‘Shall I come up again?’

‘No; but leave a note for me here under cover to Madame Didon.’  Now Sir Felix was sufficiently at home in the house to know that Madame Didon was Madame Melmotte’s own woman, commonly called Didon by the ladies of the family.  ’Or send it by post,—­under cover to her.  That will be better.  Go at once, now.’  It certainly did seem to Sir Felix that the very nature of the girl was altered.  But he went, just shaking hands with Madame Melmotte, and bowing to Miss Longestaffe.

In a few moments he found himself with Mr Melmotte in the chamber which had been dignified with the name of the book-room.  The great financier was accustomed to spend his Sunday afternoons here, generally with the...