Nidderdale was almost an assurance to the club that the misfortune had been wiped out, and, as it were, abolished.  A little before three Mr Melmotte returned to Abchurch Lane, intending to regain his room by the back way; while Lord Nidderdale went westward, considering within his own mind whether it was expedient that he should continue to show himself as a suitor for Miss Melmotte’s hand.  He had an idea that a few years ago a man could not have done such a thing—­that he would be held to show a poor spirit should he attempt it; but that now it did not much matter what a man did,—­if only he were successful.  ’After all, it’s only an affair of money,’ he said to himself.

Mr Longestaffe in the meantime had progressed...