 6. Roger Carberry and Paul Montague Roger Carberry of Carberry Hall, the owner of a small property in Suffolk was the head of the Carberry family. The Carberries had been in Suffolk a great many years, certainly from the time of the War of the Roses, and had always held up their heads, but they had never held them very high. It was not known that any had risen ever to the honor of knighthood before Sir Patrick, going higher than that, had been made a baronet. The head, however, had been true to their acres, and their acres true to them through the perils of civil wars, reformation, commonwealth, and revolution, and the head Carberry of the day had always owned and had always lived at Carberry Hall. At the beginning of the present century the squire of Carberry had been a considerable man, if not in his county, at any rate in his part of the county. The income of the estate had suffice to enable him to live plentiously and hospitably, to drink port wine, to ride a stout hunter, and to keep an old lumbering coach for his wife's use when she went a visiting. He had an old butler who had never lived anywhere else, and a boy from the village who was, in a way, apprentice to the butler. There was a cook not too proud to wash up her own dishes and a couple of young women, while the house was kept by Mrs. Carberry herself, who marked and gave out her own linen, made her own preserves, and looked to the curing of her own hams. In the year 1800 the Carberry property was sufficient for the Carberry house. Since that time the Carberry property has considerably increased in value, and the rents have been raised. Even the acreage has been extended by the enclosure of commons. But the income is no longer comfortably adequate to the wants of an English gentleman's household. If a moderate estate in land be left to a man now, there arises the question whether he is not damaged, unless an income also be left to him wherewith to keep up the estate. Land is a luxury, and of all luxuries is the most costly. Now the Carberries never had anything but land. Suffolk has not been made rich and great, either by coal or iron. No great town had sprung up on the confines of the Carberry property. No eldest son had gone into trade or risen high in a profession so as to add to the Carberry wealth. No great heiress had been married. There had been no ruin, no misfortune, but in the days of which we write, the squire of Carberry Hall had become a poor man simply through the wealth of others. His estate was supposed to bring him in two thousand pounds a year. Had he been content to let the Manor house, to live abroad and to have an agent at home to deal with the tenants, he would undoubtedly have had enough to live luxuriously. But he lived on his own land among his own people as all the Carberries before him had done, and was poor because he was surrounded by rich neighbors. The longstaffs of Cavisham, of which family Dolly Longstaff was the eldest son in hope, had the name of great wealth, but the founder of the family had been a Lord Mayor of London and a Chandler as lately as in the reign of Queen Anne. The Hepworths, who could boast good blood enough on their own side, had married into new money. The Primeros, though the good nature of the countryfolk had accorded to the head of them the title of squire Primero, had been trading Spaniards fifty years ago and had bought the bundlesome property from a great Duke. The estates of those three gentlemen, with the domain of the Bishop of Elmham, lay all around the Carberry property, and in regard to wealth enabled their owners altogether to overshadow our squire. The superior wealth of a bishop was nothing to him. He desired that bishop should be rich, and was among those who thought that the country had been injured when the territorial possessions of our prelates had been converted into stipends by active parliament. But the grandeur of the longstaffs and the two apparent wealth of the Primeros did oppress him, though he was a man who would never breathe the word of such oppression into the ear even of his dearest friend. It was his opinion, which he did not care to declare loudly, but which was fully understood to be his opinion by those with whom he lived intimately, that a man standing in the world should not depend at all upon his wealth. The Primeros were undoubtedly beneath him in the social scale, although the young Primeros had three horses apiece and killed legions of pheasants annually at about ten shillings ahead. Hepworth of Erdley was a very good fellow who gave himself no heirs and understood his duties as a country gentleman, but he could not be more than on a par with Carberry of Carberry, though he was supposed to enjoy seven thousand pounds a year. The longstaffs were altogether oppressive. Their footmen, even in the country, had powdered hair. They had a house in town, a house of their own, and lived altogether as magnates. The lady was Lady Pomona Longstaff. The daughters, who certainly were handsome, had been destined to marry peers. The only son, Dolly, had or had had a fortune of his own. They were an oppressive people in a country neighborhood, and to make the matter worse, rich as they were, they never were able to pay anybody anything that they owed. They continued to live with all the appurtenances of wealth. The girls always had horses to ride, both in town and country. The acquaintance of Dolly, the reader has already made. Dolly, who certainly was a poor creature, though good-natured, had energy in one direction. He would quarrel perseveringly with his father, who only had a life interest in the estate. The house, at Cavisham Park, was during six or seven months of the year full of servants, if not of guests, and all the tradesmen in the little towns around, Bungay, Beckles, and Harlston, were aware that the longstaffs were the great people of that country. Though occasionally much distressed for money, they would always execute the longstaff orders with submissive punctuality, because there was an idea that the longstaff property was sound at the bottom, and then the owner of a property so managed cannot scrutinize bills very closely. Carberry of Carberry had never owed a shilling that he could not pay, or his father before him. His orders to the tradesmen at Beckles were not extensive, and care was used to see that the goods supplied were neither overcharged nor unnecessary. The tradesmen consequently of Beckles did not care much for Carberry of Carberry, though perhaps one or two of the elders among them entertained some ancient reverence for the family. Roger Carberry S. Squire was Carberry of Carberry, a distinction of itself which, from its nature, could not belong to the longstaffs and promeros, which did not even belong to the helpworths of Erdley. The very parish in which Carberry Hall stood, or Carberry Manor House, as it was more properly called, was Carberry Parish, and there was Carberry Chase, partly in Carberry Parish, and partly in Bundlesham, but belonging, unfortunately, in its entirety to the Bundlesham estate. Roger Carberry himself was all alone in the world. His nearest relatives of the name were Sir Felix and Henrietta, but they were no more than second cousins. He had sisters, but they had long since been married and had gone away into the world with their husbands, one to India and another to the far west of the United States. At present he was not much short of forty years of age and was still unmarried. He was a stout, good-looking man with a firmly set square face, with features finely cut, a small mouth, good teeth, and well-formed chin. His hair was red, curling round his head, which was now partly bald at the top. He wore no other beard than small, almost unnoticeable whiskers. His eyes were small but bright and very cheery when his humor was good. He was about five feet nine in height, having the appearance of great strength and perfect health. A more manly man to the eye was never seen, and he was one with whom you would instinctively wish at first sight to be on good terms, partly because in looking at him there would come on you an unconscious conviction that he would be very stout in holding his own against his opponents, partly also from a conviction equally strong that he would be very pleasant to his friends. When Sir Patrick had come home from India as an invalid, Roger Carberry had hurried up to see him in London and had proffered him all kindness. Would Sir Patrick and his wife and children like to go down to the old place in the country? Sir Patrick did not care a straw for the old place in the country, and so told his cousin in almost those very words. There had not, therefore, been much friendship during Sir Patrick's life. But when the violent, ill-conditioned old man was dead, Roger paid a second visit and again offered hospitality to the widow and her daughter and to the young Baronette. The young Baronette had just joined his regiment and did not care to visit his cousin in Suffolk. But Lady Carberry and Henrietta had spent a month there, and everything had been done to make them happy. The effort as regarded Henrietta had been altogether successful. As regarded the widow it must be acknowledged that Carberry Hall had not quite suited her tastes. She had already begun to sigh for the glories of a literary career. A career of some kind sufficient to repay her for the sufferings of her early life she certainly desired. Dear cousin Roger, as she called him, had not seemed to her to have much power of assisting her in these views. She was a woman who did not care much for country charms. She had endeavored to get up some mild excitement with the bishop, but the bishop had been too plain spoken and sincere for her. The Primeros had been odious, the Hepworths stupid, the long staffs. She had endeavored to make up a little friendship with Lady Pomona, insufferably supercilious. She had declared to Henrietta that Carberry Hall was very dull. But then there had come a circumstance which altogether changed her opinions as to Carberry Hall and its proprietor. The proprietor, after a few weeks, followed them up to London and made a most matter-of-fact offer to the mother for the daughter's hand. He was at that time 36 and Henrietta was not yet 20. He was very cool. Some might have thought him phlegmatic in his love-making. Henrietta declared to her mother that she had not in the least expected it. But he was very urgent and very persistent. Lady Carberry was eager on his side. Though the Carberry Manor House did not exactly suit her, it would do admirably for Henrietta. And as for age, to her thinking, she being then over forty, a man of thirty-six was young enough for any girl. But Henrietta had an opinion of her own. She liked her cousin but did not love him. She was amazed and even annoyed by the offer. She had praised him and praised the house so loudly to her mother, having in her innocence never dreamed of such a proposition as this, so that now she found it difficult to give an adequate reason for her refusal. Yes, she had undoubtedly said that her cousin was charming, but she had not meant charming in that way. She did refuse the offer very plainly, but still with some apparent lack of persistency. When Roger suggested that she should take a few months to think of it, and her mother supported Roger's suggestion, she could say nothing stronger than that she was afraid that thinking about it would not do any good. Their first visit to Carberry had been made in September. In the following February she went there again, much against the grain as far as her own wishes were concerned, and when there had been cold constrained, almost dumb in the presence of her cousin. Before they left the offer was renewed, but Henrietta declared that she could not do as they would have her. She could give no reason, only she did not love her cousin in that way. But Roger declared that he by no means intended to abandon his suit. In truth he verily loved the girl, and love with him was a serious thing. All this happened a full year before the beginning of our present story. But something else happened also. While that second visit was being made at Carberry there came to the hall a young man of whom Roger Carberry had said much to his cousins, one Paul Montague of whom some short account shall be given in this chapter. The squire, Roger Carberry was always called the squire about his own place, had anticipated no evil when he so timed to the second visit of his cousins to his house that they must of necessity meet Paul Montague there, but great harm had come of it. Paul Montague had fallen into love with his cousin's guest, and there had sprung up much unhappiness. Lady Carberry and Henrietta had been nearly a month at Carberry, and Paul Montague had been there barely a week when Roger Carberry thus spoke to the guest who had last arrived. I've got to tell you something, Paul. Anything serious? Very serious to me. I may say so serious that nothing in my own life can approach it in importance. He had unconsciously assumed that look which his friends so thoroughly understood indicating his resolve to hold to what he believed to be his own and to fight if fighting be necessary. Montague knew him well and became half aware that he had done something he knew not what, militating against the serious resolve of his friend. He looked up but said nothing. I have offered my hand in marriage to my cousin Henrietta, said Roger very gravely. Miss Carberry? Yes, to Henrietta Carberry. She has not accepted it. She has refused me twice, but I still have hopes of success. Perhaps I have no right to hope, but I do. I tell it you just as it is. Everything in life to me depends upon it. I think I may count upon your sympathy. Why did you not tell me before? said Paul Montague in a hoarse voice. Then there had come a sudden and rapid interchange of quick speaking between the men. Each of them speaking the truth exactly. Each of them declaring himself to be in the right and to be ill-used by the other. Each of them equally hot, equally generous and equally unreasonable. Montague at once asserted that he also loved Henrietta Carberry. He blurted out his assurance in the baldest and most incomplete manner, but still in such words as to leave no doubt. No, he had not said a word to her. He had intended to consult Roger Carberry himself. Should have done so in a day or two. Perhaps on that very day had not Roger spoken to him. You have neither of you a shilling in the world, said Roger, and now you know what my feelings are. You must abandon it. Then Montague declared that he had a right to speak to Miss Carberry. He did not suppose that Miss Carberry cared a straw about him. He had not the least reason to think that she did. It was altogether impossible, but he had a right to his chance. That chance was all the world to him. As to money, he would not admit that he was a pauper. And moreover, he might earn an income as well as other men. Had Carberry told him that the young lady had shown the slightest intention to receive his Carberry's addresses, he, Paul, would at once have disappeared from the scene. But as it was not so, he would not say that he would abandon his hope. The scene lasted for above an hour. When it was ended, Paul Montague packed up all his clothes and was driven away to the railway station by Roger himself, without seeing either of the ladies. There had been very hot words between the men, but the last words which Roger spoke to the other on the railway platform were not quarrelsome in their nature. God bless you, old fellow, he said, pressing Paul's hands. Paul's eyes were full of tears, and he replied only by returning the pressure. Paul Montague's father and mother had long been dead. The father had been a barrister in London, having perhaps some small fortune of his own. He had, at any rate, left to this son, who was one among others, a sufficiency with which to begin the world. Paul, when he had come of age, had found himself possessed of about six thousand pounds. He was then at Oxford and was intended for the bar. An uncle of his, a younger brother of his father, had married a carbury, the younger sister of two, though older than her brother, Roger. This uncle many years since had taken his wife out to California and had there become an American. He had a large tract of land growing wool and wheat and fruit, but whether he prospered or whether he did not, had not always been playing to the Montague's and carburys at home. The intercourse between the two families had, in the quite early days of Paul Montague's life, created an affection between him and Roger, who, as will be understood by those who have carefully followed the above family history, were not in any degree related to each other. Roger, when quite a young man, had had the charge of the boy's education and had sent him to Oxford, but the Oxford scheme to be followed by the bar and to end on some one of the many judicial benches of the country had not succeeded. Paul had got into a row at Balliol and had been rusticated, had then got into another row and was sent down. Indeed, he had a talent for rows, though, as Roger Carbury always declared, there was nothing really wrong about any of them. Paul was then 21 and he took himself and his money out to California and joined his uncle. He had perhaps an idea, based on very insufficient grounds, that rows are popular in California. At the end of three years he found that he did not like farming life in California and he found also that he did not like his uncle. So he returned to England, but on returning was altogether unable to get his six thousand pounds out of the Californian farm. Indeed, he had been compelled to come away without any of it, with funds insufficient even to take him home, accepting with much dissatisfaction an assurance from his uncle that an income amounting to ten percent upon his capital should be remitted to him with the regularity of clockwork. The clock alluded to must have been one of Sam's slicks. It had gone very badly. At the end of the first quarter there came the proper remittance, then half the amount. Then there was a long interval without anything, then some dropping payments now and again, and then a twelve month without anything. At the end of that twelve month he paid a second visit to California, having borrowed money from Roger for his journey. He had now again returned with some little cash in hand and with the additional security of a deed executed in his favor by one Hamilton K. Fisker, who had gone into partnership with his uncle and who had added a vast flour mill to his uncle's concerns. In accordance with this deed he was to get twelve percent on his capital and had enjoyed the gratification of seeing his name put up as one of the firm which now stood as Fisker, Montague, and Montague. A business declared by the two elder partners to be most promising had been opened at Fiskerville, about two hundred and fifty miles from San Francisco, and the hearts of Fisker and the elder Montague were very high. Paul hated Fisker horribly, did not love his uncle much, and would willingly have got back his six thousand pounds had he been able, but he was not able, and returned as one of Fisker, Montague, and Montague, not all together unhappy, as he had succeeded in obtaining enough of his back income to pay what he owed to Roger and to live for a few months. He was intent on considering how he should bestow himself, consulting daily with Roger on the subject, when suddenly Roger had perceived that the young man was becoming attached to the girl whom he himself loved, what then occurred has been told. Not a word was said to Lady Carberry or her daughter of the real cause of Paul's sudden disappearance. It had been necessary that he should go to London. Each of the ladies probably guessed something of the truth, but neither spoke a word to the other on the subject. Before they left the manor, the squire again pleaded his cause with Henrietta, but he pleaded it in vain. Henrietta was colder than ever, but she made use of one unfortunate phrase which destroyed all the effect which her coldness might have had. She said that she was too young to think of marrying yet. She had meant to imply that the difference in their ages was too great, but had not known how to say it. It was easy to tell her that in the twelve months she would be older, but it was impossible to convince her that any number of twelve months would alter the disparity between her and her cousin. But even that disparity was not now her strongest reason for feeling sure that she could not marry Roger Carberry. Within a week of the departure of Lady Carberry from the manor house, Paul Montague returned, and returned as a still dear friend. He had promised before he went that he would not see Henrietta again for three months, but he would promise nothing further. If she won't take you, there is no reason why I shouldn't try. That had been his argument. Roger would not accede to the justice even of this. It seemed to him that Paul was bound to retire altogether, partly because he had got no income, partly because of Roger's previous claim, partly no doubt in gratitude, but of this last reason Roger never said a word. If Paul did not see this himself, Paul was not such a man as his friend had taken him to be. Paul did see it himself and had many scruples, but why should his friend be a dog in the manger? He would yield at once to Roger Carberry's older claims if Roger could make anything of them. Indeed, he could have no chance if the girl were disposed to take Roger for her husband. Roger had all the advantage of Carberry manor at his back, whereas he had nothing but his share in the doubtful business of Fisker Montague and Montague, in a wretched little town 250 miles further off in San Francisco. But if, with all this, Roger could not prevail, why should he not try? What Roger said about want of money was mere nonsense. Paul was sure that his friend would have created no such difficulty had not he himself been interested. Paul declared to himself that he had money, though doubtful money, and that he certainly would not give up Henrietta on that score. He came up to London at various times in search of certain employment which had been half promised him, and after the expiration of the three months constantly saw Lady Carberry and her daughter. But from time to time he had given renewed promises to Roger Carberry that he would not declare his passion. Now for two months, then for six weeks, then for a month. In the meantime the two men were fast friends. So fast that Montague spent by far the greater part of his time as his friend's guest. And all this was done with the understanding that Roger Carberry was to blaze up into hostile wrath should Paul ever receive the privilege to call himself Henrietta Carberry's favorite lover. But that everything was to be smooth between them should Henrietta be persuaded to become the mistress of Carberry Hall. So things went on up to the night at which Montague met Henrietta at Madame Melmont's ball. The readers should also be informed that there had been already a former love affair in the young life of Paul Montague. There had been, and indeed there still was, a widow, one Mrs. Hurdle whom he had been desperately anxious to marry before his second journey to California. But the marriage had been prevented by the interference of Roger Carberry. CHAPTER SIX Lady Carberry's desire for a union between Roger and her daughter was greatly increased by her solicitude in respect to her son. Since Roger's offer had first been made, Felix had gone on from bad to worse till his condition had become one of hopeless embarrassment. If her daughter could but be settled in the world, Lady Carberry said to herself, she could then devote herself to the interests of her son. She had no very clear idea of what that devotion would be, but she did know that she had paid so much money for him and would have so much more extracted from her that it might well come to pass that she would be unable to keep a home for her daughter. In all these troubles she constantly appealed to Roger Carberry for advice, which, however, she never followed. He recommended her to give up her house in town to find a home for her daughter elsewhere and also for Felix if he would consent to follow her. Should he not so consent, then let the young man bear the brunt of his own misdoings. Doubtless when he could no longer get bread in London he would find her out. Roger was always severe when he spoke of the baronet, or seemed to Lady Carberry to be severe. But in truth she did not ask for advice in order that she might follow it. She had plans in her head with which she knew that Roger would not sympathize. She still thought that Sir Felix might bloom and burst out into grander wealth and fashion as the husband of a great heiress, and in spite of her son's vices was proud of him in that anticipation. When he succeeded in obtaining from her money, as in the case of that twenty pounds, when, with brazen faced indifference to her remonstrances, he started off to his club at two in the morning. When with impudent drollery he almost boasted of the hopelessness of his debts, a sickness of heart would come upon her and she would weep hysterically and lie the whole night without sleeping. But could he marry Miss Melmont and thus conquer all his troubles by means of his own personal beauty, then she would be proud of all that had passed? With such a condition of mind Roger Carberry could have no sympathy. To him it seemed that a gentleman was disgraced to owed money to a tradesman which he could not pay, and Lady Carberry's heart was high with other hopes, in spite of her hysterics and her fears. The criminal queens might be a great literary success. She almost thought that it would be a success. Messrs. Lettem and Lloyder, the publishers, were civil to her. Mr. Brown had promised Mr. Booker had said that he would see what could be done. She had gathered for Mr. Alf's caustic and cautious words that the book would be noticed in the evening pulpit. No, she would not take Dear Roger's advice as to leaving London, but she would continue to ask Roger's advice. None liked to have their advice asked, and if possible she would arrange the marriage. What country retirement could be so suitable for a Lady Carberry when she wished to retire for a while, as Carberry Manor, the seat of her own daughter? And then her mind would fly away into regions of bliss. If only by the end of this season Henrietta could be engaged to her cousin, Felix be the husband of the richest bride in Europe, and she be the acknowledged author of the cleverest book of the year what a paradise of triumph might still be open to her after all her troubles. Then the sanguine nature of the woman would bear her up almost to exaltation, and for an hour she would be happy in spite of everything. A few days after the ball Roger Carberry was up in town and was closeted with her in her back drawing-room. The declared cause of his coming was the condition of the Baronette's affairs, and the indispensable necessity, so Roger thought, of taking some steps by which, at any rate, the young man's present expenses might be brought to an end. It was horrible to him that a man who had now a shilling in the world or any prospect of a shilling who had nothing and never thought of earning anything should have hunters. He was very much in earnest about it and quite prepared to speak his mind to the young man himself, if he could get hold of him. Where is he now, Lady Carberry, at this moment? Think he's out with the Baron. Being out with the Baron meant that the young man was hunting with the stag hounds some forty miles away from London. How does he manage it? Whose horses does he ride? Who pays for them? Don't be angry with me, Roger. What can I do to prevent it? Think you should refuse to have anything to do with him while he continues in such courses. My own son? Yes, exactly. But what is to be the end of it? Is he to be allowed to ruin you and Heta? It can't go on long. You wouldn't have me throw him over. I think he is throwing you over. And then it is so thoroughly dishonest, so un-gentlemanlike. I don't understand how it goes on from day to day. I suppose you don't supply him with ready money. He has had a little. Roger frowned angrily. I can understand that you should provide him with bed and food, but not that you should pander to his vices by giving him money. This was very plain speaking, and Lady Carberry winced under it. The kind of life that he is leading requires a large income of itself. I understand the thing and know that with all I have in the world I could not do it myself. You are so different. I am older, of course, very much older, but he is not so young that he should not begin to comprehend. Has he any money beyond what you give him? Then Lady Carberry revealed certain suspicions which she had begun to entertain during the last day or two. I think he has been playing. That is the way to lose money, not to get it, said Roger. I suppose somebody wins sometimes. They who win are the sharpers. They who lose are the dupes. I would sooner that he were a fool than a nave. Oh, Roger, you are so severe. You say he plays. How would he pay were he to lose? I know nothing about it. I don't even know that he does play, but I have reason to think that during the last week he has had money at his command. Indeed, I have seen it. He comes home at all manner of hours and sleeps late. Yesterday I went into his room about ten and did not wake him. There were notes and gold lying on his table ever so much. Why did you not take them? What? Rob my own boy. When you tell me that you are absolutely and want of money to pay your own bills and that he has not hesitated to take yours from you, why does he not repay you what he has borrowed? Ah, indeed, why not? He ought to if he has it. And there were papers there, IOUs signed by other men. You looked at them? I saw as much as that. It is not that I am curious, but one does feel about one's own son. I think he has bought another horse. A groom came here and said something about it to the servants. Oh, dear, oh, dear. If you could only induce him to stop the gambling, of course it is very bad whether he wins or loses, though I am sure that Felix would do nothing unfair. Nobody ever said that of him. If he has won money it would be a great comfort if he would let me have some of it. For to tell the truth I hardly know how to turn. I am sure nobody can say that I spend it on myself. Then Roger again repeated his advice. There could be no use in attempting to keep up the present kind of life in Welbeck Street. Welbeck Street might be very well without a penniless spend thrift such as Sir Felix, but must be ruinous under the present conditions. If Lady Carberry felt, as no doubt she did feel, bound to afford a home to her ruined son in spite of all his wickedness and folly, that home should be found far away from London. If he chose to remain in London, let him do so on his own resources. The young man should make up his mind to do something for himself. A career might possibly be open for him in India. If he be a man he would sooner break stones than live on you, said Roger. Yes, he would see his cousin tomorrow and speak to him. That is, if he could possibly find him. Young men who gamble all night and hunt all day are not easily found. But he would come at twelve as Felix generally breakfasted at that hour. Then he gave an assurance to Lady Carberry which to her was not the least comfortable part of the interview. In the event of her son not giving her the money which she at once required, he, Roger, would lend her a hundred pounds till her half year's income should be due. After that his voice changed altogether as he asked the question on another subject. Can I see Henrietta tomorrow? Certainly, why not? She is at home now, I think. I will wait till tomorrow when I call to see Felix. I should like her to know that I am coming. Paul Montague was in town the other day. He was here, I suppose. Yes, he called. Was that all you saw of him? He was at the Melmont's ball. Felix got a card for him and we were there. Has he gone down to Carberry? No, not to Carberry. I think he had some business about his partners at Liverpool. There is another case of a young man without anything to do. Not that Paul is at all like Sir Felix. This he was induced to say by the spirit of honesty which was always strong within him. Don't be too hard upon poor Felix, said Lady Carberry. Roger, as he took his leave, thought that it would be impossible to be too hard upon Sir Felix Carberry. The next morning Lady Carberry was in her son's bedroom before he was up and with incredible weakness told him that his cousin Roger was coming to lecture him. What the devil's the use of it, said Felix from beneath the bedclothes? If you speak to me in that way, Felix, I must leave the room. But what is the use of his coming to me? I know what he has got to say just as if it were said. It's all very well preaching sermons to good people, but nothing ever was got by preaching to people who ain't good. Why shouldn't you be good? I shall do very well, mother, if that fellow will leave me alone. I can play my hand better than he can play for me. If you'll go now, I'll get up. She had intended to ask him for some of the money which she believed he still possessed, but her courage failed her. If she asked for his money and took it, she would in some fashion recognize and tacitly approve his gambling. It was not yet eleven and it was early for him to leave his bed, but he had resolved that he would get out of the house before that horrible bore should be upon him with his sermon. To do this he must be energetic. He was actually eating his breakfast at half past eleven and had already contrived in his mind how he would turn the wrong way as soon as he got into the street towards Merrillbone Road by which route Roger would certainly not come. He left the house at ten minutes before twelve, cunningly turned away, dodging round by the first corner, and just as he had turned it, encountered his cousin. Roger, anxious in regard to his errand with time at his command, had come before the hour appointed and had strolled about, thinking not of Felix but of Felix's sister. The Baronette felt that he had been caught. Caught unfairly but by no means abandoned all home of escape. I was going to your mother's house on purpose to see you, said Roger. 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 Carberry 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 for the remembrance of all the money in his pocket, for he still had his winnings. Remembered two certain sweet words which had passed between him and Marie Melmont since the ball, and resolved that he would not be sat upon by Roger Carberry. The time was coming. He might almost say that the time had come in which he might defy Roger Carberry. 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. Then why do you beg her last shilling from your mother, and when you have money, not pay it back to her? She can have the 20 pounds if you mean that. I mean that, and a good deal more than that. I suppose you have been gambling. I don't know that I am bound to answer your questions, and I won't do it. If you have nothing else to say, I'll go about my own business. I have something else to say, and I mean to say it. Felix had walked towards the door, but Roger was before him, and now leaned his back against it. I am not going to be kept here against my will, said Felix. You have to listen to me, so you may as well sit still. Do you wish to be looked upon as a blaggard by all the world? Oh, go on. That is what it will be. You have spent every shilling of your own, and because your mother is affectionate and weak, you are now spending all that she has, and are bringing her and your sister to beggary. I don't ask her to pay anything for me, not when you borrow her money. There is the 20 pounds. Take it and give it to her, said Felix, counting the notes out of the pocketbook. When I asked her for it, I did not think she would make such a row about such a trifle. Roger took up the notes and thrust them into his pocket. Now, have you done, said Felix? Not quite. Do you purpose that your mother should keep you and clothe you for the rest of your life? I hope to be able to keep her before long, and to do it much better than it has ever been done before. The truth is, Roger, you know nothing about it. If you'll leave me to myself, you'll find that I shall do very well. I don't know any young man who ever did worse, or one who had less moral conception of what is right and wrong. Very well, that's your idea. I differ from you. People can't all think alike, you know. Now, if you please, I'll go. Roger felt that he hadn't half said what he had to say, but he hardly knew how to get it said, and of what use could it be to talk to a young man who was altogether callous and without feeling? The remedy for the evil ought to be found in the mother's conduct rather than the sons. She, where she not foolishly weak, would make up her mind to divide herself utterly from her son at any rate for a while, and to leave him to suffer utter penury. That would bring him round. And then when the agony of want had tamed him, he would be content to take bread and meat from her hand and would be humble. At present he had money in his pocket and would eat and drink of the best and be free from inconvenience for the moment. While this prosperity remained, it would be impossible to touch him. You will ruin your sister and break your mother's heart, said Roger, firing a last harmless shot after the young reprobate. When Lady Carberry came into the room, which she did as soon as the front door was closed behind her son, she seemed to think that a great success had been achieved because the twenty pounds had been recovered. I knew he would give it me back if he had it, she said. Why did he not bring it to you of his own accord? I suppose he did not like to talk about it. Has he said that he got it by playing? No, he did not speak a word of truth while he was here. You may take it for granted that he did get it by gambling. How else should he have it? And you may take it for granted also that he will lose all that he has got. He talked in the wildest way, saying that he would soon have a home for you and Heather. Did he, dear boy, had he any meaning? Oh yes, and it is quite on the cards that it should be so. You have heard of Miss Melmont? I have heard of the great French Swindler who has come over here and who is buying his way into society. Everybody visits them now, Roger. More shame for everybody. Who knows anything about him except that he left Paris with the reputation of a specially prosperous rogue. But what of him? Some people think that Felix will marry his only child. Felix is handsome, isn't he? What young man is there nearly so handsome? They say she'll have half a million of money. That's his game, is it? Don't you think he is right? No, I think he's wrong. But we shall hardly agree with each other about that. Can I see Henrietta for a few minutes? End of chapter seven. Chapter eight of The Way We Live Now. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. The Way We Live Now by Anthony Trollop. Chapter eight, Love Sick. Roger Carberry said well that it was very improbable that he and his cousin the widow should agree in their opinions as to the expedience of fortune hunting by marriage. It was impossible that they should ever understand each other. To Lady Carberry the prospect of a union between her son and Miss Melmont was one of unmixed joy and triumph. Could it have been possible that Marie Melmont should be rich and her father be a man doomed to a deserved sentence in a penal settlement, there might perhaps be a doubt about it. The wealth even in that case would certainly carry the day against the disgrace and Lady Carberry would find reasons why poor Marie should not be punished for her father's sins even while enjoying the money which those sins had produced. But how different were the existing fact? Mr. Melmont was not at the galleys but was entertaining duchesses in Grosvenor Square. People said that Mr. Melmont had a reputation throughout Europe as a gigantic swindler as one who in the dishonest and successful pursuit of wealth had stopped at nothing. People said of him that he had framed and carried out long premeditated and deeply laid schemes for the ruin of those who had trusted him, that he had swallowed up the property of all who had come in contact with him, that he was fed with the blood of widows and children. But what was all this to Lady Carberry? If the duchesses condoned it all, did it become her to be prudish? People also said that Melmont would yet get a fall that a man who had risen after such a fashion never could long keep his head up. But he might keep his head up long enough to give Marie her fortune. And then Felix wanted a fortune so badly was so exactly the young man who ought to marry a fortune. To Lady Carberry there was no second way of looking at the matter. And to Roger Carberry also there was no second way of looking at it. That condemnation of antecedents which in the hurry of the world is often vouchsafe to success, that growing feeling which induces people to assert to themselves that they are not bound to go outside the general verdict and that they may shake hands with whosoever the world shakes hands with had never reached him. The old-fashioned idea that the touching of pitch will defile still prevailed with him. He was a gentleman and would have felt himself disgraced to enter the house of such a one as Augustus Melmot. Not all the duchesses in the period or all the money in the city could alter his notions or induce him to modify his conduct. But he knew that it would be useless for him to explain this to Lady Carberry. He trusted, however, that one of the family might be taught to appreciate the difference between honor and dishonor. Henrietta Carberry had, he thought, a higher turn of mind than her mother and had, as yet, been kept free from soil. As for Felix, he had so groveled in the gutters as to be dirt all over nothing short of the prolonged sufferings of half a life could cleanse him. He found Henrietta alone in the drawing room. Have you seen Felix, she said, as soon as they had greeted each other? Yes, they caught him in the street. We are so unhappy about him. I cannot say but that you have reason. I think you know that your mother indulges him foolishly. Poor Mama, she worships the very ground he treads on. Even a mother should not throw her worship away like that. The fact is that your brother will ruin you both if this goes on. What can Mama do? Leave London and then refuse to pay a shilling on his behalf. What would Felix do in the country? If he did nothing, how much better would that be than what he does in town? You would not like him to become a professional gambler. Oh, Mr. Carberry, you do not mean that he does that. It seems cruel to say such things to you but in a matter of such importance one is bound to speak the truth. I have no influence over your mother but you may have some. She asks my advice but has not the slightest idea of listening to it. I don't blame her for that but I am anxious for the sake of for the sake of the family. I am sure you are especially for your sake. You will never throw him over. You would not ask me to throw him over but he may drag you into the mud for his sake you have already been taken into the house of that man Melmont. I do not think that I should be injured by anything of that kind said Henrietta drawing herself up. Pardon me if I seem to interfere. Oh no it is no interference from you. Pardon me then if I am rough. To me it seems that an injury is done to you if you are made to go to the house of such a one as this man. Why does your mother seek his society not because she likes him not because she has any sympathy with him or his family but simply because there is a rich daughter. Everybody goes there Mr. Carberry. Yes that is the excuse which everybody makes. Is that sufficient reason for you to go to a man's house? Is there not another place to which we are told that a great many are going simply because the road has become throng and fashionable? Have you no feeling that you ought to choose your friends for certain reasons of your own? I admit there is one reason here they have a great deal of money and it is thought possible that he may get some of it by falsely swearing to a girl that he loves her. After what you have heard are the Melmots people with whom you would wish to be connected? I don't know. I do I know very well they are absolutely disgraceful. A social connection with the first crossing sweeper would be less objectionable. He spoke with a degree of energy of which he was himself all together unaware. He knit his brows and his eyes flashed and his nostrils were extended. Of course she thought of his own offer to herself. Of course her mind at once conceived not that the Melmot connection could ever really affect him for she felt sure that she would never accept his offer but that he might think that he would be so affected. Of course he resented the feeling which she thus attributed to him but in truth he was much too simple minded for any such complex idea. Felix, he continued, has already descended so far that I cannot pretend to be anxious as to what houses he may frequent but I should be sorry to think that you should often be seen at Mr. Melmots. I think Mr. Carberry that mama will take care that I am not taken where I ought not to be taken. I wish you to have some opinion of your own as to what is proper for you. I hope I have. I am sorry you should think that I have not. I am old-fashioned Hedda and we belong to a newer and worse sort of world. I dare say it is so. You have been always very kind but I almost doubt whether you can change us now. I have sometimes thought that you and mama were hardly fit for each other. I have thought that you and I were or possibly might be fit for each other. Oh as for me I shall always take mama's side. If mama chooses to go to the Melmots I shall certainly go with her. If that is contamination I suppose I must be contaminated. I don't see why I'm to consider myself better than anyone else. I have always thought that you were better than anyone else. That was before I went to the Melmots. I am sure you have altered your opinion now. Indeed you have told me so. I am afraid Mr. Carberry you must go your way and we must go ours. He looked into her face as she spoke and gradually began to perceive the working of her mind. He was so true to himself that he did not understand that there should be with her even that violet colored tinge of prevarication which women assume as an additional charm. Could she really have thought that he was attending to his own possible future interests when he warned her as to the making of new acquaintances? For myself, he said, putting out his hand and making a slight vain effort to get hold of hers, I have only one wish in the world and that is to travel the same road with you. I do not say that you ought to wish it too, but you ought to know that I am sincere. When I spoke of the Melmots did you believe that I was thinking of myself? Oh no, how should I? I was speaking to you then as to a cousin who might regard me as an elder brother. No contact with legions of Melmots could make you other to me than the woman on whom my heart has settled. Even were you in truth disgraced, could disgrace touch one so pure as you, it would be the same. I love you so well that I have already taken you for better or for worse. I cannot change. My nature is too stubborn for such changes. Have you a word to say to comfort me? She turned away her head but did not answer him at once. Do you understand how much I am in need of comfort? You can do very well without comfort from me. No indeed, I shall live no doubt but I shall not do very well. As it is I am not doing it all well. I am becoming sour and moody and ill at ease with my friends. I would have you believe me at any rate when I say I love you. I suppose you mean something. I mean a great deal, dear. I mean all that a man can mean. That is it. Do you hardly understand that I am serious to the extent of ecstatic joy on the one side and utter indifference to the world or the other? I shall never give it up till I learn that you are to be married to someone else. What can I say, Mr. Carberry, that you will love me? But if I don't, say that you will try. No, I will not say that. Love should come without a struggle. I don't know how one person is to try to love another in that way. I like you very much but being married is such a terrible thing. It would not be terrible to me, dear. Yes, when you found that I was too young for your tastes, I shall persevere, you know. Will you assure me of this that if you promise your hand to another man you will let me know at once? I suppose I may promise that, she said, after pausing for a moment. There is no one as yet. There is no one. But Mr. Carberry, you have no right to question me. I don't think it generous. I allow you to say things that nobody else could say because you are a cousin and because mama trusts you so much. No one but mama has a right to ask me whether I care for anyone. Are you angry with me? No. If I have offended you it is because I love you so dearly. I am not offended but I don't like to be questioned by a gentleman. I don't think any girl would like it. I am not to tell everybody all that happens. Perhaps when you reflect how much of my happiness depends upon it you will forgive me. Goodbye now. She put out her hand to him and allowed it to remain in his for a moment. When I walk about the old shrubberies at Carberry where we used to be together I am always asking myself what chance there is of your walking there is the mistress. There is no chance. I am of course prepared to hear you say so. Well, goodbye and may God bless you. The man had no poetry about him. He did not even care for romance. All the outside belongings of love which are so pleasant to many men and which to many women afford the one sweetness in life which they really relish were nothing to him. There are both men and women to whom even the delays and disappointments of love are charming even when they exist to the detriment of hope. It is sweet to such persons to be melancholy, sweet to pine, sweet to feel that they are now wretched after a romantic fashion as have been those heroes and heroines of whose sufferings they have read in poetry. But there was nothing of this with Roger Carberry. He had, as he believed, found the woman that he really wanted who was worthy of his love and now having fixed his heart upon her he longed for her with an amazing longing. He had spoken the simple truth when he declared that life had become indifferent to him without her. No man in England could be less likely to throw himself off the monument or to blow out his brains, but he felt numb that all the joints of his mind by this sorrow he could not make one thing bear upon another so as to console himself after any fashion. There was but one thing for him to persevere till he got her or till he had finally lost her and should the latter be his fate as he began to fear that it would be then he would live but live only like a crippled man. He felt almost sure in his heart of hearts that the girl loved that other younger man that she had never owned to such love he was quite sure the man himself and Henrietta also had both assured him on this point and he was a man easily satisfied by words and prone to believe but he knew that Paul Montague was attached to her and that it was Paul's intention to cling to his love. Sorrowfully looking forward through the vista of future years he thought he saw that Henrietta would become Paul's wife. Were it so what should he do? Annihilate himself as far as all personal happiness in the world was concerned and look solely to their happiness their prosperity and their joys be as it were a beneficent old fairy to them though the agony of his own disappointment should never depart from him. Should he do this and be blessed by them or should he let Paul Montague you know what deep resentment such in gratitude could produce. When had a father been kinder to a son or a brother to a brother than he had been to Paul his home had been the young man's home and his purse the young man's purse what right could the young man have to come upon him just as he was perfecting his bliss and rob him of all that he had in the world. He was conscious all the while that there was a something wrong in his argument that Paul when he commenced to love the girl knew nothing of his friend's love that the girl though Paul had never come in the way might probably have been as obdurate as she was now to his entreaties. He knew all this because his mind was clear but yet the injustice at any rate the misery was so great that to forgive it and to reward it would be weak womanly and foolish. Roger Carberry did not quite believe in the forgiveness of injuries. If you pardon all the evil done to you you encourage others to do you evil if you give your cloak to him who steals your coat how long will it be before your shirt and trousers will go also? Roger Carberry returned that afternoon to Suffolk and as he thought of it all throughout the journey he resolved that he would never forgive Paul Montague if Paul Montague should become his cousin's husband. End of chapter 8 Chapter 9 of The Way We Live Now This is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org The Way We Live Now by Anthony Trollop Chapter 9 The Great Railway to Vera Cruz You have been a guest in his house then I guess the things about as good as done. These words were spoken with a fine sharp nasal twang by a brilliantly dressed American gentleman in one of the smartest private rooms of the Great Railway Hotel at Liverpool and they were addressed to a young Englishman who was sitting opposite to him. Between them there was a table covered with maps schedules and printed programs. The American was smoking a very large cigar which he kept constantly turning in his mouth and half of which was inside his teeth. The Englishman had a short pipe. Mr. Hamilton K. Fisker of the firm of Fisker Montague and Montague was the American and the Englishman was our friend Paul the junior member of that firm. But I didn't even speak to him said Paul. In commercial affairs that matters nothing it quite justifies you in introducing me. We are not going to ask your friend to do us a favor we don't want to borrow money. I thought you did. If he'll go in for the thing he'd be one of us and there would be no borrowing then he'll join us if he's as clever as they say because he'll see his way to making a couple of million of dollars out of it. If he'd take the trouble to run over and show himself in San Francisco he'd make double that. The moneyed men would go in with him at once because they know that he understands the game and has got the pluck. A man who has done what he has by financing in Europe. By George there's no limit to what he might do with us. We're a bigger people than any of you and have more room. We go after bigger things and don't stand shilly shally on the brink as you do. But Melmont pretty nigh beats the best among us. Anyway he should come and try his luck and he couldn't have a bigger thing or a safer thing than this. He'd see it immediately if I could talk to him for half an hour. Mr. Fiskr said Paul mysteriously as we are partners I think I ought to let you know that many people speak very badly of Mr. Melmont's honesty. Mr. Fiskr smiled gently turned his cigar twice round in his mouth and then closed one eye. There is always a want of charity he said when a man is successful. The scheming question was the grand proposal for a south-central pacific and Mexican railway which was to run from the Salt Lake City thus branching off from the San Francisco and Chicago line and pass down through the fertile lands of New Mexico and Arizona into the territory of the Mexican Republic run by the city of Mexico and come out on the gulf at the port of Vera Cruz. Mr. Fiskr admitted at once that it was a great undertaking acknowledged that the distance might be perhaps something over 2000 miles acknowledged that no computation had or perhaps could be made as to the probable cost of the railway but seemed to think that questions such as these were beside the mark and childish. Melmont, if he would go into the matter at all, would ask no such questions. But we must go back a little. Paul Montague had received a telegram from his partner Hamilton K. Fiskr sent on short Queenstown from one of the New York liners requesting him to meet Fiskr at Liverpool immediately. With this request he had felt himself bound to comply. Personally he had disliked Fiskr and perhaps not the less so because when in California he had never found himself able to resist the man's good humor, audacity and cleverness combined. He had found himself talked into agreeing with any project which Mr. Fiskr might have in hand. It was all together against the grain with him and yet by his own consent that the flour mill had been opened at Fiskrville. He trembled for his money and never wished to see Fiskr again but still when Fiskr came to England he was proud to remember that Fiskr was his partner and he obeyed the order and went down to Liverpool. If the flour mill had frightened him what must the present project have done? Fiskr explained that he had come with two objects. First to ask the consent of the English partner to the proposed change in their business and secondly to obtain the cooperation of English capitalists. The proposed change in the business meant simply the entire sale of the establishment at Fiskrville and the absorption of the whole capital and the work of getting up the railway. If you could realize all the money it wouldn't make a mile of the railway, said Paul. Mr. Fiskr laughed at him. The object of Fiskr, Montague and Montague was not to make a railway to their crews but to float a company. Paul thought that Mr. Fiskr seemed to be indifferent whether the railway should ever be constructed or not. It was clearly his idea that fortunes were to be made out of the concern before a spade full of earth had been moved. If brilliantly printed programs might avail anything with gorgeous maps and beautiful little pictures of trains running into tunnels beneath snowy mountains and coming out of them on the margin of sunlit lakes, Mr. Fiskr had certainly done much. But Paul, when he saw all these pretty things, could not keep his mind from thinking whence had come the money to pay for them. Mr. Fiskr had declared that he had come over to obtain his partner's consent but it seemed to that partner that a great deal had been done without any consent. And Paul's fears on this hand were not allayed by finding that on all these beautiful papers he himself was described as one of the agents and general managers of the company. Each document was signed Fiskr, Montague and Montague. References on all matters were to be made to Fiskr, Montague and Montague and in one of the documents it was stated that a member of the firm had proceeded to London with the view of attending to British interests in the matter. Fiskr had seemed to think that his young partner would express unbounded satisfaction at the greatness which was thus falling upon him. A certain feeling of importance not altogether unpleasant was produced but at the same time there was another conviction forced upon Montague's mind not altogether pleasant that his money was being made to disappear without any consent given by him and that it behoved him to be cautious lest such consent should be extracted from him unawares. What has become of the mill? he asked. We have put an agent into it. Is not that dangerous? What check have you on him? He pays us a fixed sum sir but my word when there is such a thing as this on hand a Trumpery mill like that is not worth speaking of. You haven't sold it? Well no but we've arranged a price for a sale. You haven't taken the money for it? Well yes we have we've raised money on it you know you see you weren't there and so the two resident partners acted for the firm but Mr. Montague you'd better go with us you had indeed. And about my own income? That's a flea bite when we've got a little ahead with this it won't matter sir whether you spend $20,000 or $40,000 a year we've got the concession from the United States government through the territories and we're in correspondence with the president of the Mexican Republic I've no doubt we've an office open already in Mexico and another at Vera Cruz where's the money to come from? Money to come from sir where do you suppose the money comes from in all these undertakings? If we can float the shares the money will come in quick enough we hold three million dollars of the stock ourselves. Six hundred thousand pounds said Montague we take them at par of course and as we sell we shall pay for them but of course we shall only sell at a premium if we can run them up even to a hundred and ten there would be three hundred thousand dollars but we'll do better than that I must try and see Melmont at once you had better write a letter now I don't know the man never mind look here I'll write it and you can sign it whereupon Mr. Fisker did write the following letter Langham Hotel London March 4th 18 something Dear sir I have the pleasure of informing you that my partner Mr. Fisker of Fisker Montague and Montague of San Francisco is now in London with the view of allowing British capitalists to assist in carrying out perhaps the greatest work of the age namely the South Central Pacific and Mexican Railway which is to give direct communication between San Francisco and the Gulf of Mexico he is very anxious to see you upon his arrival as he is aware that your cooperation would be desirable we feel assured that with your matured judgment in such matters you would see at once the magnificence of the enterprise if you will name a day and an hour Mr. Fisker will call upon you I have to thank you and Madam Melmont for a very pleasant evening spent at your house last week Mr. Fisker proposes returning to New York I shall remain here superintending the British interests which may be involved I have the honor to be dear sir most faithfully yours but I have never said that I would super intend the interests said Montague you can say so now it binds you to nothing you regular John Bull Englishmen are so full of scruples that you lose as much of life as should serve to make an additional fortune after some further conversation Paul Montague recopied the letter and signed it he did it with doubt almost with dismay but he told himself that he could do no good by refusing if this wretched American with his hat on one side and rings on his fingers had so far got the upper hand of Paul's uncle as to have been allowed to do what he liked with the funds of the partnership Paul could not stop it on the following morning they went up to London together and in the course of the afternoon Mr. Fisker presented himself in Abchurch Lane the letter written at Liverpool but dated from the Langham Hotel had been posted at the Euston Square Railway Station at the moment of Fisker's arrival Fisker sent in his card and was asked to wait in the course of 20 minutes he was ushered into the great man's presence by no less a person than Miles Grindal it has been already said that Mr. Melmont was a big man with large whiskers rough hair and with an expression of mental power on a harsh vulgar face he was certainly a man to repel you by his presence unless attracted to him by some internal consideration he was magnificent in his expenditure powerful in his doings successful in his business and the world around him therefore was not repelled Fisker on the other hand was a shining little man perhaps about 40 years of age with a well twisted mustache greasy brown hair which was becoming bald at the top good looking if his features were analyzed but insignificant in appearance he was gorgeously dressed with a silk waistcoat and chains and he carried a little stick one would at first be inclined to say that Fisker was not much of a man but after a little conversation most men would own that there was something in Fisker he was troubled by no shyness by no scruples and by no fears his mind was not capacious but such as it was it was his own and he knew how to use it Abchurch Lane is not a grand site for the offices of a merchant prince here at a small corner house there was a small brass plate on a swing door bearing the words Melmont and Co of whom the Co was composed no one knew in one sense Mr. Melmont might be said to be in company with all the commercial world for there was no business to which he would refuse his cooperation on certain terms but he had never burdened himself with a partner in the usual sense of the term here Fisker found three or four clerks seated at desks and was desired to walk upstairs the steps were narrow and crooked and the rooms were small and irregular here he stayed for a while in a small dark apartment in which the Daily Telegraph was left for the amusement of its occupant till Miles Grendahl announced to him that Mr. Melmont would see him the millionaire looked at him for a moment or two just condescending to touch with his fingers the hand which Fisker had projected I don't seem to remember he said the gentleman who has done me the honor of writing to me about you I daresay not Mr. Melmont when I'm at home in San Francisco I make acquaintance with the great many gents whom I don't remember afterwards my partner I think told me that he went to your house with his friend Sir Felix Carberry I know a young man called Sir Felix Carberry that's it I could have got any amount of introductions to you if I had thought this would not have sufficed Mr. Melmont bowed our account here in London is kept with the city and West End joint stock but I have only just arrived and as my chief object in coming to London is to see you and as I met my partner Mr. Montague in Liverpool I took a note from him and came on straight and what can I do for you Mr. Fisker then Mr. Fisker began his account of the great south-central Pacific and Mexican Railway and exhibited considerable skill by telling it all in comparatively few words and yet he was gorgeous and florid in two minutes he had displayed his program his maps and his pictures before Mr. Melmont's eyes taking care that Mr. Melmont should see how often the names of Fisker, Montague and Montague reappeared upon them as Mr. Melmont read the documents Fisker from time to time put in a word but the words had no reference at all to the future profits of the railway or to the benefit which such means of communication would confer upon the world at large but applied solely to the appetite for such stock as theirs which might certainly be produced in the speculating world by a proper manipulation of the affairs you seem to think you couldn't get it taken up in your own country said Melmont there's not a doubt about getting it all taken up there our folks are quick enough at the game but you don't want them to teach you Mr. Melmont that nothing encourages this kind of thing like competition when they hear at St. Louis and Chicago that the thing is alive in London they'll be alive there and it's the same here sir when they know that the stock is running like wildfire in America they'll make it run here too how far have you got what we've gone to work upon is a concession for making the line from the United States Congress we're to have the land for nothing of course and a grant of 1,000 acres around every station the station's to be 25 miles apart and the land is to be made over to you when when we have made the line up to the station Fisker understood perfectly that Mr. Melmont did not ask the question in reference to any value that he might attach to the possession of such lands but to the attractiveness of such a prospectus in the eyes of the outside world of speculators and what do you want me to do Mr. Fisker I want to have your name there he said and he placed his finger down on a spot on which it was indicated that there was or was to be a chairman of an English board of directors but with a space for the name here they're too blank who are your directors here Mr. Fisker we should ask you to choose them sir Mr. Paul Montague should be one and perhaps his friend Sir Felix Carberry might be another we could get probably one of the directors of the city in west end but we would leave it all to you as also the amount of stock you would like to take yourself if you gave yourself to it heart and soul Mr. Melmont it would be the finest thing that there has been out for a long time there would be such a mass of stock you have to back that with a certain amount of paid up capital we take care sir in the west not to cripple commerce too closely by old-fashioned bandages look at what we've done already sir by having our limbs pretty free look at our lines sir right across the continent from San Francisco to New York look at never mind that Mr. Fisker people wanted to go from New York to San Francisco and I don't know that they do want to go to Vera Cruz but I will look at it and you shall hear from me the interview was over and Mr. Fisker was contented with it had Mr. Melmont not intended at least to think of it he would not have given 10 minutes to the subject after all what was wanted for Mr. Melmont was little more than his name for the use of which Mr. Fisker proposed that he should receive from the speculative public two or three hundred thousand pounds at the end of a fortnight from the date of Mr. Fisker's arrival in London the company was fully launched in England with the body of London directors of whom Mr. Melmont was the chairman among the directors were Lord Alfred Grendal Sir Felix Carberry Samuel Cohen Lupesquire member of parliament for Staines a gentleman of the Jewish persuasion Lord Nitterdale who was also in parliament and Mr. Paul Montague it may be thought that the directory was not strong and that but little help could be given to any commercial enterprise by the assistance of Lord Alfred or Sir Felix but it was felt that Mr. Melmont was himself so great a tower of strength that the fortune of the company as a company was made end of chapter nine chapter 10 of The Way We Live Now this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org The Way We Live Now by Anthony Trollop Chapter 10 Mr. Fiskars Success Mr. Fiskars was fully satisfied with the progress he had made but he never quite succeeded in reconciling Paul Montague to the whole transaction Mr. Melmont was indeed so great a reality such a fact in the commercial world of London that it was no longer possible for such a one as Montague to refuse to believe in the scheme Melmont had the telegraph at his command and had been able to make as close inquiries as though San Francisco and Salt Lake City had been suburbs of London he was chairman of the British branch of the company and had had shares allocated to him or as he said to the house to the extent of two millions of dollars but still there was a feeling of doubt and a consciousness that Melmont though a tower of strength was thought by many to have been built upon the sands Paul had now of course given his full authority to the work much in opposition to the advice of his old friend Roger Carberry and had come up to live in town that he might personally attend to the affairs of the Great Railway there was an office just behind the exchange with two or three clerks and a secretary the latter position being held by Miles Grendel, Esquire Paul who had a conscience in the matter and was keenly alive to the fact that he was not only a director but was also one of the firm of Fisker, Montague and Montague which was responsible for the whole affair was grievously anxious to be really at work and would attend most inopportunely as a company's offices Fisker who still lingered in London did his best to put a stop to this folly and on more than one occasion somewhat snubbed his partner my dear fellow what's the use of your flurrying yourself in a thing of this kind when it has once been said of going there is nothing else to do you may have to work your fingers off before you can make it move and then fail but all that has been done for you if you go there on the Thursdays that's quite as much as you need do you don't suppose that such a man as Melmont would put up with any real interference Paul endeavored to assert himself declaring that as one of the managers he meant to take a part in the management that his fortune such as it was had been embarked in the matter and was as important to him as was Mr. Melmont's fortune to Mr. Melmont but Fisker got the better of him and put him down fortune? what fortune had either of us a few beggarly thousands of dollars not worth talking of and barely sufficient to enable a man to look at an enterprise and now where are you look here sir there's more to be got out of the smashing up of such an affair as this if it should smash up then could be made by years of hard work out of such fortunes as yours and mine in the regular way of trade Paul Montague certainly did not love Mr. Fisker personally nor did he relish his commercial doctrines but he allowed himself to be carried away by them when and how was I to have helped myself he wrote to Roger Carberry the money had been raised and spent before this man came here at all it's all very well to say that he had no right to do it but he had done it I couldn't even have gone to law with him without going over to California and then I should have gotten a redress through it all he disliked Fisker and yet Fisker had one great merit which certainly recommended itself warmly to Montague's appreciation though he denied the propriety of Paul's interference in the business he quite acknowledged Paul's right to a share in the existing dash of prosperity as to the real facts of the money affairs of the firm he would tell Paul nothing but he was well provided with money himself and took care that his partner should be in the same position he paid him all the arrears of his stipulated income up to the present moment and put him nominally into possession of a large number of shares in the railway with however an understanding that he was not to sell them till they had reached 10 percent above par and that in any sale transacted he was to touch no other money than the amount of profit which would thus accrue what Melmont was to be allowed to do with his shares he never heard as far as Montague could understand Melmont was in truth to be powerful over everything all this made the young man unhappy restless and extravagant he was living in London and had money at command but he never could rid himself of the fear that the whole affair might tumble the pieces beneath his feet and that he might be stigmatized as one among a gang of swindlers we all know how we all know how in such circumstances by far the greater proportion of a man's life will be given up to the enjoyments that are offered to him and the lesser proportion to the cares sacrifices and sorrows had this young director been describing to his intimate friend the condition in which he found himself he would have declared himself to be distracted by doubts suspicions and fears till his life was a burden to him and yet they who were living with him at this time found him to be a very pleasant fellow fond of amusement and disposed to make the most of all the good things which came in his way under the auspices of Sir Felix Carberry he had become a member of the bear garden at which best of all possible clubs the mode of entrance was as irregular as its other proceedings when any young man desired to come in who was thought to be unfit for its style of living it was shown to him that it would take three years before his name could be brought up at the usual rate of vacancies but in regard to desirable companions the committee had a power of putting them at the top of the list of candidates and bringing them in at once Paul Montague had suddenly become credited with considerable commercial wealth and greater commercial influence he sat at the same board with Melmont and Melmont's men and was on this account elected at the bear garden without any of that harassing delay to which other less fortunate candidates are subjected and let it be said with regret for Paul Montague was at heart honest and well conditioned he took to living a good deal at the bear garden a man must dine somewhere and everybody knows that a man dines cheaper at his club than elsewhere it was thus he reasoned with himself but Paul's dinners at the bear garden were not cheap he saw a good deal of his brother directors Sir Felix Carberry and Lord Nitterdale entertained Lord Alfred more than once at the club and had twice dined with his great chairman amidst all the magnificence of merchant princely hospitality and Gauvener Square it had indeed been suggested to him by Mr. Fisker that he also ought to enter himself for the great Marie Melmont plate Lord Nitterdale had again declared his intention of running owing to considerable pressure put upon him by certain interested tradesmen and with this intention had become one of the directors of the Mexican Railway Company at the time however of which we are now writing Sir Felix was the favorite for the race among fashionable circles generally the middle of April had come and Fisker was still in London when millions of dollars are at stake belonging perhaps to widows and orphans as Fisker remarked a man was forced to set his own convenience on one side but this devotion was not left without reward for Mr. Fisker had a good time in London he also was made free of the bear garden as an honorary member and he also spent a good deal of money but there is this comfort in great affairs that whatever you spend on yourself can be no more than a trifle champagne and ginger beer are all the same when you stand to win or lose thousands with this only difference that champagne may have deteriorating results which the more innocent beverage will not produce the feeling that the greatness of these operations relieved them from the necessity of looking to small expenses operated in the champagne direction both on Fisker and Montague and the result was deleterious the bear garden no doubt was a more lively place than Carberry Manor but Montague found that he could not wake up on these London mornings with thoughts as satisfactory as those which attended his pillow at the old Manor House on Saturday the 19th of April Fisker was to leave London on his return to New York and on the 18th the farewell dinner was to be given to him at the club Mr. Melmont was asked to meet him and on such an occasion all the resources of the club were to be brought forth Lord Alfred Grendahl was also to be a guest and Mr. Cohenloop who went about a good deal with Melmont Nitterdale Carberry, Montague and Miles Grendahl were members of the club and gave the dinner no expense was spared Herr Wassner pervaded the viens and wines and paid for them Lord Nitterdale took the chair with Fisker on his right hand and Melmont on his left and for a fast-going young lord was supposed to have done the thing well there were only two toasts drunk to the health of Mr. Melmont and Mr. Fisker and two speeches were of course made by them Mr. Melmont may have been held to have clearly proved the genuineness of that English birth which he claimed by the awkwardness and incapacity which he showed on the occasion he stood with his hands on the table and with his face turned to his plate blurted out his assurance that the floating of this railway company would be one of the greatest and most successful commercial operations ever conducted on either side of the Atlantic it was a great thing a very great thing he had no hesitation in saying that it was one of the greatest things out he didn't believe a greater thing had ever come out he was happy to give his humble assistance to the furtherance of so great a thing and so on these assertions not varying much one from the other he jerked out like so many separate interjections endeavoring to look his friends in the face at each and then turning his countenance back to his plate as though seeking for inspiration for the next attempt he was not eloquent but the gentleman who heard him remembered that he was the great Augustus Melmot that he might probably make them all rich men and they cheered him to the echo Lord Alfred had reconciled himself to be called by his Christian name since he had been put in the way of raising two or three hundred pounds on the security of shares which were to be allotted to him but of which in the flesh he had is yet seen nothing wonderful are the ways of trade if one can only get the tip of one's little finger into the right pie what noble morsels what rich escalents will stick to it as it is extracted when Melmot sat down Fisker made his speech and it was fluent fast and florid without giving it word for word which would be tedious I could not adequately set before the reader's eye the speaker's pleasing picture of worldwide commercial love and harmony which was to be produced by a railway from Salt Lake City to Vera Cruz nor explained the extent of gratitude from the world at large which might be claimed by and would finally be accorded to the great firms of Melmot and Co. of London and Fisker Montague and Montague of San Francisco Mr. Fisker's arms were waved gracefully about his head was turned now this way and now that but never towards his plate it was very well done but there was more faith in one ponderous word for Mr. Melmot's mouth than in all the Americans oratory there was not one of them then present who had not after some fashion been given to understand that his fortune was to be made not by the construction of the railway but by the floating of the railway shares they had all whispered to each other their convictions on this head even Montague did not beguile himself into an idea that he was really a director in a company to be employed in the making and working of a railway people out of doors were to be advertised into buying shares and they who were so to say indoors were to have the privilege of manufacturing the shares thus to be sold that was to be their work and they all knew it but now as there were eight of them collected together they talked of humanity at large and of the coming harmony of nations after the first cigar Melmot withdrew and Lord Alfred went with him Lord Alfred would have liked to remain being a man who enjoyed tobacco and soda and brandy but momentous days had come upon him and he thought well to cling to his Melmot Mr. Samuel Cohen loop also went not having taken a very distinguished part in the entertainment then the young men were left alone and it was soon proposed that they should adjourn to the card room it had been rather hoped that Fisker would go with the elders Nitterdale who did not understand much about the races of mankind had his doubts whether the American gentleman might not be a heath in Chinese such as he had read of in poetry but Mr. Fisker liked to have his amusement as well as did the others and went up resolutely into the card room here they were joined by Lord Grasslow and were very quickly at work having chosen Lou as their game Mr. Fisker made an allusion to poker as a desirable pastime but Lord Nitterdale remembering his poetry shook his head oh bother he said let's have some game that Christians play Mr. Fisker declared himself ready for any game irrespective of religious prejudices it must be explained that the gambling at the bear garden had gone on with very little interruption and that on the whole Sir Felix Carberry kept his luck there had of course been vicissitudes but his star had been in the ascendant for some nights together this had been so continual that Mr. Miles Grendel had suggested to his friend Lord Grasslow that there must be foul play Lord Grasslow who had not many good gifts was at least not suspicious and repudiated the idea we'll keep an eye on him Miles Grendel had said you may do as you like but I'm not going to watch anyone Grasslow had replied Miles had watched and had watched in vain and it may as well be said at once that Sir Felix with all his faults was not as yet a black leg both of them now owed Sir Felix a considerable sum of money as did also Dolly Longstaff who was not present on this occasion laterally very little ready money had passed hands very little in proportion to the sums which had been written down on paper though Sir Felix was still so well in funds as to feel himself justified in repudiating any caution that his mother might give him when IOUs have for some time passed freely in such a company as that now assembled the sudden introduction of a stranger is very disagreeable particularly when that stranger intends to start for San Francisco on the following morning if it could be arranged that the stranger should certainly lose no doubt then he would be regarded as a godsend such strangers have ready money in their pockets a portion of which would be felt to descend like a soft shower at a time of drought when these dealings in unsecured paper have been going on for a considerable time real banknotes come to have a loveliness which they never possessed before but should the stranger win then there may arise complications incapable of any comfortable solution in such a state of things some hair vossner must be called in whose terms are apt to be ruinous on this occasion things did not arrange themselves comfortably from the very commencement fiscal one and quite a budget of little papers fell into his possession many of which were passed to him from the hands of Sir Felix bearing however a G intended to stand for Grasslow or an N for Nitterdale or a wonderful hieroglyphic which was known at the Bear Garden Domain D.L. or Dolly Longstaff the fabricator of which was not present on the occasion then there was the M.G. of Miles Grendel which was a species of paper peculiarly plentiful and very unattractive on these commercial occasions Paul Montague Hitherto had never given an I.O.U. at the Bear Garden nor of late had our friend Sir Felix on the present occasion Montague won though not heavily Sir Felix lost continually and was almost the only loser but Mr. Fisker won nearly all that was lost he was to start for Liverpool by train at 8 30 a.m. and at 6 a.m. he counted up his bits of paper and found himself the winner of about 600 pounds I think that most of them came from you Sir Felix he said handing the bundle across the table I dare say they did but they are all good against these other fellows then Fisker with most perfect good humor extracted one from the mass which indicated Dolly Longstaff's indebtedness to the amount of 50 pounds that's Longstaff said Felix and I'll change that of course then out of his pocketbook he extracted other minute documents bearing that M.G. which was so little esteemed among them and so made up the sum you seem to have 150 pounds from Grasslow 145 pounds from Nitterdale and 322 pounds 10 shillings from Grendel said the Baronette then Sir Felix got up as though he had paid his score Fisker with smiling good humor arranged a little bits of paper before him and looked round upon the company this won't do you know said Nitterdale Mr. Fisker must have his money before he leaves you've got it Carberry of course he has said Grasslow as it happens I have not said Sir Felix but what if I had Mr. Fisker starts for New York immediately said Lord Nitterdale I suppose we could muster 600 pounds among us ring the bell for Vosner I think Carberry ought to pay the money as he lost it and we didn't expect to have our IOUs brought up in this way Lord Nitterdale said Sir Felix I have already said that I have not got the money about me why should I have it more than you especially as I knew I had IOUs more than sufficient to meet anything I could lose when I sat down Mr. Fisker must have his money at any rate said Lord Nitterdale ringing the bell again it doesn't matter one straw my Lord said the American let it be sent to me to Frisco in a bill my Lord and so he got up to take his hat greatly to the delight of Miles Grindel but the two young lords would not agree to this if you must go this very minute I'll meet you at the train with the money said Nitterdale Fisker begged that no such trouble should be taken of course he would wait 10 minutes if they wished but the affair was one of no consequence wasn't the post running every day then Herr Vosner came from his bed suddenly arrayed in a dressing gown and there was a conference in the corner between him the two lords and Mr. Grindel in a very few minutes Herr Vosner wrote a check for the amount due by the lords but he was afraid that he had not money at his bankers sufficient for the greater claim it was well understood that Herr Vosner would not advance money to Mr. Grindel unless others would pledge themselves for the amount I suppose I'd better send you a bill over to America said Miles Grindel who had taken no part in the matter as long as he was in the same boat with the lords just so my partner Montague will tell you the address then bustling off taking an affectionate adieu of Paul shaking hands with them all around and looking as though he cared nothing for the money he took his leave one cheer for the south-central Pacific and Mexican railway he said as he went out of the room not one there had liked Fisker his manners were not as their manners his waistcoat not as their waistcoats he smoked his cigar after a fashion different from theirs and spat upon the carpet he said my lord too often and graded their prejudices equally whether he treated them with familiarity or deference but he had behaved well about the money and they felt that they were behaving badly Sir Felix was the immediate offender as he should have understood that he was not entitled to pay a stranger with documents which by tacit contract were held to be good among themselves but there was no use now in going back to that something must be done Bossner must get the money said Nitterdale let's have him up again I don't think it's my fault said Miles of course no one thought he was to be called upon in this sort of way why shouldn't you be called upon said Carberry you acknowledge that you owed the money I think Carberry ought to have paid it said Graslau Graslau my boy said the Baronette your attempts at thinking are never worth much why was I to suppose that a stranger would be playing among us had you a lot of ready money with you to pay if you had lost it I don't always walk about with 600 pounds in my pocket nor do you it's no good drawing said Nitterdale let's get the money then Mounted you offered to undertake the debt himself saying that there were money transactions between him and his partner but this could not be allowed he had only lately come among them and had as yet had no dealing in IOUs and was the last man in the company who ought to be made responsible for the impecuniosity of Miles Grendel he the impecunious one the one whose impecuniosity extended to the absolute want of credit sat silent stroking his heavy mustache there was a second conference between Herr Bossner and the two lords in another room which ended in the preparation of a document by which Miles Grendel undertook to pay to Herr Bossner 450 pounds at the end of three months and this was endorsed by the two lords by Sir Felix and by Paul Montague and in return for this the German produced 322 pounds 10 shillings in notes in gold this had taken some considerable time then a cup of tea was prepared and swallowed after which Nitterdale with Montague started off to meet Fisker at the railway station it'll only be a trifle over 100 pounds each said Nitterdale in the cab won't Mr. Grendel pay it? oh dear no how the devil should he then he shouldn't play that'd be hard on him poor fellow if you went to his uncle the Duke I suppose you could get it or Buntingford might put it right for you perhaps he might win you know someday and then he'd make it square he'd be fair enough if he had it poor Miles they found Fisker wonderfully brilliant with bright rugs and great coats with silk linings we brought you the tin said Nitterdale accosting him on the platform upon my word my lord I'm sorry you have taken so much trouble about such a trifle a man should always have his money when he wins we don't think anything about such little matters at Frisco my lord your fine fellows at Frisco I dare say here we pay up when we can sometimes we can't and then it is not pleasant fresh the dues were made between the two partners and between the American and the Lord and then Fisker was taken off on his way towards Frisco he's not half a bad fellow but he's not a bit like an Englishman said Lord Nitterdale as he walked out of the station end of chapter 10