"Don't know," said Lord Alfred, who was unhappy in his mind, and repenting himself that he had ever seen Mr. Melmotte.
"What the deuce do you mean?" whispered Melmotte. "You've been at it from the beginning and ought to know. When I wanted to ask Brehgert, you swore that you couldn't squeeze a place."
"Can't say anything about it," said Lord Alfred, with his eyes fixed upon his plate.
"I'll be d---- if I don't find out," said Melmotte. "There's either some horrible blunder, or else there's been imposition. I don't see quite clearly. Where's Sir Gregory Gribe?"

"Don't know," said Lord Alfred unhappily, wishing that he had never seen Mr. Melmotte.
"What the deuce do you mean?" whispered Melmotte. "You ought to know."
"Can't say anything about it," said Lord Alfred, with his eyes fixed upon his plate.
"I'll be d___ if I don't find out," said Melmotte. 