第50章

'Ah; yes,--I meant to have told you.I didn't want the money, as it turned out, for much above a fortnight, and as there was no use in letting the bill run out, I settled it.' So saying he took out a pocket-book, extracted the bill, and showed it to Sexty.Sexty's heart fluttered in his bosom.There was his name still on the bit of paper, and it might still be used.Having it shown him after this fashion in its mid career, of course he had strong ground for hope.But he could not bring himself to put out his hand for it.'As to what you say about steady business, of course that's very well,' said Lopez.'It depends on whether a man wants to make a small income or a large fortune.' He still held the bill as though he were going to fold it up again, and the importance of it was so present to Sexty's mind that he could hardly digest the argument about the steady business.'I own that I an not satisfied with the former,' continued Lopez, 'and that I go in for the fortune.' As he spoke he tore the bill into three or four bits, apparently without thinking of it, and let the fragments fall upon the floor.It was as though a mountain had been taken off Sexty's bosom.He felt almost inclined to send out for a bottle of champagne on the moment, and the arguments of his friend rang in his ears with quite a different sound.The allurements of a steady income paled before his eyes, and he too began to tell himself as he had often told himself before, that if he would only keep his eyes open and his heart high, there was no reason why he too should not become a city millionaire.But on that occasion Lopez left him soon, without saying very much about his favourite speculation.In a few days, however, the same matter was brought before Sexty's eyes from another direction.He learned from a side wind that the house of Hunky and Sons was concerned largely in this business,--or at any rate he thought that he had so learned.The ease with which Lopez had destroyed that bill six weeks before it was due had had great effect upon him.Those arguments about a large fortune or a small income still clung to him.Lopez had come to him about the business in the first instance, but it was now necessary that he should go to Lopez.He was, however, very cautious.He managed to happen to meet Lopez in the street, and introduced the subject in his own slap-dash, aery manner,--the result of which was, that he had gone rather deep into two or three American mines before the end of July.But he had already made some money out of them, and, though he would find himself sometimes trembling before he had taken his daily allowance of port wine and brandy and water, still he was buoyant, and hopeful of living in a park, with a palace at the West End, and a seat in Parliament.Knowing also as he did, that his friend Lopez was intimate with the Duchess of Omnium, he had much immediate satisfaction in the intimacy which these relations created.He was getting in the thin edge of the wedge, and would calculate as he went home to Ponder's End how long it must be before he could ask his friend to propose him at some West End club.On one halcyon summer evening Lopez had dined with him at Ponder's End, had smiled on Mrs Parker and played with the hopeful little Parkers.On that occasion Sexty had assured his wife that he regarded his friendship with Ferdinand Lopez as the most fortunate circumstance of his life.'Do be careful, Sexty,' the poor woman had said.But Parker had simply told her that she understood nothing about business.On that evening Lopez had thoroughly imbued him with the conviction that if you will only set your mind that way, it is quite as easy to amass a large fortune as to earn a small income.

About a week before the departure of the Whartons to Hertfordshire, Lopez in compliance with Mrs Roby's counsels, called at the chambers in Stone Buildings.It is difficult to say that you will not see a man, when the man is standing just on the other side of an open door,--nor, in this case, was Mr Wharton quite clear that he had better decline to see the man.

But while he was doubting,--at any rate before he had resolved upon denying his presence,--the man was there, inside his room.

Mr Wharton got up from his chair, hesitated a moment, and then gave his hand to the intruder in that half-unwilling, unsatisfactory manner which most of us have experienced when shaking hands with some cold-blooded, ungenial acquaintance.

'Well, Mr Lopez,--what can I do for you?' he said, as he re-seated himself.He looked as though he were at his ease and master of the situation.He had control over himself sufficient for assuming such a manner.But his heart was not high within his bosom.The more he looked at the man the less he liked him.

'There is one thing, and one thing only, you can do for me,' said Lopez.His voice was peculiarly sweet, and when he spoke his words seemed to mean more than when they came from other mouths.

But Mr Wharton did not like sweet voices and mellow, soft words, --at least not from men's mouths.

'I do not think I can do anything for you, Mr Lopez,' he said.

There was slight pause, during which the visitor put down his hat and seemed to hesitate.'I think your coming here can be of no avail.Did I not explain myself when I saw you before?'

'But, I fear, I did not explain myself.I hardly told my story.'

'You can tell it, of course,--if you think the telling will do you any good.'

'I was not able to say than, as I can say now, that your daughter had accepted my love.'

'You ought not to have spoken to my daughter on the subject after what passed between us.I told you my mind frankly.'

'Ah, Mr Wharton, how was obedience in such a matter possible?

What would you yourself think of a man who in such a position would be obedient? I did not seek her secretly.I did nothing underhand.Before I had once directly asked her for her love, Icame to you.'