 64 Tossing to and fro upon his hot, uneasy bed, tormented by a fierce thirst, which nothing could appease, unable to find in any change of posture, a moment's peace or ease, and rambling ever through deserts of thought, where there was no resting-place, no sight or sound suggestive of refreshment or oppose, nothing but a dull, eternal weariness, with no change but the restless shiftings of his miserable body and the weary wandering of his mind, constant still to one ever-present anxiety, which was sense of something left undone, of some fearful obstacle to be surmounted, of some carking care that would not be driven away, and which haunted the distempered brain. Now in this form, now in that, always shadowy and dim, but recognisable for the same phantom in every shape it took, darkening every vision like an evil conscience, and making slumber horrible. In these slow tortures of his dread disease, the unfortunate Richard lay wasting and consuming inch by inch, until, at last, when he seemed to fight and struggle to rise up, and to be held down by devils, he sank into a deep sleep, and dreamed no more. He awoke, with a sensation of most blissful rest, better than sleep itself. He began gradually to remember something of these sufferings, and to think what a long night it had been and whether he had not been delirious twice or thrice. Happening in the midst of these cogitations to raise his hand, he was astonished to find how heavy it seemed, and yet how thin and light it really was. Still he felt indifferent and happy, and having no curiosity to pursue the subject, remained in the same waking slumber until his attention was attracted by a cough. This made him doubt whether he had locked his door last night, and feel a little surprised at having a companion in the room. Still he lacked energy to follow up this train of thought, and unconsciously fell in a luxury of repose to staring at some green stripes on the bed furniture, and associating them strangely with patches of fresh turf, while the yellow ground between made gravel walks, and so helped out a long perspective of trim gardens. He was rambling in imagination on these terraces, and had quite lost himself among them, indeed, when he heard the cough once more. The walks shrunk into stripes again at the sound, and raising himself a little in the bed and holding the curtain open with one hand, he looked out. The same room, certainly, and still by candlelight, but with what unbounded astonishment did he see all those bottles, and basins, and articles of linen airing by the fire, and such like furniture of a sick chamber, already clean and neat, but all quite different from anything he had left there when he went to bed. The atmosphere, too, filled with the cool smell of herbs and vinegar, the floor newly sprinkled—the—what?—the Martianess? Yes, plain cribbage with herself at the table. There she sat, intent upon her game, coughing now and then in a subdued manner as if she feared to disturb him, shuffling the cards, cutting, dealing, playing, counting, pegging, going through all the mysteries of cribbage as if she had been in full practice from her cradle. Mr. Swiveller contemplated these things for a short time, and, suffering the curtain to fall into its former position, laid his head on the pillow again. I'm dreaming, thought Richard. That's clear. When I went to bed, my hands were not made of eggshells, and now I can almost see through them. If this is not a dream, I awoke up by mistake in an Arabian night instead of a London one, but I've no doubt now I'm asleep, not the least. Here the small servant had another cough. Very, very markable, thought Mr. Swiveller, or I never dreamt such a real cough as that before. I don't know, indeed, that I ever dreamt either a cough or a sneeze. Perhaps it's part of the philosophy of dreams that one never does. This another, and another, I say, I'm dreaming rather fast. For the purpose of testing his real condition, Mr. Swiveller, after some reflection, pinched himself in the arm. Queer as still! He thought, I came to bed rather plump than otherwise, and now there's nothing to lay hold of. I'll take another survey. The result of this additional inspection was that convinced Mr. Swiveller that the objects by which he was surrounded were real, and that he saw them beyond all question with his waking eyes. It's an Arabian night. That's what it is, said Richard. I'm in Damascus, or Grand Cairo. The Martianess is a genie, and having had a wager with another genie about who is the ansomest young man alive, and the worthiest to be the asband of the Princess of China, has brought me away, room and all, to compare us together. Perhaps, said Mr. Swiveller, turning languidly round on his pillow and looking on that side of his bed which was next to the wall, the Princess may be still— Now, she's gone. Not feeling quite satisfied with this explanation, as, even taking it to be the correct one, it still involved a little mystery and doubt. Mr. Swiveller raised the curtain again, determined to take the first favourable opportunity of addressing his companion. One occasion presented itself. The Martianess dealt, turned up a nave, and admitted to take the usual advantage upon which Mr. Swiveller called out as loud as he could, Two for his eels! The Martianess jumped up quickly and clapped her hands. Arabian night, certainly, thought Mr. Swiveller. They always clapped their ends instead of ringing the bell. Now for the two thousand black slaves with jars of jewels on their heads. It appeared, however, that she had only clapped her hands for joy, for directly afterward she began to laugh and then to cry, declaring not in choice of Arabic, but in familiar English, that she was so glad she didn't know what to do. Martianess, said Mr. Swiveller thoughtfully, be pleased to draw nearer. First of all, will you have the goodness to inform me where I shall find me voice? And secondly, what was become of me flesh? The Martianess only shook her head mournfully and cried again, whereupon Mr. Swiveller, being very weak, felt his own eyes affected likewise. I begin to infer, from your manner, and these appearances, said Richard, after pause and smiling with a trembling lip, that I have been ill. You just have, replied the small servant, wiping her eyes, and haven't you been a talk in nonsense? Oh! said Dick, very ill Martianess, have I been? Dead, all bad! replied the small servant, I never thought you'd get better. That even you have! Mr. Swiveller was silent for a long while. By and by he began to talk again, enquiring how long he had been there. Three weeks to-morrow, replied the servant. Three what? said Dick, weeks! returned the Martianess emphatically. Three long, slow weeks! The bare thought of having been in such extremity caused Richard to fall into another silence, and to lie flat down again at his full length. The Martianess, having arranged the bed-clothes more comfortably, and felt that his hands and forehead were quite cool at a scurry that filled her with delight, cried a little more, and then applied herself to getting tea ready and making some thin, dry toast. While she was thus engaged, Mr. Swiveller looked on with a grateful heart, very much astonished to see how thoroughly at home she made herself, and attributing this attention in its origin to Sally Brass, who, in his own mind, he could not thank enough. When the Martianess had finished her toasting, she sped a clean cloth on a tray, and brought him some crisp slices and a great basin of weak tea, with which, she said, the doctor had left word he might refresh himself when he awoke. She propped him up with pillows, if not as skillfully as if she had been a professional nurse all her life, at least as tenderly, and looked on with unutterable satisfaction, while the patient, stopping every now and then to shake her by the hand, took his poor meal with an appetite and relish, which the greatest dainties of the earth, under any other circumstances, would have failed to provoke. Having cleared away and disposed everything comfortably about him again, she sat down at the table to take her own tea. Martianess, said Mr. Swiveller, how silly! The small servant screwed her face into an expression of the very uttermost entanglement of slinus, and shook her head. What? Haven't you seen her lightly? said Dick. Seen her? cried the small servant. Bless you, I've run away! Mr. Swiveller immediately laid himself down again quite flat, and so remained for about five minutes. By slow degrees he resumed a sitting posture after that lapse of time and inquired, And where do you live, Martianess? Live! cried the small servant, here. How? said Mr. Swiveller, and with that he fell down flat again, as suddenly as if he had been shot. As he remained motionless in bereft of speech, until she had finished her meal, put everything in its place, and swept the hearth. When he motioned her to bring a chair to the bedside, and being propped up again, opened a farther conversation. And so, said Dick, you have run away. Yes, said the Martianess, and I've been a-toisin' of me. Been a-toisin', you know, in the newspapers, rejoined the Martianess. Aye, aye, said Dick, advertising the small servant nodded and winked. Her eyes were so red, with waking and crying, that the tragic muse might have winked with greater consistency. And so Dick felt. Tell me, said he, how was it that you thought of coming here? Why, you see, returned the Martianess, when he was gone I ain't any friend at all, because the lodger, he never came back, and I didn't know where either him or you was to be found, you know. But one morning, when I was, er, was near a keyhole, suggested Mr. Swiveller, observing that she faltered. Well, then, said the small servant nodding, when I was near the office keyhole, as you see me through, you know, I heard somebody saying that she lived here, and was the lady who's house you lodged at, and that he took very bad, and wouldn't nobody come and take care of you. Mr. Brass, he says, it's no business of mine, he says, and Miss Sally, she says, he's a funny chap, but it's no business of mine, and the lady went away, and slammed the door too when she went out, I can tell you. So, I run away that night, and come here, and told him you was my brother, and they believed me, and I've been here ever since. This poor little Martianess has been wearing herself to death. Cried Dick, now I haven't. She returned, not a bit of it. Don't you mind about me? I like sitting up, and I've often had a sleep-bless you in one of them chairs. But if you could have seen how you'd tried to jump out of the window, and if you could have heard how you used to keep on singing and making speeches, you wouldn't have believed it. I'm so glad you're better, Mr. Liverer. Liverer in indeed, said Dick thoughtfully, it's well I am a liverer. I strongly suspect I should have died, Martianess, back for you. At this point, Mr. Swivler took the small servant's hand in his again. And being, as we have seen, but poorly, Martian struggling to express his thanks have made his eyes as red as hers, but that she quickly changed the theme by making him lie down and urging him to keep very quiet. The doctor, she told him, said he was to be kept quiet still, and there was to be no noise, no nothing. Now, take your rest, and then we'll talk again. I'll sit by you, you know. If you shut your eyes, perhaps you'll go to sleep. You'll be all the better for it if you do. The Martianess, in saying these words, bought a little table to the bedside, took her seat at it, and began to work away at the concoction of some cooling drink with the address of a score of chemists. Richard Swivler, being indeed fatigued, fell into a slumber and waking in about half an hour, inquired what time it was. Just gone, half after six, replied a small friend, helping him to sit up again. Martianess, said Richard, passing his hand over his forehead, and turning suddenly around, as though the subject put that moan, flashed upon him. What has become of Kit? He had been sentenced to transportation for a great many years, as she said. Has he gone? asked Ik. His mother. How is she? What has become of her? His nurse shook her head, and answered that she knew nothing about them. But, if I thought, said she, very slowly, that you keep quiet and not put yourself into another fever, I could tell you, but I won't now. Yes, do, said Dick, it will amuse me. Oh! Would it, though? rejoined the small servant with a horrified look. I know better than that. Wait till you're better, and then I'll tell you. Dick looked very earnestly at his little friend, and his eyes being large and hollow from illness, assisted the expression so much that he was quite frightened, and besought him not to think any more about it. What had already fallen from her, however, had not only piqued his curiosity, but seriously alarmed him, wherefore he urged her to tell him the worst at once. Oh! There's now worst in it! said the small servant. It hasn't anything to do with you. Has it anything to do with—is it anything you word through chinks or kiosks that you were not intended to hear? Was Dick in a breathless state? Yes, replied the small servant. In, in beavish marks, pursued Dick hastily, conversations between Bross and Sally. Yes, cried the small servant again. Richard Swiveller thrust his lank arm out of bed, and gripping her by the wrist and drawing her close to him, bade her out with it, and freely too, or he would not answer for the consequences, being wholly unable to endure the state of excitement and expectation. She seeing that he was greatly agitated, and that the effects of postponing her revelation might be much more injurious than any that were likely to ensue from its being made at once, promised compliance, on condition that the patient kept himself perfectly quiet and abstained from starting up or tossing about. But if you begin to do that, said the small servant, I'll leave off, and some I'll tell you. You can't leave off till you have gone on, said Dick, and do go on. There's a darling. Speak, sister, speak, pretty poli say. Oh, tell me when, and tell me where, pray Martianess, I beseech you. Unable to resist these fervent adurations, which Richard Swivel appored out as passionately as if they had been of the most solemn and tremendous nature, his companion spoke thus. Well, before I run away, I used to sleep in a kitchen, where we played cards, you know. Miss Sally used to keep the key of the kitchen door in her pocket, and she'd always come down at night, or take away the candle, and break out the fire. When she'd done that, she left me to go to bed in the dark, locked the door on the outside, put the key in her pocket again, and kept me locked up till she'd come down in the morning. Very early, I can tell you, and let me out. I was terrible afraid of being kept like this, because if there was a fire, I thought they might forget me, and only take care of themselves, you know. So whenever I see an old rusty key anywhere, I'll pick it up, hard if it would fit the door. And at last are found in the dust-seller a key that did fit it. Here Mr. Swivler made a violent demonstration with his legs, but the small servant immediately pausing in her talk, he subsided again, and pleading momentary forgetfulness of their compact, entreated her to proceed. They kept me very short, said the small servant. Oh, you can't think how short they kept me. So I used to come out at night after they'd gone to bed, and feel about in the dark for bits of biscuit or sandwiches that you'd left in the office, or even pieces of orange peel to put into cold water and make believe it was wine. Did you ever taste orange peel and water? Mr. Swivler replied that he'd never tasted that art and liquor, and once more urged his friend to resume the thread of her narrative. If you might believe very much, it's quite nice," said the small servant, but if you don't, you know, it seems as if it would bear a little more seasoning, certainly. Well, sometimes I used to come out after they'd gone to bed, and sometimes before, you know, and one or two nights before there was all that precious noise in the office when the young man was took, I mean. I come upstairs while Mr. Brass and Miss Selly was there sitting at the office fire, and I tell you the truth that I come to listen again about the key of the safe. Mr. Swivler gathered up his knees, so as to make a great cone of the bedclothes, and conveyed into his countenance an expression of the utmost concern. But the small servant pausing and holding up her finger, the cone gently disappeared, though the look of concern did not. There was him and her, said the small servant, as sitting by fire and talking softly together. Mr. Brass says to Miss Selly, upon my word he says, it's a dangerous thing, and it might get us into a world of trouble, and I don't know if I like it. She says, you know her way. She says, you're the chickenest-hearted, feeblest, faintest man I ever see, and I think, she says, that I ought to have been the brother and you the sister. Isn't Quilp, she says, our principal support? He certainly is, says Mr. Brass, and and we, she says, constantly ruining somebody or rather in the way of business. We certainly are, says Mr. Brass. Then does it signify, she says, about ruining this kid when Quilp desires it? It certainly does not signify, says Mr. Brass. Then they whispered and laughed for a long time about there being no danger if it was well done. And then Mr. Brass pulls out his pocketbook and says, well, he says, here it is, Quilp's own five-pound note. We'll agree that way then, he says. Kids come in tomorrow morning, I know. While he's upstairs, you get out of the way and I'll clear off Mr. Richard. Having Kit alone, I'll hold him in conversation and put this property in his hat. I'll manage so besides, he says, that Mr. Richard shall find it there and be the evidence. And if I don't get Christopher out of Mr. Quilp's way and set as far Mr. Quilp's graduate, he says, the devil's in it, Miss Sally laughed and said that was the plan and as they seemed to be moving away and I was afraid to stop any longer, I went downstairs again. The small servant had gradually worked herself into as much agitation as Mr. Swivella and therefore made no effort to restrain him when he sat up in bed and hastily demanded whether this story had been told to anybody. How could it be? replied his nurse. I was almost afraid to think about it and hoped the young man would be let off. When I heard him say, they had found him guilty of what he didn't do. He was gone and so was the lodger. Though I think I should have been frightened to tell him, even if he'd been there. Ever since I'd come here, you've been out of your senses and what would have been the good of telling you then? Marchiness, said Mr. Swivella, plucking off his nightcap and flinging it to the other end of the room. If you'll do me the favour to retire for a few minutes and see what sort of a night it is, I'll get up. You mustn't think of such a thing! cried his nurse. I must indeed, said the patient, looking round the room. We're about to mark clothes. Oh! I'm so glad. You haven't got any. replied the Marchiness. Mom, said Mr. Swivella, in great astonishment, I've been obliged to sell him, every one, to get the things that was ordered for you. But don't take on about that. urged the Marchiness, as Dick fell back upon his pillow. You're too weak to stand indeed. I'm afraid, said Richard Dolefully, that you're right. What ought I do? What is to be done? It naturally occurred to him, on very little reflection, that the first step to take would be to communicate with one of the Mr. Garlands instantly. It was very possible that Mr. Abel had not yet left the office. In as little time as it takes to tell it, the small servant had the address in pencil on a piece of paper, a verbal description of father and son, which would enable her to recognise either without difficulty, and a special caution to be shy of Mr. Chuckster, in consequence of that gentleman's known antipathy to Kit. Armed with these slender powers, she hurried away, commissioned to bring either old Mr. Garland or Mr. Abel bodily to that apartment. I suppose, said Dick, as she closed the door slowly and peeped into the room again to make sure that he was comfortable, I suppose there's nothing left. Not so much as a waistcoat, even. Now, nothing. It is embarrassing, said Mr. Swiver. In case of fire, even an umbrella would be something. But you did quite right, dear Martianess. I should have died without you. End of Chapter 64 Chapter 65 of the Old Curiosity Shop This Libravox recording is in the public domain. Recorded by Mill Nicholson. The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens. Chapter 65 It was well for the small servant that she was of a sharp, quick nature. Or the consequence of sending her out alone in the very neighbourhood in which it was most dangerous for her to appear would probably have been the restoration of Miss Sally Brass to the supreme authority over her person. Not unmindful of the risk she ran, however, the Martianess no sooner left the house than she dived into the first dark byway that presented itself, and without any present reference to the point to which her journey tended, made it her first business to put two good miles of brick and mortar between herself and beavers' marks. When she had accomplished this object she began to shape her course for the notary's office, shrewdly inquiring of Apple-women and oyster-sellers at street corners rather than in lighted shops or of well-dressed people at the hazard of attracting notice she easily procured a direction. As carrier pigeons, on being first let loose in a strange place, beat the air at random for a short time before darting off towards the spot for which they are designed, so did the Martianess flutter round and round until she believed herself in safety and bare swiftly down upon the port for which she was bound. She had no bonnet, nothing on her head but a great cap which, in some old time, had been worn by Sally Brass, whose taste in headdresses was, as we have seen, peculiar. And her speed was rather retarded than assisted by her shoes which, being extremely large and slipshod, flew off every now and then and were difficult to find again in the crowd of passengers. Indeed, the poor little creature experienced so much trouble and delay from having to grope for these articles of dress in mud and kennel and suffered in these researches so much jostling, pushing, squeezing and bandying from hand to hand that by the time she reached the street in which the notary lived she was fairly worn out and exhausted and could not refrain from tears. But to have got there at last was a great comfort, only as there were lights still burning in the office window and, therefore, some hope that she was not too late. So the marshiness dried her eyes of the backs of her hands and, stealing softly up the steps, peeped in through the glass door. Mr. Chuckster was standing behind the lid of his desk, making such preparations towards finishing off for the night as pulling down his wristbands and pulling up his shirt collar, secretly arranging his whiskers by the aid of a little triangular bit of looking-glass. Before the ashes of the fire stood two gentlemen, one of whom she rightly judged to be the notary, and the other who was buttoning his great coat and was evidently about to depart immediately, Mr. Abel Garland. Having made these observations the small spy took counsel with herself and resolved to wait in the street until Mr. Abel came out as there would be then no fear of having to speak before Mr. Chuckster and less difficulty in delivering her message. With this purpose she slipped out again and crossing the road sat down upon a doorstep just opposite. She had hardly taken this position when they came dancing up the street with his legs all wrong and his head everywhere by turns, a pony. This pony had a little phaeton behind him and a man in it, but neither man nor phaeton seemed to come in the least as he reared up on his hind legs, or stopped, or went on, or stood still again, or backed, or went sideways without the smallest reference to them, just as the fancy seized him and as if he were the freest animal in creation. When they came to the notary's door the man called out in a very respectful manner, war, then, intimating that if he might venture to express a wish it would be that they stopped there. The pony made a moment's pause but as if it occurred to him that to stop when he was required might be to establish an inconvenient and dangerous precedent he immediately started off again, rattled at a fast trot to the street corner, wheeled round, came back and then stopped of his own accord. Oh! You're a precious creature! said the man who didn't venture by the by to come out in his true colours until he was safe on the pavement. I wish I had the reward in a view I do. What has he been doing? said Mr. Abel tying a shawl round his neck as he came down the steps. He's enough to fret a man's heart out. replied the hustler. He is the most vicious rascal. War, then, will you? He'll never stand still if you call him names. said Mr. Abel, getting in and taking the reins. He is a very good fellow if you know how to manage him. This is the first time he has been out this long while for he has lost his old driver and wouldn't stir for anybody else till this morning. The lamps are right, are they? That's well. Be here to take him to-morrow, if you please. Good night. And after one or two strange plungers quite of his own invention the pony yielded to Mr. Abel's mildness and trotted gently off. All this time Mr. Chuckster had been standing at the door and the small servant had been afraid to approach. She had nothing for it now, therefore, but to run after the shays and to call to Mr. Abel to stop. Being out of breath when she came up with it she was unable to make him here. The case was desperate for the pony was quickening his pace. The marshiness hung on behind for a few moments and feeling that she could go no farther and must soon yield clambered by a vigorous effort into the hinders seat and in so doing lost one of the shoes for ever. Mr. Abel being in a thoughtful frame of mind and having quite enough to do to keep the pony going went jogging on without looking round little dreaming of the strange figure that was close behind him until the marshiness, having in some degree recovered her breath and the loss of her shoe and the novelty of her position uttered close into his ears the words I say sir he turned his head quickly enough then and stopping the pony cried with some trepidation God bless me what is this Don't be frightened sir replied the still panting messenger oh I've run such a way after you what do you want with me said Mr. Abel how did you come here I got in behind replied the marshiness oh please drive on sir don't stop and go towards the city will you and how do please make haste because it's of consequence if somebody wants to see you there he sent me to say would you come directly out all about kid and could save him yet and prove his innocence what do you tell me child the truth upon my word and honour I do but please to drive on quick please I've been such a time gone he'll think I'm lost Mr. Abel involuntarily urged the pony forward the pony impelled by some secret sympathy or some new caprice burst into a great pace and neither slackened it nor indulged in any eccentric performances until they arrived at the door of Mr. Swivel's lodging where marvellous to relate he consented to stop when Mr. Abel checked him see it's the room up there said the marshiness pointing to one where there was a faint light come Mr. Abel who was one of the simplest and most retiring creatures in existence naturally timid with all hesitated for he had heard of people being decroyed into strange places to be robbed and murdered under circumstances very like the present and for anything he knew to the contrary by guides very like the marshiness his regard for Kit however overcame every other consideration so entrusting whiskers to the charge of a man who was lingering hard by an expectation of the job he suffered his companion to take his hand and to lead him up the dark and narrow stairs he was not a little surprised to find himself conducted into a dimly lighted sick chamber where a man was sleeping tranquilly in bed and it nice to see him lying there so quiet said his guide in an earnest whisper how you would say it was if you had only seen him two or three days ago Mr. Abel made no answer and to say the truth kept a long way from the bed and very near the door his guide who appeared to understand his reluctance trimmed the candle and taking it in her hand approached the bed as she did so the sleeper started up and he recognised in the wasted face the features of Richard Swivler why how is this said Mr. Abel kindly as he hurried towards him you have been ill very replied Dick nearly dead you might a chance to hear of your Richard on his beer but for the friend I sent to fetch you and have a shake of the hand Marsha and S. if you please sit down sir Mr. Abel seemed rather astonished to hear of the quality of his guide and took a chair by the bedside I have sent for you sir said Dick but she told you on what account she did I am quite bewildered by all this I really don't know what to say or think replied Mr. Abel you say that presently retorted Dick Marsha and S. take a seat on the bed will you now tell this gentlemen all that you told me and be particular word sir the story was repeated it was in effect exactly the same as before without any deviation or omission Richard Swiveller kept his eyes fixed on his visitor during its narration and directly it was concluded took the word again you have heard it all and you will not forget it aren't too giddy and too queer to suggest anything but you and your friends will know what to do after this long delay every minute is an age if ever you went home fast in your life go home fast tonight don't stop to say one word to me but go she will be found here whenever she's wanted and as to me you're pretty sure to find me an home for a week or two there are more reasons than one for that Marsha and S. alight if you lose another minute in looking at me sir I'll never forgive you Mr. Abel needed no more remonstrance or persuasion he was gone in an instant and the Marsha and S. returning from lighting him downstairs reported that the pony without any preliminary objection whatever had dashed away at full gallop that's right said Dick, an arty of him and I honour him from this time but get some supper and a mag of beer for I'm sure you must be tired do have a mag of beer it will do me as much good to see you take it as if I mark drink it myself nothing but this assurance could have prevailed upon the small nurse to indulge in such a luxury having eaten and drunk to Mr. Swifler's extreme contentment given him his drink and put everything in neat order she wrapped herself in an old coverlet and lay down upon the rug before the fire Mr. Swifler was for that time murmuring in his sleep strew then how strew a bed of rushes here will we stay till morning blushes good night, Marsha and S. End of Chapter 65 Chapter 66 of the old curiosity shop this Libra Rocks recording is in the public domain recorded by Mill Nicholson the old curiosity shop by Charles Dickens Chapter 66 On awaking in the morning Richard Swifler became conscious by slow degrees of whispering voices in his room looking out between the curtains he aspired Mr. Garland Mr. Abel the notary and the single gentleman gathered round the Marsha and S and talking to her with great earnestness but in very subdued tones fearing no doubt to disturb him he lost no time in letting them know that this precaution was unnecessary and all four gentlemen directly approached his bedside old Mr. Garland was the first to stretch out his hand and inquire how he felt Dick was about to answer that he felt much better though still as weak as need be when his little nurse pushing the visitors aside and pressing up to his pillow as if in jealousy of their interference set his breakfast before him and insisted on his taking it before he underwent the fatigue of speaking or of being spoken to Mr. Swifler who was perfectly ravenous and had had all night amazingly distinct and consistent dreams of mutton chops double stout and similar delicacies felt even the weak tea and dry toast such irresistible temptations that he consented to drink on one condition and that is said Dick, returning the pressure of Mr. Garland's hand that you answer me this question truly before I take a bit or drop is it too late for completing the work you began so well last night returned the old gentleman no set your mind at rest on that point it is not I assure you comforted by this intelligence the patient applied himself to his food with a keen appetite though evidently not with a greater zest in the eating than his nurse appeared to have in seeing him eat the manner of this meal was this Mr. Swifler holding the slice of toast or cup of tea in his left hand and taking a bite or drink as the case might be constantly kept in his right one palm of the marshiness tight locked and to shake or even to kiss this imprisoned hand he would stop every now and then in the very act of swallowing with perfect seriousness of intention and the utmost gravity as often as he put anything into his mouth whether for eating or drinking the face of the marshiness lighted up beyond all description but whenever he gave her one or other of these tokens of recognition her countenance became overshadowed and she began to sob now whether she was in her laughing joy or in her crying one the marshiness could not help turning to the visitors with an appealing look which seemed to say you see this fellow can I help this? and they being thus made as it were parties to the scene as regularly answered by another look no certainly not this dumb show taking place during the whole time of the invalid's breakfast herself pale and emaciated performing no small part in the same it may be fairly questioned whether at any meal where no word good or bad was spoken from beginning to end so much was expressed by gestures in themselves so slight and unimportant at length and to say the truth before very long Mr Swivel had dispatched as much toast and tea as in that stage of his recovery it was discreet to let him have but the cares of the marshiness did not stop here for disappearing for an instant and presently returning with a basin of fair water she loved his face and hands brushed his hair and in short made him as spruce and smart as anybody under such circumstances could be made and all this in as brisk and business like a manner as if he were a very little boy and she his grown-up nurse to these various attentions Mr Swivel submitted in a kind of grateful astonishment beyond the reach of language when they were at last brought to an end and the marshiness had withdrawn into a distant corner to take her own poor breakfast cold enough by that time he turned his face away for some moments and shook hands heartily with the air gentlemen said Dick, rousing himself from this pause and turning round again you'll excuse me many who have been brought so low as I have been are easily fatigued I am fresh again now and fit for talking with shorter chairs here among other trifles but if you'll do me the favour to sit upon the bed what can we do for you said Mr Garland kindly if you can make the marshiness younger a marshiness in real sober earnest returned Dick I'd thank you to get it done off-hand but as you can't and as a question is not what you will do for me but what you will do for somebody else who has a better climb upon you Price, let me know what you intend doing it's chiefly on that account that we have come just now said the single gentleman for you will have another visitor presently we feared you would be anxious unless you knew from ourselves what steps we intended to take and therefore came to you before we stirred her gentlemen return Dick I thank you anybody in the Alpress State that you see me in is naturally anxious don't let me interrupt you sir then you see my good fellow said the single gentleman that while we have no doubt whatever of the truth of this disclosure which has so providentially come to light mean he knows said Dick pointing towards the marshiness meaning hers of course while we have no doubt of that or that a proper use of it would procure the poor lads immediate pardon and liberation we have a great doubt whether it would by itself enable us to reach quilp the chief agent in this villainy I should tell you that this doubt has been confirmed into something very nearly approaching certainty by the best opinions we have been enabled in the short space of time to take upon the subject you'll agree with us to give him even the most distant chance of escape if we could help it would be monstrous you say with us no doubt if somebody must escape let it be anyone but he yes returning certainly that is if somebody masked but upon my word our man willing that anybody should since laws were made for every degree to curb vice in others as well as in me and so forth you know doesn't it strike you in that light the single gentleman smiled as if the light in which Mr. Swiveller had put the question were not the clearest in the world and proceeded to explain that they contemplated proceeding by a stratagem in the first instance and that their design was to endeavor to extort a confession from the gentle Sarah when she finds how much we know and how we know it he said and that she is clearly compromised already we are not without strong hopes that we may be enabled through her means to punish the other two effectually if we could do that she might go scot-free for ought I cared Dick received this project in anything but a gracious manner representing with as much warmth that he was then capable of showing that they would find the old bug meaning Sarah more difficult to manage than Quilp himself that for any tampering terrifying or cajolery she was a very unpromising and unyielding subject that she was a kind of brass not easily melted or moulded into shape in short that they were no match for her and would be signally defeated in vain to urge them to adopt some other course the single gentleman has been described as explaining their joint intentions but it should have been written that they all spoke together that if any one of them by chance held his peace for a moment he stood gasping and panting for an opportunity to strike in again in a word that they had reached that pitch of impatience and anxiety where men can neither be persuaded nor reasoned with and that it would have been as easy to turn as it was wind that ever blew as to prevail on them to reconsider their determination so after telling Mr. Swiveller how they had not lost sight of Kit's mother and the children how they had never once even lost sight of Kit himself but had been unremitting in their endeavours to procure a mitigation of his sentence how they had been perfectly distracted between the strong proofs of his guilt and their own fading hopes of his innocence and how he Richard Swiveller might keep his mind at rest for everything should be happily adjusted between that time and night after telling him all this and adding a great many kind and cordial expressions personal to himself which it is unnecessary to recite Mr. Garland the notary and the single gentleman took their leaves at a very critical time or Richard Swiveller must assuredly have been driven into another fever whereof the results might have been fatal Mr. Abel remained behind very often looking at his watch and at the room door until Mr. Swiveller was roused from a short nap by the setting down on the landing-place outside as from the shoulders of a porter of some giant load which seemed to shake the house and made the little physical bottles and the mental shelf ring again directly the sound reached his ears Mr. Abel started up and hobbled to the door and opened it and behold there stood a strong man with a mighty hamper which being hauled into the room and presently unpacked disgorged such treasures as tea and coffee and wine and rusks and oranges and grapes and fowls ready-trust for boiling and carves for jelly and arrow-root and sego and other delicate restoratives at the small servant who had never thought it possible that such things could be except in shops stood rooted to the spot in her one shoe with her mouth and eyes watering in unison and her power of speech quite gone but not so Mr. Abel or the strong man who emptied the hamper because it was in a twinkling and not so the nice old lady who appeared so suddenly that she might have come out of the hamper too it was quite large enough and who bustling about on tiptoe here now there now everywhere at once began to fill out the jelly in teacups and to make chicken broth in small saucepans and to peel oranges for the sick man and to cut them up in little pieces and to ply the small servant with glasses of wine and choice bits of everything until more substantial meat could be prepared for her refreshment the whole of which appearances were so unexpected and bewildering at Mr. Swivler when he had taken two oranges early and had seen the strong man walk off with the empty basket plainly leaving all that abundance for his use and benefit was feigned to lie down and fall asleep again from sheer inability to entertain such wonders in his mind meanwhile the single gentleman the notary and Mr. Garland repaired to a certain coffee-house and from that place indicted and sent a letter to Miss Sally Brass requesting her in terms, mysterious to favour an unknown friend who wished to consult her with her company there as speedily as possible the communication performed its errand so well that within ten minutes of the messenger's return and report of its delivery Miss Brass herself was announced Premon said the single gentleman whom she found alone in the room Take a chair Miss Brass sat herself down in a very stiff and frigid state and seemed, as indeed she was not a little astonished to find that the lodger and her mysterious correspondent were one and the same person You did not expect to see me? said the single gentleman I didn't think much about it returned the beauty I suppose it was business of some kind or rather if it's about the apartment of course you'll give my brother regular notice you know or money that's very easily settled you're a responsible party and in such a case lawful money and lawful notice are pretty much the same I'm obliged to you for your good opinion retorted the single gentleman and quite concur and dissentiment but that is not the subject on which I wish to speak with you oh said Sally then just state the particulars will you I suppose it's professional business why it is connected with the law certainly very well returned Miss Brass my brother and I are just the same I can take any instructions or give you any advice as there are other parties interested besides myself said the single gentleman rising and opening the door of an inner room we had better confer together Miss Brass is here gentlemen Mr. Garland and the notary walked in looking very grave and drawing up two chairs one on each side of the single gentleman formed a kind of fence around the gentle Sarah and penned her into a corner her brother Sampson under such circumstances would certainly have evinced some confusion or anxiety but she all composure pulled out the tin box and calmly took a pinch of snuff Miss Brass said the notary taking the word of this crisis we professional people understand each other and when we choose can say what we have to say in very few words you advertised a runaway servant the other day well returned Miss Sally with a sudden flush over spreading her features what of that she is found man said the notary pulling out his pocket handkerchief at the flourish she is found who found her demanded Sarah hastily we did mom we three only last night or you would have heard from us before and now I have heard from you said Miss Brass folding her arms as though she were about to deny something to the death what have you got to say something you have got into your heads about her of course prove it will you that's all prove it you have found her you say I can tell you if you don't know it that you have found the most artful lying pilfering devilish little minx that was ever born what of her here she added looking sharply round no she is not here at present return the notary but she is quite safe ha cried Sally twitching a pinch of snuff out of her box as spitefully as if you were in the very act of wrenching off the small servant's nose she shall be safe enough from this time I warrant you I hope so replied the notary did it occur to you for the first time when you found she had run away that there were two keys to your kitchen door Miss Sally took another pinch and putting her head on one side looked at her questioner with a curious kind of spasm about her mouth but with a cunning aspect of a men's expression two keys repeated the notary one of which gave her the opportunities of roaming through the house at night when you supposed her fast locked up and of overhearing confidential consultations among others that particular conference to be described today before a justice which you will have an opportunity of hearing her relate that conference which you and Mr. Brass held together on the night before the most unfortunate and innocent young man was accused of robbery by a horrible device of which I will only say that it may be characterised by the epithets which you have applied to this wretched little witness and by a few stronger ones besides Sally took another pinch although her face was wonderfully composed it was apparent that she was wholly taken by surprise and that what she had expected to be taxed with in connection with her small servant was something very different from this come come Miss Brass said the notary you have a great command of feature but you feel I see that by a chance which never entered your imagination this base design is revealed and two of its plotters must be brought to justice now you know the pains and penalties you are liable to and so I need not die late upon them but I have a proposal to make to you you have the honour of being sister to one of the greatest scoundrels unhung and if I may venture to say so to a lady you are in every respect quite worthy of him but connected with you too as a third party a villain of the name of quip the prime mover of the whole diabolical device who I believe to be worse than either for his sake Miss Brass do us the favour to reveal the whole history of this affair let me remind you that you're doing so at our instance will place you in a safe and comfortable position your present one is not desirable and cannot injure your brother for against him and you we have quite sufficient evidence as you hear already I will not say to you that we suggest this course in mercy but to tell you the truth we do not entertain any regard for you but it is a necessity to which we are reduced and I recommend it to you as a matter of the very best policy time said Mr Witherdon pulling out his watch in a business like this is exceedingly precious favour us with your decision as speedily as possible mom with a smile upon her face and looking at each of the three by turns Miss Brass took two or three more pinches of snuff and having by this time very little left travelled round and round the box with her forefinger and thumb scraping up another piece likewise and put the box carefully in her pocket she said I am to accept or reject at once am I yes said Mr Witherdon the charming creature was opening her lips to speak and reply and the door was hastily opened too and the head of Sampson Brass was thrust into the room excuse me wait a bit so saying and quite indifferent to the astonishment his presence occasioned he crept in shut the door kissed his greasy glove as if it were the dust and made a most abject bow Sarah said Brass hold your tongue if you please and let me speak gentlemen if I could express the pleasure it gives me to see three such men in a happy unity of feeling and concord of sentiment I think you would hardly believe me but though I am unfortunate nay gentlemen criminal if we are to use harsh expressions in a company like this still I have my feelings like other men I have heard of a poet who remarked that feelings were the common part of all if he could have been a pig gentleman and have uttered that sentiment he would still have been immortal if you're not an idiot said Miss Brass harshly hold your peace Sarah my dear return to brother thank you but I know what I am about my love and will take the liberty of expressing myself accordingly Mr. Witheredon Sir your handkerchief is hanging out of your pocket would you allow me to as Mr. Brass advanced to remedy this accident the notary shrunk from him with an air of disgust Brass who over and above his usual pre-possessing qualities had a scratched face a green shade over one eye and a hat grievously crushed stopped short and looked round with a pitiful smile hands me said Samson even when I would as I may say heap coals of fire upon his head well I am a falling house and the rats if I may be allowed the expression in reference to a gentleman I respect and love beyond everything fly from me gentlemen regarding your conversation just now I happened to see my sister on her way here and wondering where she could be going to and being may I venture to say naturally of a suspicious turn followed her since then I have been listening if you're not mad interpose Miss Sally stop there and say no more Sarah my dear rejoin Brass with undiminished politeness I thank you kindly but will still proceed Mr withered and sir as we have the honour to be members of the same profession to say nothing of that other gentleman having been my lodger and having partaken as one may say of the hospitality of my roof I think you might have given me the refusal of this offer in the first instance I do indeed now my dear sir cried Brass seeing that the notary was about to interrupt him suffer me to speak I beg Mr withered and was silent and Brass went on if you will do me the favour he said holding up the green shade and revealing an eye most horribly discoloured to look at this you will naturally inquire in your own minds how did I get it if you look from that to my face you will wonder what could have been the cause of all those scratches and if from them to my hat how it came into the state in which you see it gentlemen said Brass striking the hat fiercely with his clenched hand to all these questions I answer quillp the three gentlemen looked at each other but said nothing I say pursued Brass Brass decided his sister as though he were talking for her information and speaking with a snarling malignity in violent contrast to his usual smoothness that I answer to all these questions quillp quillp who deludes me into his infernal den and takes a delight in looking on and chuckling while I scorch and burn and bruise and maim myself quillp who never once in all our communications together has treated me otherwise than as a dog quillp whom I have always hated with my whole heart but never so much as lately he gives me the cold shoulder on this very matter as if he had had nothing to do with it instead of being the first to propose it I can't trust him in one of his howling raving, blazing humours I believe he'd let it out if it was murder and never think of himself so long as he could terrify me now said Brass picking up his hat again and replacing the shade over his eye and actually crouching down in the excess of his civility what does all this lead to what should you say it led me to gentlemen could you guess at all near the mark nobody spoke Brass stood smirking for a little while as if he had propounded some choice conundrum and then said to be short with you then it leads me to this if the truth has come out as it plainly has I know that there's no standing up against and a very sublime and grand thing is truth gentlemen in its way though like other sublime and grand things such as thunderstorms and that we're not always over and above glad to see it I had better turn upon this man and let this man turn upon me it's clear to me that I am done for therefore if anybody is to split I had better be the person with the advantage of it Sarah my dear comparatively speaking you're safe I relate these circumstances for my own profit with that Mr. Brass in a great hurry revealed the whole story bearing as heavily as possible on his amiable employer and making himself out to be rather a saint-like and holy character though subject to acknowledged to human weaknesses he concluded thus now gentlemen I'm not a man who does things by harbs being in for a penny I am ready as the saying is to be in for a pound you must do with me what you please and take me where you please if you wish to have this in writing we'll reduce it into manuscript immediately you will be tender with me I am sure I am quite confident you'll be tender with me you are men of honour and have feeling hearts I yielded from necessity to quilp although necessity has no law she has her lawyers I yield to you from necessity to from policy besides and because feelings there had been a pretty long time working within me punish quilp gentlemen way heavily upon him grind him down tread him under foot he has done as much by me for many and many a day having now arrived at the conclusion of his discourse Samson checked the current of his wrath kissed his glove again and smiled as only parasites and cowards can and this said Miss Brass raising her head and surveying him from head to foot with a bitter sneer this is my brother is it this is my brother that I have worked and toiled for and believed to have had something of the man in him Sarah my dear returned Samson rubbing his hands feebly you disturb our friends besides you you're disappointed Sarah and not knowing what you say expose yourself yes you pitiful dastard retorted the lovely damsel I understand you you feared that I should be beforehand with you but do you think that I would have been enticed to say a word I'd have scorned it if they had tried and tempted me for twenty years simple Brass who in his deep debasement seemed to have changed sexes with his sister and to have made over to her any spark of manliness he might have possessed you think so Sarah you think so perhaps but you would have acted quite different my good fellow you were not a forgotten and it was a maxim with foxy our revered father gentlemen always suspect everybody that's the maxim to go through life with if you were not actually about to purchase your own safety when I showed myself I suspect you'd have done it by this time and therefore I've done it myself and spared you the trouble as well as the shame the shame gentlemen added Brass allowing himself to be slightly overcome if there is any is mine it's better that a female should be spared it with deference to the better opinion of Mr Brass and more particularly to the authority of his great ancestor it may be doubted with humility whether the elevating principle laid down by the latter gentleman and acted upon by his descendant is always a prudent one or attended in practice with the desired results this is beyond question a bold and presumptuous doubt in as much as many distinguished characters called men of the world long-headed customers knowing dogs shrewd fellows capital hands of business and the like have made and do daily make this axiom their polar star and compass still the doubt may be gently insinuated and in illustration it may be observed that if Mr Brass not being over-suspicious had without prying and listening left his sister to manage the conference on a joint behalf or prying and listening had not been in such a mighty hurry to anticipate her which he would not have been but for his distrust and jealousy he would probably have found himself much better off in the end thus it will always happen that these men of the world who go through it in armor defend themselves from quite as much good as evil to say nothing of the inconvenience and absurdity of mounting guard of the microscope at all times out of mail on the most innocent occasions the three gentlemen spoke together apart for a few moments at the end of their consultation which was very brief the notary pointed to the writing materials on the table and informed Mr Brass that if he wished to make any statement in writing he had the opportunity of doing so at the same time he felt bound to tell him that they would require his attendance presently before a justice at the peace and that in what he did or said he was guided entirely by his own discretion gentlemen said Brass drawing off his glove and crawling in spirit upon the ground before them I will justify the tenderness with which I know I shall be treated and as without tenderness I should know that this discovery has been made stand in the worst position of the three you may depend upon it I will make a clean breast Mr Witherton sir a kind of faintness is upon my spirits if you would do me the favour to ring the bell and order up a glass of something warm and spicy I shall notwithstanding what has passed have a melancholy pleasure in drinking your good health I had hoped said Brass looking round with a mournful smile to have seen you three gentlemen one day or another with your legs under the mahogany in my humble parlor in the marks but hopes are fleeting dear me Mr Brass found himself so exceedingly affected at this point that he could say or do nothing more until some refreshment arrived having partaken of it pretty freely for one in his agitated state he sat down to write the lovely Sarah now with her arms folded and now with her hands clasped behind her paced the room with manly strides while her brother was thus employed and sometimes stopped to pull out her snuff-box and bite the lid she continued to pace up and down until she was quite tired and then fell asleep on a chair near the door it has been since supposed for some reason that this slumber was a sham or faint as she contrived to slip away unobserved in the dusk of the afternoon whether this was an intentional and waking departure or some nambulistic leave-taking and walking in her sleep may remain a subject of contention but on one point and indeed the main one all parties are agreed in whatever state she walked away to walk back again mention having been made of the dusk of the afternoon it will be inferred that Mr. Brass's task occupied some time in the completion it was not finished until evening but being done at last that worthy person and the three friends adjourned in a hackney-coach to the private office of a justice who, giving Mr. Brass a warm reception and detaining him in a secure place that he might ensure to himself the pleasure of seeing him on the morrow dismissed the others with the cheering assurance that a warrant could not fail to be granted next day for the apprehension of Mr. Quilp and that a proper application and statement of all the circumstances to the Secretary of State who was fortunately in town would no doubt procure Kitt's free pardon and liberation without delay and now indeed it seemed that Quilp's malignant career was drawing to a close and that retribution which often travels slowly especially when heaviest had tracked his footsteps with a sure and certain scent and was gaining on him fast unmindful of her stealthy tread her victim holds his course in fancy triumph still at his heels she comes and once a foot is never turned aside their business ended the three gentlemen hastened back to the lodgings of Mr. Swifler whom they found progressing so favourably in his recovery as to have been able to sit up for half an hour and to have conversed with cheerfulness Mrs. Garland had gone home some time since Mr. Abel was still sitting with him after telling him all they had done the two Mr. Garland's and the single gentleman as if by some previous understanding took their leaves for the night leaving the invalid alone with the notary and the small servant as you are so much better said Mr. Witherdon sitting down at the bedside I may venture to communicate to you a piece of news which has come to me professionally the idea of any professional intelligence from a gentleman connected with legal matters appeared to afford Richard anything but a pleasing anticipation perhaps he connected it in his own mind with one or two outstanding accounts in reference to which he had already received diverse threatening letters his countenance fell as he replied certainly sir I hope it's not anything of a very disagreeable nature, though if I thought it so I should choose some better time for communicating it replied the notary let me tell you first that my friends who have been here today know nothing of it and that their kindness to you has been quite spontaneous and with no hope of return it may do a thoughtless careless man good to know that Dick thanked him and said he hoped it would I've been making some inquiries about you said Mr. Witherdon little thinking that I should find you under such circumstances as those which have brought us together you are the nephew of Rebecca Swiveller spinster deceased of Chesleborn endorseature deceased cried Dick deceased if you had been another sort of nephew you would have come into possession so says the will and I see no reason to doubt it of five and twenty thousand pounds as it is you have fallen into an annuity of one hundred and fifty pounds a year but I think I may congratulate you even upon that Sir said Dick sobbing and laughing together you may for please God we'll make a scholar of the poor Martianess yet and she shall walk in silk attire and Silla have to spare or may I never rise from this bed again End of Chapter 66 Chapter 67 of the Old Curiosity Shop this LibriVox recording is in the public domain recorded by Mill Nicholson the Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens Chapter 67 unconscious of the proceedings faithfully narrated in the last chapter and little dreaming of the mind which had been sprung beneath him for to the end that you should have a warning of the business of foot the profoundest secrecy was observed in the whole transaction Mr. Quilp remained shut up in his hermitage undisturbed by any suspicion and extremely well satisfied with the result of his machinations being engaged in the adjustment of some accounts an occupation to which the silence and solitude of his retreat were very favourable he had not strayed from his den for two whole days the third day of his devotion found him still hard at work and little disposed to stir abroad it was the day next after Mr. Brass's confession and consequently that which threatened the restriction of Mr. Quilp's liberty and the abrupt communication to him of some very unpleasant and unwelcome facts having no intuitive perception of the cloud which lowered upon his house the dwarf was in his ordinary state of cheerfulness and when he found he was becoming too much engrossed by business with a due regard to his health and spirits he varied its monotonous routine with a little screeching or howling or some other innocent relaxation of that nature he was attended as usual by Tom Scott who sat crouching over the fire after the manner of a toad and from time to time when his master's back was turned imitating his grimaces with a fearful exactness the figurehead had not yet disappeared but remained in its old place the face horribly seared by the frequent application of the red hot poker and further ornamented by the insertion in the tip of the nose of a tenpenny nail yet smiled blandly in its less lacerated parts and seemed like a sturdy martyr to provoke its tormentor to the commission of new outrages and insults the day in the highest and brightest quarters of the town was damp dark cold and gloomy in that low and marshy spot the fog filled every nook and corner with a thick dense cloud every object was obscured one or two yards distance the warning lights and fires upon the river were powerless beneath this pall and but for a raw and piercing chillness in the air and now and then the cry of some bewildered boatman as he rested on his oars and tried to make out where he was the river itself might have been miles away the mist, though sluggish and slow to move was of a keenly searching kind no muffling up in furs and broad cloth kept it out it seemed to penetrate into the very bones of the shrinking wayfarers and to rack them with cold and pains everything was wet and clammy to the touch the warm blaze alone defied it and leaped and sparkled merrily it was a day to be at home crowding about the fire telling stories of travellers who had lost their way in such weather on heaths and moors and to love a warm hearth more than ever the dwarf's humour as we know was to have a fireside to himself and when he was disposed to be convivial to enjoy himself alone by no means insensible to the comfort of being within doors he ordered Tom Scott to pile the little stove with coals and dismissing his work for that day determined to be jovial to this end he lighted up fresh candles and heaved more fuel on the fire and having dined off a beef steak which he cooked himself in somewhat of a savage and cannibal like manner brewed a great bowl of hot punch lighted his pipe and sat down to spend the evening at this moment a low knocking at the cabin door arrested his attention when it had been twice or thrice repeated he softly opened the little window and thrusting his head out demanded who was there only me quulp replied a woman's voice only you cried the dwarf stretching his neck to obtain a better view of his visitor and what brings you here you jade how dare you approach the ogre's castle eh I've come with some news rejoined his spouse don't be angry with me is it good news pleasant news news to make a man skip and snap his fingers said the dwarf is the dear old lady dead I don't know what news it is or whether it's good or bad rejoined his wife then she's alive said quulp and there's nothing the matter with her go home again you bird of evil note go home I've brought a letter cried the meek little woman toss it in at the window here and go your ways said quulp interrupting her or I'll come out and scratch you no but please quulp do hear me speak urged his submissive wife in tears please do speak then growled the dwarf for the malicious grin be quick and short about it speak will you it was left at our house this afternoon said mrs quulp trembling by a boy who said he didn't know from whom it came but that it was given to him to leave and that he was told to say it must be brought on to you directly for it was of the greatest consequence but please she added as her husband stretched out his hand for it please let me in you don't know how wet and cold I am or how many times I've lost my way and come in here through this thick fog let me draw myself at the fire for five minutes I'll go away directly you tell me to quulp upon my word I will her amiable husband hesitated for a few moments but be thinking himself that the letter might require some other of which she could be the bearer close the window open the door and bade her enter mrs quulp obeyed right willingly and kneeling down before the fire to warm her hands delivered into his a little packet I'm glad you're wet said quulp snatching it and squinting at her I'm glad you're cold I'm glad you lost your way I'm glad your eyes are red with crying it does my heart good to see a little nose so pinched and frosty oh quulp sobbed his wife how cruel it is of you didn't she think I was dead said quulp wrinkling his face into a most extraordinary series of grimaces did she think she was going to have all the money and to marry somebody she liked did she did she these taunts elicited no reply from the poor little woman who remained on her knees warming her hands and sobbing to mrs quulp's great delight but just as he was contemplating her and chuckling excessively he happened to observe that Tom Scott was delighted too wherefore that he might have no presumptuous partner in his glee the dwarf instantly collared him dragged him to the door and after a short scuffle kicked him into the yard in return for this mark of attention Tom immediately walked upon his hands to the window and, if the expression be allowable looked in with the shoes besides rattling his feet upon the glass like a banshee upside down as a matter of course there was no time in resorting to the infallible poker with which, after some dodging and lying in ambush he paid his young friend one or two such unequivocable compliments that he vanished precipitately and left him in quiet possession of the field so that little job being disposed of said the dwarf coolly I'll read my letter hmm he muttered looking at the direction I ought to know this writing beautiful Sally opening it he read in a fair round legal hand as follows Sammy has been practised upon and has broken confidence it has all come out you had better not be in the way for strangers are going to call upon you they have been very quiet as yet because they mean to surprise you don't lose time I didn't I am not to be found anywhere if I was you I wouldn't either SB late of BM to describe the changes that passed over Culp's face as he read this letter half a dozen times would require some new language such for power of expression as was never written read or spoken for a long time he did not utter one word but after considerable interval during which Mrs. Culp was almost paralysed with the alarm his looks engendered he contrived to gasp out if I had him here if I only had him here oh Culp said his wife what's the matter she was angry with I should drown him said the dwarf not heeding her too easy a death too short too quick but the river runs close at hand oh if I had him here just I'll take him to the brink coaxingly holding him by the buttonhole joking with him and with a sudden push to send him splashing down drowning men come to the surface three times they say ha ha ha to see him those three times and mock him as his face came bobbing up oh what a rich treat that would be Culp stammered his wife venturing at the same time to touch him on the shoulder what has gone wrong she was so terrified by the relish with which he pictured this pleasure to himself that she could scarcely make herself intelligible such a bloodless cur said Culp rubbing his hands very slowly and pressing them tight together I thought his cowardice and civility were the best guarantee for his keeping silence oh brass brass my dear good affectionate faithful complimentary charming friend if I only had you here his wife who had retreated lest she should seem to listen to these muttrings venture to approach him again and was about to speak when he hurried to the door and called Tom Scott who remembering his late gentle admonition deemed it prudent to appear immediately there said the dwarf pulling him in take her home don't come here to-morrow for this place will be shut up come back no more till you hear from me or see me dear mind Tom nodded sulkily and beckoned Mrs. Culp to lead the way as for you said the dwarf, addressing himself to her ask no questions about me make no search for me say nothing concerning me I shall not be dead, mistress and that'll comfort you he'll take care of you but Culp what was the matter where were you going do say something more I'll say that said the dwarf seizing her by the arm and do that too which undone and unsaid would be best for you unless you go directly as anything happened cried his wife oh, do tell me that yes snarled the dwarf no matter which I have told you what to do woe, we tide you if you fail to do it or disobey me by a hares breath will you go I am going I'll go directly but faulted his wife answer me one question first has this letter any connection with dear little Nell I must ask you that I must indeed Culp you cannot think what days and nights of sorrow I have had through having once deceived that child I don't know what arm I may have brought about but great or little I did it for you Culp my conscience misgave me when I did it do answer me this question if you please the exasperated dwarf returned no answer but turned round and caught up his usual weapon with such vehemence that Tom Scott dragged his charge away by main force and as swiftly as he could it was well he did so for Culp, who was nearly mad with rage pursued them to the neighbouring lane and might have prolonged the chase but for the dense mist which obscured them from his view and appeared to thicken every moment it will be a good night for travelling anonymously he said as he returned slowly being pretty well breathed with his run stay we may look better here this is too hospitable and free by a great exertion of strength he closed the two old gates which were deeply sunken in the mud and barred them with a heavy beam that done he shook his matted hair from about his eyes and tried them strong and fast a fence between this wharf and the next has easily climbed said the dwarf when he had taken these precautions there's a back lane too from there shall be my way out a man need know his road well to find it in this lovely place tonight I need fear no unwelcome visitors while this lasts I think almost reduced to the necessity of groping his way with his hands it had grown so dark and the fog had so much increased he returned to his lair and after musing for some time over the fire busied himself in preparations for a speedy departure while he was collecting a few necessaries and cramming them into his pockets he never once ceased communing with himself in a low voice or unclenched his teeth which he had ground together finishing Miss Brass's note oh Samson he muttered good worthy creature if I could but hug you if I could only fold you in my arms and squeeze your ribs as I could squeeze them if I once had you tight what a meeting there would be between us if we ever do cross each other again Samson we'll have a greeting not easily to be forgotten trust me this time Samson this moment when all had gone on so well was so nicely chosen it was so thoughtful of you so pennant and so good oh if we were face to face in this room again my white-livered man of law how well contented one of us would be there he stopped and raising the bowl of punch to his lips drank a long deep draft as if it were fair water and cooling to his parched mouth setting it down abruptly and resuming his preparations he went on with his soliloquy there's Sally he said with flashing eyes one has spirit determination purpose was she asleep or petrified she could have stabbed him poisoned him safely she might have seen this coming on why does she give me notice when it's too late when he sat there yonder there over there with his white face and red head and sickly smile why didn't I know what was passing in his heart it should have stopped beating that night if I had been in his secret or there are no drugs to lull a man to sleep or no fire to burn him another draft from the bowl and carrying over the fire with the ferocious aspect he muttered to himself again and this like every other trouble and anxiety I have had of late times springs on that old dotard and his darling child two wretched, feeble wanderers I'll be their evil genius yet and you sweet kid honest kid virtuous innocent kid look to yourself where I hate I bite I hate you my darling fellow with good cause and proud as you are to-night I'll have my tan what's that a knocking at the gate he had closed a loud and violent knocking then a pause as if those who knocked had stopped to listen then the noise again more clamorous than important than before so soon said the dwarf and so eager I'm afraid I shall disappoint you it's well I'm quite prepared Sally I thank you as he spoke he extinguished the candle in his impetuous attempts to subdue the brightness of the fire he overset the stove which came tumbling forward burning embers it had shot forth in its descent leaving the room in pitchy darkness the noise at the gate still continuing he felt his way to the door and stepped into the open air at that moment the knocking ceased it was about eight o'clock but the dead of the darkest night would have been as noonday in comparison with the thick cloud which then rested upon the earth and shrouded everything from view he darted forward for a few paces as if into the mouth of some dim yawning cavern then thinking he had gone wrong changed the direction of his steps then stood still, not knowing where to turn if they would knock again said quillp trying to peer into the gloom by which he was surrounded their sound might guide me come better the gate once more he stood listening intently but the noise was not renewed nothing was to be heard in that deserted place but at intervals the distant barkings of dogs the sound was far away now in one quarter now answered in another nor was it any guide for it often came from ship-board as he knew if I could find a wall or fence said the dwarf stretching out his arms and walking slowly on I should know which way to turn good black devil's night this to have my dear friend here if I had but that wish it might for anything I cared never be day again as the word passed his lips he staggered and fell and next moment was fighting with the cold dark water for all its bubbling up and rushing in his ears he could hear the knocking at the gate again could hear a shout that followed it could recognize the voice for all his struggling and plashing he could understand that they had lost their way and had wandered back to the point from which they started that they were all but looking on while he was drowning that they were close at hand but could not make an effort to save him that he himself had shut and barred them out he answered the shout with a yell which seemed to make the hundred fires that dance before his eyes tremble and flicker as if a gust of wind had stirred them it was of no avail the strong tide filled his throat and bore him on upon its rapid current another mortal struggle and he was up again beating the water with his hands and looking out with wild and glaring eyes that showed him some black object he was drifting close upon the hull of a ship he could touch its smooth and slippery surface with his hand one loud cry now but the resistless water bore him down before he could give it utterance and driving him under it carried away a corpse it toyed and sported with its ghastly freight now bruising it against the slimy piles now hiding it in mud or long rank grass now dragging it heavily over rough stones and gravel now feigning to yield it to its own element and in the same action luring it away until tired of the ugly play thing it flung it on a swamp a dismal place where pirates had swung and changed through many a wintry night and left it there to bleach and there it lay alone the sky was red with flame and the water that bore it there had been tinged with the sullen light as it flowed along the place the deserted carcass had left so recently a living man was now a blazing brun there was something of the glare upon its face the hair stirred by the damp breeze played in a kind of mockery of death such a mockery as the dead man himself would have delighted in one alive about its head and its dress fluttered idly in the night wind End of chapter 67