Page 418 (1/1)

Squercum sat at a desk, covered with papers in chaotic confusion, on a chair which ainst the wall, and when clients ca out his dirty shoes, throwing himself back till his body was an inclined plane, with his hands thrust into his pockets In this attitude he would listen to his client's story, and would himself speak as little as possible It was by his instructions that Dolly had insisted on getting his share of the purchaseinto his own hands, so that the incuht be paid off He now listened as Dolly told hi?' asked the attorney Then Dolly inforreat financier had already half knocked down the house Squercum still listened, and proiven for the surrender of the title-deeds Dolly declared that he had given authority for the sale, but none for the surrender His father, sonature, a letter, prepared in Mr Bideawhile's office, which Dolly said that he had refused even to read, and certainly had not signed Squercuain said that he'd look to it, and bowed Dolly out of his rooht,' said Squercu of the habits of his client 'I wonder whether his father did it, or old Bideawhile, or Melmotte himself?' Mr Squercum was inclined to think that Bideawhile would not have done it, that Melmotte could have had no opportunity, and that the father must have been the practitioner 'It's not the trick of a pompous old fool either,' said Mr Squercu hi the very respectable clerks in Mr Bideawhile's office,-- ether superior to Squercu

And now there came this rumour which was so far particular in its details that it inferred the forgery, of which it accused Mr Mel property The nature of the forgery was of course described in various ways,--as was also the signature said to have been forged But there werehad been done,--that soreat fraud had been committed; and in connection with this it was ascertained,--by so estate had been already ed by Melmotte to its full value at an assurance office In such a transaction there would be nothing dishonest; but as this place had been bought for the great man's own family use, and not as a speculation, even this report of the e tended to injure his credit And then, as the day went on, other tidings were told as to other properties Houses in the East-end of London were said to have been bought and sold, without pay, and with receipt of the purchase