'You're thinking of Melmotte.'
'I'm thinking of everybody, Mr Montague;--of everybody except Roger.'
'Is he the only man you can trust? But it is abominable to me to seem even to contradict you. Roger Carbury has been to me the best friend that any man ever had. I think as much of him as you do.'
'I didn't say he was the only person;--or I didn't mean to say so. But all my friends--'
'Am I among the number, Miss Carbury?'
'Yes;--I suppose so. Of course you are. Why not? Of course you are a friend,--because you are his friend.'
'Look here, Hetta,' he said. 'It is no good going on like this. I love Roger Carbury,--as well as one man can love another. He is all that you say,--and more. You hardly know how he denies himself, and how he thinks of everybody near him. He is a gentleman all round and every inch. He never lies. He never takes what is not his own. I believe he does love his neighbour as himself.'
'Oh, Mr Montague! I am so glad to hear you speak of him like that.'
'I love him better than any man,--as well as a man can love a man. If you will say that you love him as well as a woman can love a man,--I will leave England at once, and never return to it.'
'There's mamma,' said Henrietta;--for at that moment there was a double knock at the door.