'Yes, I am the head of the family, of course,' said Sir Felix, lying directly. 'But the place won't be mine till he dies. It would take a long time to explain it all.'
'He's a young man, isn't he?'
'No;--not what you'd call a young man. He isn't very old.'
'If he were to marry and have children, how would it be then?'
Sir Felix was beginning to think that he might have told the truth with discretion. 'I don't quite know how it would be. I have always understood that I am the heir. It's not very likely that he will marry.'
'And in the meantime what is your own property?'
'My father left me money in the funds and in railway stock,--and then I am my mother's heir.'
'You have done me the honour of telling me that you wish to marry my daughter.'
'Certainly.'
'Would you then object to inform me the amount and nature of the income on which you intend to support your establishment as a married man? I fancy that the position you assume justifies the question on my part.' The bloated swindler, the vile city ruffian, was certainly taking a most ungenerous advantage of the young aspirant for wealth. It was then that Sir Felix felt his own position. Was he not a baronet, and a gentleman, and a very handsome fellow, and a man of the world who had been in a crack regiment? If this surfeited sponge of speculation, this crammed commercial cormorant, wanted more than that for his daughter why could he not say so without asking disgusting questions such as these,--questions which it was quite impossible that a gentleman should answer? Was it not sufficiently plain that any gentleman proposing to marry the daughter of such a man as Melmotte, must do so under the stress of pecuniary embarrassment? Would it not be an understood bargain that, as he provided the rank and position, she would provide the money? And yet the vulgar wretch took advantage of his assumed authority to ask these dreadful questions! Sir Felix stood silent, trying to look the man in the face, but failing;--wishing that he was well out of the house, and at the Beargarden. 'You don't seem to be very clear about your own circumstances, Sir Felix. Perhaps you will get your lawyer to write to me.'
'Perhaps that will be best,' said the lover.
'Either that, or to give it up. My daughter, no doubt, will have money; but money expects money.' At this moment Lord Alfred entered the room. 'You're very late to-day, Alfred. Why didn't you come as you said you would?'