The Prime Minister · Chapter
Lopez Back in London explained
Lopez returns to London after losing the Silverbridge election and a public altercation with Arthur Fletcher.
What happens
Lopez returns to London after losing the Silverbridge election and a public altercation with Arthur Fletcher. He seeks to mend relations with his father-in-law, Abel Wharton, who agrees to pay £500 of Lopez's election expenses. Lopez manipulates the situation, telling his version of events to both Mr. Wharton and Everett Wharton, while also attempting to regain his wife Emily's sympathy. He resolves to be more conciliatory and to secure his position within the Wharton family.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Self-Invention
Lopez manipulates his father-in-law and others by telling self-serving versions of events, aiming to worm himself into confidence and possession.
Wealth and Financial Insecurity
Lopez's financial desperation is evident as he secures a £500 payment from Mr. Wharton and uses it to manage his business partner Sexty Parker.
Reputation and Scandal
Lopez's public row with Arthur Fletcher and the loss of the election threaten his reputation, which he tries to rehabilitate through careful storytelling.
Characters to notice
- Ferdinand Lopez
Returns to London defeated after losing the Silverbridge election and a row with Arthur Fletcher. He manipulates his father-in-law into paying £500 and schemes to become indispensable to the Wharton family.
- Abel Wharton
Feeling lonely and softhearted, he agrees to pay Lopez's £500 election expenses and invites him to dinner, despite lingering hesitation about Lopez's affairs.
- Emily Lopez
Expresses unhappiness about the election defeat and the row with Arthur Fletcher. Lopez tries to win her sympathy while avoiding direct criticism of Fletcher.
- Everett Wharton
Found at the Progress club, spending time at whist and billiards. He recounts his quarrel with his father over gambling and discusses Lopez's version of the Silverbridge events.
- Sexty Parker
Lopez meets him in the city, using the £500 cheque to partly cajole and partly bully him, while telling a triumphant story about the Silverbridge row.
- Arthur Fletcher
Referenced as the subject of Lopez's anger for writing to Emily and as the opponent in the Silverbridge altercation. Lopez claims Fletcher insulted his wife.
Key passages
“I will pay the £500, said Mr. Wharton. Oh, sir, that is generous! Then he got up and took the old man’s hands.”
Mr. Wharton agrees to cover Lopez's election expenses, and Lopez gratefully grasps his hands.
Shows Lopez's successful manipulation of his father-in-law's generosity.
“He thought that he saw the way to worm himself into confidence, and, soon, into possession.”
Lopez believes he can gradually gain the old man's trust and eventually control his wealth.
Reveals Lopez's calculated plan to exploit Mr. Wharton.
“He had threatened to thrash the fellow in the street, and the fellow had not dared to come out of his house without a policeman.”
Lopez boasts to Sexty Parker that he intimidated Arthur Fletcher into needing police protection.
Illustrates Lopez's self-aggrandizing version of the Silverbridge altercation.