"I'll tell you, sir, what can not be your duty. It cannot be your duty to make known out of that Board-room any of the affairs of the Company which you have learned in that Board-room. It cannot be your duty to divulge the circumstances of the Company or any differences which may exist between Directors of the Company, to any gentleman who is a stranger to the Company. It cannot be your duty--."
"Thank you, Mr. Melmotte. On matters such as that I think that I can see my own way. I have been in fault in coming in to the Board without understanding what duties I should have to perform--."
"Very much in fault, I should say," replied Melmotte, whose arrogance in the midst of his inflated glory was overcoming him.
"But in reference to what I may or may not say to any friend, or how far I should be restricted by the scruples of a gentleman, I do not want advice from you."

"I'll tell you, sir, what cannot be your duty. You cannot make known any of the affairs of the Company which you have learned in that Board-room. You cannot divulge the circumstances of the Company to any gentleman who is a stranger to the Company."
"Thank you, Mr. Melmotte. On matters such as that I think that I can see my own way. I have been in fault in coming in to the Board without understanding my duties."
"Very much in fault, I should say," replied Melmotte, whose arrogance was overcoming him.
"But in reference to what I may or may not say to any friend, I do not want advice from you."
