It was a part of the charm of all dealings with this great man that no ready money seemed ever to be necessary for anything.  Great purchases were made and great transactions apparently completed without the signing even of a cheque.  Mr Longestaffe found himself to be afraid even to give a hint to Mr Melmotte about ready money.  In speaking of all such matters Melmotte seemed to imply that everything necessary had been done, when he had said that it was done.  Pickering had been purchased and the title-deeds made over to Mr Melmotte; but the L80,000 had not been paid,—­had not been absolutely paid, though of course Mr Melmotte’s note assenting to the terms was security sufficient for any reasonable man.  The property had been mortgaged, though not heavily, and Mr Melmotte had no doubt satisfied...