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Updated: May 6, 2025
As Mr Melmotte shrugged his shoulders and made no further reply, Mr Bideawhile could only take his departure. The attorney, although he was bound to be staunch to his own client, and to his own house in opposition to Mr Squercum, nevertheless was becoming doubtful in his own mind as to the genuineness of the letter which Dolly was so persistent in declaring that he had not signed.
It did occur to Dolly to ask them to wait while he should fetch Squercum; but on second thoughts he reflected that a great deal of trouble would have to be taken, and probably for no good. 'Mr Bideawhile, I believe, suggested Melmotte; and the lawyer bowed his head. 'If I remember rightly I wrote to you offering to pay the money due to your clients 'Squercum is my lawyer, said Dolly.
He went to work, however, making himself detestably odious among the very respectable clerks in Mr Bideawhile's office, men who considered themselves to be altogether superior to Squercum himself in professional standing.
Slow and Bideawhile's office, from whom no slightest rumour emanated; and as they had been in part collected by Squercum, who was probably less prudent. The Bideawhiles were still perfectly sure that Dolly had signed the letter, believing the young man to be quite incapable of knowing on any day what he had done on the day before. Squercum was quite sure that his client had not signed it.
'Who are they? said Marie, whose sharp ears caught the sound of various steps. Lord Nidderdale went out on to the head of the stairs, and immediately heard the voice of Dolly Longestaffe. Dolly Longestaffe had on that morning put himself early into the care of Mr Squercum, and it had happened that he with his lawyer had met his father with Mr Bideawhile at the corner of the square.
Mr Bumby was inclined to doubt whether it might not be better to get the money, or some guarantee for the money. Mr Bumby thought that if a bill at three months could be had for Dolly's share of the property it might be expedient to take it. Mr Squercum suggested that the property itself might be recovered, no genuine sale having been made. Mr Bumby shook his head.
Dolly, as he sat smoking upon the stool in Mr Squercum's office, where he now passed a considerable portion of his time, looked upon himself as a miracle of ill-usage. 'By George, you know, I shall have to go to law with the governor. There's nothing else for it; is there, Squercum?
Squercum said but little, remembering that his client was not always clear in the morning as to anything he had done on the preceding evening. But the signature, though it was scrawled as Dolly always scrawled it, was not like the scrawl of a drunken man. The letter was said to have been sent to Mr Bideawhile's office with other letters and papers, direct from old Mr Longestaffe.
Before Dolly had completed his buffoonery the butler had whispered to Mr Bideawhile that Mr Melmotte 'was no more. 'Dead! exclaimed Mr Bideawhile. Squercum put his hands into his trousers pockets and opened his mouth wide. 'Dead! muttered Mr Longestaffe senior. 'Dead! said Dolly. 'Who's dead? The butler shook his head.
'Perhaps not, Mr Squercum. We are not generally on the look out for forgeries in letters from our clients or our clients' sons. 'Just so, Mr Bideawhile. But then Mr Longestaffe had already told you that his son would not sign the letter. 'How is one to know when and how and why a young man like that will change his purpose? 'Just so, Mr Bideawhile.
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