e made was forced to undergo some change. Latterly he had been intent
on purchasing a noble son-in-law with this money,--still trusting to
the chapter of chances for his future escape from the Longestaffe and
other difficulties. But Squercum had been very hard upon him; and in
connexion with this accusation as to the Pickering property, there was
another, which he would be forced to face also, respecting certain
property in the East of London, with which the reader need not much
trouble himself specially, but in reference to which it was stated
that he had induced a foolish old gentleman to consent to accept
railway shares in lieu of money. The old gentleman had died during the
transaction, and it was asserted that the old gentleman's letter was
hardly genuine. Melmotte had certainly raised between twenty and
thirty thousand pounds on the property, and had made payment for it in
stock which was now worth--almost nothing at all. Melmotte thought that
he might face this matter successfully if the matter came upon him
single-handed;--but in regard to the Longestaffes he considered that
now, at this last moment, he had better pay for Pickering.

The property from which he intended to raise the necessary funds was
really his own. There could be no doubt about that. It had never been
his intention to make it over to his daughter. When he had placed it
in her name, he had done so simply for security,--feeling that his
control over his only daughter would be perfect and free from danger.
No girl apparently less likely to take it into her head to defraud her
father could have crept quietly about a father's house. Nor did he now
think that she would disobey him when the matter was explained to her.
Heavens and earth! That he should be robbed by his own child,--robbed
openly, shamefully, with brazen audacity! It was impossible. But still
he had felt the necessity of going about this business with some
little care. It might be that she would disobey him if he simply sent
for her and bade her to affix her signature here and there. He thought
much about it and considered that it would be wise that his wife
should be present on the occasion, and that a full explanation should
be given to Marie, by which she might be made to understand that the
money had in no sense become her own. So he gave instructions to his
wife when he started into the city that morning; and when he returned,
for the sake of making his offer to the Longestaffes, h