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But among those so belonging he did not recognise Paul Montague.

CHAPTER LXXIII — MARIE’S FORTUNE

When Marie Melmotte assured Sir Felix Carbury that her father had already endowed her with a large fortune which could not be taken from her without her own consent, she spoke no more than the truth.  She knew of the matter almost as little as it was possible that she should know.  As far as reticence on the subject was compatible with the object he had in view Melmotte had kept from her all knowledge of the details of the arrangement.  But it had been necessary when the thing was done to explain, or to pretend to explain, much; and Marie’s memory and also her intelligence had been strong beyond her father’s anticipation.  He was deriving a very considerable income from a large sum of money which he had invested in foreign funds in her name, and had got her to execute a power of attorney enabling him to draw this income on her behalf.  This he had done fearing shipwreck in the course which he meant to run, and resolved that, let circumstances go as they might, there should still be left enough to him of the money which he had realised to enable him to live in comfort and luxury, should he be doomed to live in obscurity, or even in infamy.  He had sworn to himself solemnly that under no circumstances would he allow this money to go back into the vortex of his speculations, and hitherto he had been true to his oath.  Though bankruptcy and apparent ruin might be imminent he would not bolster up his credit by the use of this money even though it might appear at the moment that the money would be sufficient for the purpose.  If such a day should come, then, with that certain income, he would make himself happy, if possible, or at any rate luxurious, in whatever city of the world might know least of his antecedents, and give him the warmest welcome on behalf of his wealth.  Such had been his scheme of life.  But he had failed to consider various circumstances.  His daughter might be untrue to him, or in the event of her marriage might fail to release his property,—­or it might be that the very money should be required to dower his daughter.  Or there might come troubles on him so great that even the certainty of a future income would not enable him to bear them.  Now, at this present moment, his mind was tortured by great anxiety.  Were he to resume this property it would more than enable him to pay all that was due to the Longestaffes.  It would do that and tide him for a time over some other difficulties.  Now in regard to the Longestaffes themselves, he certainly had no desire to depart from the rule which he had made for himself, on their behalf.  Were it necessary that a crash should come they would be as good creditors as any other.  But then he was painfully alive to the fact that something beyond simple indebtedness was involved in that transaction.  He had with his own hand traced Dolly Longestaffe’s signature