Marianwasatthestairheadwaitingforme。Shehadafoldedslipofpaperinherhand。
　　`Thelandlord’ssonhasbroughtthisforyou，’shesaid。`Hehasgotacabatthedoor——hesaysyouorderedhimtokeepitatyourdisposal。’
　　`Quiteright，Marian。Iwantthecab——Iamgoingoutagain。’
　　IdescendedthestairsasIspoke，andlookedintothesitting-roomtoreadtheslipofpaperbythelightonthetable。ItcontainedthesetwosentencesinPesca’shandwriting——
　　`Yourletterisreceived。IfIdon’tseeyoubeforethetimeyoumention，Iwillbreakthesealwhentheclockstrikes。’
　　Iplacedthepaperinmypocket-book，andmadeforthedoor。Marianmetmeonthethreshold，andpushedmehackintotheroom，wherethecandle-lightfellfullonmyface。Sheheldmebybothhands，andhereyesfastenedsearchinglyonmine。
　　`Isee！’shesaid，inaloweagerwhisper。`Youaretryingthelastchancetonight。’
　　`Yes，thelastchanceandthebest，’Iwhisperedback。
　　`Notalone！Oh，Walter，forGod’ssake，notalone！Letmegowithyou。
　　Don’trefusemebecauseI’monlyawoman。Imustgo！Iwillgo！I’llwaitoutsideinthecab！’
　　Itwasmyturnnowtoholdher。Shetriedtobreakawayfrommeandgetdownfirsttothedoor。
　　`Ifyouwanttohelpme，’Isaid，`stophereandsleepinmywife’sroomtonight。OnlyletmegoawaywithmymindeasyaboutLaura，andI
　　answerforeverythingelse。Come，Marian，givemeakiss，andshowthatyouhavethecouragetowaittillIcomeback。’
　　Idarednotallowhertimetosayawordmore。Shetriedtoholdmeagain。Iunclaspedherhands，andwasoutoftheroominamoment。Theboybelowheardmeonthestairs，andopenedthehall-door。Ijumpedintothecabbeforethedrivercouldgetoffthebox。`ForestRoad，StJohn’sWood，’Icalledtohimthroughthefrontwindow。`Doublefareifyougetthereinaquarterofanhour。’`I’lldoit，sir。’Ilookedatmywatch。
　　Eleveno’clock。Notaminutetolose。
　　Therapidmotionofthecab，thesensethateveryinstantnowwasbringingmenearertotheCount，theconvictionthatIwasembarkedatlast，withoutletorhindrance，onmyhazardousenterprise，heatedmeintosuchafeverofexcitementthatIshoutedtothemantogofasterandfaster。Asweleftthestreets，andcrossedStJohn’sWoodRoad，myimpatiencesocompletelyoverpoweredmethatIstoodupinthecabandstretchedmyheadoutofthewindow，toseetheendofthejourneybeforewereachedit。Justasachurchclockinthedistancestruckthequarterpast，weturnedintotheForestRoad。IstoppedthedriveralittleawayfromtheCount’shouse，paidanddismissedhim，andwalkedontothedoor。
　　AsIapproachedthegardengate，Isawanotherpersonadvancingtowardsitalsofromthedirectionoppositetomine。Wemetunderthegaslampintheroad，andlookedateachother。Iinstantlyrecognisedthelight-hairedforeignerwiththescaronhischeek，andithoughtherecognisedme。Hesaidnothing，andinsteadofstoppingatthehouse，asIdid，heslowlywalkedon。WasheintheForestRoadbyaccident？OrhadhefollowedtheCounthomefromtheOpera？
　　Ididnotpursuethosequestions。Afterwaitingalittletilltheforeignerhadslowlypassedoutofsight，Irangthegatebell。Itwasthentwentyminutespasteleven——lateenoughtomakeitquiteeasyfortheCounttogetridofmebytheexcusethathewasinbed。
　　Theonlywayofprovidingagainstthiscontingencywastosendinmynamewithoutaskinganypreliminaryquestions，andtolethimknow，atthesametime，thatIhadaseriousmotiveforwishingtoseehimatthatlatehour。Accordingly，whileIwaswaiting，Itookoutmycardandwroteundermyname`Onimportantbusiness。’Themaid-servantansweredthedoorwhileIwaswritingthelastwordinpencil，andaskedmedistrustfullywhatI`pleasedtowant。’
　　`Besogoodastotakethattoyourmaster，’Ireplied，givingherthecard。
　　Isaw，bythegirl’shesitationofmanner，thatifIhadaskedfortheCountinthefirstinstanceshewouldonlyhavefollowedherinstructionsbytellingmehewasnotathome。ShewasstaggeredbytheconfidencewithwhichIgaveherthecard。Afterstaringatme，ingreatperturbation，shewentbackintothehousewithmymessage，closingthedoor，andleavingmetowaitinthegarden。
　　Inaminuteorsoshereappeared。`Hermaster’scompliments，andwouldIbesoobligingastosaywhatmybusinesswas？’`Takemycomplimentshack，’Ireplied，`andsaythatthebusinesscannotbementionedtoanyonebutyourmaster。’Sheleftmeagain，againreturned，andthistimeaskedmetowalkin。
　　Ifollowedheratonce。InanothermomentIwasinsidetheCount’shouse。
　　Therewasnolampinthehall，butbythedimlightofthekitchencandle，whichthegirlhadbroughtupstairswithher，Isawanelderlyladystealnoiselesslyoutofabackroomonthegroundfloor。ShecastoneviperishlookatmeasIenteredthehall，butsaidnothing，andwentslowlyupstairswithoutreturningmybow。MyfamiliaritywithMarian’sjournalsufficientlyassuredmethattheelderlyladywasMadameFosco。
　　TheservantledmetotheroomwhichtheCountesshadjustleft。Ienteredit，andfoundmyselffacetofacewiththeCount。
　　Hewasstillinhiseveningdress，excepthiscoat，whichhehadthrownacrossachair。Hisshirt-sleeveswereturnedupatthewrists，butnohigher。Acarpet-bagwasononesideofhim，andaboxontheother。Books，papers，andarticlesofwearingapparelwerescatteredabouttheroom。
　　Onatable，atonesideofthedoor，stoodthecage，sowellknowntomebydescription，whichcontainedhiswhitemice。Thecanariesandthecockatoowereprobablyinsomeotherroom。Hewasseatedbeforethebox，packingit，whenIwentin，androsewithsomepapersinhishandtoreceiveme。
　　HisfacestillbetrayedplaintracesoftheshockthathadoverwhelmedhimattheOpera。Hisfatcheekshungloose，hiscoldgreyeyeswerefurtivelyvigilant，hisvoice，look，andmannerwereallsharPlysuspiciousalike，asheadvancedasteptomeetme，andrequested，withdistantcivility，thatIwouldtakeachair。
　　`Youcomehereonbusiness，sir？’hesaid。`Iamatalosstoknowwhatthatbusinesscanpossiblybe。’
　　Theunconcealedcuriosity，withwhichhelookedhardinmyfacewhilehespoke，convincedmethatIhadpassedunnoticedbyhimattheOpera。
　　HehadseenPescafirst，andfromthatmomenttillheleftthetheatrehehadevidentlyseennothingelse。MynamewouldnecessarilysuggesttohimthatIhadnotcomeintohishousewithotherthanahostilepurposetowardshimself，butheappearedtobeutterlyignorantthusfaroftherealnatureofmyerrand。
　　`Iamfortunateinfindingyouheretonight，’Isaid。`Youseemtobeonthepointoftakingajourney？’
　　`Isyourbusinessconnectedwithmyjourney？’
　　`Insomedegree。’
　　`Inwhatdegree？DoyouknowwhereIamgoingto？’
　　`No。IonlyknowwhyyouareleavingLondon。’
　　Heslippedbymewiththequicknessofthought，lockedthedoor，andputthekeyinhispocket。
　　`YouandI，MrHartright，areexcellentlywellacquaintedwithoneanotherbyreputation，’hesaid。`Didit，byanychance，occurtoyouwhenyoucametothishousethatIwasnotthesortofmanyoucouldtriflewith？’
　　`Itdidoccurtome，’Ireplied。`AndIhavenotcometotriflewithyou。Iamhereonamatteroflifeanddeath，andifthatdoorwhichyouhavelockedwasopenatthismoment，nothingyoucouldsayordowouldinducemetopassthroughit。’
　　Iwalkedfartherintotheroom，andstoodoppositetohimontherugbeforethefireplace。Hedrewachairinfrontofthedoor，andsatdownonit，withhisleftarmrestingonthetable。Thecagewiththewhitemicewasclosetohim，andthelittlecreaturesscamperedoutoftheirsleeping-placeashisheavyarmshookthetable，andpeeredathimthroughthegapsinthesmartlypaintedwires。
　　`Onamatterof-lifeanddeath，’herepeatedtohimself。`Thosewordsaremoreserious，perhaps，thanyouthink。Whatdoyoumean？’
　　`WhatIsay。’
　　Theperspirationbrokeoutthicklyonhisbroadforehead。Hislefthandstoleovertheedgeofthetable。Therewasadrawerinit，withalock，andthekeywasinthelock。Hisfingerandthumbclosedoverthekey，butdidnotturnit。
　　`SoyouknowwhyIamleavingLondon？’hewenton。`Tellmethereason，ifyouplease。’Heturnedthekey，andunlockedthedrawerashespoke。
　　`Icandobetterthanthat，’Ireplied。`Icanshowyouthereason，ifyoulike。’
　　`Howcanyoushowit？’
　　`Youhavegotyourcoatoff，’Isaid。`Rolluptheshirtsleeveonyourleftarm，andyouwillseeitthere。’
　　ThesamelividleadenchangepassedoverhisfacewhichIhadseenpassoveritatthetheatre。Thedeadlyglitterinhiseyesshonesteadyandstraightintomine。Hesaidnothing。Buthislefthandslowlyopenedthetable-drawer，andsoftlyslippedintoit。Theharshgratingnoiseofsomethingheavythathewasmovingunseentomesoundedforamoment，thenceased。
　　ThesilencethatfollowedwassointensethatthefainttickingnibbleofthewhitemiceattheirwireswasdistinctlyaudiblewhereIstood。
　　Mylifehungbyathread，andIknewit。AtthatfinalmomentIthoughtwithhismind，Ifeltwithhisfingers——IwasascertainasifIhadseentoitwhathekepthiddenfrommeinthedrawer。