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till this gentleman favoured us with his first visit。 Of course； I began
to suspect how it was； then； and I don't want his word for it now to
understand how he gets his knowledge from my papers； and your paper； and
my brother's cognac and tobacco talk （I wish he'd had to gag himself）。
Now； I have only one thing more to say； you hammer…headed woman； and
that is； that I haven't altogether made up my mind whether I might； or
might not； have ever given you any trouble about the codicil。 I think
not； and that I should have been quite satisfied with knowing I had got
the better of you； and that I held the power over you。 In the present
state of circumstances； I have no more explanation to give you till
this time to…morrow night。 So you may as well；' said Mr Flintwinch；
terminating his oration with a screw； 'keep your eyes open at somebody
else； for it's no use keeping 'em open at me。'
She slowly withdrew them when he had ceased； and dropped her forehead
on her hand。 Her other hand pressed hard upon the table； and again the
curious stir was observable in her； as if she were going to rise。
'This box can never bring； elsewhere； the price it will bring here。
This knowledge can never be of the same profit to you； sold to any other
person； as sold to me。 But I have not the present means of raising the
sum you have demanded。 I have not prospered。 What will you take now； and
what at another time； and how am I to be assured of your silence？'
'My angel；' said Rigaud； 'I have said what I will take； and time
presses。 Before ing here； I placed copies of the most important of
these papers in another hand。 Put off the time till the Marshalsea
gate shall be shut for the night； and it will be too late to treat。 The
prisoner will have read them。'
She put her two hands to her head again； uttered a loud exclamation； and
started to her feet。 She staggered for a moment； as if she would have
fallen； then stood firm。
'Say what you mean。 Say what you mean； man！'
Before her ghostly figure； so long unused to its erect attitude； and so
stiffened in it； Rigaud fell back and dropped his voice。 It was； to all
the three； almost as if a dead woman had risen。
'Miss Dorrit；' answered Rigaud； 'the little niece of Monsieur Frederick；
whom I have known across the water； is attached to the prisoner。 Miss
Dorrit； little niece of Monsieur Frederick； watches at this moment over
the prisoner； who is ill。 For her I with my own hands left a packet
at the prison； on my way here； with a letter of instructions； 〃FOR HIS
SAKE〃……she will do anything for his sake……to keep it without breaking
the seal； in case of its being reclaimed before the hour of shutting up
to…night……if it should not be reclaimed before the ringing of the prison
bell； to give it to him； and it encloses a second copy for herself；
which he must give to her。 What！ I don't trust myself among you； now we
have got so far； without giving my secret a second life。 And as to its
not bringing me； elsewhere； the price it will bring here； say then；
madame； have you limited and settled the price the little niece will
give……for his sake……to hush it up？ Once more I say； time presses。 The
packet not reclaimed before the ringing of the bell to…night； you cannot
buy。 I sell； then； to the little girl！'
Once more the stir and struggle in her； and she ran to a closet； tore
the door open； took down a hood or shawl； and wrapped it over her head。
Affery； who had watched her in terror； darted to her in the middle of
the room； caught hold of her dress； and went on her knees to her。
'Don't； don't； don't！ What are you doing？ Where are you going？ You're a
fearful woman； but I don't bear you no ill…will。 I can do poor Arthur
no good now； that I see； and you needn't be afraid of me。 I'll keep your
secret。 Don't go out； you'll fall dead in the street。 Only promise me；
that； if it's the poor thing that's kept here secretly； you'll let me
take charge of her and be her nurse。 Only promise me that； and never be
afraid of me。'
Mrs Clennam stood still for an instant； at the height of her rapid
haste； saying in stern amazement：
'Kept here？ She has been dead a score of years or more。 Ask
Flintwinch……ask HIM。 They can both tell you that she died when Arthur
went abroad。'
'So much the worse；' said Affery； with a shiver； 'for she haunts the
house； then。 Who else rustles about it； making signals by dropping
dust so softly？ Who else es and goes； and marks the walls with
long crooked touches when we are all a…bed？ Who else holds the door
sometimes？ But don't go out……don't go out！ Mistress； you'll die in the
street！'
Her mistress only disengaged her dress from the beseeching hands； said
to Rigaud； 'Wait here till I e back！' and ran out of the room。 They
saw her； from the window； run wildly through the court…yard and out at
the gateway。
For a few moments they stood motionless。 Affery was the first to move；
and she； wringing her hands； pursued her mistress。 Next； Jeremiah
Flintwinch； slowly backing to the door； with one hand in a pocket； and
the other rubbing his chin； twisted himself out in his reticent way；
speechlessly。 Rigaud； left alone； posed himself upon the window…seat
of the open window； in the old Marseilles…jail attitude。 He laid his
cigarettes and fire…box ready to his hand； and fell to smoking。
'Whoof！ Almost as dull as the infernal old jail。 Warmer； but almost as
dismal。 Wait till she es back？ Yes； certainly； but where is she gone；
and how long will she be gone？ No matter！ Rigaud Lagnier Blandois； my
amiable subject； you will get your money。 You will enrich yourself。 You
have lived a gentleman； you will die a gentleman。 You triumph； my little
boy； but it is your character to triumph。 Whoof！' In the hour of his
triumph； his moustache went up and his nose came down； as he ogled a
great beam over his head with particular satisfaction。
CHAPTER 31。 Closed
The sun had set； and the streets were dim in the dusty twilight； when
the figure so long unused to them hurried on its way。 In the immediate
neighbourhood of the old house it attracted little attention； for there
were only a few straggling people to notice it； but； ascending from the
river by the crooked ways that led to London Bridge； and passing into
the great main road； it became surrounded by astonishment。
Resolute and wild of look； rapid of foot and yet weak and uncertain；
conspicuously dressed in its black garments and with its hurried
head…covering； gaunt and of an unearthly paleness； it pressed forward；
taking no more heed of the throng than a sleep…walker。 More remarkable
by being so removed from the crowd it was among than if it had been
lifted on a pedestal to be seen； the figure attracted all eyes。
Saunterers pricked up their attention to observe it； busy people；
crossing it； slackened their pace and turned their heads； panions
pausing and standing aside； whispered one another to look at this
spectral woman who was ing by； and the sweep of the figure as it
passed seemed to create a vortex； drawing the most idle and most curious
after it。
Made giddy by the turbulent irruption of this multitude of staring faces
into her cell of years； by the confusing sensation of being in the air；
and the yet more confusing sensation of being afoot； by the unexpected
changes in half…remembered objects； and the want of likeness between the
controllable pictures her imagination had often drawn of the life from
which she was secluded and the overwhelming rush of the reality； she
held her way as if she were environed by distracting thoughts； rather
than by external humanity and observation。 But； having crossed the
bridge and gone some distance straight onward； she remembered that she
must ask for a direction； and it was only then； when she stopped and
turned to look about her for a promising place of inquiry； that she
found herself surrounded by an eager glare of faces。
'Why are you encircling me？' she asked； trembling。
None of those who were nearest answered； but from the outer ring there
arose a shrill cry of ''Cause you're mad！'
'I am sure as sane as any one here。 I want to find the Marshalsea
prison。'
The shrill outer circle again reto