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His followers bore him up the Thames from London to his manor of Caversham, where his last hours were disturbed by the intrigues of Peter of Winchester for his succession, and the importunity of selfish clerks, clamouring for grants to their churches.
The alliance between Mr Melmotte and Mr Longestaffe had become very close. The Melmottes had visited the Longestaffes at Caversham. Georgiana Longestaffe was staying with Madame Melmotte in London. The Melmottes were living in Mr Longestaffe's town house, having taken it for a month at a very high rent. Mr Longestaffe now had a seat at Mr Melmotte's board.
Sir Felix had promised to come down on Saturday, with the intention of returning on Monday, and Lady Carbury had hoped that some visiting might be arranged between Caversham and the Manor House, so that her son might have the full advantage of his closeness to Marie Melmotte. 'I have asked the Longestaffes for Monday, said Roger. 'They are down here then? 'I think they arrived yesterday.
'Soda and brandy! Roger exclaimed to himself almost aloud, thinking of the discomfiture of that early morning. 'He'll die some day of delirium tremens in a hospital! Before the Longestaffes left London to receive their new friends the Melmottes at Caversham, a treaty had been made between Mr Longestaffe, the father, and Georgiana, the strong-minded daughter.
The threat of remaining at Caversham had been often made, for Mr Longestaffe, proud as he was of his town-house, was, from year to year, very anxious to save the expense of the annual migration.
His own lawyer would almost have done as much for him, and he need not have invited his own lawyer as a guest to Caversham, and certainly not his own lawyer's wife and daughter.
'I wonder what Adolphus has said to him. Your papa is always hard upon Adolphus. 'Dolly can take care of himself, said Georgiana, 'and always does do so. Dolly does not care for us. 'Not a bit, said Sophia. 'I'll tell you what you must do, mamma. You mustn't stir from this at all. You must give up going to Caversham altogether, unless he promises to bring us back.
But he read not a word, for his mind was fixed altogether on his cousin Hetta. 'What a poor creature a man is, he said to himself, 'who is not sufficiently his own master to get over a feeling like this. At Caversham there was a very grand party, as grand almost as a dinner party can be in the country.
She had written a very pretty note to him, reminding him of their meeting at Caversham, telling him that on a former occasion Madame Melmotte and his daughter had been so kind as to come to her, and giving him to understand that of all the potentates now on earth he was the one to whom she could bow the knee with the purest satisfaction.
"Oh! yes, he's a painter isn't he?" "Only water-colour," said Jon, with honesty. "When we come to Reading, Jon, get out first and go down to Caversham lock and wait for me. I'll send the car home and we'll walk by the towing-path." Jon seized her hand in gratitude, and they sat silent, with the world well lost, and one eye on the corridor.
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