He was put into the army very young, and was very young when he came into possession of his own small fortune.
He might have done better; but how many young men placed in such temptations do well?
As it is, he has nothing left.' 'I fear not.' 'And therefore is it not imperative that he should marry a girl with money ?' 'I call that stealing a girl's money, Lady Carbury.' 'Oh, Roger, how hard you are!' 'A man must be hard or soft,--which is best ?' 'With women I think that a little softness has the most effect.

I want to make you understand this about the Melmottes.

It stands to reason that the girl will not marry Felix unless she loves him.' 'But does he love her ?' 'Why should he not?
Is a girl to be debarred from being loved because she has money?
Of course she looks to be married, and why should she not have Felix if she likes him best?
Cannot you sympathise with my anxiety so to place him that he shall not be a disgrace to the name and to the family ?' 'We had better not talk about the family, Lady Carbury.' 'But I think so much about it.' 'You will never get me to say that I think the family will be benefited by a marriage with the daughter of Mr Melmotte.

I look upon him as dirt in the gutter.

To me, in my old-fashioned way, all his money, if he has it, can make no difference.