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'Ve didn't expect you here to-day,' said the member for Staines

'Nor did I expect to come But there isn'ton; so I came up, just to look at the letters The dinner went off pretty well yesterday, eh?'

'Unco better Vy did the Lord Mayor stay away, Melmotte?'

'Because he's an ass and a cur,' said Mr Melnation 'Alf and his people had got hold of him There was ever so much fuss about it at first,--whether he would accept the invitation I say it was an insult to the City to take it and not to cos will go on just the sao What's to hinder them?'

'There's ever so much been said,' whispered Cohenlupe

'Said;--yes,' ejaculated Melmotte very loudly 'You're not such a fool, I hope, as to believe every word you hear You'll have enough to believe, if you do'

'There's no knowing vat anybody does know, and vat anybody does not know,' said Cohenlupe

'Look you here, Cohenlupe,'--and now Melue in your ht There has been some heavy pulls upon us'

'Oh dear, there has indeed!'

'But any paper withat all,' said Cohenlupe

'And there is nothing;--nothing at all! I've bought soht some, and have not yet paid for it There's no fraud in that'

'No, no,--nothing in that'

'You hold your tongue, and go about your business I' to the bank now' Cohenlupe had been very low in spirits, and was still low in spirits; but he was soreat ood as his word and walked straight to the bank He kept two accounts at different banks, one for his business, and one for his private affairs The one he now entered was that which kept e h, after his old fashion, to the rooer's one clerk, and stood upon the rug before the fireplace just as though nothing had happened,--or as nearly as though nothing had happened as ithin the co up an appearance intended to be natural he was obliged to be soer did not behave nearly as well as he did, and the clerks manifestly betrayed their emotion Melmotte saw that it was so;--but he had expected it, and had come there on purpose to 'put it down'