"But you told me just now you wanted it because I was going to be married," rejoined Marie.
A liar has many points in his favour,—but he has this against him, that unless he devote more time to the management of his lies than life will generally allow, he cannot make them tally. Melmotte was thrown back for a moment, and almost felt that the time for violence had come. He longed to be at her that he might shake the wickedness and the folly, and the ingratitude out of her. But he once more condescended to argue and to explain. "I think you misunderstood me, Marie. I meant you to understand that settlements must be made, and that of course I must get my own property back into my own hands before anything of that kind can be done. I tell you once more, my dear, that if you do not do as I bid you, so that I may use that property the first thing to-morrow, we are all ruined. Everything will be gone."
"This can't be gone," said Marie, nodding her head at the papers.
"Marie,—do you wish to see me disgraced and ruined? I have done a great deal for you."
"You turned away the only person I ever cared for," said Marie.
"Marie, how can you be so wicked? Do as your papa bids you," said Madame Melmotte.
"No!" said Melmotte. "She does not care who is ruined, because we saved her from that reprobate."
"She will sign them now," said Madame Melmotte.
"No;—I will not sign them," said Marie. "If I am to be married to Lord Nidderdale as you all say, I am sure I ought to sign nothing without telling him. And if the property was once made to be mine, I don't think I ought to give it up again because papa says that he is going to be ruined. I think that's a reason for not giving it up again."
"It isn't yours to give. It's mine," said Melmotte gnashing his teeth.