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Miles Grendall brought out word that the great man would see Mr Montague; but he added a caution. 'He's awfully full of work just now, you won't forget that; will you? Montague assured the duke's nephew that he would be concise, and was shown in. 'I should not have troubled you, said Paul, 'only that I understood that I was to see you before the Board met. 'Exactly; of course.
He went on to remark that he could hardly suppose that a nephew of the Duke of Albury was unable to pay debts of honour to the amount of £200; but that if such was the case he would have no alternative but to apply to the Duke himself. The reader need hardly be told that to this letter Mr Grendall vouchsafed no answer whatever.
The reader is not to understand that either of them had cheated, or that the baronet had entertained any suspicion of foul play. But Felix had felt that Grendall and Grasslough were his enemies, and had thrown himself on Dolly for sympathy and friendship. Dolly, however, was very tipsy. At eight o'clock in the morning there came a sort of settling, though no money then passed.
'Carbury, and Grasslough, and Dolly Longestaffe are there waiting, he said. But Paul declined. He was too full of his troubles for play. 'Poor Miles isn't there, if you're afraid of that, said Nidderdale. 'Miles Grendall wouldn't hinder me, said Montague. 'Nor me either. Of course it's a confounded shame. I know that as well as anybody.
Mr Longestaffe in the meantime had progressed from weariness to impatience, from impatience to ill-humour, and from ill-humour to indignation. More than once he saw Miles Grendall, but Miles Grendall was always ready with an answer. That Canadian Deputation was determined to settle the whole business this morning, and would not take itself away.
Even Miles Grendall, who had hitherto been below her notice, attempted to patronize her in a manner that bewildered her. All this nearly broke her heart. And then from time to time little rumours reached her ears which made her aware that, in the teeth of all Mr Melmotte's social successes, a general opinion that he was a gigantic swindler was rather gaining ground than otherwise.
He declared that Grendall would not pay his debts, that he had cheated when playing loo, as to which Sir Felix appealed to Dolly Longestaffe; and he ended by asserting that Grendall ought to be turned out of the club. They had a desperate row.
Miles was Secretary to the Board, and might perhaps contrive that the money required for the shares should not be all ready money. Sir Felix was not very clear about it, but thought that he might possibly in this way use the indebtedness of Miles Grendall. 'How I do hate a fellow who does not pay up, he said to himself as he sat alone in his club, waiting for some friend to come in.
'I should just go, because I'd taken a salary from the d Company, said the careful father, 'but when there I wouldn't say a word. So Miles Grendall, obeying his parent, reappeared upon the scene. But Fisker's attention was perhaps most usefully and most sedulously paid to Madame Melmotte and her daughter.
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.
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