nowI
do
n't
so
much
care
how
it
ends
.
”
He
scarcely
seemed
to
be
the
prisoner
.
What
with
his
coolness
and
his
soldierly
bearing
,
he
looked
far
more
like
the
prison
guard
.
“
This
is
even
a
rougher
place
than
my
gallery
to
receive
a
lady
in
,
”
said
Mr.
George
,
“
but
I
know
Miss
Summerson
will
make
the
best
of
it
.
”
As
he
handed
me
to
the
bench
on
which
he
had
been
sitting
,
I
sat
down
;
which
seemed
to
give
him
great
satisfaction
.
“
I
thank
you
,
miss
,
”
said
he
.
“
Now
,
George
,
”
observed
my
guardian
,
“
as
we
require
no
new
assurances
on
your
part
,
so
I
believe
we
need
give
you
none
on
ours
.
”
“
Not
at
all
,
sir
.
I
thank
you
with
all
my
heart
.
If
I
was
not
innocent
of
this
crime
,
I
could
n't
look
at
you
and
keep
my
secret
to
myself
,
under
the
condescension
of
the
present
visit
.
I
feel
the
present
visit
very
much
.
I
am
not
one
of
the
eloquent
sort
,
but
I
feel
it
,
Miss
Summerson
and
gentlemen
,
deeply
.
”
He
laid
his
hand
for
a
moment
on
his
broad
chest
,
and
bent
his
head
to
us
.
Although
he
squared
himself
again
directly
,
he
expressed
a
great
amount
of
natural
emotion
by
these
simple
means
.
“
First
,
”
said
my
guardian
,
“
can
we
do
anything
for
your
personal
comfort
,
George
?
”
“
For
which
,
sir
?
”
he
inquired
,
clearing
his
throat
.
“
For
your
personal
comfort
.
Is
there
anything
you
want
,
that
would
lessen
the
hardship
of
this
confinement
?
”
“
Well
,
sir
,
”
replied
Mr.
George
,
after
a
little
cogitation
,
“
I
am
equally
obliged
to
you
;
but
tobacco
being
against
the
rules
,
I
ca
n't
say
that
there
is
.
”
“
You
will
think
of
many
little
things
perhaps
,
by-and-by
.
Whenever
you
do
,
George
,
let
us
know
,
”
“
Thank
you
,
sir
.
Howsoever
,
”
observed
Mr.
George
,
with
one
of
his
sunburnt
smiles
,
“
a
man
who
has
been
knocking
about
the
world
in
a
vagabond
kind
of
a
way
as
long
as
I
have
,
gets
on
well
enough
in
a
place
like
the
present
,
so
far
as
that
goes
.
”
“
Next
,
as
to
your
case
,
”
observed
my
guardian
.
“
Exactly
so
,
sir
,
”
returned
Mr.
George
,
folding
his
arms
upon
his
breast
with
perfect
self-possession
and
a
little
curiosity
.
“
How
does
it
stand
now
?
”
“
Why
,
sir
,
it
is
under
remand
at
present
.
Bucket
gives
me
to
understand
that
he
will
probably
apply
for
a
series
of
remands
from
time
to
time
,
until
the
case
is
more
complete
.
How
it
is
to
be
made
more
complete
,
I
do
n't
myself
see
;
but
I
dare
say
Bucket
will
manage
it
somehow
.
”
“
Why
,
Heaven
save
us
,
man
!
”
exclaimed
my
guardian
,
surprised
into
his
old
oddity
and
vehemence
,
“
you
talk
of
yourself
as
if
you
were
somebody
else
!
”
“
No
offence
,
sir
,
”
said
Mr.
George
.
“
I
am
very
sensible
of
your
kindness
.
But
I
do
n't
see
how
an
innocent
man
is
to
make
up
his
mind
to
this
kind
of
thing
without
knocking
his
head
against
the
walls
,
unless
he
takes
it
in
that
point
of
view
.
”
“
That
is
true
enough
,
to
a
certain
extent
,
”
returned
my
guardian
,
softened
.
“
But
my
good
fellow
,
even
an
innocent
man
must
take
ordinary
precautions
to
defend
himself
.
”
“
Certainly
,
sir
.
And
I
have
done
so
.
I
have
stated
to
the
magistrates
,
‘Gentlemen
,
I
am
as
innocent
of
this
charge
as
yourselves
;
what
has
been
stated
against
me
in
the
way
of
facts
,
is
perfectly
true
;
I
know
no
more
about
it.’
I
intend
to
continue
stating
that
,
sir
.
What
more
can
I
do
?
It
's
the
truth
.
”
“
But
the
mere
truth
wo
n't
do
,
”
rejoined
my
guardian
.
“
Wo
n't
it
,
indeed
,
sir
?
Rather
a
bad
look-out
for
me
!
”
Mr.
George
good-humoredly
observed
.
“
You
must
have
a
lawyer
,
”
pursued
my
guardian
.
“
We
must
engage
a
good
one
for
you
.
”
“
I
ask
your
pardon
,
sir
,
”
said
Mr.
George
,
with
a
step
backward
.
“
I
am
equally
obliged
.
But
I
must
decidedly
beg
to
be
excused
from
anything
of
that
sort
.
”
“
You
wo
n't
have
a
lawyer
?
”
“
No
,
sir
.
”
Mr.
George
shook
his
head
in
the
most
emphatic
manner
.
“
I
thank
you
all
the
same
,
sir
,
but
—
no
lawyer
!
”
“
Why
not
?
”
“
I
do
n't
take
kindly
to
the
breed
,
”
said
Mr.
George
.
“
Gridley
did
n't
.
And
—
if
you
'll
excuse
my
saying
so
much
—
I
should
hardly
have
thought
you
did
yourself
,
sir
.
”
“
That
's
Equity
,
”
my
guardian
explained
,
a
little
at
a
loss
;
“
that
's
Equity
,
George
.
”
“
Is
it
indeed
,
sir
?
”
returned
the
trooper
,
in
his
off-hand
manner
.
“
I
am
not
acquainted
with
those
shades
of
names
myself
,
but
in
a
general
way
I
object
to
the
breed
.
”
Unfolding
his
arms
,
and
changing
his
position
,
he
stood
with
one
massive
hand
upon
the
table
,
and
the
other
on
his
hip
,
as
complete
a
picture
of
a
man
who
was
not
to
be
moved
from
a
fixed
purpose
as
ever
I
saw
.
It
was
in
vain
that
we
all
three
talked
to
him
,
and
endeavoured
to
persuade
him
;
he
listened
with
that
gentleness
which
went
so
well
with
his
bluff
bearing
,
but
was
evidently
no
more
shaken
by
our
representations
than
his
place
of
confinement
was
.
“
Pray
think
,
once
more
,
Mr.
George
,
”
said
I
.
“
Have
you
no
wish
,
in
reference
to
your
case
?
”
“
I
certainly
could
wish
it
to
be
tried
,
miss
,
”
he
returned
,
“
by
court-martial
;
but
that
is
out
of
the
question
,
as
I
am
well
aware
.
If
you
will
be
so
good
as
to
favour
me
with
your
attention
for
a
couple
of
minutes
,
miss
,
not
more
,
I
'll
endeavour
to
explain
myself
as
clearly
as
I
can
.
”
He
looked
at
us
all
three
in
turn
,
shook
his
head
a
little
as
if
he
were
adjusting
it
in
the
stock
and
collar
of
a
tight
uniform
,
and
after
a
moment
's
reflection
went
on
.
“
You
see
,
miss
,
I
have
been
hand-cuffed
and
taken
into
custody
,
and
brought
here
.
I
am
a
marked
and
disgraced
man
,
and
here
I
am
.
My
shooting-gallery
is
rummaged
,
high
and
low
,
by
Bucket
;
such
property
as
I
have
—
'
tis
small
—
is
turned
this
way
and
that
,
till
it
do
n't
know
itself
;
and
(
as
aforesaid
)
here
I
am
!
I
do
n't
particular
complain
of
that
.
Though
I
am
in
these
present
quarters
through
no
immediately
preceding
fault
of
mine
,
I
can
very
well
understand
that
if
I
had
n't
gone
into
the
vagabond
way
in
my
youth
,
this
would
n't
have
happened
.
It
has
happened
.
Then
comes
the
question
,
how
to
meet
it
.
”
He
rubbed
his
swarthy
forehead
for
a
moment
,
with
a
good-humored
look
,
and
said
apologetically
,
“
I
am
such
a
short-winded
talker
that
I
must
think
a
bit
.
”
Having
thought
a
bit
,
he
looked
up
again
,
[
and
resumed
.
“
How
to
meet
it
.
Now
,
the
unfortunate
deceased
was
himself
a
lawyer
,
and
had
a
pretty
tight
hold
of
me
.
I
do
n't
wish
to
rake
up
his
ashes
,
but
he
had
,
what
I
should
call
if
he
was
living
,
a
Devil
of
a
tight
hold
of
me
.
I
do
n't
like
his
trade
the
better
for
that
.
If
I
had
kept
clear
of
his
trade
,
I
should
have
kept
outside
this
place
.
But
that
's
not
what
I
mean
.
Now
,
suppose
I
had
killed
him
.
Suppose
I
really
had
discharged
into
his
body
any
one
of
those
pistols
recently
fired
off
,
that
Bucket
has
found
at
my
place
,
and
,
dear
me
!
might
have
found
there
any
day
since
it
has
been
my
place
.
What
should
I
have
done
as
soon
as
I
was
hard
and
fast
here
?
Got
a
lawyer
.
”
He
stopped
on
hearing
some
one
at
the
locks
and
bolts
,
and
did
not
resume
until
the
door
had
been
opened
and
was
shut
again
.
For
what
purpose
opened
,
I
will
mention
presently
.
“
I
should
have
got
a
lawyer
,
and
he
would
have
said
(
as
I
have
often
read
in
the
newspapers
)
,
‘my
client
says
nothing
,
my
client
reserves
his
defence
—
my
client
this
,
that
,
and
t'other.’
Well
!
'
tis
not
the
custom
of
that
breed
to
go
straight
,
according
to
my
opinion
,
or
to
think
that
other
men
do
.
Say
,
I
am
innocent
,
and
I
get
a
lawyer
.
He
would
be
as
likely
to
believe
me
guilty
as
not
;
perhaps
more
.
What
would
he
do
,
whether
or
no
?
Act
as
if
I
was
;
—
shut
my
mouth
up
,
tell
me
not
to
commit
myself
,
keep
circumstances
back
,
chop
the
evidence
small
,
quibble
,
and
get
me
off
perhaps
!
But
,
Miss
Summerson
,
do
I
care
for
getting
off
in
that
way
;
or
would
I
rather
be
hanged
in
my
own
way
—
if
you
'll
excuse
my
mentioning
anything
so
disagreeable
to
a
lady
?
”
He
had
warmed
into
his
subject
now
,
and
was
under
no
further
necessity
to
wait
a
bit
.
“
I
would
rather
be
hanged
in
my
own
way
.
And
I
mean
to
be
!
I
do
n't
intend
to
say
,
”
looking
round
upon
us
,
with
his
powerful
arms
akimbo
and
his
dark
eyebrows
raised
,
“
that
I
am
more
partial
to
being
hanged
than
another
man
.
What
I
say
is
,
I
must
come
off
clear
and
full
,
or
not
at
all
.
Therefore
,
when
I
hear
stated
against
me
what
is
true
,
I
say
it
's
true
;
and
when
they
tell
me
,
‘whatever
you
say
will
be
used
,
’
I
tell
them
I
do
n't
mind
that
;
I
mean
it
to
be
used
.
If
they
ca
n't
make
me
innocent
out
of
the
whole
truth
,
they
are
not
likely
to
do
it
out
of
anything
less
,
or
anything
else
.
And
if
they
are
,
it
's
worth
nothing
to
me
.
”
Taking
a
pace
or
two
over
the
stone
floor
,
he
came
back
to
the
table
,
and
finished
what
he
had
to
say
.
“
I
thank
you
,
miss
,
and
gentlemen
both
,
many
times
for
your
attention
,
and
many
times
more
for
your
interest
.
That
's
the
plain
state
of
the
matter
,
as
it
points
itself
out
to
a
mere
trooper
with
a
blunt
broad-sword
kind
of
a
mind
.
I
have
never
done
well
in
life
,
beyond
my
duty
as
a
soldier
;
and
if
the
worst
comes
after
all
,
I
shall
reap
pretty
much
as
I
have
sown
.
When
I
got
over
the
first
crash
of
being
seized
as
a
murderer
—
it
do
n't
take
a
rover
,
who
has
knocked
about
so
much
as
myself
,
so
very
long
to
recover
from
a
crash
—
I
worked
my
way
round
to
what
you
find
me
now
.
As
such
,
I
shall
remain
.
No
relations
will
be
disgraced
by
me
,
or
made
unhappy
for
me
,
and
—
and
that
's
all
I
've
got
to
say
.
”
The
door
had
been
opened
to
admit
another
soldier-looking
man
of
less
prepossessing
appearance
at
first
sight
,
and
a
weather-tanned
bright-eyed
wholesome
woman
with
a
basket
,
who
,
from
her
entrance
,
had
been
exceedingly
attentive
to
all
Mr.
George
had
said
.
Mr.
George
had
received
them
with
a
familiar
nod
and
a
friendly
look
,
but
without
any
more
particular
greeting
in
the
midst
of
his
address
.
He
now
shook
them
cordially
by
the
hand
,
and
said
,
“
Miss
Summerson
and
gentlemen
,
this
is
an
old
comrade
of
mine
,
Joseph
Bagnet
.
And
this
is
his
wife
,
Mrs.
Bagnet
.
”
Mr.
Bagnet
made
us
a
stiff
military
bow
,
and
Mrs.
Bagnet
dropped
us
a
curtsey
.
“
Real
good
friends
of
mine
they
are
,
”
said
Mr.
George
.
“
It
was
at
their
house
I
was
taken
.
”
“
With
a
second-hand
wiolinceller
,
”
Mr.
Bagnet
put
in
,
twitching
his
head
angrily
.
“
Of
a
good
tone
.
For
a
friend
.
That
money
was
no
object
to
.
”
“
Mat
,
”
said
Mr.
George
,
“
you
have
heard
pretty
well
all
I
have
been
saying
to
this
lady
and
these
two
gentlemen
.
I
know
it
meets
your
approval
?
”
Mr.
Bagnet
,
after
considering
,
referred
the
point
to
his
wife
.
“
Old
girl
,
”
said
he
.
“
Tell
him
.
Whether
or
not
.
It
meets
my
approval
.
”
“
Why
,
George
,
”
exclaimed
Mrs.
Bagnet
,
who
had
been
unpacking
her
basket
,
in
which
there
was
a
piece
of
cold
pickled
pork
,
a
little
tea
and
sugar
,
and
a
brown
loaf
,
“
you
ought
to
know
it
do
n't
.
You
ought
to
know
it
's
enough
to
drive
a
person
wild
to
hear
you
.
You
wo
n't
be
got
off
this
way
,
and
you
wo
n't
be
got
off
that
way
—
what
do
you
mean
by
such
picking
and
choosing
?
It
's
stuff
and
nonsense
,
George
.
”
“
Do
n't
be
severe
upon
me
in
my
misfortunes
,
Mrs.
Bagnet
,
”
said
the
trooper
,
lightly
.
“
Oh
!
Bother
your
misfortunes
!
”
cried
Mrs.
Bagnet
,
“
if
they
do
n't
make
you
more
reasonable
than
that
comes
to
.
I
never
was
so
ashamed
in
my
life
to
hear
a
man
talk
folly
,
as
I
have
been
to
hear
you
talk
this
day
to
the
present
company
.
Lawyers
?
Why
,
what
but
too
many
cooks
should
hinder
you
from
having
a
dozen
lawyers
,
if
the
gentleman
recommended
them
to
you
?
”
“
This
is
a
very
sensible
woman
,
”
said
my
guardian
.
“
I
hope
you
will
persuade
him
,
Mrs.
Bagnet
.
”
“
Persuade
him
,
sir
?
”
she
returned
.
“
Lord
bless
you
,
no.
You
do
n't
know
George
.
Now
,
there
!
”
Mrs.
Bagnet
left
her
basket
to
point
him
out
with
both
her
bare
brown
hands
.
“
There
he
stands
!
As
self-willed
and
as
determined
a
man
,
in
the
wrong
way
,
as
ever
put
a
human
creature
under
Heaven
,
out
of
patience
!
You
could
as
soon
take
up
and
shoulder
an
eight-and-forty
pounder
by
your
own
strength
,
as
turn
that
man
,
when
he
has
got
a
thing
into
his
head
,
and
fixed
it
there
.
Why
,
do
n't
I
know
him
!
”
cried
Mrs.
Bagnet
.
“
Do
n't
I
know
you
,
George
!
You
do
n't
mean
to
set
up
for
a
new
character
with
me
,
after
all
these
years
,
I
hope
?
”
Her
friendly
indignation
had
an
exemplary
effect
upon
her
husband
,
who
shook
his
head
at
the
trooper
several
times
,
as
a
silent
recommendation
to
him
to
yield
.
Betweenwhiles
,
Mrs.
Bagnet
looked
at
me
;
and
I
understood
,
from
the
play
of
her
eyes
,
that
she
wished
me
to
do
something
,
though
I
did
not
comprehend
what
.
“
But
I
have
given
up
talking
to
you
,
old
fellow
,
years
and
years
,
”
said
Mrs.
Bagnet
,
as
she
blew
a
little
dust
off
the
pickled
pork
,
looking
at
me
again
;
“
and
when
ladies
and
gentlemen
know
you
as
well
as
I
do
,
they
'll
give
up
talking
to
you
too
.
If
you
are
not
too
headstrong
to
accept
of
a
bit
of
dinner
,
here
it
is
.
”
“
I
accept
it
,
with
many
thanks
,
”
returned
the
trooper
.
“
Do
you
though
,
indeed
?
”
said
Mrs.
Bagnet
,
continuing
to
grumble
on
good-humoredly
.
“
I
'm
sure
I
'm
surprised
at
that
.
I
wonder
you
do
n't
starve
in
your
own
way
also
.
It
would
only
be
like
you
.
Perhaps
you
'll
set
your
mind
upon
that
,
next
.
”
Here
she
again
looked
at
me
;
and
I
now
perceived
,
from
her
glances
at
the
door
and
at
me
,
by
turns
,
that
she
wished
us
to
retire
,
and
to
await
her
following
us
,
outside
the
prison
.
Communicating
this
by
similar
means
to
my
guardian
,
and
Mr.
Woodcourt
,
I
rose
.
“
We
hope
you
will
think
better
of
it
,
Mr.
George
,
”
said
I
;
“
and
we
shall
come
to
see
you
again
,
trusting
to
find
you
more
reasonable
.
”
“
More
grateful
,
Miss
Summerson
,
you
ca
n't
find
me
,
”
he
returned
.
“
But
more
persuadable
we
can
,
I
hope
,
”
said
I
.
“
And
let
me
entreat
you
to
consider
that
the
clearing
up
of
this
mystery
,
and
the
discovery
of
the
real
perpetrator
of
this
deed
,
may
be
of
the
last
importance
to
others
besides
yourself
.
”
He
heard
me
respectfully
,
but
without
much
heeding
these
words
,
which
I
spoke
,
a
little
turned
from
him
,
already
on
my
way
to
the
door
;
he
was
observing
(
this
they
afterwards
told
me
)
my
height
and
figure
,
which
seemed
to
catch
his
attention
all
at
once
.
“
'
Tis
curious
,
”
said
he
.
“
And
yet
I
thought
so
at
the
time
!
”
My
guardian
asked
him
what
he
meant
.
“
Why
,
sir
,
”
he
answered
,
“
when
my
ill-fortune
took
me
to
the
dead
man
's
staircase
on
the
night
of
his
murder
,
I
saw
a
shape
so
like
Miss
Summerson
's
go
by
me
in
the
dark
,
that
I
had
half
a
mind
to
speak
to
it
.
”
For
an
instant
,
I
felt
such
a
shudder
as
I
never
felt
before
or
since
,
and
hope
I
shall
never
feel
again
.
“
It
came
down-stairs
as
I
went
up
,
”
said
the
trooper
,
“
and
crossed
the
moonlighted
window
with
a
loose
black
mantle
on
;
I
noticed
a
deep
fringe
to
it
.
However
,
it
has
nothing
to
do
with
the
present
subject
,
excepting
that
Miss
Summerson
looked
so
like
it
at
the
moment
,
that
it
came
into
my
head
.
”
I
cannot
separate
and
define
the
feelings
that
arose
in
me
after
this
:
it
is
enough
that
the
vague
duty
and
obligation
I
had
felt
upon
me
from
the
first
of
following
the
investigation
,
was
,
without
my
distinctly
daring
to
ask
myself
any
question
,
increased
;
and
that
I
was
indignantly
sure
of
there
being
no
possibility
of
a
reason
for
my
being
afraid
.
We
three
went
out
of
the
prison
,
and
walked
up
and
down
at
some
short
distance
from
the
gate
,
which
was
in
a
retired
place
.
We
had
not
waited
long
,
when
Mr.
and
Mrs.
Bagnet
came
out
too
,
and
quickly
joined
us
.
There
was
a
tear
in
each
of
Mrs.
Bagnet
's
eyes
,
and
her
face
was
flushed
and
hurried
.
“
I
did
n't
let
George
see
what
I
thought
about
it
,
you
know
,
miss
,
”
was
her
first
remark
when
she
came
up
;
“
but
he
's
in
a
bad
way
,
poor
old
fellow
!
”
“
Not
with
care
and
prudence
,
and
good
help
,
”
said
my
guardian
.
“
A
gentleman
like
you
ought
to
know
best
,
sir
,
”
returned
Mrs.
Bagnet
,
hurriedly
drying
her
eyes
on
the
hem
of
her
grey
cloak
;
“
but
I
am
uneasy
for
him
.
He
has
been
so
careless
,
and
said
so
much
that
he
never
meant
.
The
gentlemen
of
the
juries
might
not
understand
him
as
Lignum
and
me
do
.
And
then
such
a
number
of
circumstances
have
happened
bad
for
him
,
and
such
a
number
of
people
will
be
brought
forward
to
speak
against
him
,
and
Bucket
is
so
deep
.
”
“
With
a
second-hand
wiolinceller
.
And
said
he
played
the
fife
.
When
a
boy
.
”
Mr.
Bagnet
added
,
with
great
solemnity
.
“
Now
,
I
tell
you
,
miss
,
”
said
Mrs.
Bagnet
;
“
and
when
I
say
miss
,
I
mean
all
!
Just
come
into
the
corner
of
the
wall
,
and
I
'll
tell
you
!
”
Mrs.
Bagnet
hurried
us
into
a
more
secluded
place
,
and
was
at
first
too
breathless
to
proceed
;
occasioning
Mr.
Bagnet
to
say
,
“
Old
girl
!
Tell
'
em
!
”
“
Why
,
then
,
miss
,
”
the
old
girl
proceeded
,
untying
the
strings
of
her
bonnet
for
more
air
,
“
you
could
as
soon
move
Dover
Castle
as
move
George
on
this
point
,
unless
you
had
got
a
new
power
to
move
him
with
.
And
I
have
got
it
!
”
“
You
are
a
jewel
of
a
woman
,
”
said
my
guardian
.
“
Go
on
!
”
“
Now
,
I
tell
you
,
miss
,
”
she
proceeded
,
clapping
her
hands
in
her
hurry
and
agitation
a
dozen
times
in
every
sentence
,
“
that
what
he
says
concerning
no
relations
is
all
bosh
.
They
do
n't
know
of
him
,
but
he
does
know
of
them
.
He
has
said
more
to
me
at
odd
times
than
to
anybody
else
,
and
it
war
n't
for
nothing
that
he
once
spoke
to
my
Woolwich
about
whitening
and
wrinkling
mother
's
heads
.
For
fifty
pounds
he
had
seen
his
mother
that
day
.
She
's
alive
,
and
must
be
brought
here
straight
!
”
Instantly
Mrs.
Bagnet
put
some
pins
into
her
mouth
,
and
began
pinning
up
her
skirts
all
round
,
a
little
higher
than
the
level
of
her
grey
cloak
;
which
she
accomplished
with
surprising
dispatch
and
dexterity
.
“
Lignum
,
”
said
Mrs.
Bagnet
,
“
you
take
care
of
the
children
,
old
man
,
and
give
me
the
umbrella
!
I
'm
away
to
Lincolnshire
,
to
bring
that
old
lady
here
.
”
“
But
,
bless
the
woman
!
”
cried
my
guardian
with
his
hand
in
his
pocket
,
“
how
is
she
going
?
What
money
has
she
got
?
”
Mrs.
Bagnet
made
another
application
to
her
skirts
,
and
brought
forth
a
leathern
purse
in
which
she
hastily
counted
over
a
few
shillings
,
and
which
she
then
shut
up
with
perfect
satisfaction
.
“
Never
you
mind
for
me
,
miss.
I
'm
a
soldier
's
wife
,
and
accustomed
to
travelling
in
my
own
way
.
Lignum
,
old
boy
,
”
kissing
him
,
“
one
for
yourself
;
three
for
the
children
.
Now
,
I
'm
away
into
Lincolnshire
after
George
's
mother
!
”
And
she
actually
set
off
while
we
three
stood
looking
at
one
another
lost
in
amazement
.
She
actually
trudged
away
in
her
grey
cloak
at
a
sturdy
pace
,
and
turned
the
corner
,
and
was
gone
.
“
Mr.
Bagnet
,
”
said
my
guardian
.
“
Do
you
mean
to
let
her
go
in
that
way
?
”
“
Ca
n't
help
it
,
”
he
returned
.
“
Made
her
way
home
once
.
From
another
quarter
of
the
world
.
With
the
same
grey
cloak
.
And
same
umbrella
.
Whatever
the
old
girl
says
,
do
.
Do
it
!
Whenever
the
old
girl
says
,
I
'
ll
do
it
.
She
does
it
.
”
“
Then
she
is
as
honest
and
genuine
as
she
looks
,
”
rejoined
my
guardian
,
“
and
it
is
impossible
to
say
more
for
her
.
”
“
She
's
Color-Serjeant
of
the
Nonpareil
battalion
,
”
said
Mr.
Bagnet
,
looking
at
us
over
his
shoulder
,
as
he
went
his
way
also
.
“
And
there
's
not
such
another
.
But
I
never
own
to
it
before
her
.
Discipline
must
be
maintained
.
”
CHAPTER
LIII
.
THE
TRACK
.
MR.
BUCKET
and
his
fat
forefinger
are
much
in
consultation
together
under
existing
circumstances
.
When
Mr.
Bucket
has
a
matter
of
this
pressing
interest
under
his
consideration
,
the
fat
forefinger
seems
to
rise
to
the
dignity
of
a
familiar
demon
.
He
puts
it
to
his
ears
,
and
it
whispers
information
;
he
puts
it
to
his
lips
,
and
it
enjoins
him
to
secresy
;
he
rubs
it
over
his
nose
,
and
it
sharpens
his
scent
;
he
shakes
it
before
a
guilty
man
,
and
it
charms
him
to
his
destruction
.
The
Augurs
of
the
Detective
Temple
invariably
predict
,
that
when
Mr.
Bucket
and
that
finger
are
much
in
conference
,
a
terrible
avenger
will
be
heard
of
before
long
.
Otherwise
mildly
studious
in
his
observation
of
human
nature
,
on
the
whole
a
benignant
philosopher
not
disposed
to
be
severe
upon
the
follies
of
mankind
,
Mr.
Bucket
pervades
a
vast
number
of
houses
,
and
strolls
about
an
infinity
of
streets
:
to
outward
appearance
rather
languishing
for
want
of
an
object
.
He
is
in
the
friendliest
condition
towards
his
species
,
and
will
drink
with
most
of
them
.
He
is
free
with
his
money
,
affable
in
his
manners
,
innocent
in
his
conversation
—
but
,
through
the
placid
stream
of
his
life
,
there
glides
an
under-current
of
forefinger
.
Time
and
place
cannot
bind
Mr.
Bucket
.
Like
man
in
the
abstract
,
he
is
here
to-day
and
gone
to-morrow
—
but
,
very
unlike
man
indeed
,
he
is
here
again
the
next
day
.
This
evening
he
will
be
casually
looking
into
the
iron
extinguishers
at
the
door
of
Sir
Leicester
Dedlock
's
house
in
town
;
and
to-morrow
morning
he
will
be
walking
on
the
leads
at
Chesney
Wold
,
where
erst
the
old
man
walked
whose
ghost
is
propitiated
with
a
hundred
guineas
.
Drawers
,
desks
,
pockets
,
all
things
belonging
to
him
,
Mr.
Bucket
examines
.
A
few
hours
afterwards
,
he
and
the
Roman
will
be
alone
together
,
comparing
forefingers
.
It
is
likely
that
these
occupations
are
irreconcileable
with
home
enjoyment
,
but
it
is
certain
that
Mr.
Bucket
at
present
does
not
go
home
.
Though
in
general
he
highly
appreciates
the
society
of
Mrs.
Bucket
—
a
lady
of
a
natural
detective
genius
,
which
if
it
had
been
improved
by
professional
exercise
,
might
have
done
great
things
,
but
which
has
paused
at
the
level
of
a
clever
amateur
—
he
holds
himself
aloof
from
that
dear
solace
.
Mrs.
Bucket
is
dependent
on
their
lodger
(
fortunately
an
amiable
lady
in
whom
she
takes
an
interest
)
for
companionship
and
conversation
.
A
great
crowd
assembles
in
Lincoln
's
Inn
Fields
on
the
day
of
the
funeral
.
Sir
Leicester
Dedlock
attends
the
ceremony
in
person
;
strictly
speaking
,
there
are
only
three
other
human
followers
,
that
is
to
say
,
Lord
Doodle
,
William
Buffy
,
and
the
debilitated
cousin
(
thrown
in
as
a
make-weight
)
,
but
the
amount
of
inconsolable
carriages
is
immense
.
The
Peerage
contributes
more
four-wheeled
affliction
than
has
ever
been
seen
in
that
neighbourhood
.
Such
is
the
assemblage
of
armorial
bearings
on
coach
panels
,
that
the
Heralds
'
College
might
be
supposed
to
have
lost
its
father
and
mother
at
a
blow
.
The
Duke
of
Foodle
sends
a
splendid
pile
of
dust
and
ashes
,
with
silver
wheel-boxes
,
patent
axles
,
all
the
last
improvements
,
and
three
bereaved
worms
,
six
feet
high
,
holding
on
behind
,
in
a
bunch
of
woe
.
All
the
state
coachmen
in
London
seem
plunged
into
mourning
;
and
if
that
dead
old
man
of
the
rusty
garb
,
be
not
beyond
a
taste
in
horseflesh
(
which
appears
impossible
)
,
it
must
be
highly
gratified
this
day
.
Quiet
among
the
undertakers
and
the
equipages
,
and
the
calves
of
so
many
legs
all
steeped
in
grief
,
Mr.
Bucket
sits
concealed
in
one
of
the
inconsolable
carriages
,
and
at
his
ease
surveys
the
crowd
through
the
lattice
blinds
.
He
has
a
keen
eye
for
a
crowd
—
as
for
what
not
?
—
and
looking
here
and
there
,
now
from
this
side
of
the
carriage
,
now
from
the
other
,
now
up
at
the
house
windows
,
now
along
the
people
's
heads
,
nothing
escapes
him
.
“
And
there
you
are
,
my
partner
,
eh
?
”
says
Mr.
Bucket
to
himself
,
apostrophising
Mrs.
Bucket
,
stationed
,
by
his
favor
,
on
the
steps
of
the
deceased
's
house
.
“
And
so
you
are
.
And
so
you
are
!
And
very
well
indeed
you
are
looking
,
Mrs.
Bucket
!
”
The
procession
has
not
started
yet
,
but
it
waiting
for
the
cause
of
its
assemblage
to
be
brought
out
.
Mr.
Bucket
,
in
the
foremost
emblazoned
carriage
,
uses
his
two
fat
forefingers
to
hold
the
lattice
a
hair
's
breadth
open
while
he
looks
.
And
it
says
a
great
deal
for
his
attachment
,
as
a
husband
,
that
he
is
still
occupied
with
Mrs.
B
.
“
There
you
are
,
my
partner
,
eh
?
”
he
murmuringly
repeats
.
“
And
our
lodger
with
you
.
I
'm
taking
notice
of
you
,
Mrs.
Bucket
;
I
hope
you
're
all
right
in
your
health
,
my
dear
!
”
Not
another
word
does
Mr.
Bucket
say
;
but
sits
with
most
attentive
eyes
,
until
the
sacked
depository
of
noble
secrets
is
brought
down
—
Where
are
all
those
secrets
now
?
Does
he
keep
them
yet
?
Did
they
fly
with
him
on
that
sudden
journey
?
—
and
until
the
procession
moves
,
and
Mr.
Bucket
's
view
is
changed
.
After
which
,
he
composes
himself
for
an
easy
ride
;
and
takes
note
of
the
fittings
of
the
carriage
,
in
case
he
should
ever
find
such
knowledge
useful
.
Contrast
enough
between
Mr.
Tulkinghorn
shut
up
in
his
dark
carriage
,
and
Mr.
Bucket
shut
up
in
his
.
Between
the
immeasurable
track
of
space
beyond
the
little
wound
that
has
thrown
the
one
into
the
fixed
sleep
which
jolts
so
heavily
over
the
stones
of
the
streets
,
and
the
narrow
track
of
blood
which
keeps
the
other
in
the
watchful
state
expressed
in
every
hair
of
his
head
!
But
it
is
all
one
to
both
;
neither
is
troubled
about
that
.
Mr.
Bucket
sits
out
the
procession
,
in
his
own
easy
manner
,
and
glides
from
the
carriage
when
the
opportunity
he
has
settled
with
himself
arrives
.
He
makes
for
Sir
Leicester
Dedlock
's
,
which
is
at
present
a
sort
of
home
to
him
,
where
he
comes
and
goes
as
he
likes
at
all
hours
,
where
he
is
always
welcome
and
made
much
of
,
where
he
knows
the
whole
establishment
,
and
walks
in
an
atmosphere
of
mysterious
greatness
.
No
knocking
or
ringing
for
Mr.
Bucket
.
He
has
caused
himself
to
be
provided
with
a
key
,
and
can
pass
in
at
his
pleasure
.
As
he
is
crossing
the
hall
,
Mercury
informs
him
,
“
Here
's
another
letter
for
you
,
Mr.
Bucket
,
come
by
post
,
”
and
gives
it
him
.
“
Another
one
,
eh
?
”
says
Mr.
Bucket
.
If
Mercury
should
chance
to
be
possessed
by
any
lingering
curiosity
as
to
Mr.
Bucket
's
letters
,
that
wary
person
is
not
the
man
to
gratify
it
.
Mr.
Bucket
looks
at
him
,
as
if
his
face
were
a
vista
of
some
miles
in
length
,
and
he
were
leisurely
contemplating
the
same
.
“
Do
you
happen
to
carry
a
box
?
”
says
Mr.
Bucket
.
Unfortunately
Mercury
is
no
snuff-taker
.
“
Could
you
fetch
me
a
pinch
from
anywheres
?
”
says
Mr.
Bucket
.
“
Thankee
.
It
do
n't
matter
what
it
is
;
I
'm
not
particular
as
to
the
kind
.
Thankee
!
”
Having
leisurely
helped
himself
from
a
canister
borrowed
from
somebody
down-stairs
for
the
purpose
,
and
having
made
a
considerable
show
of
tasting
it
,
first
with
one
side
of
his
nose
and
then
with
the
other
,
Mr.
Bucket
,
with
much
deliberation
,
pronounces
it
of
the
right
sort
,
and
goes
on
,
letter
in
hand
.
Now
,
although
Mr.
Bucket
walks
up-stairs
to
the
little
library
within
the
larger
one
,
with
the
face
of
a
man
who
receives
some
scores
of
letters
every
day
,
it
happens
that
much
correspondence
is
not
incidental
to
his
life
.
He
is
no
great
scribe
;
rather
handling
his
pen
like
the
pocket-staff
he
carries
about
with
him
always
convenient
to
his
grasp
;
and
discourages
correspondence
with
himself
in
others
,
as
being
too
artless
and
direct
a
way
of
doing
delicate
business
.
Further
,
he
often
sees
damaging
letters
produced
in
evidence
,
and
has
occasion
to
reflect
that
it
was
a
green
thing
to
write
them
.
For
these
reasons
he
has
very
little
to
do
with
letters
,
either
as
sender
or
receiver
.
And
yet
he
has
received
a
round
half
dozen
,
within
the
last
twenty-four
hours
.
“
And
this
,
”
says
Mr.
Bucket
,
spreading
it
out
on
the
table
,
“
is
in
the
same
hand
,
and
consists
of
the
same
two
words
.
”
What
two
words
?
He
turns
the
key
in
the
door
,
ungirdles
his
black
pocket-book
(
book
of
fate
to
many
)
,
lays
another
letter
by
it
,
and
reads
,
boldly
written
in
each
,
“
LADY
DEDLOCK
.
”
“
Yes
,
yes
,
”
says
Mr.
Bucket
.
“
But
I
could
have
made
the
money
without
this
anonymous
information
.
”
Having
put
the
letters
in
his
book
of
Fate
,
and
girdled
it
up
again
,
he
unlocks
the
door
just
in
time
to
admit
his
dinner
,
which
is
brought
upon
a
goodly
tray
,
with
a
decanter
of
sherry
.
Mr.
Bucket
frequently
observes
,
in
friendly
circles
where
there
is
no
restraint
,
that
he
likes
a
toothful
of
your
fine
old
brown
East
Inder
sherry
better
than
anything
you
can
offer
him
.
Consequently
he
fills
and
empties
his
glass
,
with
a
smack
of
his
lips
;
and
is
proceeding
with
his
refreshment
,
when
an
idea
enters
his
mind
.
Mr.
Bucket
softly
opens
the
door
of
communication
between
that
room
and
the
next
,
and
looks
in
.
The
library
is
deserted
,
and
the
fire
is
sinking
low
.
Mr.
Bucket
's
eye
,
after
taking
a
pigeon-flight
round
the
room
,
alights
upon
a
table
where
letters
are
usually
put
as
they
arrive
.
Several
letters
for
Sir
Leicester
are
upon
it
.
Mr.
Bucket
draws
near
,
and
examines
the
directions
.
“
No
,
”
he
says
,
“
there
's
none
in
that
hand
.
It
's
only
me
as
is
written
to
.
I
can
break
it
to
Sir
Leicester
Dedlock
,
Baronet
,
to-morrow
.
”
With
that
,
he
returns
to
finish
his
dinner
with
a
good
appetite
;
and
,
after
a
light
nap
,
is
summoned
into
the
drawing-room
.
Sir
Leicester
has
received
him
there
these
several
evenings
past
,
to
know
whether
he
has
anything
to
report
.
The
debilitated
cousin
(
much
exhausted
by
the
funeral
)
,
and
Volumnia
,
are
in
attendance
.
Mr.
Bucket
makes
three
distinctly
different
bows
to
these
three
people
.
A
bow
of
homage
to
Sir
Leicester
,
a
bow
of
gallantry
to
Volumnia
,
and
a
bow
of
recognition
to
the
debilitated
cousin
;
to
whom
it
airily
says
,
“
You
are
a
swell
about
town
,
and
you
know
me
,
and
I
know
you
.
”
Having
distributed
these
little
specimens
of
his
tact
,
Mr.
Bucket
rubs
his
hands
.
“
Have
you
anything
new
to
communicate
,
officer
?
”
inquires
Sir
Leicester
.
“
Do
you
wish
to
hold
any
conversation
with
me
in
private
?
”
“
Why
—
not
to-night
,
Sir
Leicester
Dedlock
,
Baronet
.
”
“
Because
my
time
,
”
pursues
Sir
Leicester
,
“
is
wholly
at
your
disposal
,
with
a
view
to
the
vindication
of
the
outraged
majesty
of
the
law
.
”
Mr.
Bucket
coughs
,
and
glances
at
Volumnia
,
rouged
and
necklaced
,
as
though
he
would
respectfully
observe
,
“
I
do
assure
you
,
you
're
a
pretty
creetur
.
I
've
seen
hundreds
worse-looking
at
your
time
of
life
,
I
have
indeed
.
”
The
fair
Volumnia
not
quite
unconscious
perhaps
of
the
humanising
influence
of
her
charms
,
pauses
in
the
writing
of
cocked-hat
notes
,
and
meditatively
adjusts
the
pearl
necklace
.
Mr.
Bucket
prices
that
decoration
in
his
mind
,
and
thinks
it
as
likely
as
not
that
Volumnia
is
writing
poetry
.
“
If
I
have
not
,
”
pursues
Sir
Leicester
,
“
in
the
most
emphatic
manner
,
adjured
you
,
officer
,
to
exercise
your
utmost
skill
in
this
atrocious
case
,
I
particularly
desire
to
take
the
present
opportunity
of
rectifying
any
omission
I
may
have
made
.
Let
no
expense
be
a
consideration
.
I
am
prepared
to
defray
all
charges
.
You
can
incur
none
,
in
pursuit
of
the
object
you
have
undertaken
,
that
I
shall
hesitate
for
a
moment
to
bear
.
”
Mr.
Bucket
makes
Sir
Leicester
's
bow
again
,
as
a
response
to
this
liberality
.
“
My
mind
,
”
Sir
Leicester
adds
,
with
generous
warmth
,
“
has
not
,
as
may
be
easily
supposed
,
recovered
its
tone
since
the
late
diabolical
occurrence
.
It
is
not
likely
ever
to
recover
its
tone
.
But
it
is
full
of
indignation
to-night
,
after
undergoing
the
ordeal
of
consigning
to
the
tomb
the
remains
of
a
faithful
,
a
zealous
,
a
devoted
adherent
.
”
Sir
Leicester
's
voice
trembles
,
and
his
grey
hair
stirs
upon
his
head
.
Tears
are
in
his
eyes
;
the
best
part
of
his
nature
is
aroused
.
“
I
declare
,
”
he
says
,
“
I
solemnly
declare
that
until
this
crime
is
discovered
and
,
in
the
course
of
justice
,
punished
,
I
almost
feel
as
if
there
were
a
stain
upon
my
name
.
A
gentleman
who
has
devoted
a
large
portion
of
his
life
to
me
,
a
gentleman
who
has
devoted
the
last
day
of
his
life
to
me
,
a
gentleman
who
has
constantly
sat
at
my
table
and
slept
under
my
roof
,
goes
from
my
house
to
his
own
,
and
is
struck
down
within
an
hour
of
his
leaving
my
house
.
I
cannot
say
but
that
he
may
have
been
followed
from
my
house
,
watched
at
my
house
,
even
first
marked
because
of
his
association
with
my
house
—
which
may
have
suggested
his
possessing
greater
wealth
,
and
being
altogether
of
greater
importance
than
his
own
retiring
demeanour
would
have
indicated
.
If
I
cannot
with
my
means
,
and
my
influence
,
and
my
position
,
bring
all
the
perpetrators
of
such
a
crime
to
light
,
I
fail
in
the
assertion
of
my
respect
for
that
gentleman
's
memory
,
and
of
my
fidelity
towards
one
who
was
ever
faithful
to
me
.
”
While
he
makes
this
protestation
with
great
emotion
and
earnestness
,
looking
round
the
room
as
if
he
were
addressing
an
assembly
,
Mr.
Bucket
glances
at
him
with
an
observant
gravity
in
which
there
might
be
,
but
for
the
audacity
of
the
thought
,
a
touch
of
compassion
.
“
The
ceremony
of
to-day
,
”
continues
Sir
Leicester
,
“
strikingly
illustrative
of
the
respect
in
which
my
deceased
friend
;
”
he
lays
a
stress
upon
the
word
,
for
death
levels
all
distinctions
;
“
was
held
by
the
flower
of
the
land
,
has
,
I
say
,
aggravated
the
shock
I
have
received
from
this
most
horrible
and
audacious
crime
.
If
it
were
my
brother
who
had
committed
it
,
I
would
not
spare
him
.
”
Mr.
Bucket
looks
very
grave
.
Volumnia
remarks
of
the
deceased
that
he
was
the
trustiest
and
dearest
person
!
“
You
must
feel
it
as
a
deprivation
to
you
,
miss
,
”
replies
Mr.
Bucket
,
soothingly
,
“
no
doubt
.
He
was
calculated
to
be
a
deprivation
,
I
'm
sure
he
was
.
”
Volumnia
gives
Mr.
Bucket
to
understand
,
in
reply
,
that
her
sensitive
mind
is
fully
made
up
never
to
get
the
better
of
it
as
long
as
she
lives
;
that
her
nerves
are
unstrung
for
ever
;
and
that
she
has
not
the
least
expectation
of
smiling
again
.
Meanwhile
she
folds
up
a
cocked-hat
for
that
redoubtable
old
general
at
Bath
,
descriptive
of
her
melancholy
condition
.
“
It
gives
a
start
to
a
delicate
female
,
”
says
Mr.
Bucket
,
sympathetically
,
“
but
it
'll
wear
off
.
”
Volumnia
wishes
of
all
things
to
know
what
is
doing
?
Whether
they
are
going
to
convict
,
or
whatever
it
is
,
that
dreadful
soldier
?
Whether
he
had
any
accomplices
,
or
whatever
the
thing
is
called
,
in
the
law
?
And
a
great
deal
more
to
the
like
artless
purpose
.
“
Why
you
see
,
miss
,
”
returns
Mr.
Bucket
,
bringing
the
finger
into
persuasive
action
—
and
such
is
his
natural
gallantry
,
that
he
had
almost
said
,
my
dear
;
“
it
ai
n't
easy
to
answer
those
questions
at
the
present
moment
.
Not
at
the
present
moment
.
I
've
kept
myself
on
this
case
,
Sir
Leicester
Dedlock
,
Baronet
,
”
whom
Mr.
Bucket
takes
into
the
conversation
in
right
of
his
importance
,
“
morning
,
noon
,
and
night
.
But
for
a
glass
or
two
of
sherry
,
I
do
n't
think
I
could
have
had
my
mind
so
much
upon
the
stretch
as
it
has
been
.
I
could
answer
your
questions
,
miss
,
but
duty
forbids
it
.
Sir
Leicester
Dedlock
,
Baronet
,
will
very
soon
be
made
acquainted
with
all
that
has
been
traced
.
And
I
hope
that
he
may
find
it
;
”
Mr.
Bucket
again
looks
grave
;
“
to
his
satisfaction
.
”
The
debilitated
cousin
only
hopes
some
fler
'll
be
executed
—
zample
.
Thinks
more
interest
's
wanted
—
get
man
hanged
presentime
—
than
get
man
place
ten
thousand
a
year
.
Has
n't
a
doubt
—
zample
—
far
better
hang
wrong
fler
than
no
fler
.
“
You
know
life
,
you
know
,
sir
,
”
says
Mr.
Bucket
,
with
a
complimentary
twinkle
of
his
eye
and
crook
of
his
finger
,
“
and
you
can
confirm
what
I
've
mentioned
to
this
lady
.
You
do
n't
want
to
be
told
,
that
,
from
information
I
have
received
,
I
have
gone
to
work
.
You
're
up
to
what
a
lady
ca
n't
be
expected
to
be
up
to
.
Lord
!
especially
in
your
elevated
station
of
society
,
miss
,
”
says
Mr.
Bucket
,
quite
reddening
at
another
narrow
escape
from
my
dear
.
“
The
officer
,
Volumnia
,
”
observes
Sir
Leicester
,
“
is
faithful
to
his
duty
,
and
perfectly
right
.
”
Mr.
Bucket
murmurs
,
“
Glad
to
have
the
honor
of
your
approbation
,
Sir
Leicester
Dedlock
,
Baronet
.
”
“
In
fact
,
Volumnia
,
”
proceeds
Sir
Leicester
,
“
it
is
not
holding
up
a
good
model
for
imitation
,
to
ask
the
officer
any
such
questions
as
you
have
put
to
him
.
He
is
the
best
judge
of
his
own
responsibility
;
he
acts
upon
his
responsibility
.
And
it
does
not
become
us
,
who
assist
in
making
the
laws
,
to
impede
or
interfere
with
those
who
carry
them
into
execution
.
Or
,
”
says
Sir
Leicester
,
somewhat
sternly
,
for
Volumnia
was
going
to
cut
in
before
he
had
rounded
his
sentence
;
“
or
who
vindicate
their
outraged
majesty
.
”
Volumnia
with
all
humility
explains
that
she
has
not
merely
the
plea
of
curiosity
to
urge
(
in
common
with
the
giddy
youth
of
her
sex
in
general
)
,
but
that
she
is
perfectly
dying
with
regret
and
interest
for
the
darling
man
whose
loss
they
all
deplore
.
“
Very
well
,
Volumnia
,
”
returns
Sir
Leicester
.
“
Then
you
cannot
be
too
discreet
.
”
Mr.
Bucket
takes
the
opportunity
of
a
pause
to
be
heard
again
.
“
Sir
Leicester
Dedlock
,
Baronet
,
I
have
no
objections
to
telling
this
lady
,
with
your
leave
and
among
ourselves
,
that
I
look
upon
the
case
as
pretty
well
complete
.
It
is
a
beautiful
case
—
a
beautiful
case
—
and
what
little
is
wanting
to
complete
it
,
I
expect
to
be
able
to
supply
in
a
few
hours
.
”
“
I
am
very
glad
indeed
to
hear
it
,
”
says
Sir
Leicester
.
“
Highly
creditable
to
you
.
”
“
Sir
Leicester
Dedlock
,
Baronet
,
”
returns
Mr.
Bucket
,
very
seriously
,
“
I
hope
it
may
at
one
and
the
same
time
do
me
credit
,
and
prove
satisfactory
to
all
.
When
I
depict
it
as
a
beautiful
case
,
you
see
,
miss
,
”
Mr.
Bucket
goes
on
,
glancing
gravely
at
Sir
Leicester
,
“
I
mean
from
my
point
of
view
.
As
considered
from
other
points
of
view
,
such
cases
will
always
involve
more
or
less
unpleasantness
.
Very
strange
things
comes
to
our
knowledge
in
families
,
miss
;
bless
your
heart
,
what
you
would
think
to
be
phenomonons
,
quite
!
”
Volumnia
,
with
her
innocent
little
scream
,
supposes
so
.
“
Aye
,
and
even
in
gen-teel
families
,
in
high
families
,
in
great
families
,
”
says
Mr.
Bucket
,
again
gravely
eyeing
Sir
Leicester
aside
.
“
I
have
had
the
honor
of
being
employed
in
high
families
before
;
and
you
have
no
idea
—
come
,
I
'll
go
so
far
as
to
say
not
even
you
have
any
idea
,
sir
,
”
this
to
the
debilitated
cousin
,
“
what
games
goes
on
!
”
The
cousin
,
who
has
been
casting
sofa-pillows
on
his
head
,
in
a
prostration
of
boredom
,
yawns
,
“
Vayli
”
—
being
the
used-up
for
“
very
likely
.
”
Sir
Leicester
,
deeming
it
time
to
dismiss
the
officer
,
here
majestically
interposes
with
the
words
,
“
Very
good
.
Thank
you
!
”
and
also
with
a
wave
of
his
hand
,
implying
not
only
that
there
is
an
end
of
the
discourse
,
but
that
if
high
families
fall
into
low
habits
they
must
take
the
consequences
.
“
You
will
not
forget
,
officer
,
”
he
adds
,
with
condescension
,
“
that
I
am
at
your
disposal
when
you
please
.
”
Mr.
Bucket
(
still
grave
)
inquires
if
to-morrow
morning
,
now
,
would
suit
,
in
case
he
should
be
as
for'ard
as
he
expects
to
be
?
Sir
Leicester
replies
,
“
All
times
are
alike
to
me
.
”
Mr.
Bucket
makes
his
three
bows
,
and
is
withdrawing
,
when
a
forgotten
point
occurs
to
him
.
“
Might
I
ask
,
by-the-bye
,
”
he
says
,
in
a
low
voice
,
cautiously
returning
“
who
posted
the
Reward-bill
on
the
staircase
.
”
“
I
ordered
it
to
be
put
up
there
,
”
replies
Sir
Leicester
.
“
Would
it
be
considered
a
liberty
,
Sir
Leicester
Dedlock
,
Baronet
,
if
I
was
to
ask
you
why
?
”
“
Not
at
all
.
I
chose
it
as
a
conspicuous
part
of
the
house
.
I
think
it
cannot
be
too
prominently
kept
before
the
whole
establishment
.
I
wish
my
people
to
be
impressed
with
the
enormity
of
the
crime
,
the
determination
to
punish
it
,
and
the
hopelessness
of
escape
.
At
the
same
time
,
officer
,
if
you
in
your
better
knowledge
of
the
subject
see
any
objection
—
”
Mr.
Bucket
sees
none
now
;
the
bill
having
been
put
up
,
had
better
not
be
taken
down
.
Repeating
his
three
bows
he
withdraws
:
closing
the
door
on
Volumnia
's
little
scream
,
which
is
a
preliminary
to
her
remarking
that
that
charmingly
horrible
person
is
a
perfect
Blue
Chamber
.
In
his
fondness
for
society
,
and
his
adaptability
to
all
grades
,
Mr.
Bucket
is
presently
standing
before
the
hall-fire
—
bright
and
warm
on
the
early
winter
night
—
admiring
Mercury
.
“
Why
,
you
're
six
foot
two
,
I
suppose
?
”
says
Mr.
Bucket
.
“
Three
,
”
says
Mercury
.
“
Are
you
so
much
?
But
then
,
you
see
,
you
're
broad
in
proportion
,
and
do
n't
look
it
.
You
're
not
one
of
the
weak-legged
ones
,
you
ai
n't
.
Was
you
ever
modelled
now
?
”
Mr.
Bucket
asks
,
conveying
the
expression
of
an
artist
into
the
turn
of
his
eye
and
head
.
Mercury
never
was
modelled
.
“
Then
you
ought
to
be
,
you
know
,
”
says
Mr.
Bucket
;
“
and
a
friend
of
mine
that
you
'll
hear
of
one
day
as
a
Royal
Academy
Sculptor
,
would
stand
something
handsome
to
make
a
drawing
of
your
proportions
for
the
marble
.
My
Lady
's
out
,
ai
n't
she
?
”
“
Out
to
dinner
.
”
“
Goes
out
pretty
well
every
day
,
do
n't
she
?
”
“
Yes
.
”
“
Not
to
be
wondered
at
!
”
says
Mr.
Bucket
.
“
Such
a
fine
woman
as
her
,
so
handsome
and
so
graceful
and
so
elegant
,
is
like
a
fresh
lemon
on
a
dinner-table
,
ornamental
wherever
she
goes
.
Was
your
father
in
the
same
way
of
life
as
yourself
?
”
Answer
in
the
negative
.
“
Mine
was
,
”
says
Mr.
Bucket
.
“
My
father
was
first
a
page
,
then
a
footman
,
then
a
butler
,
then
a
steward
,
then
a
innkeeper
.
Lived
universally
respected
,
and
died
lamented
.
Said
with
his
last
breath
that
he
considered
service
the
most
honorable
part
of
his
career
,
and
so
it
was
.
I
've
a
brother
in
service
,
and
a
brother-in-law
.
My
Lady
a
good
temper
?
”
Mercury
replies
,
“
As
good
as
you
can
expect
.
”
“
Ah
!
”
says
Mr.
Bucket
,
“
a
little
spoilt
?
A
little
capricious
?
Lord
!
What
can
you
anticipate
when
they
're
so
handsome
as
that
?
And
we
like
'
em
all
the
better
for
it
,
do
n't
we
?
”
Mercury
,
with
his
hands
in
the
pockets
of
his
bright
peach-blossom
small-clothes
,
stretches
his
symmetrical
silk
legs
with
the
air
of
a
man
of
gallantry
,
and
ca
n't
deny
it
.
Come
the
roll
of
wheels
and
a
violent
ringing
at
the
bell
.
“
Talk
of
the
angels
,
”
says
Mr.
Bucket
.
“
Here
she
is
!
”
The
doors
are
thrown
open
,
and
she
passes
through
the
hall
.
Still
very
pale
,
she
is
dressed
in
slight
mourning
,
and
wears
two
beautiful
bracelets
.
Either
their
beauty
,
or
the
beauty
of
her
arms
,
is
particularly
attractive
to
Mr.
Bucket
.
He
looks
at
them
with
an
eager
eye
,
and
rattles
something
in
his
pocket
—
halfpence
perhaps
.
Noticing
him
at
his
distance
,
she
turns
an
inquiring
look
on
the
other
Mercury
who
has
brought
her
home
.
“
Mr.
Bucket
,
my
Lady
.
”
Mr.
Bucket
makes
a
leg
,
and
comes
forward
,
passing
his
familiar
demon
over
the
region
of
his
mouth
.
“
Are
you
waiting
to
see
Sir
Leicester
?
”
“
No
,
my
Lady
,
I
've
seen
him
!
”
“
Have
you
anything
to
say
to
me
?
”
“
Not
just
at
present
,
my
Lady
.
”
“
Have
you
made
any
new
discoveries
?
”
“
A
few
,
my
Lady
.
”
This
is
merely
in
passing
.
She
scarcely
makes
a
stop
,
and
sweeps
upstairs
alone
.
Mr.
Bucket
,
moving
towards
the
staircase-foot
,
watches
her
as
she
goes
up
the
steps
the
old
man
came
down
to
his
grave
;
past
murderous
groups
of
statuary
,
repeated
with
their
shadowy
weapons
on
the
wall
;
past
the
printed
bill
,
which
she
looks
at
going
by
;
out
of
view
.
“
She
's
a
lovely
woman
,
too
,
she
really
is
,
”
says
Mr.
Bucket
,
coming
back
to
Mercury
.
“
Do
n't
look
quite
healthy
though
.
”
Is
not
quite
healthy
,
Mercury
informs
him
.
Suffers
much
from
headaches
.
Really
?
That
's
a
pity
!
Walking
,
Mr.
Bucket
would
recommend
for
that
.
Well
,
she
tries
walking
,
Mercury
rejoins
.
Walks
sometimes
for
two
hours
,
when
she
has
them
bad
.
By
night
,
too
.
“
Are
you
sure
you
're
quite
so
much
as
six
foot
three
?
”
asks
Mr.
Bucket
,
“
begging
your
pardon
for
interrupting
you
a
moment
?
”
Not
a
doubt
about
it
.
“
You
're
so
well
put
together
that
I
should
n't
have
thought
it
.
But
the
household
troops
,
though
considered
fine
men
,
are
built
so
straggling
.
—
Walks
by
night
,
does
she
?
When
it
's
moonlight
,
though
?
”
O
yes
.
When
it
's
moonlight
!
Of
course
.
O
,
of
course
!
Conversational
and
acquiescent
on
both
sides
.
“
I
suppose
you
ai
n't
in
the
habit
of
walking
,
yourself
?
”
says
Mr.
Bucket
.
“
Not
much
time
for
it
I
should
say
?
”
Besides
which
,
Mercury
do
n't
like
it
.
Prefers
carriage
exercise
.
“
To
be
sure
,
”
says
Mr.
Bucket
.
“
That
makes
a
difference
.
Now
I
think
of
it
,
”
says
Mr.
Bucket
,
warming
his
hands
,
and
looking
pleasantly
at
the
blaze
,
“
she
went
out
walking
,
the
very
night
of
this
business
.
”
“
To
be
sure
she
did
!
I
let
her
into
the
garden
over
the
way
.
”
“
And
left
her
there
.
Certainly
you
did
.
I
saw
you
doing
it
.
”
“
I
did
n't
see
you
,
”
says
Mercury
.
“
I
was
rather
in
a
hurry
,
”
returns
Mr.
Bucket
,
“
for
I
was
going
to
visit
a
aunt
of
mine
that
lives
at
Chelsea
—
next
door
but
two
to
the
old
original
Bun
House
—
ninety
year
old
the
old
lady
is
,
a
single
woman
,
and
got
a
little
property
.
Yes
,
I
chanced
to
be
passing
at
the
time
.
Let
's
see
.
What
time
might
it
be
?
It
was
n't
ten
.
”
“
Half-past
nine
.
”
“
You
're
right
.
So
it
was
.
And
if
I
do
n't
deceive
myself
,
my
Lady
was
muffled
in
a
loose
black
mantle
,
with
a
deep
fringe
to
it
?
”
“
Of
course
she
was
.
”
Of
course
she
was
.
Mr.
Bucket
must
return
to
a
little
work
he
has
to
get
on
with
up-stairs
;
but
he
must
shake
hands
with
Mercury
in
acknowledgment
of
his
agreeable
conversation
,
and
will
he
—
this
is
all
he
asks
—
will
he
,
when
he
has
a
leisure
half-hour
,
think
of
bestowing
it
on
that
Royal
Academy
sculptor
,
for
the
advantage
of
both
parties
?
CHAPTER
LIV
.
SPRINGING
A
MINE
.
REFRESHED
by
sleep
,
Mr.
Bucket
rises
betimes
in
the
morning
,
and
prepares
for
a
field-day
.
Smartened
up
by
the
aid
of
a
clean
shirt
and
a
wet
hair-brush
,
with
which
instrument
,
on
occasions
of
ceremony
,
he
lubricates
such
thin
locks
as
remain
to
him
after
his
life
of
severe
study
,
Mr.
