ws what these things are, that this is
an opportunity that doesn't come in a man's way perhaps twice in his
life."

Mr. Wharton found that he had nothing more to say, and went back to
Lincoln's Inn. He knew very well that Mr. Hartlepod's assurances
were not worth much. Mr. Hartlepod himself and his belongings, the
clerks in his office, the look of the rooms, and the very nature of
the praises which he had sung, all of them inspired anything but
confidence. Mr. Wharton was a man of the world; and, though he knew
nothing of City ways, was quite aware that no man in his senses would
lay out L5000 on the mere word of Mr. Hartlepod. But still he was
inclined to make the payment. If only he could secure the absence
of Lopez,--if he could be sure that Lopez would in truth go to
Guatemala, and if also he could induce the man to go without his
wife, he would risk the money. The money would, of course, be thrown
away,--but he would throw it away. Lopez no doubt had declared that
he would not go without his wife, even though the money were paid
for him. But the money was an alluring sum! As the pressure upon the
man became greater, Mr. Wharton thought he would probably consent to
leave his wife behind him.

In his emergency the barrister went to his attorney and told him
everything. The two lawyers were closeted together for an hour, and
Mr. Wharton's last words to his old friend were as follows:--"I will
risk the money, Walker, or rather I will consent absolutely to throw
it away,--as it will be thrown away,--if it can be managed that he
shall in truth go to this place without his wife."

CHAPTER LIV

Lizzie

It cannot be supposed that Ferdinand Lopez at this time was a very
happy man. He had, at any rate, once loved his wife, and would have
loved her still could he have trained her to think as he thought,
to share his wishes, and "to put herself into the same boat with
him,"--as he was wont to describe the unison and sympathy which he
required from her. To give him his due, he did not know that he was
a villain. When he was exhorting her to "get round her father" he
was not aware that he was giving her lessons which must shock a
well-conditioned girl. He did not understand that everything that she
had discovered of his moral disposition since her marriage was of a
nature to disgust her. And, not understanding all this, he conceived
that he was grievously wronged by her in that she adhered to her
father rather tha