ood deal on the previous day, was very certain that the
money would not be forthcoming, whereas Bideawhile was sanguine of
success. 'Don't we wish we may get it?' Dolly had said, and by saying
so had very much offended his father, who had resented the want of
reverence implied in the use of that word 'we'. They had all been
admitted together, and Dolly had at once loudly claimed an old
acquaintance with some of the articles around him. 'I knew I'd got a
coat just like that,' said Dolly, 'and I never could make out what my
fellow had done with it.' This was the speech which Nidderdale had
heard, standing on the top of the stairs.

The two lawyers had at once seen, from the face of the man who had
opened the door and from the presence of three or four servants in the
hall, that things were not going on in their usual course. 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. Then Squercum whispered a word into the butler's ear, and
the butler thereupon nodded his head. 'It's about what I expected,'
said Squercum. Then the butler whispered the word to Mr Longestaffe,
and whispered it also to Mr Bideawhile, and they all knew that the
millionaire had swallowed poison during the night.

It was known to the servants that Mr Longestaffe was the owner of the
house, and he was therefore, as having authority there, shown into the
room where the body of Melmotte was lying on a sofa. The two lawyers
and Dolly of course followed, as did also Lord Nidderdale, who had now
joined them from the lobby above. There was a policeman in the room
who seemed to be simply watching the body, and who rose from his seat
when the gentlemen entered. Two or three of the servants followed
them, so that there was almost a crowd round the dead man's bier.
There was no further tale to be told. That Melmotte had been in the
House on the previous night, and had there disgraced himself by
intoxication, they had known already. That he had been found dead that
morning had been already announced. They could only stand round and
gaze on the square, sullen, livid features of the big-framed man, and
each lament that he had ever heard the name of Melmotte.

'Are you in the house here?' sai