represented himself to be
a thriving man, and she calculated that he certainly would not be
here, in London, arranging her father's affairs, were he not possessed
of commercial importance. She had contrived to learn that, in the
United States, a married woman has greater power over her own money
than in England, and this information acted strongly in Fisker's
favour. On consideration of the whole subject she was inclined to
think that she would do better in the world as Mrs Fisker than as
Marie Melmotte,--if she could see her way clearly in the matter of
her own money.

'I have got excellent berths,' Fisker said to her one morning at
Hampstead. At these interviews, which were devoted first to business
and then to love, Madame Melmotte was never allowed to be present.

'I am to be alone?'

'Oh, yes. There is a cabin for Madame Melmotte and the maid, and a
cabin for you. Everything will be comfortable. And there is another
lady going,--Mrs Hurtle,--whom I think you will like.'

'Has she a husband?'

'Not going with us,' said Mr Fisker evasively.

'But she has one?'

'Well, yes;--but you had better not mention him. He is not exactly all
that a husband should be.'

'Did she not come over here to marry some one else?'--For Marie in the
days of her sweet intimacy with Sir Felix Carbury had heard something
of Mrs Hurtle's story.

'There is a story, and I dare say I shall tell you all about it some
day. But you may be sure I should not ask you to associate with any
one you ought not to know.'

'Oh,--I can take care of myself.'

'No doubt, Miss Melmotte,--no doubt. I feel that quite strongly. But
what I meant to observe was this,--that I certainly should not
introduce a lady whom I aspire to make my own lady to any lady whom a
lady oughtn't to know. I hope I make myself understood, Miss Melmotte.'

'Oh, quite.'

'And perhaps I may go on to say that if I could go on board that ship
as your accepted lover, I could do a deal more to make you
comfortable, particularly when you land, than just as a mere friend,
Miss Melmotte. You can't doubt my heart.'

'I don't see why I shouldn't. Gentlemen's hearts are things very much
to be doubted as far as I've seen 'em. I don't think many of 'em have
'em at all.'

'Miss Melmotte, you do not know the glorious west. Your past
experiences have been drawn from this effete and stone-cold country in
which passion is no longer allowed to sway. On those golden shores
which the Pa