All this Mr.Slope read in the slight motion of the bishop's thumb, and he read it correctly.

There was no need of parchments and seals, of attestations, explanations, and professions.

The bargain was understood between them, and Mr.Slope gave the bishop his hand upon it.

The bishop understood the little extra squeeze, and an intelligible gleam of assent twinkled in his eye.
"Pray be civil to the archdeacon, Mr.Slope," said he out loud, "but make him quite understand that in this matter Mr.Harding has put it out of my power to oblige him." It would be a calumny on Mrs.Proudie to suggest that she was sitting in her bedroom with her ear at the keyhole during this interview.
She had within her a spirit of decorum which prevented her from descending to such baseness.

To put her ear to a keyhole, or to listen at a chink, was a trick for a housemaid.