Miles Grendall also dined there, and after dinner, in the smoking-room, Sir Felix tried to do a little business with the Secretary. He began his operations with unusual courtesy, believing that the man must have some influence with the great distributor of shares. "I'm going to take up my shares in that company," said Sir Felix. "Ah;--indeed." And Miles enveloped himself from head to foot in smoke. "I didn't quite understand about it, but Nidderdale saw Melmotte and he has explained it. I think I shall go in for a couple of thousand on Wednesday." "Oh;--ah." "It will be the proper thing to do;--won't it?" "Very good--thing to do!" Miles Grendall smoked harder and harder as the suggestions were made to him. "Is it always ready money?" "Always ready money," said Miles shaking his head, as though in reprobation of so abominable an institution. "I suppose they allow some time to their own Directors, if a deposit, say 50 per cent., is made for the shares?" "They'll give you half the number, which would come to the same thing." Sir Felix turned this over in his mind, but let him look at it as he would, could not see the truth of his companion's remark. "You know I should want to sell again,--for the rise." "Oh; you'll want to sell again." "And therefore I must have the full number." "You could sell half the number, you know," said Miles. "I'm determined to begin with ten shares;--that's £1,000. Well;--I have got the money, but I don't want to draw out so much. Couldn't you manage for me that I should get them on paying 50 per cent. down?" "Melmotte does all that himself." "You could explain, you know, that you are a little short in your own payments to me." This Sir Felix said, thinking it to be a delicate mode of introducing his claim upon the Secretary. "That's private," said Miles frowning. "Of course it's private; but if you would pay me the money I could buy the shares with it, though they are public." "I don't think we could mix the two things together, Carbury." "You can't help me?" "Not in that way." "Then, when the deuce will you pay me what you owe me?" Sir Felix was driven to this plain expression of his demand by the impassibility of his debtor. Here was a man who did not pay his debts of honour, who did not even propose any arrangement for paying them, and who yet had the impudence to talk of not mixing up private matters with affairs of business! It made the young baronet very sick. Miles Grendall smoked on in silence. There was a difficulty in answering the question, and he therefore made no answer. "Do you know how much you owe me?" continued the baronet, determined to persist now that he had commenced the attack. There was a little crowd of other men in the room, and the conversation about the shares had been commenced in an under-tone. These two last questions Sir Felix had asked in a whisper, but his countenance showed plainly that he was speaking in anger. "Of course I know," said Miles. "Well?"