and, though much was said about the jewels, no attempt was
made to recover them. Marie advised Madame Melmotte to give them up,
assuring the old woman that she should have whatever she wanted for
her maintenance. But it was not likely that Melmotte's widow would
willingly abandon any property, and she did not abandon her jewels. It
was agreed between her and Fisker that they were to be taken to New
York. 'You'll get as much there as in London, if you like to part with
them; and nobody'll say anything about it there. You couldn't sell a
locket or chain here without all the world talking about it.'

In all these things Madame Melmotte put herself into Fisker's hands
with the most absolute confidence,--and, indeed, with a confidence that
was justified by its results. It was not by robbing an old woman that
Fisker intended to make himself great. To Madame Melmotte's thinking,
Fisker was the finest gentleman she had ever met,--so infinitely
pleasanter in his manner than Lord Alfred even when Lord Alfred had
been most gracious, with so much more to say for himself than Miles
Grendall, understanding her so much better than any man had ever
done,--especially when he supplied her with those small warm beakers of
sweet brandy-and-water. 'I shall do whatever he tells me,' she said to
Marie. 'I'm sure I've nothing to keep me here in this country.'

'I'm willing to go,' said Marie. 'I don't want to stay in London.'

'I suppose you'll take him if he asks you?'

'I don't know anything about that,' said Marie. 'A man may be very
well without one's wanting to marry him. I don't think I'll marry
anybody. What's the use? It's only money. Nobody cares for anything
else. Fisker's all very well; but he only wants the money. Do you
think Fisker'd ask me to marry him if I hadn't got anything? Not he!
He ain't slow enough for that.'

'I think he's a very nice young man,' said Madame Melmotte.

CHAPTER XCIII - A TRUE LOVER

Hetta Carbury, out of the fullness of her heart, having made up her
mind that she had been unjust to her lover, wrote to him a letter full
of penitence, full of love, telling him at great length all the
details of her meeting with Mrs Hurtle, and bidding him come back to
her, and bring the brooch with him. But this letter she had
unfortunately addressed to the Beargarden, as he had written to her
from that club; and partly through his own fault, and partly through
the demoralization of that once perfect establi