e no
other love for him. He must be desolate and alone. But he might then
save himself from a world of cares, and might gradually teach himself
to live as though there were no such woman as Hetta Carbury in the
world. But no! He would not allow himself to believe that this could
be right. The very fact of his love made it a duty to him,--made it
almost the first of his duties,--to watch over the interests of her he
loved and of those who belonged to her.

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 mi