Chapter 69

           "Ifthouhastheardaword,letitdiewiththee."—Ecclesiasticus.

           Mr.Bulstrodewasstillseatedinhismanager’sroomattheBank,aboutthreeo’clockofthesamedayonwhichhehadreceivedLydgatethere,whentheclerkenteredtosaythathishorsewaswaiting,andalsothatMr.Garthwasoutsideandbeggedtospeakwithhim.

           "Byallmeans,"saidBulstrode;andCalebentered."Praysitdown,Mr.Garth,"continuedthebanker,inhissuavesttone.

           "Iamgladthatyouarrivedjustintimetofindmehere.Iknowyoucountyourminutes."

           "Oh,"saidCaleb,gently,withaslowswingofhisheadononeside,asheseatedhimselfandlaidhishatonthefloor.

           Helookedattheground,leaningforwardandlettinghislongfingersdroopbetweenhislegs,whileeachfingermovedinsuccession,asifitweresharingsomethoughtwhichfilledhislargequietbrow.

           Mr.Bulstrode,likeeveryoneelsewhoknewCaleb,wasusedtohisslownessinbeginningtospeakonanytopicwhichhefelttobeimportant,andratherexpectedthathewasabouttorecurtothebuyingofsomehousesinBlindman’sCourt,forthesakeofpullingthemdown,asasacrificeofpropertywhichwouldbewellrepaidbytheinfluxofairandlightonthatspot.