He thought over this great stroke of exhibiting himself to Melmotte as a capitalist till he gave up his idea of abandoning his suit. So he wrote a note to Marie Melmotte in accordance with her instructions.
DEAR M., Your father cut up very rough about money. Perhaps you had better see him yourself; or would your mother?
Yours always, F.
This, as directed, he put under cover to Madame Didon,--Grosvenor Square, and posted at the club. He had put nothing at any rate in the letter which would commit him.
There was generally on Sundays a house dinner, so called, at eight o'clock. Five or six men would sit down, and would always gamble afterwards. On this occasion Dolly Longestaffe sauntered in at about seven in quest of sherry and bitters, and Felix found the opportunity a good one to speak of his money. 'You couldn't cash your I.O.U.'s for me to-morrow;--could you?'
'To-morrow! oh, lord!'
'I'll tell you why. You know I'd tell you anything because I think we are really friends. I'm after that daughter of Melmotte's.'
'I'm told you're to have her.'
'I don't know about that. I mean to try at any rate. I've gone in you know for that Board in the city.'
'I don't know anything about Boards, my boy.'
'Yes, you do, Dolly. You remember that American fellow, Montague's friend, that was here one night and won all our money.'
'The chap that had the waistcoat, and went away in the morning to California. Fancy starting to California after a hard night. I always wondered whether he got there alive.'
'Well;--I can't explain to you all about it, because you hate those kinds of things.'
'And because I am such a fool.'
'I don't think you're a fool at all, but it would take a week. But it's absolutely essential for me to take up a lot of shares in the city to-morrow;--or perhaps Wednesday might do. I'm bound to pay for them, and old Melmotte will think that I'm utterly hard up if I don't. Indeed he said as much, and the only objection about me and this girl of his is as to money. Can't you understand, now, how important it may be?'
'It's always important to have a lot of money. I know that.'
'I shouldn't have gone in for this kind of thing if I hadn't thought I was sure. You know how much you owe me, don't you?'
'Not in the least.'
'It's about eleven hundred pounds!'