ClosinginThelastdayoftheappointedweektouchedthebarsoftheMarshalseagate。Black，allnight，sincethegatehadclasheduponLittleDorrit，itsironstripeswereturnedbytheearly-glowingsunintostripesofgold。Faraslantacrossthecity，overitsjumbledroofs，andthroughtheopentraceryofitschurchtowers，struckthelongbrightrays，barsoftheprisonofthislowerworld。
Throughoutthedaytheoldhousewithinthegatewayremaineduntroubledbyanyvisitors。But，whenthesunwaslow，threementurnedinatthegatewayandmadeforthedilapidatedhouse。
Rigaudwasthefirst，andwalkedbyhimselfsmoking。MrBaptistwasthesecond，andjoggedcloseafterhim，lookingatnootherobject。MrPanckswasthethird，andcarriedhishatunderhisarmfortheliberationofhisrestivehair；theweatherbeingextremelyhot。Theyallcametogetheratthedoor-steps。
’Youpairofmadmen!’saidRigaud，facingabout。’Don’tgoyet!’
’Wedon’tmeanto，’saidMrPancks。
Givinghimadarkglanceinacknowledgmentofhisanswer，Rigaudknockedloudly。Hehadchargedhimselfwithdrink，fortheplayingoutofhisgame，andwasimpatienttobegin。Hehadhardlyfinishedonelongresoundingknock，whenheturnedtotheknockeragainandbegananother。ThatwasnotyetfinishedwhenJeremiahFlintwinchopenedthedoor，andtheyallclankedintothestonehall。Rigaud，thrustingMrFlintwinchaside，proceededstraightup-stairs。Histwoattendantsfollowedhim，MrFlintwinchfollowedthem，andtheyallcametroopingintoMrsClennam’squietroom。Itwasinitsusualstate；exceptthatoneofthewindowswaswideopen，andAfferysatonitsold-fashionedwindow-seat，mendingastocking。Theusualarticleswereonthelittletable；theusualdeadenedfirewasinthegrate；thebedhaditsusualpalluponit；
andthemistressofallsatonherblackbier-likesofa，proppedupbyherblackangularbolsterthatwasliketheheadsman’sblock。
Yettherewasanamelessairofpreparationintheroom，asifitwerestrungupforanoccasion。Fromwhattheroomderivedit——
everyoneofitssmallvarietyofobjectsbeinginthefixedspotithadoccupiedforyears——noonecouldhavesaidwithoutlookingattentivelyatitsmistress，andthat，too，withapreviousknowledgeofherface。Althoughherunchangingblackdresswasineveryplaitpreciselyasofold，andherunchangingattitudewasrigidlypreserved，averyslightadditionalsettingofherfeaturesandcontractionofhergloomyforeheadwassopowerfullymarked，thatitmarkedeverythingabouther。
’Whoarethese？’shesaid，wonderingly，asthetwoattendantsentered。’Whatdothesepeoplewanthere？’
’Whoarethese，dearmadame，isit？’returnedRigaud。’Faith，theyarefriendsofyoursontheprisoner。Andwhatdotheywanthere，isit？Death，madame，Idon’tknow。Youwilldowelltoaskthem。’
’Youknowyoutoldusatthedoor，nottogoyet，’saidPancks。
’Andyouknowyoutoldmeatthedoor，youdidn’tmeantogo，’
retortedRigaud。’Inaword，madame，permitmetopresenttwospiesoftheprisoner’s——madmen，butspies。Ifyouwishthemtoremainhereduringourlittleconversation，saytheword。Itisnothingtome。’
’WhyshouldIwishthemtoremainhere？’saidMrsClennam。’WhathaveItodowiththem？’
’Then，dearestmadame，’saidRigaud，throwinghimselfintoanarm-
chairsoheavilythattheoldroomtrembled，’youwilldowelltodismissthem。Itisyouraffair。Theyarenotmyspies，notmyrascals。’
’Hark!YouPancks，’saidMrsClennam，bendingherbrowsuponhimangrily，’youCasby’sclerk!Attendtoyouremployer’sbusinessandyourown。Go。Andtakethatothermanwithyou。’
’Thankyou，ma’am，’returnedMrPancks，’IamgladtosayIseenoobjectiontoourbothretiring。WehavedoneallweundertooktodoforMrClennam。Hisconstantanxietyhasbeenanditgrewworseuponhimwhenhebecameaprisoner，thatthisagreeablegentlemanshouldbebroughtbackheretotheplacefromwhichheslippedaway。Hereheis——broughtback。AndIwillsay，’addedMrPancks，’tohisill-lookingface，thatinmyopiniontheworldwouldbenoworseforhisslippingoutofitaltogether。’
’Youropinionisnotasked，’answeredMrsClennam。’Go。’
’Iamsorrynottoleaveyouinbettercompany，ma’am，’saidPancks；’andsorry，too，thatMrClennamcan’tbepresent。It’smyfault，thatis。’
’Youmeanhisown，’shereturned。
’No，Imeanmine，ma’am，’saidPancks，’foritwasmymisfortunetoleadhimintoaruinousinvestment。’MrPancksstillclungtothatword，andneversaidspeculation。’ThoughIcanprovebyfigures，’addedMrPancks，withananxiouscountenance，’thatitoughttohavebeenagoodinvestment。Ihavegoneoveritsinceitfailed，everydayofmylife，anditcomesout——regardedasaquestionoffigures——triumphant。Thepresentisnotatimeorplace，’MrPanckspursued，withalongingglanceintohishat，wherehekepthiscalculations，’forenteringuponthefigures；butthefiguresarenottobedisputed。MrClennamoughttohavebeenatthismomentinhiscarriageandpair，andIoughttohavebeenworthfromthreetofivethousandpound。’
MrPancksputhishairerectwithageneralaspectofconfidencethatcouldhardlyhavebeensurpassed，ifhehadhadtheamountinhispocket。Theseincontrovertiblefigureshadbeentheoccupationofeverymomentofhisleisuresincehehadlosthismoney，andweredestinedtoaffordhimconsolationtotheendofhisdays。
’However，’saidMrPancks，’enoughofthat。Altro，oldboy，youhaveseenthefigures，andyouknowhowtheycomeout。’MrBaptist，whohadnottheslightestarithmeticalpowerofcompensatinghimselfinthisway，nodded，withafinedisplayofbrightteeth。
AtwhomMrFlintwinchhadbeenlooking，andtowhomhethensaid：
’Oh!it’syou，isit？IthoughtIrememberedyourface，butI
wasn’tcertaintillIsawyourteeth。Ah!yes，tobesure。Itwasthisofficiousrefugee，’saidJeremiahtoMrsClennam，’whocameknockingatthedooronthenightwhenArthurandChatterboxwerehere，andwhoaskedmeawholeCatechismofquestionsaboutMrBlandois。’
’Itistrue，’MrBaptistcheerfullyadmitted。’Andbeholdhim，padrone!Ihavefoundhimconsequentementally。’
’Ishouldn’thaveobjected，’returnedMrFlintwinch，’toyourhavingbrokenyourneckconsequentementally。’
’Andnow，’saidMrPancks，whoseeyehadoftenstealthilywanderedtothewindow-seatandthestockingthatwasbeingmendedthere，’I’veonlyoneotherwordtosaybeforeIgo。IfMrClennamwashere——butunfortunately，thoughhehassofargotthebetterofthisfinegentlemanastoreturnhimtothisplaceagainsthiswill，heisillandinprison——illandinprison，poorfellow——ifhewashere，’saidMrPancks，takingonestepasidetowardsthewindow-seat，andlayinghisrighthanduponthestocking；’hewouldsay，“Affery，tellyourdreams!“’
MrPanckshelduphisrightforefingerbetweenhisnoseandthestockingwithaghostlyairofwarning，turned，steamedoutandtowedMrBaptistafterhim。Thehouse-doorwasheardtocloseuponthem，theirstepswereheardpassingoverthedullpavementoftheechoingcourt-yard，andstillnobodyhadaddedaword。MrsClennamandJeremiahhadexchangedalook；andhadthenlooked，andlookedstill，atAffery，whosatmendingthestockingwithgreatassiduity。
’Come!’saidMrFlintwinchatlength，screwinghimselfacurveortwointhedirectionofthewindow-seat，andrubbingthepalmsofhishandsonhiscoat-tailasifhewerepreparingthemtodosomething：’Whateverhastobesaidamongushadbetterbebeguntobesaidwithoutmorelossoftime——So，Affery，mywoman，takeyourselfaway!’
InamomentAfferyhadthrownthestockingdown，startedup，caughtholdofthewindowsillwithherrighthand，lodgedherselfuponthewindow-seatwithherrightknee，andwasflourishingherlefthand，beatingexpectedassailantsoff。
’No，Iwon’t，Jeremiah——no，Iwon’t——no，Iwon’t!Iwon’tgo!
I’llstayhere。I’llhearallIdon’tknow，andsayallIknow。
Iwill，atlast，ifIdieforit。Iwill，Iwill，Iwill，Iwill!’
MrFlintwinch，stiffeningwithindignationandamazement，moistenedthefingersofonehandathislips，softlydescribedacirclewiththeminthepalmoftheotherhand，andcontinuedwithamenacinggrintoscrewhimselfinthedirectionofhiswife；gaspingsomeremarkasheadvanced，ofwhich，inhischokinganger，onlythewords，’Suchadose!’wereaudible。
’Notabitnearer，Jeremiah!’criedAffery，neverceasingtobeattheair。’Don’tcomeabitnearertome，orI’llrousetheneighbourhood!I’llthrowmyselfoutofwindow。I’llscreamFireandMurder!I’llwakethedead!Stopwhereyouare，orI’llmakeshrieksenoughtowakethedead!’
ThedeterminedvoiceofMrsClennamechoed’Stop!’Jeremiahhadstoppedalready。
’Itisclosingin，Flintwinch。Letheralone。Affery，doyouturnagainstmeafterthesemanyyears？’
’Ido，ifit’sturningagainstyoutohearwhatIdon’tknow，andsaywhatIknow。Ihavebrokeoutnow，andIcan’tgoback。Iamdeterminedtodoit。Iwilldoit，Iwill，Iwill，Iwill!Ifthat’sturningagainstyou，yes，Iturnagainstbothofyoutwocleverones。ItoldArthurwhenhefirstcomehometostandupagainstyou。Itoldhimitwasnoreason，becauseIwasafeardofmylifeofyou，thatheshouldbe。Allmannerofthingshavebeena-goingonsincethen，andIwon’tberunupbyJeremiah，noryetIwon’tbedazedandscared，normadeapartytoIdon’tknowwhat，nomore。Iwon’t，Iwon’t，Iwon’t!I’llupforArthurwhenhehasnothingleft，andisill，andinprison，andcan’tupforhimself。Iwill，Iwill，Iwill，Iwill!’
’Howdoyouknow，youheapofconfusion，’askedMrsClennamsternly，’thatindoingwhatyouaredoingnow，youareevenservingArthur？’
’Idon’tknownothingrightlyaboutanything，’saidAffery；’andifeveryousaidatruewordinyourlife，it’swhenyoucallmeaheapofconfusion，foryoutwocleveroneshavedoneyourmosttomakemesuch。YoumarriedmewhetherIlikeditornot，andyou’veledme，prettywelleversince，suchalifeofdreamingandfrighteningasneverwasknown，andwhatdoyouexpectmetobebutaheapofconfusion？Youwantedtomakemesuch，andIamsuch；
butIwon’tsubmitnolonger；no，Iwon’t，Iwon’t，Iwon’t，I
won’t!’Shewasstillbeatingtheairagainstallcomers。
Aftergazingatherinsilence，MrsClennamturnedtoRigaud。’Youseeandhearthisfoolishcreature。Doyouobjecttosuchapieceofdistractionremainingwheresheis？’
’I，madame，’hereplied，’doI？That’saquestionforyou。’
’Idonot，’shesaid，gloomily。’Thereislittlelefttochoosenow。Flintwinch，itisclosingin。’
MrFlintwinchrepliedbydirectingalookofredvengeanceathiswife，andthen，asiftopinionhimselffromfallinguponher，screwedhiscrossedarmsintothebreastofhiswaistcoat，andwithhischinverynearoneofhiselbowsstoodinacorner，watchingRigaudintheoddestattitude。Rigaud，forhispart，arosefromhischair，andseatedhimselfonthetablewithhislegsdangling。
Inthiseasyattitude，hemetMrsClennam’ssetface，withhismoustachegoingupandhisnosecomingdown。
’Madame，Iamagentleman——’
’Ofwhom，’sheinterruptedinhersteadytones，’Ihavehearddisparagement，inconnectionwithaFrenchjailandanaccusationofmurder。’
Hekissedhishandtoherwithhisexaggeratedgallantry。
’Perfectly。Exactly。Ofaladytoo!Whatabsurdity!Howincredible!Ihadthehonourofmakingagreatsuccessthen；I
hopetohavethehonourofmakingagreatsuccessnow。Ikissyourhands。Madame，IamagentlemanIwasgoingtoobserve，whowhenhesays，“Iwilldefinitelyfinishthisorthataffairatthepresentsitting，“doesdefinitelyfinishit。Iannouncetoyouthatwearearrivedatourlastsittingonourlittlebusiness。
Youdomethefavourtofollow，andtocomprehend？’
Shekepthereyesfixeduponhimwithafrown。’Yes。’
’Further，Iamagentlemantowhommeremercenarytrade-bargainsareunknown，buttowhommoneyisalwaysacceptableasthemeansofpursuinghispleasures。Youdomethefavourtofollow，andtocomprehend？’
’Scarcelynecessarytoask，onewouldsay。Yes。’
’Further，Iamagentlemanofthesoftestandsweetestdisposition，butwho，iftrifledwith，becomesenraged。Noblenaturesundersuchcircumstancesbecomeenraged。Ipossessanoblenature。Whenthelionisawakened——thatistosay，whenIenrage——thesatisfactionofmyanimosityisasacceptabletomeasmoney。Youalwaysdomethefavourtofollow，andtocomprehend？’
’Yes，’sheanswered，somewhatlouderthanbefore。
’Donotletmederangeyou；praybetranquil。Ihavesaidwearenowarrivedatourlastsitting。Allowmetorecallthetwosittingswehaveheld。’
’Itisnotnecessary。’
’Death，madame，’heburstout，’it’smyfancy!Besides，itclearstheway。Thefirstsittingwaslimited。Ihadthehonourofmakingyouracquaintance——ofpresentingmyletter；IamaKnightofIndustry，atyourservice，madame，butmypolishedmannershadwonmesomuchofsuccess，asamasteroflanguages，amongyourcompatriotswhoareasstiffastheirownstarchistooneanother，butarereadytorelaxtoaforeigngentlemanofpolishedmanners——
andofobservingoneortwolittlethings，’heglancedaroundtheroomandsmiled，’aboutthishonourablehouse，toknowwhichwasnecessarytoassureme，andtoconvincemethatIhadthedistinguishedpleasureofmakingtheacquaintanceoftheladyI
sought。Iachievedthis。IgavemywordofhonourtoourdearFlintwinchthatIwouldreturn。Igracefullydeparted。’
Herfaceneitheracquiescednordemurred。Thesamewhenhepaused，andwhenhespoke，itasyetshowedhimalwaystheoneattentivefrown，andthedarkrevelationbeforementionedofherbeingnervedfortheoccasion。
’Isay，gracefullydeparted，becauseitwasgracefultoretirewithoutalarmingalady。Tobemorallygraceful，notlessthanphysically，isapartofthecharacterofRigaudBlandois。Itwasalsopolitic，asleavingyouwithsomethingoverhangingyou，toexpectmeagainwithalittleanxietyonadaynotnamed。Butyourslaveispolitic。ByHeaven，madame，politic!Letusreturn。Onthedaynotnamed，Ihaveagainthehonourtorendermyselfatyourhouse。IintimatethatIhavesomethingtosell，which，ifnotbought，willcompromisemadamewhomIhighlyesteem。Iexplainmyselfgenerally。Idemand——Ithinkitwasathousandpounds。
Willyoucorrectme？’
Thusforcedtospeak，sherepliedwithconstraint，’Youdemandedasmuchasathousandpounds。’
’Idemandatpresent，Two。Sucharetheevilsofdelay。Buttoreturnoncemore。Wearenotaccordant；wedifferonthatoccasion。Iamplayful；playfulnessisapartofmyamiablecharacter。Playfully，Ibecomeasoneslainandhidden。For，itmayalonebeworthhalfthesumtomadame，tobefreedfromthesuspicionsthatmydrollideaawakens。Accidentandspiesintermixthemselvesagainstmyplayfulness，andspoilthefruit，perhaps——
whoknows？onlyyouandFlintwinch——whenitisjustripe。Thus，madame，Iamhereforthelasttime。Listen!Definitelythelast。’
Ashestruckhisstragglingboot-heelsagainsttheflapofthetable，meetingherfrownwithaninsolentgaze，hebegantochangehistoneforafierceone。
’Bah!Stopaninstant!Letusadvancebysteps。HereismyHotel-notetobepaid，accordingtocontract。Fiveminuteshencewemaybeatdaggers’points。I’llnotleaveittillthen，oryou’llcheatme。Payit!Countmethemoney!’
’Takeitfromhishandandpayit，Flintwinch，’saidMrsClennam。
HespirteditintoMrFlintwinch’sfacewhentheoldmanadvancedtotakeit，andheldforthhishand，repeatingnoisily，’Payit!
Countitout!Goodmoney!’Jeremiahpickedthebillup，lookedatthetotalwithabloodshoteye，tookasmallcanvasbagfromhispocket，andtoldtheamountintohishand。