himself out of the way to meet them on this occasion.
‘Gentlemen,’ he said, ’perhaps you
think that I am intruding at the present moment.’
No one said that he did not think so. The elder
Longestaffe simply bowed very coldly. Mr Bideawhile
stood upright and thrust his thumbs into his waistcoat
pockets. Dolly, who at first forgot to take his
hat off, whistled a bar, and then turned a pirouette
on his heel. That was his mode of expressing
his thorough surprise at the appearance of his debtor.
’I fear that you do think I am intruding,’
said Melmotte, ’but I trust that what I have
to say will be held to excuse me. I see, sir,’
he said, turning to Mr Longestaffe, and glancing at
the still open drawer, &rsquo...