After that Paul told all his own story,—­the double story, both in regard to Melmotte and to Mrs Hurtle.  As regarded the Railway, Roger could only tell him to follow explicitly the advice of his Liverpool friend.  ‘I never believed in the thing, you know.’

‘Nor did I. But what could I do?’

’I’m not going to blame you.  Indeed, knowing you as I do, feeling sure that you intend to be honest, I would not for a moment insist on my own opinion, if it did not seem that Mr Ramsbottom thinks as I do.  In such a matter, when a man does not see his own way clearly, it behoves him to be able to show that he has followed the advice of some man whom the world esteems and recognizes. ...