第95章

I cannot let your letter to Emily pass without thanking you myself for the very liberal response made by you to what was of course a request from myself.Let me in the first place assure you that had you, before our marriage, made any inquiry about my money affairs, I would have told you everything with accuracy; but as you did not do so I thought that I should seem to intrude upon you, if Iintroduced the subject.It is too long for a letter, but whenever you may like to allude to it, you will find that I will be quite open with you.

I am engaged in business which often requires the use of considerable amount of capital.It has so happened that ever since we were married the immediate use of sum of money became essential to me to save me from sacrificing a cargo of guano, which will be of greatly increased value in three months' time, but which otherwise must have gone for what it would now fetch.Your kindness will see me through that difficulty.

Of course there is something precarious in such a business as mine,--but I am endeavouring to make it less so from day to day, and hope very shortly to bring into that humdrum groove which best befits a married man.

Should I ask further assistance from you in doing this, perhaps you will not refuse it if I can succeed in making the matter clear to you.As it is I thank you sincerely for what you have done.I will ask you to pay the 3,000pounds you have so kindly promised to my account at Messrs.Hunky and Sons, Lombard Street.They are not regular bankers, but I have an account there.

We are wandering about and enjoying ourselves mightily in the properly romantic manner.Emily sometimes seems to think that she would like to give up business, and London, and all subsidiary troubles, in order that she might settle herself for life under an Italian sky.But the idea does not generally remain with her very long.

Already she is beginning to show symptoms of home sickness in regard to Manchester Square.

Yours always most faithfully, FERDINAND LOPEZTo this letter Lopez received no reply;--nor did he expect one.

Between Emily and her father a few letters passed, not very long;nor as regarded those from Mr Wharton, were they very interesting.In none of them, however, was there any mention of money.But early in January, Lopez received a more pressing,--we might almost say an agonising letter from his friend Parker.

The gist of the letter was to make Lopez understand that Parker must at once sell certain interests in a coming cargo of guano,--at whatever sacrifice,--unless he could be certified as that money which must be paid in February, and which he, Parker, must pay, should Ferdinand Lopez be at that moment be unable to meet his bond.The answer sent to Parker shall be given to the reader.

MY DEAR OLD AWFULLY SILLY, AND ABSURDLY, IMPATIENT FRIENDYou are always like a toad under a harrow, and that without the slightest cause.I have money lying at Hunky's more than double enough for those bills.Why can't you trust a man? If you won't trust me in saying so, you can go to Mills Happerton and ask him.But, remember, I shall be very much annoyed if you do so,--and that such an inquiry cannot but be injurious to me.

If, however, you won't believe me, you can go and ask.At any rate, don't meddle with the guano.We should lose over 4,000 pounds each of us, if you were to do so.By George, a man should neither marry, nor leave London for a day, if he has to do with a fellow as nervous as you are.As it is I think I shall be back in a week or two before my time is properly up, lest you and one or two others should think that I have levanted altogether.

I have no hesitation in saying that more fortunes are lost in business by trembling cowardice than by any amount of imprudence or extravagance.My hair stands on end when you talk of parting with guano in December because there are bills which have to be met in February.

Pluck up your heart, man, and look around, and see what is done by men with good courage.

Yours always FERDINAND LOPEZ

These were the only communications between our married couple and their friends at home with which I need trouble my readers.Nor need I tell any further tales of their honeymoon.If the time was not one of complete and unalloyed joy to Emily,--and we must fear that it was not,--it is to be remembered that but very little complete and unalloyed joy is allowed to sojourners in that vale of tears, even though they have been but two months married.In the first week in February they appeared in the Belgrave mansion, and Emily Lopez took possession of her new home with a heart as full of love for her husband as it had been when she walked out of the church in Vere Street, though it may be that some of her sweetest illusions had already been dispelled.