"He ought to have spoken to me. It is marvellous how close-fisted an old man can be. He can't take it with him." Then he sat for half-an-hour in moody silence, during which she was busy with her needle. After that he jumped up, with a manner altogether altered,--gay, only that the attempt was too visible to deceive even her,--and shook himself, as though he were ridding himself of his trouble. "You are right, old girl. You are always right,--almost. I will go to your father to-morrow, and tell him everything. It isn't so very much that I want him to do. Things will all come right again. I'm ashamed that you should have seen me in this way;--but I have been disappointed about the election, and troubled about that Mr. Fletcher. You shall not see me give way again like this. Give me a kiss, old girl." She kissed him, but she could not even pretend to recover herself as he had done. "Had we not better give up the brougham?" she said. "Certainly not. For heaven's sake do not speak in that way! You do not understand things." "No; certainly I do not." "It isn't that I haven't the means of living, but that in my business money is so often required for instant use. And situated as I am at present an addition to my capital would enable me to do so much!" She certainly did not understand it, but she had sufficient knowledge of the world and sufficient common sense to be aware that their present rate of expenditure ought to be matter of importance to a man who felt the loss of £500 as he felt that loss at Silverbridge. On the next morning Lopez was at Mr. Wharton's chambers early,--so early that the lawyer had not yet reached them. He had resolved,--not that he would tell everything, for such men never even intend to tell everything,--but that he would tell a good deal. He must, if possible, affect the mind of the old man in two ways. He must ingratiate himself;--and at the same time make it understood that Emily's comfort in life would depend very much on her father's generosity. The first must be first accomplished, if possible,--and then the second, as to which he could certainly produce at any rate belief. He had not married a rich man's daughter without an intention of getting the rich man's money! Mr. Wharton would understand that. If the worst came to the worst, Mr. Wharton must of course maintain his daughter,--and his daughter's husband! But things had not come to the worst as yet, and he did not intend on the present occasion to represent that view of his affairs to his father-in-law.