’Igo，consequentementally，’——itwouldhavegivenMrsPlornishgreatconcernifshecouldhavebeenpersuadedthathisoccasionallengtheningofanadverbinthisway，wasthechieffaultofhisEnglish，——’firstamongmycountrymen。IaskthemwhatnewsinLondra，offoreignersarrived。ThenIgoamongtheFrench。ThenIgoamongtheGermans。Theyalltellme。Thegreatpartofusknowwelltheother，andtheyalltellme。But!——nopersoncantellmenothingofhim，Rigaud。Fifteentimes，’saidCavalletto，thricethrowingouthislefthandwithallitsfingersspread，anddoingitsorapidlythatthesenseofsightcouldhardlyfollowtheaction，’Iaskofhimineveryplacewheregotheforeigners；andfifteentimes，’repeatingthesameswiftperformance，’theyknownothing。But!——’AtthissignificantItalianrestontheword’But，’hisbackhandedshakeofhisrightforefingercameintoplay；
　　averylittle，andverycautiously。
　　’But!——AfteralongtimewhenIhavenotbeenabletofindthatheishereinLondra，someonetellsmeofasoldierwithwhitehair——
　　hey？——nothairlikethisthathecarries——white——wholivesretiredsecrettementally，inacertainplace。But!——’withanotherrestupontheword，’whosometimesintheafter-dinner，walks，andsmokes。Itisnecessary，astheysayinItalyandastheyknow，poorpeople，tohavepatience。Ihavepatience。Iaskwhereisthiscertainplace。One。believesitishere，onebelievesitisthere。Ehwell!Itisnothere，itisnotthere。Iwaitpatientissamentally。AtlastIfindit。ThenIwatch；thenI
　　hide，untilhewalksandsmokes。Heisasoldierwithgreyhair——
　　But!——’averydecidedrestindeed，andaveryvigorousplayfromsidetosideoftheback-handedforefinger——’heisalsothismanthatyousee。’
　　Itwasnoticeable，that，inhisoldhabitofsubmissiontoonewhohadbeenatthetroubleofassertingsuperiorityoverhim，heeventhenbestoweduponRigaudaconfusedbendofhishead，afterthuspointinghimout。
　　’Ehwell，Signore!’hecriedinconclusion，addressingArthuragain。’Iwaitedforagoodopportunity。IwritedsomewordstoSignorPanco，’anairofnoveltycameoverMrPanckswiththisdesignation，’tocomeandhelp。Ishowedhim，Rigaud，athiswindow，toSignorPanco，whowasoftenthespyintheday。Isleptatnightnearthedoorofthehouse。Atlastweentered，onlythisto-day，andnowyouseehim!AshewouldnotcomeupinpresenceoftheillustriousAdvocate，’suchwasMrBaptist’shonourablementionofMrRugg，’wewaiteddownbelowthere，together，andSignorPancoguardedthestreet。’
　　Atthecloseofthisrecital，Arthurturnedhiseyesupontheimpudentandwickedface。Asitmethis，thenosecamedownoverthemoustacheandthemoustachewentupunderthenose。Whennoseandmoustachehadsettledintotheirplacesagain，MonsieurRigaudloudlysnappedhisfingershalf-a-dozentimes；bendingforwardtojerkthesnapsatArthur，asiftheywerepalpablemissileswhichhejerkedintohisface。
　　’Now，Philosopher!’saidRigaud。’Whatdoyouwantwithme？’
　　’Iwanttoknow，’returnedArthur，withoutdisguisinghisabhorrence，’howyoudaredirectasuspicionofmurderagainstmymother’shouse？’
　　’Dare!’criedRigaud。’Ho，ho!Hearhim!Dare？Isitdare？ByHeaven，mysmallboy，butyouarealittleimprudent!’
　　’Iwantthatsuspiciontobeclearedaway，’saidArthur。’Youshallbetakenthere，andbepubliclyseen。Iwanttoknow，moreover，whatbusinessyouhadtherewhenIhadaburningdesiretoflingyoudown-stairs。Don’tfrownatme，man!Ihaveseenenoughofyoutoknowthatyouareabullyandcoward。Ineednorevivalofmyspiritsfromtheeffectsofthiswretchedplacetotellyousoplainafact，andonethatyouknowsowell。’
　　Whitetothelips，Rigaudstrokedhismoustache，muttering，’ByHeaven，mysmallboy，butyouarealittlecompromisingofmylady，yourrespectablemother’——andseemedforaminuteundecidedhowtoact。Hisindecisionwassoongone。Hesathimselfdownwithathreateningswagger，andsaid：
　　’Givemeabottleofwine。Youcanbuywinehere。Sendoneofyourmadmentogetmeabottleofwine。Iwon’ttalktoyouwithoutwine。Come!Yesorno？’
　　’Fetchhimwhathewants，Cavalletto，’saidArthur，scornfully，producingthemoney。
　　’Contrabandbeast，’addedRigaud，’bringPortwine!I’lldrinknothingbutPorto-Porto。’
　　Thecontrabandbeast，however，assuringallpresent，withhissignificantfinger，thatheperemptorilydeclinedtoleavehispostatthedoor，SignorPancoofferedhisservices。Hesoonreturnedwiththebottleofwine：which，accordingtothecustomoftheplace，originatinginascarcityofcorkscrewsamongtheCollegiansincommonwithascarcityofmuchelse，wasalreadyopenedforuse。
　　’Madman!Alargeglass，’saidRigaud。
　　SignorPancoputatumblerbeforehim；notwithoutavisibleconflictoffeelingonthequestionofthrowingitathishead。
　　’Haha!’boastedRigaud。’Onceagentleman，andalwaysagentleman。
　　Agentlemanfromthebeginning，andagentlemantotheend。WhattheDevil!Agentlemanmustbewaitedon，Ihope？It’sapartofmycharactertobewaitedon!’
　　Hehalffilledthetumblerashesaidit，anddrankoffthecontentswhenhehaddonesayingit。
　　’Hah!’smackinghislips。’Notaveryoldprisonerthat!Ijudgebyyourlooks，bravesir，thatimprisonmentwillsubdueyourbloodmuchsoonerthanitsoftensthishotwine。Youaremellowing——
　　losingbodyandcolouralready。Isaluteyou!’
　　Hetossedoffanotherhalfglass：holdingitupbothbeforeandafterwards，soastodisplayhissmall，whitehand。
　　’Tobusiness，’hethencontinued。’Toconversation。Youhaveshownyourselfmorefreeofspeechthanbody，sir。’
　　’Ihaveusedthefreedomoftellingyouwhatyouknowyourselftobe。Youknowyourself，asweallknowyou，tobefarworsethanthat。’
　　’Add，alwaysagentleman，andit’snomatter。Exceptinthatregard，weareallalike。Forexample：youcouldn’tforyourlifebeagentleman；Icouldn’tformylifebeotherwise。Howgreatthedifference!Letusgoon。Words，sir，neverinfluencethecourseofthecards，orthecourseofthedice。Doyouknowthat？Youdo？Ialsoplayagame，andwordsarewithoutpoweroverit。’
　　NowthathewasconfrontedwithCavalletto，andknewthathisstorywasknown——whateverthindisguisehehadworn，hedropped；andfaceditout，withabareface，astheinfamouswretchhewas。
　　’No，myson，’heresumed，withasnapofhisfingers。’Iplaymygametotheendinspiteofwords；andDeathofmyBodyandDeathofmySoul!I’llwinit。YouwanttoknowwhyIplayedthislittletrickthatyouhaveinterrupted？KnowthenthatIhad，andthatIhave——doyouunderstandme？have——acommoditytoselltomyladyyourrespectablemother。Idescribedmypreciouscommodity，andfixedmyprice。Touchingthebargain，youradmirablemotherwasalittletoocalm，toostolid，tooimmovableandstatue-like。
　　Infine，youradmirablemothervexedme。Tomakevarietyinmyposition，andtoamusemyself——what!agentlemanmustbeamusedatsomebody’sexpense!——Iconceivedthehappyideaofdisappearing。
　　Anidea，seeyou，thatyourcharacteristicmotherandmyFlintwinchwouldhavebeenwellenoughpleasedtoexecute。Ah!Bah，bah，bah，don’tlookasfromhightolowatme!Irepeatit。Wellenoughpleased，excessivelyenchanted，andwithalltheirheartsravished。Howstronglywillyouhaveit？’
　　Hethrewouttheleesofhisglassontheground，sothattheynearlyspatteredCavalletto。Thisseemedtodrawhisattentiontohimanew。Hesetdownhisglassandsaid：
　　’I’llnotfillit。What!Iamborntobeserved。Comethen，youCavalletto，andfill!’
　　ThelittlemanlookedatClennam，whoseeyeswereoccupiedwithRigaud，and，seeingnoprohibition，gotupfromtheground，andpouredoutfromthebottleintotheglass。Theblending，ashedidso，ofhisoldsubmissionwithasenseofsomethinghumorous；thestrivingofthatwithacertainsmoulderingferocity，whichmighthaveflashedfireinaninstantastheborngentlemanseemedtothink，forhehadawaryeyeuponhim；andtheeasyyieldingofalltoagood-natured，careless，predominantpropensitytositdownonthegroundagain：formedaveryremarkablecombinationofcharacter。
　　’Thishappyidea，bravesir，’Rigaudresumedafterdrinking，’wasahappyideaforseveralreasons。Itamusedme，itworriedyourdearmamaandmyFlintwinch，itcausedyouagoniesmytermsforalessoninpolitenesstowardsagentleman，anditsuggestedtoalltheamiablepersonsinterestedthatyourentirelydevotedisamantofear。ByHeaven，heisamantofear!Beyondthis；itmighthaverestoredherwittomyladyyourmother——might，underthepressinglittlesuspicionyourwisdomhasrecognised，havepersuadedheratlasttoannounce，covertly，inthejournals，thatthedifficultiesofacertaincontractwouldberemovedbytheappearanceofacertainimportantpartytoit。Perhapsyes，perhapsno。Butthat，youhaveinterrupted。Now，whatisityousay？Whatisityouwant？’
　　NeverhadClennamfeltmoreacutelythathewasaprisonerinbonds，thanwhenhesawthismanbeforehim，andcouldnotaccompanyhimtohismother’shouse。Alltheundiscernibledifficultiesanddangershehadeverfearedwereclosingin，whenhecouldnotstirhandorfoot。
　　’Perhaps，myfriend，philosopher，manofvirtue，Imbecile，whatyouwill；perhaps，’saidRigaud，pausinginhisdrinktolookoutofhisglasswithhishorriblesmile，’youwouldhavedonebettertoleavemealone？’
　　’No!Atleast，’saidClennam，’youareknowntobealiveandunharmed。Atleastyoucannotescapefromthesetwowitnesses；andtheycanproduceyoubeforeanypublicauthorities，orbeforehundredsofpeople!’
　　’Butwillnotproducemebeforeone，’saidRigaud，snappinghisfingersagainwithanairoftriumphantmenace。’TotheDevilwithyourwitnesses!TotheDevilwithyourproduced!TotheDevilwithyourself!What!DoIknowwhatIknow，forthat？HaveImycommodityonsale，forthat？Bah，poordebtor!Youhaveinterruptedmylittleproject。Letitpass。Howthen？Whatremains？Toyou，nothing；tome，all。Produceme!Isthatwhatyouwant？Iwillproducemyself，onlytooquickly。Contrabandist!
　　Givemepen，ink，andpaper。’
　　Cavallettogotupagainasbefore，andlaidthembeforehiminhisformermanner。Rigaud，aftersomevillainousthinkingandsmiling，wrote，andreadaloud，asfollows：
　　’ToMRSCLENNAM。
　　’Waitanswer。
　　’PrisonoftheMarshalsea。
　　’Attheapartmentofyourson。
　　’DearMadam，——Iamindespairtobeinformedto-daybyourprisonerherewhohashadthegoodnesstoemployspiestoseekme，livingforpoliticreasonsinretirement，thatyouhavehadfearsformysafety。
　　’Reassureyourself，dearmadam。Iamwell，Iamstrongandconstant。
　　’WiththegreatestimpatienceIshouldflytoyourhouse，butthatIforeseeittobepossible，underthecircumstances，thatyouwillnotyethavequitedefinitivelyarrangedthelittlepropositionI
　　havehadthehonourtosubmittoyou。Inameoneweekfromthisday，foralastfinalvisitonmypart；whenyouwillunconditionallyacceptitorrejectit，withitstrainofconsequences。
　　’Isuppressmyardourtoembraceyouandachievethisinterestingbusiness，inorderthatyoumayhaveleisuretoadjustitsdetailstoourperfectmutualsatisfaction。
　　’Inthemeanwhile，itisnottoomuchtoproposeourprisonerhavingderangedmyhousekeeping，thatmyexpensesoflodgingandnourishmentatanhotelshallbepaidbyyou。
　　’Receive，dearmadam，theassuranceofmyhighestandmostdistinguishedconsideration，’RIGAUDBLANDOIS。
　　’AthousandfriendshipstothatdearFlintwinch。
　　’IkissthehandsofMadameF。’
　　Whenhehadfinishedthisepistle，RigaudfoldeditandtosseditwithaflourishatClennam’sfeet。’Holayou!Aproposofproducing，letsomebodyproducethatatitsaddress，andproducetheanswerhere。’
　　’Cavalletto，’saidArthur。’Willyoutakethisfellow’sletter？’
　　But，Cavalletto’ssignificantfingeragainexpressingthathispostwasatthedoortokeepwatchoverRigaud，nowhehadfoundhimwithsomuchtrouble，andthatthedutyofhispostwastositonthefloorbackedupbythedoor，lookingatRigaudandholdinghisownankles，——SignorPancooncemorevolunteered。Hisservicesbeingaccepted，Cavallettosufferedthedoortoopenbarelywideenoughtoadmitofhissqueezinghimselfout，andimmediatelyshutitonhim。
　　’Touchmewithafinger，touchmewithanepithet，questionmysuperiorityasIsitheredrinkingmywineatmypleasure，’saidRigaud，’andIfollowtheletterandcancelmyweek’sgrace。Youwantedme？Youhavegotme!Howdoyoulikeme？’
　　’Youknow，’returnedClennam，withabittersenseofhishelplessness，’thatwhenIsoughtyou，Iwasnotaprisoner。’
　　’TotheDevilwithyouandyourprison，’retortedRigaud，leisurely，ashetookfromhispocketacasecontainingthematerialsformakingcigarettes，andemployedhisfacilehandsinfoldingafewforpresentuse；’Icareforneitherofyou。
　　Contrabandist!Alight。’
　　AgainCavallettogotup，andgavehimwhathewanted。Therehadbeensomethingdreadfulinthenoiselessskillofhiscold，whitehands，withthefingerslithelytwistingaboutandtwiningoneoveranotherlikeserpents。Clennamcouldnotpreventhimselffromshudderinginwardly，asifhehadbeenlookingonatanestofthosecreatures。
　　’Hola，Pig!’criedRigaud，withanoisystimulatingcry，asifCavallettowereanItalianhorseormule。’What!Theinfernaloldjailwasarespectableonetothis。Therewasdignityinthebarsandstonesofthatplace。Itwasaprisonformen。Butthis？
　　Bah!Ahospitalforimbeciles!’
　　Hesmokedhiscigaretteout，withhisuglysmilesofixeduponhisfacethathelookedasthoughheweresmokingwithhisdroopingbeakofanose，ratherthanwithhismouth；likeafancyinaweirdpicture。Whenhehadlightedasecondcigaretteatthestillburningendofthefirst，hesaidtoClennam：
　　’Onemustpassthetimeinthemadman’sabsence。Onemusttalk。
　　Onecan’tdrinkstrongwinealldaylong，orIwouldhaveanotherbottle。She’shandsome，sir。Thoughnotexactlytomytaste，still，bytheThunderandtheLightning!handsome。Ifelicitateyouonyouradmiration。’
　　’Ineitherknownorask，’saidClennam，’ofwhomyouspeak。’
　　’DellabellaGowana，sir，astheysayinItaly。OftheGowan，thefairGowan。’
　　’Ofwhosehusbandyouwerethe——follower，Ithink？’
　　’Sir？Follower？Youareinsolent。Thefriend。’
　　’Doyousellallyourfriends？