"Yes, I do. A fellow can't go on saying so over and over again in a beastly place like this. If we were anywhere jolly together, then I could say it often enough."

"I wish we were, Felix. I wonder whether we ever shall be."

"Upon my word I hardly see my way as yet."

"You're not going to give it up!"

"Oh no;--not give it up; certainly not. But the bother is a fellow doesn't know what to do."

"You've heard of young Mr. Goldsheiner, haven't you?" suggested Marie.

"He's one of those city chaps."

"And Lady Julia Start?"

"She's old Lady Catchboy's daughter. Yes; I've heard of them. They got spliced last winter."

"Yes;--somewhere in Switzerland, I think. At any rate they went to Switzerland, and now they've got a house close to Albert Gate."

"How jolly for them! He is awfully rich, isn't he?"

"I don't suppose he's half so rich as papa. They did all they could to prevent her going, but she met him down at Folkestone just as the tidal boat was starting. Didon says that nothing was easier."

"Oh;--ah. Didon knows all about it."

"That she does."

"But she'd lose her place."

"There are plenty of places. She could come and live with us, and be my maid. If you would give her 50 for herself, she'd arrange it all."

"And would you come to Folkstone?"

"I think that would be stupid, because Lady Julia did that. We should make it a little different. If you liked I wouldn't mind going to--New York. And then, perhaps, we might--get--married, you know, on board. That's what Didon thinks."

"And would Didon go too?"

"That's what she proposes. She could go as my aunt, and I'd call myself by her name,--any French name you know. I should go as a French girl. And you could call yourself Smith, and be an American.

We wouldn't go together, but we'd get on board just at the last moment. If they wouldn't--marry us on board, they would at New York, instantly."

"That's Didon's plan?"

"That's what she thinks best,--and she'll do it, if you'll give her 50 for herself, you know. The 'Adriatic,'--that's a White Star boat, goes on Thursday week at noon. There's an early train that would take us down that morning. You had better go and sleep at Liverpool, and take no notice of us at all till we meet on board. We could be back in a month,--and then papa would be obliged to make the best of it."

Sir Felix at once felt that it would be quite unnecessary for him to go to Herr Vossner or to any other male counsellor for advice as to the best means of carrying off his love. The young lady had it all at her fingers' ends,--even to the amount of the fee required by the female counsellor. But Thursday week was very near, and the whole thing was taking uncomfortably defined proportions. Where was he to get funds if he were to resolve that he would do this thing? He had been fool enough to intrust his ready money to Melmotte, and now he was told that when Melmotte got hold of ready money he was not apt to release it. And he had nothing to show;--no security that he could offer to Vossner. And then,--this idea of starting to New York with Melmotte's daughter immediately after he had written to Melmotte renouncing the girl, frightened him.

"There is a tide in the affairs of men, Which taken at the flood leads on to fortune."

Sir Felix did not know these lines, but the lesson taught by them came home to him at this moment. Now was the tide in his affairs at which he might make himself, or utterly mar himself. "It's deuced important," he said at last with a groan.

"It's not more important for you than me," said Marie.

"If you're wrong about the money, and he shouldn't come round, where should we be then?"

"Nothing venture, nothing have," said the heiress.

"That's all very well; but one might venture everything and get nothing after all."

"You'd get me," said Marie with a pout.

"Yes;--and I'm awfully fond of you. Of course I should get you!

But--"

"Very well then;--if that's your love," said Marie turning back from him.

Sir Felix gave a great sigh, and then announced his resolution. "I'll venture it."

"Oh, Felix, how grand it will be!"

"There's a great deal to do, you know. I don't know whether it can be Thursday week." He was putting in the coward's plea for a reprieve.

"I shall be afraid of Didon if it's delayed long."

"There's the money to get, and all that."

"I can get some money. Mamma has money in the house."

"How much?" asked the baronet eagerly.

"A hundred pounds, perhaps;--perhaps two hundred."

"That would help certainly. I must go to your father for money. Won't that be a sell? To get it from him, to take you away!"

It was decided that they were to go to New York on a Thursday,--on Thursday week if possible, but as to that he was to let her know in a day or two. Didon was to pack up the clothes and get them sent out of the house. Didon was to have 50 before she went on board; and as one of the men must know about it, and must a.s.sist in having the trunks smuggled out of the house, he was to have 10. All had been settled beforehand, so that Sir Felix really had no need to think about anything. "And now," said Marie, "there's Didon. n.o.body's looking and she can open that gate for you. When we're gone, do you creep out.

The gate can be left, you know. Then we'll get out on the other side." Marie Melmotte was certainly a clever girl.

CHAPTER XLII.

"CAN YOU BE READY IN TEN MINUTES?"

After leaving Melmotte's house on Sunday morning Paul Montague went to Roger Carbury's hotel and found his friend just returning from church. He was bound to go to Islington on that day, but had made up his mind that he would defer his visit till the evening. He would dine early and be with Mrs. Hurtle about seven o'clock. But it was necessary that Roger should hear the news about Ruby Ruggles. "It's not so bad as you thought," said he, "as she is living with her aunt."

"I never heard of such an aunt."

"She says her grandfather knows where she is, and that he doesn't want her back again."