’Notawordtoanyonebutme，Cavalletto。’
’Al-tro!’criedCavalletto。Andwasgonewithgreatspeed。
CHAPTER23
MistressAfferymakesaConditionalPromise，respectingherDreamsLeftalone，withtheexpressivelooksandgesturesofMrBaptist，otherwiseGiovanniBaptistaCavalletto，vividlybeforehim，Clennamenteredonawearyday。Itwasinvainthathetriedtocontrolhisattentionbydirectingittoanybusinessoccupationortrainofthought；itrodeatanchorbythehauntingtopic，andwouldholdtonootheridea。Asthoughacriminalshouldbechainedinastationaryboatonadeepclearriver，condemned，whatevercountlessleaguesofwaterflowedpasthim，alwaystoseethebodyofthefellow-creaturehehaddrownedlyingatthebottom，immovable，andunchangeable，exceptastheeddiesmadeitbroadorlong，nowexpanding，nowcontractingitsterriblelineaments；soArthur，belowtheshiftingcurrentoftransparentthoughtsandfancieswhichweregoneandsucceededbyothersassoonascome，saw，steadyanddark，andnottobestirredfromitsplace，theonesubjectthatheendeavouredwithallhismighttoridhimselfof，andthathecouldnotflyfrom。Theassurancehenowhad，thatBlandois，whateverhisrightname，wasoneoftheworstofcharacters，greatlyaugmentedtheburdenofhisanxieties。Thoughthedisappearanceshouldbeaccountedforto-morrow，thefactthathismotherhadbeenincommunicationwithsuchaman，wouldremainunalterable。Thatthecommunicationhadbeenofasecretkind，andthatshehadbeensubmissivetohimandafraidofhim，hehopedmightbeknowntonoonebeyondhimself；yet，knowingit，howcouldheseparateitfromhisoldvaguefears，andhowbelievethattherewasnothingevilinsuchrelations？
Herresolutionnottoenteronthequestionwithhim，andhisknowledgeofherindomitablecharacter，enhancedhissenseofhelplessness。Itwasliketheoppressionofadreamtobelievethatshameandexposurewereimpendingoverherandhisfather’smemory，andtobeshutout，asbyabrazenwall，fromthepossibilityofcomingtotheiraid。Thepurposehehadbroughthometohisnativecountry，andhadeversincekeptinview，was，withhergreatestdetermination，defeatedbyhismotherherself，atthetimeofallotherswhenhefearedthatitpressedmost。Hisadvice，energy，activity，money，credit，allhisresourceswhatsoever，wereallmadeuseless。Ifshehadbeenpossessedoftheoldfabledinfluence，andhadturnedthosewholookeduponherintostone，shecouldnothaverenderedhimmorecompletelypowerlesssoitseemedtohiminhisdistressofmindthanshedid，whensheturnedherunyieldingfacetohisinhergloomyroom。
Butthelightofthatday’sdiscovery，shiningontheseconsiderations，rousedhimtotakeamoredecidedcourseofaction。
Confidentintherectitudeofhispurpose，andimpelledbyasenseofoverhangingdangerclosinginaround，heresolved，ifhismotherwouldstilladmitofnoapproach，tomakeadesperateappealtoAffery。Ifshecouldbebroughttobecomecommunicative，andtodowhatlayinhertobreakthespellofsecrecythatenshroudedthehouse，hemightshakeofftheparalysisofwhicheveryhourthatpassedoverhisheadmadehimmoreacutelysensible。Thiswastheresultofhisday’sanxiety，andthiswasthedecisionheputinpracticewhenthedayclosedin。
Hisfirstdisappointment，onarrivingatthehouse，wastofindthedooropen，andMrFlintwinchsmokingapipeonthesteps。Ifcircumstanceshadbeencommonlyfavourable，MistressAfferywouldhaveopenedthedoortohisknock。Circumstancesbeinguncommonlyunfavourable，thedoorstoodopen，andMrFlintwinchwassmokinghispipeonthesteps。
’Goodevening，’saidArthur。
’Goodevening，’saidMrFlintwinch。
ThesmokecamecrookedlyoutofMrFlintwinch’smouth，asifitcirculatedthroughthewholeofhiswryfigureandcamebackbyhiswrythroat，beforecomingforthtominglewiththesmokefromthecrookedchimneysandthemistsfromthecrookedriver。
’Haveyouanynews？’saidArthur。
’Wehavenonews，’saidJeremiah。
’Imeanoftheforeignman，’Arthurexplained。
_’I_meanoftheforeignman，’saidJeremiah。
Helookedsogrim，ashestoodaskew，withtheknotofhiscravatunderhisear，thatthethoughtpassedintoClennam’smind，andnotforthefirsttimebymany，couldFlintwinchforapurposeofhisownhavegotridofBlandois？Couldithavebeenhissecret，andhissafety，thatwereatissue？Hewassmallandbent，andperhapsnotactivelystrong；yethewasastoughasanoldyew-tree，andascrustyasanoldjackdaw。Suchaman，comingbehindamuchyoungerandmorevigorousman，andhavingthewilltoputanendtohimandnorelenting，mightdoitprettysurelyinthatsolitaryplaceatalatehour。
While，inthemorbidconditionofhisthoughts，thesethoughtsdriftedoverthemainonethatwasalwaysinClennam’smind，MrFlintwinch，regardingtheoppositehouseoverthegatewaywithhisnecktwistedandoneeyeshutup，stoodsmokingwithaviciousexpressionuponhim；moreasifheweretryingtobiteoffthestemofhispipe，thanasifhewereenjoyingit。Yethewasenjoyingitinhisownway。
’You’llbeabletotakemylikeness，thenexttimeyoucall，Arthur，Ishouldthink，’saidMrFlintwinch，drily，ashestoopedtoknocktheashesout。
Ratherconsciousandconfused，Arthuraskedhispardon，ifhehadstaredathimunpolitely。’Butmymindrunssomuchuponthismatter，’hesaid，’thatIlosemyself。’
’Hah!YetIdon’tsee，’returnedMrFlintwinch，quiteathisleisure，’whyitshouldtroubleYOU，Arthur。’
’No？’
’No，’saidMrFlintwinch，veryshortlyanddecidedly：muchasifhewereofthecaninerace，andsnappedatArthur’shand。
’Isitnothingtoseethoseplacardsabout？Isitnothingtometoseemymother’snameandresidencehawkedupanddowninsuchanassociation？’
’Idon’tsee，’returnedMrFlintwinch，scrapinghishornycheek，’thatitneedsignifymuchtoyou。ButI’lltellyouwhatIdosee，Arthur，’glancingupatthewindows；’Iseethelightoffireandcandleinyourmother’sroom!’
’Andwhathasthattodowithit？’
’Why，sir，Ireadbyit，’saidMrFlintwinch，screwinghimselfathim，’thatifit’sadvisableastheproverbsaysitistoletsleepingdogslie，it’sjustasadvisable，perhaps，toletmissingdogslie。Let’embe。Theygenerallyturnupsoonenough。’
MrFlintwinchturnedshortroundwhenhehadmadethisremark，andwentintothedarkhall。Clennamstoodthere，followinghimwithhiseyes，ashedippedforalightinthephosphorus-boxinthelittleroomattheside，gotoneafterthreeorfourdips，andlightedthedimlampagainstthewall。Allthewhile，Clennamwaspursuingtheprobabilities——ratherasiftheywerebeingshowntohimbyaninvisiblehandthanasifhehimselfwereconjuringthemup——ofMrFlintwinch’swaysandmeansofdoingthatdarkerdeed，andremovingitstracesbyanyoftheblackavenuesofshadowthatlayaroundthem。
’Now，sir，’saidthetestyJeremiah；’willitbeagreeabletowalkup-stairs？’
’Mymotherisalone，Isuppose？’
’Notalone，’saidMrFlintwinch。’MrCasbyandhisdaughterarewithher。TheycameinwhileIwassmoking，andIstayedbehindtohavemysmokeout。’
Thiswastheseconddisappointment。Arthurmadenoremarkuponit，andrepairedtohismother’sroom，whereMrCasbyandFlorahadbeentakingtea，anchovypaste，andhotbutteredtoast。Therelicsofthosedelicacieswerenotyetremoved，eitherfromthetableorfromthescorchedcountenanceofAffery，who，withthekitchentoasting-forkstillinherhand，lookedlikeasortofallegoricalpersonage；exceptthatshehadaconsiderableadvantageoverthegeneralrunofsuchpersonagesinpointofsignificantemblematicalpurpose。
Florahadspreadherbonnetandshawluponthebed，withacareindicativeofanintentiontostaysometime。MrCasby，too，wasbeamingnearthehob，withhisbenevolentknobsshiningasifthewarmbutterofthetoastwereexudingthroughthepatriarchalskull，andwithhisfaceasruddyasifthecolouringmatteroftheanchovypasteweremantlinginthepatriarchalvisage。Seeingthis，asheexchangedtheusualsalutations，Clennamdecidedtospeaktohismotherwithoutpostponement。
Ithadlongbeencustomary，assheneverchangedherroom，forthosewhohadanythingtosaytoherapart，towheelhertoherdesk；whereshesat，usuallywiththebackofherchairturnedtowardstherestoftheroom，andthepersonwhotalkedwithherseatedinacorner，onastoolwhichwasalwayssetinthatplaceforthatpurpose。Exceptthatitwaslongsincethemotherandsonhadspokentogetherwithouttheinterventionofathirdperson，itwasanordinarymatterofcoursewithintheexperienceofvisitorsforMrsClennamtobeasked，withawordofapologyfortheinterruption，ifshecouldbespokenwithonamatterofbusiness，and，onherreplyingintheaffirmative，tobewheeledintothepositiondescribed。
Therefore，whenArthurnowmadesuchanapology，andsucharequest，andmovedhertoherdeskandseatedhimselfonthestool，MrsFinchingmerelybegantotalklouderandfaster，asadelicatehintthatshecouldoverhearnothing，andMrCasbystrokedhislongwhitelockswithsleepycalmness。
’Mother，Ihaveheardsomethingto-daywhichIfeelpersuadedyoudon’tknow，andwhichIthinkyoushouldknow，oftheantecedentsofthatmanIsawhere。’
’Iknownothingoftheantecedentsofthemanyousawhere，Arthur。’
Shespokealoud。Hehadloweredhisownvoice；butsherejectedthatadvancetowardsconfidenceassherejectedeveryother，andspokeinherusualkeyandinherusualsternvoice。
’Ihavereceiveditonnocircuitousinformation；ithascometomedirect。’
Sheaskedhim，exactlyasbefore，ifheweretheretotellherwhatitwas？
’Ithoughtitrightthatyoushouldknowit。’
’Andwhatisit？’
’HehasbeenaprisonerinaFrenchgaol。’
Sheansweredwithcomposure，’Ishouldthinkthatverylikely。’
’Butinagaolforcriminals，mother。Onanaccusationofmurder。’
Shestartedattheword，andherlooksexpressedhernaturalhorror。Yetshestillspokealoud，whenshedemanded：——
’Whotoldyouso？’
’Amanwhowashisfellow-prisoner。’
’Thatman’santecedents，Isuppose，werenotknowntoyou，beforehetoldyou？’
’No。’
’Thoughthemanhimselfwas？’
’Yes。’
’MycaseandFlintwinch’s，inrespectofthisotherman!Idaresaytheresemblanceisnotsoexact，though，asthatyourinformantbecameknowntoyouthroughaletterfromacorrespondentwithwhomhehaddepositedmoney？Howdoesthatpartoftheparallelstand？’
Arthurhadnochoicebuttosaythathisinformanthadnotbecomeknowntohimthroughtheagencyofanysuchcredentials，orindeedofanycredentialsatall。MrsClennam’sattentivefrownexpandedbydegreesintoaseverelookoftriumph，andsheretortedwithemphasis，’Takecarehowyoujudgeothers，then。Isaytoyou，Arthur，foryourgood，takecarehowyoujudge!’
Heremphasishadbeenderivedfromhereyesquiteasmuchasfromthestressshelaiduponherwords。Shecontinuedtolookathim；
andif，whenheenteredthehouse，hehadhadanylatenthopeofprevailingintheleastwithher，shenowlookeditoutofhisheart。