Up to this time Mr Wharton had not mentioned to a single person the fact that he had paid his son-in-law's election expenses at Silverbridge.He had given him the cheque without much consideration, with the feeling that by doing so he would in some degree benefit his daughter, and had since regretted the act, finding that no such payment from him could be of any service to Emily.But the thing had been done,--and there had been, so far, an end of it.In no subsequent discussion would Mr Wharton have alluded to it, had not circumstances now as it were driven it back upon his mind.And since the day on which he had paid the money he had been, as he declared to himself, swindled over and over again by his son-in-law.There was the dinner at Manchester Square, and after that the brougham, and the rent, and a score of bills, some of which he had paid and some declined to pay! And yet he had said but little to the man himself of all these injuries.Of what use was it to say anything? Lopez would simply reply that he had asked him to pay nothing.'What is it all,' Lopez had once said, 'to the fortune I had a right to expect with your daughter?' 'You had no right to expect a shilling,' Wharton had said.Then Lopez had shrugged his shoulders, and there had been an end of it.
But now, if this rumour were true, there had been a positive dishonesty.From whichever source the man might have got the money first, if the money had been twice got, the second payment had been fraudulently obtained.Surely if the accusation had been untrue Lopez would have come to him and declared it to be false, knowing what must otherwise be his thoughts.Lately, in the daily worry of his life, he had avoided all conversation with the man.He would not allow his mind to contemplate clearly what was coming.He entertained some irrational, undefined hope that something would at last save his daughter from the threatened banishment.It might be, if he held his own hand tight enough, that there would not be money enough even to pay for her passage out.As for her outfit, Lopez would of course order what he wanted and have the bills sent to Manchester Square.Whether or not this was being done neither he nor Emily knew.And thus matters went on without much speech between the two men.But now the old barrister thought that he was bound to speak.He therefore waited on a certain morning till Lopez had come down, having previously desired his daughter to leave the room.
'Lopez,' he asked, 'what is this that the newspapers are saying about your expenses at Silverbridge?'
Lopez had expected the attack and had endeavoured to prepare himself for it.'I should have thought, sir, that you would not have paid much attention to such statements in a newspaper.'
'When they concern myself, I do.I paid your electioneering expenses.
'You certainly subscribed 500 pounds towards them, Mr Wharton.'
'I subscribed nothing, sir.There was no question of a subscription,--by which you intend to imply contribution from other sources.You told me that the contest cost you 500 pounds and that sum I handed to you, with the full understanding on your part, as well as on mine, that I was paying for the whole.Was that so?'
'Have it your own way, sir.'
'If you are not more precise, I shall think that you have defrauded me.'
'Defrauded you?'
'Yes, sir;--defrauded me to the Duke of Omnium.The money is gone, and it matters little which.But if that be so I shall know that either from him or from me you have raised money under false pretences.'
'Of course, Mr Wharton, from you I must bear whatever you may choose to say.'
'Is it true that you have applied to the Duke of Omnium for money on account of your expenses at Silverbridge, and is it true that he has paid you on that score?'
'Mr Wharton, as I have said just now, I am bound to hear and to bear from anything you may choose to say.Your connection with my wife and your age alike restrain my resentment.But I am not bound to answer your questions when they are accompanied by such language as you have chosen to use, and I refuse to answer further questions on this subject.'
'Of course I know that you have taken the money from the Duke.'
'Then why do you ask me?'
'And of course I know you are well aware as I am of the nature of the transaction.That you can brazen it out without a blush only proves to me that you have got beyond the reach of shame.'
'Very well, sir.'
'And you have no further explanation to make?'
'What do you expect me to say? Without knowing any of the facts of the case,--except the one, that you contributed 500 pounds to my election expenses, you take upon yourself to tell me that I am a shameless, fraudulent swindler.And then you ask for a further explanation! In such a position is it likely that I shall explain anything;--that I can be in a humour to be explanatory?
Just turn it all over in your own mind, and ask yourself the question.'
'I have turned it over in my mind, and I have asked myself the question, and I do not think it probable that you should wish to explain anything.I shall take steps to let the Duke know that Ias your father-in-law had paid the full sum which you had stated that you had spent at Silverbridge.'
'Much the Duke will care about that.'
'And after what has passed I am obliged to say that the sooner you leave this house the better I shall be pleased.'
'Very well, sir.Of course I shall take my wife with me.'
'That must be as she pleases.'
'No, Mr Wharton.That must be as I please.She belongs to me,--not to you or to herself.Under your influence she has forgotten much of what belongs to the duty of a wife, but I do not think that she will so far have forgotten herself as to give me more trouble than to bid her come with me when I desire it.'
'Let that be as it may.I must request that you, sir, will absent yourself.I will not entertain as my guest a man who has acted as you have done in this matter,--even though he be my son-in-law.'
'I can sleep here tonight, I suppose?'
'Or to-morrow if it suits you.As for Emily, she can remain here, if you will allow her to do so.'
'That will not suit me,' said Lopez.