Page 554 (1/1)

When Mr Melestaffe and to Dolly, in the presence of Mr Bideawhile, that he would, on the next day but one, pay to the, satisfactorily as far as they were concerned, the purchase of the Pickering property, he intended to be as good as his word The reader knows that he had resolved to face the Longestaffe difficulty,--that he had resolved that at any rate he would not get out of it by sacrificing the property to which he had looked forward as a safe haven when storms should come But, day by day, every resolution that he e Latterly he had been intent on purchasing a noble son-in-laith thisto the chapter of chances for his future escape froestaffe and other difficulties But Squercum had been very hard upon hi property, there was another, which he would be forced to face also, respecting certain property in the East of London, hich 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 ofthe transaction, and it was asserted that the old gentleenuine Melmotte had certainly raised between twenty and thirty thousand pounds on the property, and had made pay at all Melht face this le-handed;--but in regard to the Longestaffes he considered that now, at this last

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 hter When he had placed it in her na that his control over his only daughter would be perfect and free froirl 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 i about this business with soht be that she would disobey hinature 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 ht be made to understand that the ave instructions to his hen he started into the city thathis offer to the Longestaffes, he brought with hin, and he brought also Mr Croll, his clerk, that Mr Croll nature