human
Is that you, Miles? he said.
gpt
Come in. I'm just going home, and came up here to see how the empty rooms would look after they were all gone. What became of your father?
human
I suppose he went away.
gpt
I suppose he did, said Melmotte, unable to hinder himself from throwing a certain tone of scorn into his voice,--as though proclaiming the fate of his own house and the consequent running away of the rat.
human
It went off very well, I think.
gpt
Very well, said Miles, still standing at the door. There had been a few words of consultation between him and his father,--only a very few words.
human
You'd better see it out to-night, as you've had a regular salary, and all that. I shall hook it. I sha'n't go near him to-morrow till I find out how things are going. By G----, I've had about enough of him. But hardly enough of his money,--or it may be presumed that Lord Alfred would have
gpt
Why don't you come in, and not stand there? said Melmotte.
human
There's no Emperor here now for you to be afraid of.
gpt
I'm afraid of nobody,
human
Nor am I. What's one man that another man should be afraid of him? We've got to die, and there'll be an end of it, I suppose.
gpt
That's about it,
human
I shouldn't care how soon. When a man has worked as I have done, he gets about tired at my age. I suppose I'd better be down at the committee-room about ten to-morrow?
gpt
That's the best, I should say.
human
You'll be there by that time? Miles Grendall assented slowly, and with imperfect assent.
gpt
And tell your father he might as well be there as early as convenient.
human
All right,
gpt
Curs! said Melmotte almost aloud.
human
They neither of them will be there. If any evil can be done to me by treachery and desertion, they will do it. Then it occurred to him to think whether the Grendall article had been worth all the money that he had paid for it.
gpt
Curs! he said again. He walked down into the hall, and through the banqueting-room, and stood at the place where he himself had sat. What a scene it had been, and how frightfully low his heart had sunk within him! It had been the defection of the Lord Mayor that had hit him hardest.
human
What cowards they are! The men went on with their work, not noticing him, and probably not knowing him. The dinner had been done by contract, and the contractor's foreman was there. The care of the house and the alterations had been confided to another contractor, and his foreman was waiting to see the place locked up. A confidential clerk, who had been with Melmotte for years, and who knew his ways, was there also to guard the property.
gpt
Good night, Croll, he said to the man in German. Croll touched his hat and bade him good night. Melmotte listened anxiously to the tone of the man's voice, trying to catch from it some indication of the mind within. Did Croll know of these rumours, and if so, what did he think of them? Croll had known him in some perilous circumstances before, and had helped him through them. He paused a moment as though he would ask a question, but resolved at last that silence would be safest.
human
You'll see everything safe, eh, Croll?