make his house pleasant to you as long as he can do so to your
advantage. As far as you are concerned he rather approves of me,
fancying that my turn for making money is stronger than my turn
for spending it. Nevertheless, he looks upon me as a friend of
yours rather than his own. Though he has given me three dinners
in three months,--and I own the greatness of his hospitality,--
I don't suppose he ever said a word in my favour. I wish I knew
what he does say.'

'He says he knows nothing about you.'

'Oh;--that's it, is it? Then he can know no harm. When next he
says so ask him how many of the men who dine at his house he can
say as much. Good night;--I won't keep you any longer. But I
can tell you this;--if between us we can manage to handle him
rightly, you may get your seat in Parliament and I may get my
wife;--that is, of course, if she will have me.'

Then they parted, but Lopez remained in the pathway, walking up
and down by the side of the old military club, thinking of
things. He certainly knew his friend, the younger Wharton
intimately, appreciating the man's good qualities, and being
fully aware of the man's weakness. By his questions he had
extracted quite enough to assure himself that Emily's father
would be adverse to his proposition. He had not felt much doubt
before, but now he was certain. 'He doesn't know much about me,'
he said, musing to himself. 'Well, no; he doesn't;--and there
isn't very much that I can tell him. Of course he's wise,--as
wisdom goes. But then, wise men do do foolish things at
intervals. The discreetest of city bankers are talked out of