st me
now. Accusations are made, false as hell,'--Mr Melmotte as he spoke
raised his voice and looked round the room 'but which at the present
crisis may do me most cruel damage. I have come to say that, if you
will undertake to stop proceedings which have been commenced in the
City, I will have fifty thousand pounds,--which is the amount due to
these two gentlemen,--ready for payment on Friday at noon.'

'I have taken no proceedings as yet,' said Bideawhile.

'It's Squercum,' says Dolly.

'Well, sir,' continued Melmotte addressing Dolly, 'let me assure you
that if these proceedings are stayed the money will be forthcoming;--
but if not, I cannot produce the money. I little thought two months ago
that I should ever have to make such a statement in reference to such
a sum as fifty thousand pounds. But so it is. To raise that money by
Friday, I shall have to cripple my resources frightfully. It will be
done at a terrible cost. But what Mr Bideawhile says is true. I have
no right to suppose that the purchase of this property should be
looked upon as an ordinary commercial transaction. The money should
have been paid,--and, if you will now take my word, the money shall be
paid. But this cannot be done if I am made to appear before the Lord
Mayor to-morrow. The accusations brought against me are damnably false.
I do not know with whom they have originated. Whoever did originate
them, they are damnably false. But unfortunately, false as they are,
in the present crisis, they may be ruinous to me. Now gentlemen,
perhaps you will give me an answer.'

Both the father and the lawyer looked at Dolly. Dolly was in truth the
accuser through the mouthpiece of his attorney Squercum. It was at
Dolly's instance that these proceedings were being taken. 'I, on
behalf of my client,' said Mr Bideawhile, 'will consent to wait till
Friday at noon.'

'I presume, Adolphus, that you will say as much,' said the elder
Longestaffe.

Dolly Longestaffe was certainly not an impressionable person, but
Melmotte's eloquence had moved even him. It was not that he was sorry
for the man, but that at the present moment he believed him. Though he
had been absolutely sure that Melmotte had forged his name or caused
it to be forged,--and did not now go so far into the matter as to
abandon that conviction,--he had been talked into crediting the reasons
given for Melmotte's temporary distress, and also into a belief that
the money would be paid on Friday.