’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？