But she had not seen enough of English gentlemen to make Fisker distasteful to her. He told her that he had a big house at San Francisco, and she certainly desired to live in a big house. He 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?"

But he told her that he had a big house at San Francisco, and she certainly desired to live in a big house. He represented himself as a thriving man, and she calculated that he certainly had commercial importance. She had learned 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, 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, when Madame Melmotte was not present. 