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...