s Croll fully agreed. Then Melmotte went on to
declare that he would not feel the slightest scruple in writing
Marie's signature to the papers himself. He was the girl's father and
was justified in acting for her. The property was his own property,
and he was justified in doing with it as he pleased. Of course he
would have no scruple in writing his daughter's name. Then he looked
up at the clerk. The clerk again assented,--after a fashion, not by any
means with the comfortable certainty with which he had signified his
accordance with his employer's first propositions. But he did not, at
any rate, hint any disapprobation of the step which Melmotte proposed
to take. Then Melmotte went a step farther, and explained that the
only difficulty in reference to such a transaction would be that the
signature of his daughter would be required to be corroborated by that
of a witness before he could use it. Then he again looked up at
Croll;--but on this occasion Croll did not move a muscle of his face.
There certainly was no assent. Melmotte continued to look at him; but
then came upon the old clerk's countenance a stern look which amounted
to very strong dissent. And yet Croll had been conversant with some
irregular doings in his time, and Melmotte knew well the extent of
Croll's experience. Then Melmotte made a little remark to himself. 'He
knows that the game is pretty well over.' 'You had better return to
the city now,' he said aloud. 'I shall follow you in half an hour. It
is quite possible that I may bring my daughter with me. If I can make
her understand this thing I shall do so. In that case I shall want you
to be ready.' Croll again smiled, and again assented, and went his
way.

But Melmotte made no further attempt upon his daughter. As soon as
Croll was gone he searched among various papers in his desk and
drawers, and having found two signatures, those of his daughter and of
this German clerk, set to work tracing them with some thin tissue
paper. He commenced his present operation by bolting his door and
pulling down the blinds. He practised the two signatures for the best
part of an hour. Then he forged them on the various documents;--and,
having completed the operation, refolded them, placed them in a locked
bag of which he had always kept the key in his purse, and then, with
the bag in his hand, was taken in his brougham into the city.

CHAPTER LXXVIII - MISS LONGESTAFFE AGAIN AT CAVERSHAM

All this time Mr