But he was very anxious to know why Mr Melmotte should offer it. He excused himself saying that he was not particularly fond of big dinners, and that he did not like standing in the way of other people. 'Ah, indeed,' said Melmotte. 'There are ever so many people of title would give anything for a ticket. You'd be astonished at the persons who have asked. We've had to squeeze in a chair on one side for the Master of the Buckhounds, and on the other for the Bishop of--; I forget what bishop it is, but we had the two archbishops before. They say he must come because he has something to do with getting up the missionaries for Tibet. But I've got the ticket, if you'll have it.' This was the ticket which was to have taken in Georgiana Longestaffe as one of the Melmotte family, had not Melmotte perceived that it might be useful to him as a bribe. But Paul would not take the bribe. 'You're the only man in London, then,' said Melmotte, somewhat offended. 'But at any rate you'll come in the evening, and I'll have one of Madame Melmotte's tickets sent to you.' Paul not knowing how to escape, said that he would come in the evening. 'I am particularly anxious,' continued he, 'to be civil to those who are connected with our great Railway, and of course, in this country, your name stands first,--next to my own.'
Then the great man paused, and Paul began to wonder whether it could be possible that he had been sent for to Grosvenor Square on a Sunday morning in order that he might be asked to dine in the same house a fortnight later. But that was impossible. 'Have you anything special to say about the Railway?' he asked.
'Well, yes. It is so hard to get things said at the Board. Of course there are some there who do not understand matters.'
'I doubt if there be any one there who does understand this matter,' said Paul.
Melmotte affected to laugh. 'Well, well; I am not prepared to go quite so far as that. My friend Cohenlupe has had great experience in these affairs, and of course you are aware that he is in Parliament. And Lord Alfred sees farther into them than perhaps you give him credit for.'
'He may easily do that.'
'Well, well. Perhaps you don't know quite as well as I do.' The scowl began to appear on Mr Melmotte's brow. Hitherto it had been banished as well as he knew how to banish it. 'What I wanted to say to you was this. We didn't quite agree at the last meeting.'