CHAPTER XLIX.
SIR FELIX MAKES HIMSELF READY.
Sir Felix, when he promised to meet Ruby at the Music Hall on theTuesday, was under an engagement to start with Marie Melmotte for NewYork on the Thursday following, and to go down to Liverpool on theWednesday. There was no reason, he thought, why he should not enjoyhimself to the last, and he would say a parting word to poor littleRuby. The details of his journey were settled between him and Marie,with no inconsiderable assistance from Didon, in the garden ofGrosvenor Square, on the previous Sunday,--where the lovers hadagain met during the hours of morning service. Sir Felix had beenastonished at the completion of the preparations which had been made."Mind you go by the 5 P.M. train," Marie said. "That will take youinto Liverpool at 10.15. There's an hotel at the railway-station.Didon has got our tickets under the names of Madame and MademoiselleRacine. We are to have one cabin between us. You must get yoursto-morrow. She has found out that there is plenty of room."
"I'll be all right."
"Pray don't miss the train that afternoon. Somebody would be sureto suspect something if we were seen together in the same train. Weleave at 7 A.M. I shan't go to bed all night, so as to be sure to bein time. Robert,--he's the man,--will start a little earlier in thecab with my heavy box. What do you think is in it?"
"Clothes," suggested Felix.
"Yes, but what clothes?--my wedding dresses. Think of that! What ajob to get them and nobody to know anything about it except Didon andMadame Craik at the shop in Mount Street! They haven't come yet, butI shall be there whether they come or not. And I shall have all myjewels. I'm not going to leave them behind. They'll go off in ourcab. We can get the things out behind the house into the mews. ThenDidon and I follow in another cab. Nobody ever is up before nearnine, and I don't think we shall be interrupted."
"If the servants were to hear."
"I don't think they'd tell. But if I was to be brought back again,I should only tell papa that it was no good. He can't prevent memarrying."
"Won't your mother find out?"
"She never looks after anything. I don't think she'd tell if sheknew. Papa leads her such a life! Felix! I hope you won't be likethat."--And she looked up into his face, and thought that it would beimpossible that he should be.
"I'm all right," said Felix, feeling very uncomfortable at the time.This great effort of his life was drawing very near. There had beena pleasurable excitement in talking of running away with the greatheiress of the day, but now that the deed had to be executed,--andexecuted after so novel and stupendous a fashion, he almost wishedthat he had not undertaken it. It must have been much nicer when menran away with their heiresses only as far as Gretna Green. And evenGoldsheiner with Lady Julia had nothing of a job in comparison withthis which he was expected to perform. And then if they should bewrong about the girl's fortune! He almost repented. He did repent,but he had not the courage to recede. "How about money though?" hesaid hoarsely.
"You have got some?"
"I have just the two hundred pounds which your father paid me, andnot a shilling more. I don't see why he should keep my money, and notlet me have it back."
"Look here," said Marie, and she put her hand into her pocket."I told you I thought I could get some. There is a cheque for twohundred and fifty pounds. I had money of my own enough for thetickets."
"And whose is this?" said Felix, taking the bit of paper with muchtrepidation.
"It is papa's cheque. Mamma gets ever so many of them to carry on thehouse and pay for things. But she gets so muddled about it that shedoesn't know what she pays and what she doesn't." Felix looked at thecheque and saw that it was payable to House or Bearer, and that itwas signed by Augustus Melmotte. "If you take it to the bank you'llget the money," said Marie. "Or shall I send Didon, and give you themoney on board the ship?"
Felix thought over the matter very anxiously. If he did go on thejourney he would much prefer to have the money in his own pocket. Heliked the feeling of having money in his pocket. Perhaps if Didonwere entrusted with the cheque she also would like the feeling. Butthen might it not be possible that if he presented the cheque himselfhe might be arrested for stealing Melmotte's money? "I think Didonhad better get the money," he said, "and bring it to me to-morrow,at four o'clock in the afternoon, to the club." If the money didnot come he would not go down to Liverpool, nor would he be at theexpense of his ticket for New York. "You see," he said, "I'm so muchin the City that they might know me at the bank." To this arrangementMarie assented and took back the cheque. "And then I'll come on boardon Thursday morning," he said, "without looking for you."
"Oh dear, yes;--without looking for us. And don't know us even tillwe are out at sea. Won't it be fun when we shall be walking about onthe deck and not speaking to one another! And, Felix;--what do youthink? Didon has found out that there is to be an American clergymanon board. I wonder whether he'd marry us."
"Of course he will."
"Won't that be jolly? I wish it was all done. Then, directly it'sdone, and when we get to New York, we'll telegraph and write to papa,and we'll be ever so penitent and good; won't we? Of course he'llmake the best of it."
"But he's so savage; isn't he?"
"When there's anything to get;--or just at the moment. But I don'tthink he minds afterwards. He's always for making the best ofeverything;--misfortunes and all. Things go wrong so often that if hewas to go on thinking of them always they'd be too many for anybody.It'll be all right in a month's time. I wonder how Lord Nidderdalewill look when he hears that we've gone off. I should so like to seehim. He never can say that I've behaved bad to him. We were engaged,but it was he broke it. Do you know, Felix, that though we wereengaged to be married, and everybody knew it, he never once kissedme!" Felix at this moment almost wished that he had never done so. Asto what the other man had done, he cared nothing at all.
Then they parted with the understanding that they were not to seeeach other again till they met on board the boat. All arrangementswere made. But Felix was determined that he would not stir in thematter unless Didon brought him the full sum of L250; and he almostthought, and indeed hoped, that she would not. Either she would besuspected at the bank and apprehended, or she would run off with themoney on her own account when she got it;--or the cheque would havebeen missed and the payment stopped. Some accident would occur, andthen he would be able to recede from his undertaking. He would donothing till after Monday afternoon.
Should he tell his mother that he was going? His mother had clearlyrecommended him to run away with the girl, and must therefore approveof the measure. His mother would understand how great would be theexpense of such a trip, and might perhaps add something to his stockof money. He determined that he would tell his mother;--that is, ifDidon should bring him full change for the cheque.
He walked into the Beargarden exactly at four o'clock on the Monday,and there he found Didon standing in the hall. His heart sank withinhim as he saw her. Now must he certainly go to New York. She made hima little curtsey, and without a word handed him an envelope, soft andfat with rich enclosures. He bade her wait a moment, and going into alittle waiting-room counted the notes. The money was all there;--thefull sum of L250. He must certainly go to New York. "C'est tout enregle?" said Didon in a whisper as he returned to the hall. Sir Felixnodded his head, and Didon took her departure.
Yes; he must go now. He had Melmotte's money in his pocket, and wastherefore bound to run away with Melmotte's daughter. It was a greattrouble to him as he reflected that Melmotte had more of his moneythan he had of Melmotte's. And now how should he dispose of his timebefore he went? Gambling was too dangerous. Even he felt that. Wherewould he be were he to lose his ready money? He would dine that nightat the club, and in the evening go up to his mother. On the Tuesdayhe would take his place for New York in the City, and would spend theevening with Ruby at the Music Hall. On the Wednesday, he would startfor Liverpool,--according to his instructions. He felt annoyed thathe had been so fully instructed. But should the af
fair turn out wellnobody would know that. All the fellows would give him credit for theaudacity with which he had carried off the heiress to America.
At ten o'clock he found his mother and Hetta in WelbeckStreet--"What; Felix?" exclaimed Lady Carbury.
"You're surprised; are you not?" Then he threw himself into a chair."Mother," he said, "would you mind coming into the other room?" LadyCarbury of course went with him. "I've got something to tell you," hesaid.
"Good news?" she asked, clasping her hands together. From his mannershe thought that it was good news. Money had in some way come intohis hands,--or at any rate a prospect of money.
"That's as may be," he said, and then he paused.
"Don't keep me in suspense, Felix."
"The long and the short of it is that I'm going to take Marie off."
"Oh, Felix."
"You said you thought it was the right thing to do;--and thereforeI'm going to do it. The worst of it is that one wants such a lot ofmoney for this kind of thing."
"But when?"
"Immediately. I wouldn't tell you till I had arranged everything.I've had it in my mind for the last fortnight."
"And how is it to be? Oh, Felix, I hope it may succeed."
"It was your own idea, you know. We're going to;--where do youthink?"
"How can I think?--Boulogne."
"You say that just because Goldsheiner went there. That wouldn't havedone at all for us. We're going to--New York."
"To New York! But when will you be married?"
"There will be a clergyman on board. It's all fixed. I wouldn't gowithout telling you."
"Oh; I wish you hadn't told me."
"Come now;--that's kind. You don't mean to say it wasn't you that putme up to it. I've got to get my things ready."
"Of course, if you tell me that you are going on a journey, I willhave your clothes got ready for you. When do you start?"
"Wednesday afternoon."
"For New York! We must get some things ready-made. Oh, Felix, howwill it be if he does not forgive her?" He attempted to laugh. "WhenI spoke of such a thing as possible he had not sworn then that hewould never give her a shilling."
"They always say that."
"You are going to risk it?"
"I am going to take your advice." This was dreadful to the poormother. "There is money settled on her."
"Settled on whom?"
"On Marie;--money which he can't get back again."
"How much?"
"She doesn't know;--but a great deal; enough for them all to liveupon if things went amiss with them."
"But that's only a form, Felix. That money can't be her own, to giveto her husband."
"Melmotte will find that it is, unless he comes to terms. That's thepull we've got over him. Marie knows what she's about. She's a greatdeal sharper than any one would take her to be. What can you do forme about money, mother?"
"I have none, Felix."
"I thought you'd be sure to help me, as you wanted me so much to doit."
"That's not true, Felix. I didn't want you to do it. Oh, I am sosorry that that word ever passed my mouth! I have no money. Thereisn't L20 at the bank altogether."
"They would let you overdraw for L50 or L60."
"I will not do it. I will not starve myself and Hetta. You hadever so much money only lately. I will get some things for you,and pay for them as I can if you cannot pay for them after yourmarriage;--but I have not money to give you."
"That's a blue look out," said he, turning himself in hischair,--"just when L60 or L70 might make a fellow for life! You couldborrow it from your friend Broune."
"I will do no such thing, Felix. L50 or L60 would make very littledifference in the expense of such a trip as this. I suppose you havesome money?"
"Some;--yes, some. But I'm so short that any little thing would helpme." Before the evening was over she absolutely did give him a chequefor L30, although she had spoken the truth in saying that she had notso much at her banker's.
After this he went back to his club, although he himself understoodthe danger. He could not bear the idea of going to bed quietly athome at half-past ten. He got into a cab, and was very soon up in thecard-room. He found nobody there, and went to the smoking-room, whereDolly Longestaffe and Miles Grendall were sitting silently together,with pipes in their mouths. "Here's Carbury," said Dolly, wakingsuddenly into life. "Now we can have a game at three-handed loo."
"Thank ye; not for me," said Sir Felix. "I hate three-handed loo."
"Dummy," suggested Dolly.
"I don't think I'll play to-night, old fellow. I hate three fellowssticking down together." Miles sat silent, smoking his pipe,conscious of the baronet's dislike to play with him. "By-the-bye,Grendall,--look here." And Sir Felix in his most friendly tonewhispered into his enemy's ear a petition that some of the I. O. U.'smight be converted into cash.
"'Pon my word, I must ask you to wait till next week," said Miles.
"It's always waiting till next week with you," said Sir Felix,getting up and standing with his back to the fire-place. There wereother men in the room, and this was said so that every one shouldhear it. "I wonder whether any fellow would buy these for fiveshillings in the pound?" And he held up the scraps of paper in hishand. He had been drinking freely before he went up to WelbeckStreet, and had taken a glass of brandy on re-entering the club.
"Don't let's have any of that kind of thing down here," said Dolly."If there is to be a row about cards, let it be in the card-room."
"Of course," said Miles. "I won't say a word about the matter downhere. It isn't the proper thing."
"Come up into the card-room, then," said Sir Felix, getting up fromhis chair. "It seems to me that it makes no difference to you, whatroom you're in. Come up, now; and Dolly Longestaffe shall come andhear what you say." But Miles Grendall objected to this arrangement.He was not going up into the card-room that night, as no one wasgoing to play. He would be there to-morrow, and then if Sir FelixCarbury had anything to say, he could say it.
"How I do hate a row!" said Dolly. "One has to have rows with one'sown people, but there ought not to be rows at a club."
"He likes a row,--Carbury does," said Miles.
"I should like my money, if I could get it," said Sir Felix, walkingout of the room.
On the next day he went into the City, and changed his mother'scheque. This was done after a little hesitation. The money was givento him, but a gentleman from behind the desks begged him to remindLady Carbury that she was overdrawing her account. "Dear, dear;" saidSir Felix, as he pocketed the notes, "I'm sure she was unaware ofit." Then he paid for his passage from Liverpool to New York underthe name of Walter Jones, and felt as he did so that the intrigue wasbecoming very deep. This was on Tuesday. He dined again at the club,alone, and in the evening went to the Music Hall. There he remainedfrom ten till nearly twelve, very angry at the non-appearance of RubyRuggles. As he smoked and drank in solitude, he almost made up hismind that he had intended to tell her of his departure for New York.Of course he would have done no such thing. But now, should she evercomplain on that head he would have his answer ready. He had devotedhis last night in England to the purpose of telling her, and she hadbroken her appointment. Everything would now be her fault. Whatevermight happen to her she could not blame him.
Having waited till he was sick of the Music Hall,--for a music hallwithout ladies' society must be somewhat dull,--he went back to hisclub. He was very cross, as brave as brandy could make him, and wellinclined to expose Miles Grendall if he could find an opportunity. Upin the card-room he found all the accustomed men,--with the exceptionof Miles Grendall. Nidderdale, Grasslough, Dolly, Paul Montague, andone or two others were there. There was, at any rate, comfort inthe idea of playing without having to encounter the dead weight ofMiles Grendall. Ready money was on the table,--and there was noneof the peculiar Beargarden paper flying about. Indeed the men at theBeargarden had become sick of paper, and there had been formed ahalf-expressed resolution that the
play should be somewhat lower, butthe payments punctual. The I. O. U.'s had been nearly all convertedinto money,--with the assistance of Herr Vossner,--excepting thoseof Miles Grendall. The resolution mentioned did not refer back toGrendall's former indebtedness, but was intended to include a clausethat he must in future pay ready money. Nidderdale had communicatedto him the determination of the committee. "Bygones are bygones, oldfellow; but you really must stump up, you know, after this." Mileshad declared that he would "stump up." But on this occasion Miles wasabsent.
At three o'clock in the morning, Sir Felix had lost over a hundredpounds in ready money. On the following night about one he had lost afurther sum of two hundred pounds. The reader will remember that heshould at that time have been in the hotel at Liverpool.
But Sir Felix, as he played on in the almost desperate hope ofrecovering the money which he so greatly needed, remembered howFisker had played all night, and how he had gone off from the club tocatch the early train for Liverpool, and how he had gone on to NewYork without delay.
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