‘That’s about it,’ said Miles, hardly following the working of his master’s mind.

’I shouldn’t care how soon.  When a man has worked as I have done, he gets about tired at my age.  I suppose I’d better be down at the committee-room about ten to-morrow?’

‘That’s the best, I should say.’

‘You’ll be there by that time?’ Miles Grendall assented slowly, and with imperfect assent.  ’And tell your father he might as well be there as early as convenient.’

‘All right,’ said Miles as he took his departure.

‘Curs!’ said Melmotte almost aloud.  ’They neither of them will be there.  If any evil can be done to me by treachery and desertion, they will do...