necromancer even to look at his affairs everything would be made right for him.  But the necromancer had explained to the squire that property could not be created by the waving of any wand or the boiling of any cauldron.  He, Mr Melmotte, could put Mr Longestaffe in the way of realising property without delay, of changing it from one shape into another, or could find out the real market value of the property in question; but he could create nothing.  ’You have only a life interest, Mr Longestaffe.’

’No; only a life interest.  That is customary with family estates in this country, Mr Melmotte.’

’Just so.  And therefore you can dispose of nothing else.  Your son, of course, could join you, and then you could sell either one estate or the other.’

’There is...