CHAPTER XXXVII.

THE BOARD-ROOM.

On Friday, the 21st June, the Board of the South Central Pacific

and Mexican Railway sat in its own room behind the Exchange, as was

the Board's custom every Friday. On this occasion all the members

were there, as it had been understood that the chairman was to make

a special statement. There was the great chairman as a matter of

course. In the midst of his numerous and immense concerns he never

threw over the railway, or delegated to other less experienced hands

those cares which the commercial world had intrusted to his own. Lord

Alfred was there, with Mr. Cohenlupe, the Hebrew gentleman, and Paul

Montague, and Lord Nidderdale,--and even Sir Felix Carbury. Sir Felix

had come, being very anxious to buy and sell, and not as yet having

had an opportunity of realising his golden hopes, although he had

actually paid a thousand pounds in hard money into Mr. Melmotte's

hands. The secretary, Mr. Miles Grendall, was also present as a

matter of course. The Board always met at three, and had generally

been dissolved at a quarter past three. Lord Alfred and Mr. Cohenlupe

sat at the chairman's right and left hand. Paul Montague generally

sat immediately below, with Miles Grendall opposite to him;--but on

this occasion the young lord and the young baronet took the next

places. It was a nice little family party, the great chairman with

his two aspiring sons-in-law, his two particular friends,--the social

friend, Lord Alfred, and the commercial friend Mr. Cohenlupe,--and

Miles, who was Lord Alfred's son. It would have been complete

in its friendliness, but for Paul Montague, who had lately made

himself disagreeable to Mr. Melmotte;--and most ungratefully so, for

certainly no one had been allowed so free a use of the shares as the

younger member of the house of Fisker, Montague, and Montague.

[Illustration: The Board-room.]

It was understood that Mr. Melmotte was to make a statement. Lord

Nidderdale and Sir Felix had conceived that this was to be done as

it were out of the great man's own heart, of his own wish, so that

something of the condition of the company might be made known to the

directors of the company. But this was not perhaps exactly the truth.

Paul Montague had insisted on giving vent to certain doubts at the

last meeting but one, and, having made himself very disagreeable

indeed, had forced this trouble on the great chairman. On the

intermediate Friday the chairman had made himself very unpleasant to

Paul, and this had seemed to be an effort on his part to frighten

the inimical director out of his opposition, so that the promise of

a statement need not be fulfilled. What nuisance can be so great to

a man busied with immense affairs, as to have to explain,--or to

attempt to explain,--small details to men incapable of understanding

them? But Montague had stood to his guns. He had not intended, he

said, to dispute the commercial success of the company. But he felt

very strongly, and he thought that his brother directors should feel

as strongly, that it was necessary that they should know more than

they did know. Lord Alfred had declared that he did not in the least

agree with his brother director. "If anybody don't understand, it's

his own fault," said Mr. Cohenlupe. But Paul would not give way, and

it was understood that Mr. Melmotte would make a statement.

The "Boards" were always commenced by the reading of a certain record

of the last meeting out of a book. This was always done by Miles

Grendall; and the record was supposed to have been written by him.

But Montague had discovered that this statement in the book was

always prepared and written by a satellite of Melmotte's from

Abchurch Lane who was never present at the meeting. The adverse

director had spoken to the secretary,--it will be remembered that

they were both members of the Beargarden,--and Miles had given a

somewhat evasive reply. "A cussed deal of trouble and all that, you

know! He's used to it, and it's what he's meant for. I'm not going

to flurry myself about stuff of that kind." Montague after this had

spoken on the subject both to Nidderdale and Felix Carbury. "He

couldn't do it, if it was ever so," Nidderdale had said. "I don't

think I'd bully him if I were you. He gets £500 a-year, and if you

knew all he owes, and all he hasn't got, you wouldn't try to rob him

of it." With Felix Carbury Montague had as little success. Sir Felix

hated the secretary, had detected him cheating at cards, had resolved

to expose him,--and had then been afraid to do so. He had told Dolly

Longestaffe, and the reader will perhaps remember with what effect.

He had not mentioned the affair again, and had gradually fallen back

into the habit of playing at the club. Loo, however, had given way to

whist, and Sir Felix had satisfied himself with the change. He still

meditated some dreadful punishment for Miles Grendall, but, in the

meantime, felt himself unable to oppose him at the Board. Since the

day at which the aces had been manipulated at the club he had not

spoken to Miles Grendall except in reference to the affairs of the

whist-table. The "Board" was now commenced as usual. Miles read the

short record out of the book,--stumbling over every other word, and

going through the performance so badly that had there been anything

to understand no one could have understood it. "Gentlemen," said

Mr. Melmotte, in his usual hurried way, "is it your pleasure that I

shall sign the record?" Paul Montague rose to say that it was not his

pleasure that the record should be signed. But Melmotte had made his

scrawl, and was deep in conversation with Mr. Cohenlupe before Paul

could get upon his legs.

Melmotte, however, had watched the little struggle. Melmotte,

whatever might be his faults, had eyes to see and ears to hear. He

perceived that Montague had made a little struggle and had been

cowed; and he knew how hard it is for one man to persevere against

five or six, and for a young man to persevere against his elders.

Nidderdale was filliping bits of paper across the table at Carbury.

Miles Grendall was poring over the book which was in his charge.

Lord Alfred sat back in his chair, the picture of a model director,

with his right hand within his waistcoat. He looked aristocratic,

respectable, and almost commercial. In that room he never by any

chance opened his mouth, except when called on to say that Mr.

Melmotte was right, and was considered by the chairman really to

earn his money. Melmotte for a minute or two went on conversing with

Cohenlupe, having perceived that Montague for the moment was cowed.

Then Paul put both his hands upon the table, intending to rise and

ask some perplexing question. Melmotte saw this also and was upon

his legs before Montague had risen from his chair. "Gentlemen," said

Mr. Melmotte, "it may perhaps be as well if I take this occasion of

saying a few words to you about the affairs of the company." Then,

instead of going on with his statement, he sat down again, and began

to turn over sundry voluminous papers very slowly, whispering a word

or two every now and then to Mr. Cohenlupe. Lord Alfred never changed

his posture and never took his hand from his breast. Nidderdale and

Carbury filliped their paper pellets backwards and forwards. Montague

sat profoundly listening,--or ready to listen when anything should

be said. As the chairman had risen from his chair to commence his

statement, Paul felt that he was bound to be silent. When a speaker

is in possession of the floor, he is in possession even though he be

somewhat dilatory in looking to his references, and whispering to

his neighbour. And, when that speaker is a chairman, of course some

additional latitude must be allowed to him. Montague understood this,

and sat silent. It seemed that Melmotte had much to say to Cohenlupe,

and Cohenlupe much to say to Melmotte. Since Cohenlupe had sat at the

Board he had never before developed such powers of conversation.

Nidderdale didn't quite understand it. He had been there twenty

minutes, was tired of his present amusement, having been unable to

hit Carbury on the nose, and suddenly remembered that the Beargarden

would now be open. He was no respecter of persons, and had got over

any little feeling of awe with which the big table and the solemnity

of the room may have first inspired him. "I suppose that's about

all," he said, looking up at Melmotte.

"Well;--perhaps as your lordship is in a hurry, and as my lord here

is engaged elsewhere,"--turning round to Lord Alfred, who had not

uttered a syllable or made a sign since he had been in his seat,--"we

had better adjourn this meeting for another week."

"I cannot allow that," said Paul Montague.

"I suppose then we must take the sense of the Board," said the

Chairman.

"I have been discussing certain circumstances with our friend and

Chairman," said Cohenlupe, "and I must say that it is not expedient

just at present to go into matters too freely."

"My lords and gentlemen," said Melmotte. "I hope that you trust me."

Lord Alfred bowed down to the table and muttered something which was

intended to convey most absolute confidence. "Hear, hear," said Mr.

Cohenlupe. "All right," said Lord Nidderdale; "go on;" and he fired

another pellet with improved success.

"I trust," said the Chairman, "that my young friend, Sir Felix,

doubts neither my discretion nor my ability."

"Oh dear, no;--not at all," said the baronet, much flattered at being

addressed in this kindly tone. He had come there with objects of his

own, and was quite prepared to support the Chairman on any matter

whatever.

"My Lords and Gentlemen," continued Melmotte, "I am delighted to

receive this expression of your confidence. If I know anything in the

world I know something of commercial matters. I am able to tell you

that we are prospering. I do not know that greater prosperity has

ever been achieved in a shorter time by a commercial company. I think

our friend here, Mr. Montague, should be as feelingly aware of that

as any gentleman."

"What do you mean by that, Mr. Melmotte?" asked Paul.

"What do I mean?--Certainly nothing adverse to your character, sir.

Your firm in San Francisco, sir, know very well how the affairs of

the Company are being transacted on this side of the water. No doubt

you are in correspondence with Mr. Fisker. Ask him. The telegraph

wires are open to you, sir. But, my Lords and Gentlemen, I am able

to inform you that in affairs of this nature great discretion is

necessary. On behalf of the shareholders at large whose interests

are in our hands, I think it expedient that any general statement

should be postponed for a short time, and I flatter myself that in

that opinion I shall carry the majority of this Board with me." Mr.

Melmotte did not make his speech very fluently; but, being accustomed

to the place which he occupied, he did manage to get the words spoken

in such a way as to make them intelligible to the company. "I now

move that this meeting be adjourned to this day week," he added.

"I second that motion," said Lord Alfred, without moving his hand

from his breast.

"I understood that we were to have a statement," said Montague.

"You've had a statement," said Mr. Cohenlupe.

"I will put my motion to the vote," said the Chairman.

"I shall move an amendment," said Paul, determined that he would not

be altogether silenced.

"There is nobody to second it," said Mr. Cohenlupe.

"How do you know till I've made it?" asked the rebel. "I shall ask

Lord Nidderdale to second it, and when he has heard it I think that

he will not refuse."

"Oh, gracious me! why me? No;--don't ask me. I've got to go away. I

have indeed."

"At any rate I claim the right of saying a few words. I do not say

whether every affair of this Company should or should not be

published to the world."

"You'd break up everything if you did," said Cohenlupe.

"Perhaps everything ought to be broken up. But I say nothing about

that. What I do say is this. That as we sit here as directors and

will be held to be responsible as such by the public, we ought to

know what is being done. We ought to know where the shares really

are. I for one do not even know what scrip has been issued."

"You've bought and sold enough to know something about it," said

Melmotte.

Paul Montague became very red in the face. "I, at any rate, began,"

he said, "by putting what was to me a large sum of money into the

affair."

"That's more than I know," said Melmotte. "Whatever shares you have,

were issued at San Francisco, and not here."

"I have taken nothing that I haven't paid for," said Montague. "Nor

have I yet had allotted to me anything like the number of shares

which my capital would represent. But I did not intend to speak of my

own concerns."

"It looks very like it," said Cohenlupe.

"So far from it that I am prepared to risk the not improbable loss of

everything I have in the world. I am determined to know what is being

done with the shares, or to make it public to the world at large

that I, one of the directors of the Company, do not in truth know

anything about it. I cannot, I suppose, absolve myself from further

responsibility; but I can at any rate do what is right from this time

forward,--and that course I intend to take."

"The gentleman had better resign his seat at this Board," said

Melmotte. "There will be no difficulty about that."

"Bound up as I am with Fisker and Montague in California I fear that

there will be difficulty."

"Not in the least," continued the Chairman. "You need only gazette

your resignation and the thing is done. I had intended, gentlemen, to

propose an addition to our number. When I name to you a gentleman,

personally known to many of you, and generally esteemed throughout

England as a man of business, as a man of probity, and as a man of

fortune, a man standing deservedly high in all British circles, I

mean Mr. Longestaffe of Caversham--"

"Young Dolly, or old?" asked Lord Nidderdale.

"I mean Mr. Adolphus Longestaffe, senior, of Caversham. I am sure

that you will all be glad to welcome him among you. I had thought

to strengthen our number by this addition. But if Mr. Montague

is determined to leave us,--and no one will regret the loss of

his services so much as I shall,--it will be my pleasing duty to

move that Adolphus Longestaffe, senior, Esquire, of Caversham, be

requested to take his place. If on reconsideration Mr. Montague shall

determine to remain with us,--and I for one most sincerely hope that

such reconsideration may lead to such determination,--then I shall

move that an additional director be added to our number, and that

Mr. Longestaffe be requested to take the chair of that additional

director." The latter speech Mr. Melmotte got through very glibly,

and then immediately left the chair, so as to show that the business

of the Board was closed for that day without any possibility of

reopening it.

Paul went up to him and took him by the sleeve, signifying that he

wished to speak to him before they parted. "Certainly," said the

great man bowing. "Carbury," he said, looking round on the young

baronet with his blandest smile, "if you are not in a hurry, wait a

moment for me. I have a word or two to say before you go. Now, Mr.

Montague, what can I do for you?" Paul began his story, expressing

again the opinion which he had already very plainly expressed at the

table. But Melmotte stopped him very shortly, and with much less

courtesy than he had shown in the speech which he had made from the

chair. "The thing is about this way, I take it, Mr. Montague;--you

think you know more of this matter than I do."

"Not at all, Mr. Melmotte."

"And I think that I know more of it than you do. Either of us may

be right. But as I don't intend to give way to you, perhaps the

less we speak together about it the better. You can't be in earnest

in the threat you made, because you would be making public things

communicated to you under the seal of privacy,--and no gentleman

would do that. But as long as you are hostile to me, I can't help

you;--and so good afternoon." Then, without giving Montague the

possibility of a reply, he escaped into an inner room which had the

word "Private" painted on the door, and which was supposed to belong

to the chairman individually. He shut the door behind him, and then,

after a few moments, put out his head and beckoned to Sir Felix

Carbury. Nidderdale was gone. Lord Alfred with his son were already

on the stairs. Cohenlupe was engaged with Melmotte's clerk on the

record-book. Paul Montague finding himself without support and alone,

slowly made his way out into the court.

Sir Felix had come into the city intending to suggest to the Chairman

that having paid his thousand pounds he should like to have a few

shares to go on with. He was, indeed, at the present moment very

nearly penniless, and had negotiated, or lost at cards, all the

I.O.U.'s which were in any degree serviceable. He still had a

pocket-book full of those issued by Miles Grendall; but it was now an

understood thing at the Beargarden that no one was to be called upon

to take them except Miles Grendall himself;--an arrangement which

robbed the card-table of much of its delight. Beyond this, also, he

had lately been forced to issue a little paper himself,--in doing

which he had talked largely of his shares in the railway. His case

certainly was hard. He had actually paid a thousand pounds down in

hard cash, a commercial transaction which, as performed by himself,

he regarded as stupendous. It was almost incredible to himself that

he should have paid any one a thousand pounds, but he had done it

with much difficulty,--having carried Dolly junior with him all the

way into the city,--in the belief that he would thus put himself in

the way of making a continual and unfailing income. He understood

that as a director he would be always entitled to buy shares at par,

and, as a matter of course, always able to sell them at the market

price. This he understood to range from ten to fifteen and twenty per

cent. profit. He would have nothing to do but to buy and sell daily.

He was told that Lord Alfred was allowed to do it to a small extent;

and that Melmotte was doing it to an enormous extent. But before he

could do it he must get something,--he hardly knew what,--out of

Melmotte's hands. Melmotte certainly did not seem disposed to shun

him, and therefore there could be no difficulty about the shares. As

to danger;--who could think of danger in reference to money intrusted

to the hands of Augustus Melmotte?

"I am delighted to see you here," said Melmotte, shaking him

cordially by the hand. "You come regularly, and you'll find that it

will be worth your while. There's nothing like attending to business.

You should be here every Friday."

"I will," said the baronet.

"And let me see you sometimes up at my place in Abchurch Lane. I can

put you more in the way of understanding things there than I can

here. This is all a mere formal sort of thing. You can see that."

"Oh yes, I see that."

"We are obliged to have this kind of thing for men like that fellow

Montague. By-the-bye, is he a friend of yours?"

"Not particularly. He is a friend of a cousin of mine; and the women

know him at home. He isn't a pal of mine if you mean that."

"If he makes himself disagreeable, he'll have to go to the

wall;--that's all. But never mind him at present. Was your mother

speaking to you of what I said to her?"

"No, Mr. Melmotte," said Sir Felix, staring with all his eyes.

"I was talking to her about you, and I thought that perhaps she might

have told you. This is all nonsense, you know, about you and Marie."

Sir Felix looked into the man's face. It was not savage, as he had

seen it. But there had suddenly come upon his brow that heavy look

of a determined purpose which all who knew the man were wont to mark.

Sir Felix had observed it a few minutes since in the Board-room,

when the chairman was putting down the rebellious director. "You

understand that; don't you?" Sir Felix still looked at him, but made

no reply. "It's all d---- nonsense. You haven't got a brass farthing,

you know. You've no income at all; you're just living on your mother,

and I'm afraid she's not very well off. How can you suppose that I

shall give my girl to you?" Felix still looked at him but did not

dare to contradict a single statement made. Yet when the man told

him that he had not a brass farthing he thought of his own thousand

pounds which were now in the man's pocket. "You're a baronet, and

that's about all, you know," continued Melmotte. "The Carbury

property, which is a very small thing, belongs to a distant cousin

who may leave it to me if he pleases;--and who isn't very much older

than you are yourself."

"Oh, come, Mr. Melmotte; he's a great deal older than me."

"It wouldn't matter if he were as old as Adam. The thing is out of

the question, and you must drop it." Then the look on his brow became

a little heavier. "You hear what I say. She is going to marry Lord

Nidderdale. She was engaged to him before you ever saw her. What do

you expect to get by it?"

Sir Felix had not the courage to say that he expected to get the girl

he loved. But as the man waited for an answer he was obliged to say

something. "I suppose it's the old story," he said.

"Just so;--the old story. You want my money, and she wants you, just

because she has been told to take somebody else. You want something

to live on;--that's what you want. Come;--out with it. Is not that

it? When we understand each other I'll put you in the way of making

money."

"Of course I'm not very well off," said Felix.

"About as badly as any young man that I can hear of. You give me your

written promise that you'll drop this affair with Marie, and you

shan't want for money."

"A written promise!"

"Yes;--a written promise. I give nothing for nothing. I'll put you in

the way of doing so well with these shares that you shall be able to

marry any other girl you please;--or to live without marrying, which

you'll find to be better."

There was something worthy of consideration in Mr. Melmotte's

proposition. Marriage of itself, simply as a domestic institution,

had not specially recommended itself to Sir Felix Carbury. A few

horses at Leighton, Ruby Ruggles or any other beauty, and life at the

Beargarden were much more to his taste. And then he was quite alive

to the fact that it was possible that he might find himself possessed

of the wife without the money. Marie, indeed, had a grand plan of her

own, with reference to that settled income; but then Marie might be

mistaken,--or she might be lying. If he were sure of making money in

the way Melmotte now suggested, the loss of Marie would not break

his heart. But then also Melmotte might be--lying. "By-the-bye, Mr.

Melmotte," said he, "could you let me have those shares?"

"What shares?" And the heavy brow became still heavier.

"Don't you know?--I gave you a thousand pounds, and I was to have ten

shares."

"You must come about that on the proper day, to the proper place."

"When is the proper day?"

"It is the twentieth of each month I think." Sir Felix looked very

blank at hearing this, knowing that this present was the twenty-first

of the month. "But what does that signify? Do you want a little

money?"

"Well, I do," said Sir Felix. "A lot of fellows owe me money, but

it's so hard to get it."

"That tells a story of gambling," said Mr. Melmotte. "You think I'd

give my girl to a gambler?"

"Nidderdale's in it quite as thick as I am."

"Nidderdale has a settled property which neither he nor his father

can destroy. But don't you be such a fool as to argue with me. You

won't get anything by it. If you'll write that letter here now--"

"What;--to Marie?"

"No;--not to Marie at all; but to me. It need never be shown to her.

If you'll do that I'll stick to you and make a man of you. And if you

want a couple of hundred pounds I'll give you a cheque for it before

you leave the room. Mind, I can tell you this. On my word of honour

as a gentleman, if my daughter were to marry you, she'd never have a

single shilling. I should immediately make a will and leave all my

property to St. George's Hospital. I have quite made up my mind about

that."

"And couldn't you manage that I should have the shares before the

twentieth of next month?"

"I'll see about it. Perhaps I could let you have a few of my own. At

any rate I won't see you short of money."

The terms were enticing and the letter was of course written.

Melmotte himself dictated the words, which were not romantic in their

nature. The reader shall see the letter.

DEAR SIR,

In consideration of the offers made by you to me, and

on a clear understanding that such a marriage would be

disagreeable to you and to the lady's mother, and would

bring down a father's curse upon your daughter, I hereby

declare and promise that I will not renew my suit to the

young lady, which I hereby altogether renounce.

I am, Dear Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

FELIX CARBURY.

AUGUSTUS MELMOTTE, Esq.,

--, Grosvenor Square.

The letter was dated 21st July, and bore the printed address of the

offices of the South Central Pacific and Mexican Railway.

"You'll give me that cheque for £200, Mr. Melmotte?" The financier

hesitated for a moment, but did give the baronet the cheque as

promised. "And you'll see about letting me have those shares?"

"You can come to me in Abchurch Lane, you know." Sir Felix said that

he would call in Abchurch Lane.

As he went westward towards the Beargarden, the baronet was not happy

in his mind. Ignorant as he was as to the duties of a gentleman,

indifferent as he was to the feelings of others, still he felt

ashamed of himself. He was treating the girl very badly. Even he knew

that he was behaving badly. He was so conscious of it that he tried

to console himself by reflecting that his writing such a letter as

that would not prevent his running away with the girl, should he, on

consideration, find it to be worth his while to do so.

That night he was again playing at the Beargarden, and he lost a

great part of Mr. Melmotte's money. He did in fact lose much more

than the £200; but when he found his ready money going from him he

issued paper.