y feature
of his person may faint in sympathy with his heart. A grandly urbane
deportment over a crushed spirit and ruined hopes is beyond the
physical strength of most men;--but there have been men so strong.
Melmotte very nearly accomplished it. It was only to the eyes of such
a one as Herr Croll that the failure was perceptible.

Melmotte did find Mr Brehgert. At this time Mr Brehgert had completed
his correspondence with Miss Longestaffe, in which he had mentioned
the probability of great losses from the anticipated commercial
failure in Mr Melmotte's affairs. He had now heard that Mr Cohenlupe
had gone upon his travels, and was therefore nearly sure that his
anticipation would be correct. Nevertheless, he received his old
friend with a smile. When large sums of money are concerned there is
seldom much of personal indignation between man and man. The loss of
fifty pounds or of a few hundreds may create personal wrath;--but fifty
thousand require equanimity. 'So Cohenlupe hasn't been seen in the City
to-day,' said Brehgert.

'He has gone,' said Melmotte hoarsely.

'I think I once told you that Cohenlupe was not the man for large
dealings.'

'Yes, you did,' said Melmotte.

'Well;--it can't be helped; can it? And what is it now?' Then Melmotte
explained to Mr Brehgert what it was that he wanted then, taking the
various documents out of the bag which throughout the afternoon he had
carried in his hand. Mr Brehgert understood enough of his friend's
affairs, and enough of affairs in general, to understand readily all
that was required. He examined the documents, declaring, as he did so,
that he did not know how the thing could be arranged by Friday.
Melmotte replied that L50,000 was not a very large sum of money, that
the security offered was worth twice as much as that. 'You will leave
them with me this evening,' said Brehgert. Melmotte paused for a
moment, and said that he would of course do so. He would have given
much, very much, to have been sufficiently master of himself to have
assented without hesitation;--but then the weight within was so very
heavy!

Having left the papers and the bag with Mr Brehgert, he walked
westwards to the House of Commons. He was accustomed to remain in the
City later than this, often not leaving it till seven,--though during
the last week or ten days he had occasionally gone down to the House
in the afternoon. It was now Wednesday, and there was no evening
sitting;--but his mind