Both the father and the lawyer looked at Dolly. Dolly was in truth the accuser through the mouthpiece of his attorney Squercum. It was at Dolly's instance that these proceedings were being taken. 'I, on behalf of my client,' said Mr Bideawhile, 'will consent to wait till Friday at noon.'
'I presume, Adolphus, that you will say as much,' said the elder Longestaffe.
Dolly Longestaffe was certainly not an impressionable person, but Melmotte's eloquence had moved even him. It was not that he was sorry for the man, but that at the present moment he believed him. Though he had been absolutely sure that Melmotte had forged his name or caused it to be forged,--and did not now go so far into the matter as to abandon that conviction,--he had been talked into crediting the reasons given for Melmotte's temporary distress, and also into a belief that the money would be paid on Friday. Something of the effect which Melmotte's false confessions had had upon Lord Nidderdale, they now also had on Dolly Longestaffe. 'I'll ask Squercum, you know,' he said.
'Of course Mr Squercum will act as you instruct him,' said Bideawhile.
'I'll ask Squercum. I'll go to him at once. I can't do any more than that. And upon my word, Mr Melmotte, you've given me a great deal of trouble.'
Melmotte with a smile apologized. Then it was settled that they three should meet in that very room on Friday at noon, and that the payment should then be made,--Dolly stipulating that as his father would be attended by Bideawhile, so would he be attended by Squercum. To this Mr Longestaffe senior yielded with a very bad grace.