Todd looked first at one neighbour and then at another before he answered. "I'm here, that's all I can say, Mr. Melmotte; and I've had a very good dinner. They who haven't come, have lost a very good dinner."
There was a weight upon Melmotte's mind of which he could not rid himself. He knew from the old man's manner, and he knew also from Lord Alfred's manner, that there was something which each of them could tell him if he would. But he was unable to make the men open their mouths. And yet it might be so important to him that he should know! "It's very odd," he said, "that gentlemen should promise to come and then stay away. There were hundreds anxious to be present whom I should have been glad to welcome, if I had known that there would be room. I think it is very odd."

Todd looked at his neighbours before he answered. "I'm here, that's all I can say, Mr. Melmotte; and I've had a very good dinner."
There was a weight upon Melmotte's mind. He knew from old Todd's manner, and Lord Alfred's, that there was something they could tell him if they would. But they would not open their mouths.
"It's very odd," he said, "that gentlemen should promise to come and then stay away. There were hundreds anxious to be present. I think it is very odd."
