"Yes," said Mr. Oakley reluctantly; "that's evidence of one part of the story, to be sure; but not of the material part, the only part that's profitable to _you_. You can't do without me--you can't indeed; but I can do very well without you. You will save time and trouble by acknowledging the fact, and acting on it."
"What the d--l do you want me to do?" said Meredith fiercely, as he threw the pocket-book back into the safe and locked the doors in a rage. "I can't marry the girl till she is of age. I tell you I am perfectly sure of her. Do you think I am such a fool as to allow any doubt to exist on that point? But I don't choose to change my plans, and _I won't_ change them, let you threaten as you will. You old idiot! you would ruin yourself by thwarting me. You don't know these people--_I do_; and you could as soon induce them to join you in robbing a church as to buy you off in the way you propose. You had much better stick to the bargain you've made, and have patience. I think if _I_ can find patience, _you_ may."
Mr. Oakley reflected for some minutes, his bushy gray eyebrows meeting above his frowning eyes. At last he said:
"Then I'll tell you what it is, Meredith. You shall give me 20_l_. extra now, to-night, and introduce me at once, to-morrow, to the family, and we'll go on playing on the square again."
"No," said Meredith; "it won't do. I can't give you 20_l_.; I can't spare the money. I'll give you 10_l_., on condition you don't show yourself here until I send for you. And as to introducing you to the family just yet, it is out of the question. It would only embarrass our proceedings, and do you no good."
"What do you mean?" said Oakley furiously. "Why should you not introduce me to my own relative? I choose to partake of the advantages of her capital match. I intend to be Mrs. Carteret's guest at the Deane this autumn, whether the prospect be agreeable to you or not."
Meredith smiled, a slow exasperating smile, carefully exaggerated into distinctness for the old man's dimmed vision, as he said:
"_I_ could have no objection to do my good friend Mrs. Carteret the kindness of reuniting her with a long-severed member of her family, and to introduce you as a visitor at Portman-square, during the few days they will be in town, would not be any trouble to me; but as for your being invited to the Deane, the idea is _too_ absurd."
"And why?"
"Because Miss Baldwin, and not your relative, is the mistress of that very eligible mansion; because you are not the style of person Miss Baldwin admires; and because, you may take my word for it, you will never set your foot within those doors while the Deane belongs to Miss Baldwin."