you going to see Melmotte, sir?" he asked somewhat abruptly.
"Yes;--I'm to be with him to-morrow, and he is to introduce me to theBoard."
"You're going in for that, are you, sir? Do they pay anything?"
"I believe not."
"Nidderdale and young Carbury belong to it. It's a sort of Beargardenaffair."
"A bear-garden affair, Adolphus. How so?"
"I mean the club. We had them all there for dinner one day, and ajolly dinner we gave them. Miles Grendall and old Alfred belong toit. I don't think they'd go in for it, if there was no money going.I'd make them fork out something if I took the trouble of going allthat way."
"I think that perhaps, Adolphus, you hardly understand these things."
"No, I don't. I don't understand much about business, I know. What Iwant to understand is, when Melmotte is going to pay up this money."
"I suppose he'll arrange it with the banks," said the father.
"I beg that he won't arrange my money with the banks, sir. You'dbetter tell him not. A cheque upon his bank which I can pay in tomine is about the best thing going. You'll be in the city to-morrow,and you'd better tell him. If you don't like, you know, I'll getSquercum to do it." Mr. Squercum was a lawyer whom Dolly had employedof late years much to the annoyance of his parent. Mr. Squercum'sname was odious to Mr. Longestaffe.
"I beg you'll do nothing of the kind. It will be very foolish if youdo;--perhaps ruinous."
"Then he'd better pay up, like anybody else," said Dolly as he leftthe room. The father knew the son, and was quite sure that Squercumwould have his finger in the pie unless the money were paid quickly.When Dolly had taken an idea into his head, no power on earth,--nopower at least of which the father could avail himself,--would turnhim.
On that same day Melmotte received two visits in the city from twoof his fellow directors. At the time he was very busy. Though hiselectioneering speeches were neither long nor pithy, still he had tothink of them beforehand. Members of his Committee were always tryingto see him. Orders as to the dinner and the preparation of the housecould not be given by Lord Alfred without some reference to him.And then those gigantic commercial affairs which were enumerated inthe last chapter could not be adjusted without much labour on hispart. His hands were not empty, but still he saw each of these youngmen,--for a few minutes. "My dear young friend, what can I do foryou?" he said to Sir Felix, not sitting down, so that Sir Felix alsoshould remain standing.
"About that money, Mr. Melmotte?"
"What money, my dear fellow? You see that a good many money matterspass through my hands."
"The thousand pounds I gave you for shares. If you don't mind, and asthe shares seem to be a bother, I'll
take the money back."
"It was only the other day you had L200," said Melmotte, showing thathe could apply his memory to small transactions when he pleased.
"Exactly;--and you might as well let me have the L800."
"I've ordered the shares;--gave the order to my broker the otherday."
"Then I'd better take the shares," said Sir Felix, feeling that itmight very probably be that day fortnight before he could start forNew York. "Could I get them, Mr. Melmotte?"
"My dear fellow, I really think you hardly calculate the value of mytime when you come to me about such an affair as this."
"I'd like to have the money or the shares," said Sir Felix, who wasnot specially averse to quarrelling with Mr. Melmotte now that hehad resolved upon taking that gentleman's daughter to New York indirect opposition to his written promise. Their quarrel would be sothoroughly internecine when the departure should be discovered, thatany present anger could hardly increase its bitterness. What Felixthought of now was simply his money, and the best means of getting itout of Melmotte's hands.
"You're a spendthrift," said Melmotte, apparently relenting, "and I'mafraid a gambler. I suppose I must give you L200 more on account."
Sir Felix could not resist the touch of ready money, and consented totake the sum offered. As he pocketed the cheque he asked for the nameof the brokers who were employed to buy the shares. But here Melmottedemurred. "No, my friend," said Melmotte; "you are only entitled toshares for L600 pounds now. I will see that the thing is put right."So Sir Felix departed with L200 only. Marie had said that she couldget L200. Perhaps if he bestirred himself and wrote to some ofMiles's big relations he could obtain payment of a part of thatgentleman's debt to him.
Sir Felix going down the stairs in Abchurch Lane met Paul Montaguecoming up. Carbury, on the spur of the moment, thought that he would"take a rise" as he called it out of Montague. "What's this I hearabout a lady at Islington?" he asked.
"Who has told you anything about a lady at Islington?"
"A little bird. There are always little birds about telling ofladies. I'm told that I'm to congratulate you on your comingmarriage."
"Then you've been told an infernal falsehood," said Montague passingon. He paused a moment and added, "I don't know who can have toldyou, but if you hear it again, I'll trouble you to contradict it."As he was waiting in Melmotte's outer room while the Duke's nephewwent in to see whether it was the great man's pleasure to see him, heremembered whence Carbury must have heard tidings of Mrs. Hurtle. Ofcourse the rumour had come through Ruby Ruggles.
Miles Grendall brought out word that the great man would see Mr.Montague; but he added a caution. "He's awfully full of work justnow,--you won't forget that;--will you?" Montague assured the duke'snephew that he would be concise, and was shown in.
"I should not have troubled you," said Paul, "only that I understoodthat I was to see you before the Board met."
"Exactly;--of course. It was quite necessary,--only you see I am alittle busy. If this d----d dinner were over I shouldn't mind. It'sa deal easier to make a treaty with an Emperor, than to give him adinner; I can tell you that. Well;--let me see. Oh;--I was proposingthat you should go out to Pekin?"
"To Mexico."
"Yes, yes;--to Mexico. I've so many things running in my head!Well;--if you'll say when you're ready to start, we'll draw upsomething of instructions. You'd know better, however, than we cantell you what to do. You'll see Fisker, of course. You and Fiskerwill manage it. The chief thing will be a cheque for the expenses;eh? We must get that passed at the next Board."
Mr. Melmotte had been so quick that Montague had been unable tointerrupt him. "There need be no trouble about that, Mr. Melmotte, asI have made up my mind that it would not be fit that I should go."
"Oh, indeed!"
There had been a shade of doubt on Montague's mind, till the tonein which Melmotte had spoken of the embassy grated on his ears. Thereference to the expenses disgusted him altogether. "No;--even didI see my way to do any good in America my duties here would not becompatible with the undertaking."
"I don't see that at all. What duties have you got here? Whatgood are you doing the Company? If you do stay, I hope you'll beunanimous; that's all;--or perhaps you intend to go out. If that'sit, I'll look to your money. I think I told you that before."
"That, Mr. Melmotte, is what I should prefer."
"Very well,--very well. I'll arrange it. Sorry to lose you,--that'sall. Miles, isn't Mr. Goldsheiner waiting to see me?"
"You're a little too quick, Mr. Melmotte," said Paul.
"A man with my business on his hands is bound to be quick, sir."
"But I must be precise. I cannot tell you as a fact that I shallwithdraw from the Board till I receive the advice of a friend withwhom I am consulting. I hardly yet know what my duty may be."
"I'll tell you, sir, what can not be your duty. It cannot be yourduty to make known out of that Board-room any of the affairs of theCompany which you have learned in that Board-room. It cannot be yourduty to divulge the circumstances of the Company or any differenceswhich may exist between Directors of the Company, to any gentlemanwho is a stranger to the Company. It cannot be your duty--."
"Thank you, Mr. Melmotte. On matters such as that I think that Ican see my own way. I have been in fault in coming in to the Boardwithout understanding what duties I should have to perform--."
"Very much in fault, I should say," replied Melmotte, whose arrogancein the midst of his inflated glory was overcoming him.
"But in reference to what I may or may not say to any friend, or howfar I should be restricted by the scruples of a gentleman, I do notwant advice from you."
"Very well;--very well. I can't ask you to stay, because a partnerfrom the house of Todd, Brehgert, and Goldsheiner is waiting tosee me, about matters which are rather more important than this ofyours." Montague had said what he had to say, and departed.
On the following day, three-quarters of an hour before the meeting ofthe Board of Directors, old Mr. Longestaffe called in Abchurch Lane.He was received very civilly by Miles Grendall, and asked to sitdown. Mr. Melmotte quite expected him, and would walk with him overto the offices of the railway, and introduce him to the Board. Mr.Longestaffe, with some shyness, intimated his desire to have a fewmoments conversation with the chairman before the Board met. Fearinghis son, especially fearing Squercum, he had made up his mind tosuggest that the little matter about Pickering Park should besettled. Miles assured him that the opportunity should be given him,but that at the present moment the chief secretary of the RussianLegation was with Mr. Melmotte. Either the chief secretary was verytedious with his business, or else other big men must have come in,for Mr. Longestaffe was not relieved till he was summoned to walk offto the Board five minutes after the hour at which the Board shouldhave met. He thought that he could explain his views in the street;but on the stairs they were joined by Mr. Cohenlupe, and in threeminutes they were in the Board-room. Mr. Longestaffe was thenpresented, and took the chair opposite to Miles Grendall. Montaguewas not there, but had sent a letter to the secretary explaining thatfor reasons with which the chairman was acquainted he should absenthimself from the present meeting. "All right," said Melmotte. "I knowall about it. Go on. I'm not sure but that Mr. Montague's retirementfrom among us may be an advantage. He could not be made to understandthat unanimity in such an enterprise as this is essential. I amconfident that the new director whom I have had the pleasure ofintroducing to you to-day will not sin in the same direction." ThenMr. Melmotte bowed and smiled very sweetly on Mr. Longestaffe.
Mr. Longestaffe was astonished to find how soon the business wasdone, and how very little he had been called on to do. Miles Grendallhad read something out of a book which he had been unable to follow.Then the chairman had read some figures. Mr. Cohenlupe had declaredthat their prosperity was unprecedented;--and the Board was over.When Mr. Longestaffe explained to Miles Grendall that he still wishedto speak to Mr. Melmotte, Miles explained to him that the ch
airmanhad been obliged to run off to a meeting of gentlemen connected withthe interior of Africa, which was now being held at the Cannon StreetHotel.