Rigaudchinkedthemoney，weigheditinhishand，threwitupalittlewayandcaughtit，chinkeditagain。
’Thesoundofit，totheboldRigaudBlandois，islikethetasteoffreshmeattothetiger。Say，then，madame。Howmuch？’
Heturneduponhersuddenlywithamenacinggestureoftheweightedhandthatclenchedthemoney，asifheweregoingtostrikeherwithit。
’Itellyouagain，asItoldyoubefore，thatwearenotrichhere，asyousupposeustobe，andthatyourdemandisexcessive。Ihavenotthepresentmeansofcomplyingwithsuchademand，ifIhadeversogreataninclination。’
’If!’criedRigaud。’HearthisladywithherIf!Willyousaythatyouhavenottheinclination？’
’Iwillsaywhatpresentsitselftome，andnotwhatpresentsitselftoyou。’
’Sayitthen。Astotheinclination。Quick!Cometotheinclination，andIknowwhattodo。’
Shewasnoquicker，andnoslower，inherreply。’Itwouldseemthatyouhaveobtainedpossessionofapaper——orofpapers——whichIassuredlyhavetheinclinationtorecover。’
Rigaud，withaloudlaugh，drummedhisheelsagainstthetable，andchinkedhismoney。’Ithinkso!Ibelieveyouthere!’
’Thepapermightbeworth，tome，asumofmoney。Icannotsayhowmuch，orhowlittle。’
’WhattheDevil!’heaskedsavagely。’Notafteraweek’sgracetoconsider？’
’No!Iwillnotoutofmyscantymeans——forItellyouagain，wearepoorhere，andnotrich——IwillnotofferanypriceforapowerthatIdonotknowtheworstandthefullestextentof。Thisisthethirdtimeofyourhintingandthreatening。Youmustspeakexplicitly，oryoumaygowhereyouwill，anddowhatyouwill。Itisbettertobetorntopiecesataspring，thantobeamouseatthecapriceofsuchacat。’
Helookedathersohardwiththoseeyestooneartogetherthatthesinistersightofeach，crossingthatoftheother，seemedtomakethebridgeofhishookednosecrooked。Afteralongsurvey，hesaid，withthefurthersettingoffofhisinternalsmile：
’Youareaboldwoman!’
’Iamaresolvedwoman。’
’Youalwayswere。What？Shealwayswas；isitnotso，mylittleFlintwinch？’
’Flintwinch，saynothingtohim。Itisforhimtosay，hereandnow，allhecan；ortogohence，anddoallhecan。Youknowthistobeourdetermination。Leavehimtohisactiononit。’
Shedidnotshrinkunderhisevilleer，oravoidit。Heturnedituponheragain，butsheremainedsteadyatthepointtowhichshehadfixedherself。Hegotoffthetable，placedachairnearthesofa，satdowninit，andleanedanarmuponthesofaclosetoherown，whichhetouchedwithhishand。Herfacewaseverfrowning，attentive，andsettled。
’Itisyourpleasurethen，madame，thatIshallrelateamorseloffamilyhistoryinthislittlefamilysociety，’saidRigaud，withawarningplayofhislithefingersonherarm。’Iamsomethingofadoctor。Letmetouchyourpulse。’
Shesufferedhimtotakeherwristinhishand。Holdingit，heproceededtosay：
’Ahistoryofastrangemarriage，andastrangemother，andarevenge，andasuppression——Aye，aye，aye？thispulseisbeatingcuriously!ItappearstomethatitdoubleswhileItouchit。Arethesetheusualchangesofyourmalady，madame？’
Therewasastruggleinhermaimedarmasshetwisteditaway，buttherewasnoneinherface。Onhisfacetherewashisownsmile。
’Ihavelivedanadventurouslife。Iamanadventurouscharacter。
Ihaveknownmanyadventurers；interestingspirits——amiablesociety!TooneofthemIowemyknowledgeandmyproofs——Irepeatit，estimablelady——proofs——oftheravishinglittlefamilyhistoryIgotocommence。Youwillbecharmedwithit。But，bah!I
forget。Oneshouldnameahistory。ShallInameitthehistoryofahouse？But，bah，again。Therearesomanyhouses。ShallInameitthehistoryofthishouse？’
Leaningoverthesofa，poisedontwolegsofhischairandhisleftelbow；thathandoftentappingherarmtobeathiswordshome；hislegscrossed；hisrighthandsometimesarranginghishair，sometimessmoothinghismoustache，sometimesstrikinghisnose，alwaysthreateningherwhateveritdid；coarse，insolent，rapacious，cruel，andpowerful，hepursuedhisnarrativeathisease。
’Infine，then，Inameitthehistoryofthishouse。Icommenceit。Therelivehere，letussuppose，anuncleandnephew。Theuncle，arigidoldgentlemanofstrongforceofcharacter；thenephew，habituallytimid，repressed，andunderconstraint。’
MistressAffery，fixedlyattentiveinthewindow-seat，bitingtherolledupendofherapron，andtremblingfromheadtofoot，herecriedout，’Jeremiah，keepofffromme!I’veheerd，inmydreams，ofArthur’sfatherandhisuncle。He’satalkingofthem。Itwasbeforemytimehere；butI’veheerdinmydreamsthatArthur’sfatherwasapoor，irresolute，frightenedchap，whohadhadeverythingbuthisorphanlifescaredoutofhimwhenhewasyoung，andthathehadnovoiceinthechoiceofhiswifeeven，buthisunclechoseher。Thereshesits!Iheerditinmydreams，andyousaidittoherownself。’
AsMrFlintwinchshookhisfistather，andasMrsClennamgazeduponher，Rigaudkissedhishandtoher。
’Perfectlyright，dearMadameFlintwinch。Youhaveageniusfordreaming。’
’Idon’twantnoneofyourpraises，’returnedAffery。’Idon’twanttohavenothingatalltosaytoyou。ButJeremiahsaidtheywasdreams，andI’lltell’emassuch!’Heresheputheraproninhermouthagain，asifshewerestoppingsomebodyelse’smouth——
perhapsjeremiah’s，whichwaschatteringwiththreatsasifheweregrimlycold。
’OurbelovedMadameFlintwinch，’saidRigaud，’developingallofasuddenafinesusceptibilityandspirituality，isrighttoamarvel。Yes。Sorunsthehistory。Monsieur，theuncle，commandsthenephewtomarry。Monsieursaystohimineffect，“Mynephew，Iintroducetoyoualadyofstrongforceofcharacter，likemyself——aresolvedlady，asternlady，aladywhohasawillthatcanbreaktheweaktopowder：aladywithoutpity，withoutlove，implacable，revengeful，coldasthestone，butragingasthefire。“
Ah!whatfortitude!Ah，whatsuperiorityofintellectualstrength!Truly，aproudandnoblecharacterthatIdescribeinthesupposedwordsofMonsieur，theuncle。Ha，ha，ha!Deathofmysoul，Ilovethesweetlady!’
MrsClennam’sfacehadchanged。Therewasaremarkabledarknessofcolouronit，andthebrowwasmorecontracted。’Madame，madame，’
saidRigaud，tappingheronthearm，asifhiscruelhandweresoundingamusicalinstrument，’IperceiveIinterestyou。I
perceiveIawakenyoursympathy。Letusgoon。’
Thedroopingnoseandtheascendingmoustachehad，however，tobehiddenforamomentwiththewhitehand，beforehecouldgoon；heenjoyedtheeffecthemadesomuch。
’Thenephew，being，asthelucidMadameFlintwinchhasremarked，apoordevilwhohashadeverythingbuthisorphanlifefrightenedandfamishedoutofhim——thenephewabaseshishead，andmakesresponse：“Myuncle，itistoyoutocommand。Doasyouwill!“
Monsieur，theuncle，doesashewill。Itiswhathealwaysdoes。
Theauspiciousnuptialstakeplace；thenewlymarriedcomehometothischarmingmansion；theladyisreceived，letussuppose，byFlintwinch。Hey，oldintriguer？’
Jeremiah，withhiseyesuponhismistress，madenoreply。Rigaudlookedfromonetotheother，struckhisuglynose，andmadeacluckingwithhistongue。
’Soontheladymakesasingularandexcitingdiscovery。Thereupon，fullofanger，fullofjealousy，fullofvengeance，sheforms——seeyou，madame!——aschemeofretribution，theweightofwhichsheingeniouslyforceshercrushedhusbandtobearhimself，aswellasexecuteuponherenemy。Whatsuperiorintelligence!’
’Keepoff，Jeremiah!’criedthepalpitatingAffery，takingherapronfromhermouthagain。’Butitwasoneofmydreams，thatyoutoldher，whenyouquarrelledwithheronewintereveningatdusk——
thereshesitsandyoulookingather——thatsheoughtn’ttohaveletArthurwhenhecomehome，suspecthisfatheronly；thatshehadalwayshadthestrengthandthepower；andthatsheoughttohavestoodupmoretoArthur，forhisfather。Itwasinthesamedreamwhereyousaidtoherthatshewasnot——notsomething，butIdon’tknowwhat，forsheburstouttremendousandstoppedyou。YouknowthedreamaswellasIdo。Whenyoucomedown-stairsintothekitchenwiththecandleinyourhand，andhitchedmyapronoffmyhead。WhenyoutoldmeIhadbeendreaming。Whenyouwouldn’tbelievethenoises。’AfterthisexplosionAfferyputherapronintohermouthagain；alwayskeepingherhandonthewindow-sillandherkneeonthewindow-seat，readytocryoutorjumpoutifherlordandmasterapproached。
Rigaudhadnotlostawordofthis。
’Haha!’hecried，liftinghiseyebrows，foldinghisarms，andleaningbackinhischair。’Assuredly，MadameFlintwinchisanoracle!Howshallweinterprettheoracle，youandIandtheoldintriguer？Hesaidthatyouwerenot——？Andyouburstoutandstoppedhim!Whatwasityouwerenot？Whatisityouarenot？
Saythen，madame!’
Underthisferociousbanter，shesatbreathingharder，andhermouthwasdisturbed。Herlipsquiveredandopened，inspiteofherutmosteffortstokeepthemstill。
’Comethen，madame!Speak，then!Ouroldintriguersaidthatyouwerenot——andyoustoppedhim。Hewasgoingtosaythatyouwerenot——what？Iknowalready，butIwantalittleconfidencefromyou。How，then？Youarenotwhat？’
Shetriedagaintorepressherself，butbrokeoutvehemently，’NotArthur’smother!’
’Good，’saidRigaud。’Youareamenable。’
Withthesetexpressionofherfacealltornawaybytheexplosionofherpassion，andwithabursting，fromeveryrentfeature，ofthesmoulderingfiresolongpentup，shecriedout：’Iwilltellitmyself!Iwillnothearitfromyourlips，andwiththetaintofyourwickednessuponit。Sinceitmustbeseen，IwillhaveitseenbythelightIstoodin。Notanotherword。Hearme!’
’UnlessyouareamoreobstinateandmorepersistingwomanthanevenIknowyoutobe，’MrFlintwinchinterposed，’youhadbetterleaveMrRigaud，MrBlandois，MrBeelzebub，totellitinhisownway。Whatdoesitsignifywhenheknowsallaboutit？’
’Hedoesnotknowallaboutit。’
’Heknowsallhecaresaboutit，’MrFlintwinchtestilyurged。
’Hedoesnotknowme。’
’Whatdoyousupposehecaresforyou，youconceitedwoman？’saidMrFlintwinch。
’Itellyou，Flintwinch，Iwillspeak。Itellyouwhenithascometothis，Iwilltellitwithmyownlips，andwillexpressmyselfthroughoutit。What!HaveIsufferednothinginthisroom，nodeprivation，noimprisonment，thatIshouldcondescendatlasttocontemplatemyselfinsuchaglassasthat。Canyouseehim？Canyouhearhim？Ifyourwifewereahundredtimestheingratethatsheis，andifIwereathousandtimesmorehopelessthanIamofinducinghertobesilentifthismanissilenced，Iwouldtellitmyself，beforeIwouldbearthetormentofthehearingitfromhim。’
Rigaudpushedhischairalittleback；pushedhislegsoutstraightbeforehim；andsatwithhisarmsfoldedoveragainsther。
’Youdonotknowwhatitis，’shewentonaddressinghim，’tobebroughtupstrictlyandstraitly。Iwassobroughtup。Minewasnolightyouthofsinfulgaietyandpleasure。Mineweredaysofwholesomerepression，punishment，andfear。Thecorruptionofourhearts，theevilofourways，thecursethatisuponus，theterrorsthatsurroundus——thesewerethethemesofmychildhood。
Theyformedmycharacter，andfilledmewithanabhorrenceofevil-
doers。WhenoldMrGilbertClennamproposedhisorphannephewtomyfatherformyhusband，myfatherimpresseduponmethathisbringing-uphadbeen，likemine，oneofsevererestraint。Hetoldme，thatbesidesthedisciplinehisspirithadundergone，hehadlivedinastarvedhouse，whereriotingandgaietywereunknown，andwhereeverydaywasadayoftoilandtriallikethelast。Hetoldmethathehadbeenamaninyearslongbeforehisunclehadacknowledgedhimasone；andthatfromhisschool-daystothathour，hisuncle’sroofhasbeenasanctuarytohimfromthecontagionoftheirreligiousanddissolute。When，withinatwelvemonthofourmarriage，Ifoundmyhusband，atthattimewhenmyfatherspokeofhim，tohavesinnedagainsttheLordandoutragedmebyholdingaguiltycreatureinmyplace，wasItodoubtthatithadbeenappointedtometomakethediscovery，andthatitwasappointedtometolaythehandofpunishmentuponthatcreatureofperdition？WasItodismissinamoment——notmyownwrongs——whatwasI!butalltherejectionofsin，andallthewaragainstit，inwhichIhadbeenbred？’Shelaidherwrathfulhanduponthewatchonthetable。
’No!“Donotforget。“Theinitialsofthosewordsarewithinherenow，andwerewithinherethen。Iwasappointedtofindtheoldletterthatreferredtothem，andthattoldmewhattheymeant，andwhoseworktheywere，andwhytheywereworked，lyingwiththiswatchinhissecretdrawer。Butforthatappointmenttherewouldhavebeennodiscovery。“Donotforget。“Itspoketomelikeavoicefromanangrycloud。Donotforgetthedeadlysin，donotforgettheappointeddiscovery，donotforgettheappointedsuffering。Ididnotforget。WasitmyownwrongIremembered？
Mine!Iwasbutaservantandaminister。WhatpowercouldIhaveoverthem，butthattheywereboundinthebondsoftheirsin，anddeliveredtome!’
Morethanfortyyearshadpassedoverthegreyheadofthisdeterminedwoman，sincethetimesherecalled。Morethanfortyyearsofstrifeandstrugglewiththewhisperthat，bywhatevernameshecalledhervindictiveprideandrage，nothingthroughalleternitycouldchangetheirnature。Yet，gonethosemorethanfortyyears，andcomethisNemesisnowlookingherintheface，shestillabidedbyheroldimpiety——stillreversedtheorderofCreation，andbreathedherownbreathintoaclayimageofherCreator。Verily，verily，travellershaveseenmanymonstrousidolsinmanycountries；butnohumaneyeshaveeverseenmoredaring，gross，andshockingimagesoftheDivinenaturethanwecreaturesofthedustmakeinourownlikenesses，ofourownbadpassions。
’WhenIforcedhimtogiveheruptome，byhernameandplaceofabode，’shewentoninhertorrentofindignationanddefence；
’whenIaccusedher，andshefellhidingherfaceatmyfeet，wasitmyinjurythatIasserted，weretheymyreproachesthatIpoureduponher？Thosewhowereappointedofoldtogotowickedkingsandaccusethem——weretheynotministersandservants？AndhadnotI，unworthyandfar-removedfromthem，sintodenounce？Whenshepleadedtomeheryouth，andhiswretchedandhardlifethatwasherphraseforthevirtuoustraininghehadbelied，andthe