Upon that Mr Wharton was going, but Lopez stopped him.It was now essential that the money for the shares in the San Juan mine should be paid up, and his father-in-law's pocket was still the source from which the enterprising son-in-law had hoped to procure it.Lopez had fully made up his mind to demand it, and thought that the time had now come.And he was resolved that he would not ask it as a favour on bended knee.He was beginning to feel his own power, and trusted that he might prevail by other means than begging.'Mr Wharton,' he said, 'you and I have not been very good friends lately.'
'No, indeed.'
'There was a time,--a very short time,--during which I thought that we might hit it off together, and I did my best.You do not, I fancy, like men of my class.'
'Well;--well! You had better go on if there be anything to say.'
'I have much to say, and I will go on.You are a rich man, and Iam your son-in-law.' Mr Wharton put his left hand up to his forehead, brushing the few hairs back from his head, but he said nothing.'Had I received from you during the last most vital year that assistance which I think I had a right to expect, Ialso might have been a rich man now.It is no good going back to that.' Then he paused, but still Mr Wharton said nothing.'Now you know what has come to me and to your daughter.We are to be expatriated.'
'Is that my fault?'
'I think it is, but I mean to say nothing further of that.This Company which is sending me out, and which probably will be the most thriving thing of the kind which has come up within these twenty years, is to pay me a salary of 1,000 pounds a year as resident manager of San Juan.'
'So I understand.'
'The salary alone would be a beggarly thing.Guatemala, I take it, is not the cheapest country in the world in which a man can live.But I am to go out there as the owner of fifty shares on which 100 pounds each must be paid up, and I am entitled to draw another 1,000 pounds a year as dividend on the profit of those shares.'
'That will be twenty per cent.'
'Exactly.'
'And will double you salary.'
'Just so.But there is one little ceremony to be perfected before I can be allowed to enter upon so halcyon a state of existence.The 100 pounds a share must be paid up.' Mr Wharton simply stared at him.'I must have the 5,000 pounds to invest in the undertaking before I can start.'
'Well!'
'Now I have not got 5,000 pounds myself, nor any part of it.You do not wish, I suppose, to see either me or your daughter starve.
And as for me, I hardly flatter myself when I say that you are very anxious to be rid of me, 5,000 pounds is not very much for me to ask of you, as I regard it.'
'Such consummate impudence I never met in my life before!'
'Nor perhaps so much unprevaricating downright truth.At any rate such is the condition of my affairs.If I am to go the money must be paid this week.I have, perhaps foolishly, put off mentioning the matter till I was sure that I could not raise the sum elsewhere.Though I feel my claim on you to be good, Mr Wharton, it is not pleasant to me to make it.'
'You are asking me for 5,000 pounds down!'
'Certainly I am.'
'What security am I to have?'
'Security?'
'Yes;--that if I pay it I shall not be troubled again by the meanest scoundrel that it has ever been my misfortune to meet.
How am I to know that you will not come back to-morrow? How am Ito know that you will go at all? Do you think it will be probable that I will give you 5,000 pounds on your own simple word?'
'Then the scoundrel will stay in England,--and will generally find it convenient to live in Manchester Square.'
'I'll be d-d if he does.Look here, sire.Between you and me there can be a bargain, and nothing but a bargain.I will pay the 5,000 pounds,--on certain conditions.'
'I didn't doubt at all that you would pay it.'
'I will go with you to the office of this Company, and will pay for the shares if I can receive assurance there that the matter is as you say, and that the shares will not be placed in your power before you have reached Guatemala.'
'You can come to-day, sire, and receive all that assurance.'
'And I must have a written undertaking from you,--a document which my daughter can show if it be necessary,--that you will never claim her society again or trouble her with any application.'
'You mistake me, Mr Wharton.My wife goes with me to Guatemala.'
'Then I will not pay one penny.Why should I? What is your presence or absence to me except as it concerns her? Do you think that I care for your threats of remaining here.The police will set that right.'
'Wherever I go, my wife goes.'
'We'll see to that too.If you want the money, you must leave her.Good morning.'
Mr Wharton as he went to his chambers thought the matter over.
