It might be that she would disobey him if he simply sent for her and bade her to affix her signature here and there. He thought much about it and considered that it would be wise that his wife should be present on the occasion, and that a full explanation should be given to Marie, by which she might be made to understand that the money had in no sense become her own. So he gave instructions to his wife when he started into the city that morning; and when he returned, for the sake of making his offer to the Longestaffes, he brought with him the deeds which it would be necessary that Marie should sign, and he brought also Mr. Croll, his clerk, that Mr. Croll might witness the signature.
When he left the Longestaffes and Mr. Bideawhile he went at once to his wife's room. "Is she here?" he asked.
"I will send for her. I have told her."
"You haven't frightened her?"

He decided that his wife should be present, and that a full explanation should be given to Marie, so that she might understand that the money had in no sense become her own. When he returned to Bruton Street, he brought with him the deeds which Marie would need to sign, and he brought also Mr. Croll, his clerk, to witness the signature.
He went at once to his wife's room. "Is she here?" he asked.
"I will send for her. I have told her."
"You haven't frightened her?"
