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At first Mr Longestaffe was somewhat stunned by the Deputation and Sir Gregory Gribe; but as he waxed wroth the potency of those institutions dwindled away, and as, at last, he waxed hungry, they became as nothing to him. Was he not Mr Longestaffe of Caversham, a Deputy-Lieutenant of his County, and accustomed to lunch punctually at two o'clock?
People might speak. People might feel sure. And then a crash would come. But there would still be that ample fortune on which to retire and eat and drink and make merry for the rest of his days. Then there came annoying complications in his affairs. What had been so easy in reference to that letter which Dolly Longestaffe never would have signed, was less easy but still feasible in another matter.
'It's all right, said he to his wife. 'They're there, safe enough. 'You are sure that the Emperor is there. 'As sure as a man can be without having seen him. Miss Longestaffe was present at this moment, and could not but resent what appeared to be a most unseemly slur cast upon her friends. 'I don't understand it at all, she said. 'Of course the Emperor is there.
Even Georgiana, in her present state of mind, would have accepted some distant, even some undefined time, as a compromise. 'Then you can't have a day fixed, said Mr Longestaffe. 'How long do you suppose that we shall be kept here? said Sophia, in a low constrained voice. 'I do not know what you mean by being kept here. This is your home, and this is where you may make up your minds to live.
For a considerable time he did not speak, and became very moderate in his play, tossing his cards about, almost always losing, but losing a minimum, and watching the board. He was sitting next to Grendall, and he thought that he observed that his neighbour moved his chair farther and farther away from him, and nearer to Dolly Longestaffe, who was next to him on the other side.
I think the loss of the hair-powder afflicted her most; but she said not a word even about that. But in all this the details necessary for the telling of our story are anticipated. Mr Longestaffe had remained in London actually over the 1st of September, which in Suffolk is the one great festival of the year, before the letter was written to which allusion has been made.
It was astonishing that such a one as Miles Grendall should have learned his business so well and should have made himself so handy! In the meantime both Mr Broune and Lord Nidderdale came to the office, and both were received without delay. Mr Broune was the first. Miles knew who he was, and made no attempt to seat him in the same room with Mr Longestaffe.
'Do you mean to say that I have opened your drawer? said Mr Melmotte. Mr Longestaffe had become very red in the face and had replied by saying that he certainly made no such accusation, but as certainly he had not left the drawer unlocked. He knew his own habits and was sure that he had never left that drawer open in his life.
'I won't stand it if I'm to be treated like this, said Georgiana. 'I'll go away somewhere. 'How can I help it, Georgey? It's your own doing. Of course you must have known that you were going to separate yourself from us. On the next morning there came a dispatch from Mr Longestaffe, of what nature Georgey did not know as it was addressed to Lady Pomona. But one enclosure she was allowed to see.
I don't mean to be afraid of him any more, and you may tell him just what I say. All this made Lady Pomona very miserable. She did not communicate her daughter's threat to Mr Longestaffe, but she did discuss it with Sophia. Sophia was of opinion that Georgiana did not mean it, and gave two or three reasons for thinking so.