gs
was lost to Parliament for ever.

That unfortunate young man, Lord Nidderdale, occupied the seat next to
that on which Melmotte had placed himself. It had so happened three or
four times since Melmotte had been in the House, as the young lord,
fully intending to marry the Financier's daughter, had resolved that
he would not be ashamed of his father-in-law. He understood that
countenance of the sort which he as a young aristocrat could give to
the man of millions who had risen no one knew whence, was part of the
bargain in reference to the marriage, and he was gifted with a mingled
honesty and courage which together made him willing and able to carry
out his idea. He had given Melmotte little lessons as to ordinary
forms of the House, and had done what in him lay to earn the money
which was to be forthcoming. But it had become manifest both to him
and to his father during the last two days,--very painfully manifest to
his father,--that the thing must be abandoned. And if so,--then why
should he be any longer gracious to Melmotte? And, moreover, though he
had been ready to be courteous to a very vulgar and a very disagreeable
man, he was not anxious to extend his civilities to one who, as he was
now assured, had been certainly guilty of forgery. But to get up at
once and leave his seat because Melmotte had placed himself by his
side, did not suit the turn of his mind. He looked round to his
neighbour on the right with a half-comic look of misery, and then
prepared himself to bear his punishment, whatever it might be.

'Have you been up with Marie to-day?' said Melmotte.

'No;--I've not,' replied the lord.

'Why don't you go? She's always asking about you now. I hope we shall
be in our own house again next week, and then we shall be able to make
you comfortable.'

Could it be possible that the man did not know that all the world was
united in accusing him of forgery? 'I'll tell you what it is,' said
Nidderdale. 'I think you had better see my governor again, Mr
Melmotte.'

'There's nothing wrong, I hope.'

'Well;--I don't know. You'd better see him. I'm going now. I only just
came down to enter an appearance.' He had to cross Melmotte on his way
out, and as he did so Melmotte grasped him by the hand. 'Good night,
my boy,' said Melmotte quite aloud,--in a voice much louder than that
which members generally allow themselves for conversation. Nidderdale
was confused and unhappy; but there was probably not a man in