desecratedceremonyofmarriagetherehadsecretlybeenbetweenthem，andtheterrorsofwantandshamethathadoverwhelmedthembothwhenIwasfirstappointedtobetheinstrumentoftheirpunishment，andtheloveforshesaidthewordtome，downatmyfeetinwhichshehadabandonedhimandlefthimtome，wasitmyenemythatbecamemyfootstool，weretheythewordsofmywraththatmadehershrinkandquiver!Notuntomethestrengthbeascribed；notuntomethewringingoftheexpiation!’
Manyyearshadcomeandgonesinceshehadhadthefreeuseevenofherfingers；butitwasnoticeablethatshehadalreadymorethanoncestruckherclenchedhandvigorouslyuponthetable，andthatwhenshesaidthesewordssheraisedherwholearmintheair，asthoughithadbeenacommonactionwithher。
’Andwhatwastherepentancethatwasextortedfromthehardnessofherheartandtheblacknessofherdepravity？I，vindictiveandimplacable？Itmaybeso，tosuchasyouwhoknownorighteousness，andnoappointmentexceptSatan’s。Laugh；butI
willbeknownasIknowmyself，andasFlintwinchknowsme，thoughitisonlytoyouandthishalf-wittedwoman。’
’Add，toyourself，madame，’saidRigaud。’Ihavemylittlesuspicionsthatmadameisrathersolicitoustobejustifiedtoherself。’
’Itisfalse。Itisnotso。Ihavenoneedtobe，’shesaid，withgreatenergyandanger。
’Truly？’retortedRigaud。’Hah!’
’Iask，whatwasthepenitence，inworks，thatwasdemandedofher？
“Youhaveachild；Ihavenone。Youlovethatchild。Givehimtome。Heshallbelievehimselftobemyson，andheshallbebelievedbyeveryonetobemyson。Tosaveyoufromexposure，hisfathershallswearnevertoseeorcommunicatewithyoumore；
equallytosavehimfrombeingstrippedbyhisuncle，andtosaveyourchildfrombeingabeggar，youshallswearnevertoseeorcommunicatewitheitherofthemmore。Thatdone，andyourpresentmeans，derivedfrommyhusband，renounced，Ichargemyselfwithyoursupport。Youmay，withyourplaceofretreatunknown，thenleave，ifyouplease，uncontradictedbyme，theliethatwhenyoupassedoutofallknowledgebutmine，youmeritedagoodname。“
Thatwasall。Shehadtosacrificehersinfulandshamefulaffections；nomore。Shewasthenfreetobearherloadofguiltinsecret，andtobreakherheartinsecret；andthroughsuchpresentmiserylightenoughforher，Ithink!topurchaseherredemptionfromendlessmisery，ifshecould。If，inthis，I
punishedherhere，didInotopentoherawayhereafter？Ifsheknewherselftobesurroundedbyinsatiablevengeanceandunquenchablefires，weretheymine？IfIthreatenedher，thenandafterwards，withtheterrorsthatencompassedher，didIholdtheminmyrighthand？’
Sheturnedthewatchuponthetable，andopenedit，and，withanunsofteningface，lookedattheworkedletterswithin。
’Theydidnotforget。Itisappointedagainstsuchoffencesthattheoffendersshallnotbeabletoforget。IfthepresenceofArthurwasadailyreproachtohisfather，andiftheabsenceofArthurwasadailyagonytohismother，thatwasthejustdispensationofJehovah。Aswellmightitbechargeduponme，thatthestingsofanawakenedconsciencedrovehermad，andthatitwasthewilloftheDisposerofallthingsthatsheshouldliveso，manyyears。Idevotedmyselftoreclaimtheotherwisepredestinedandlostboy；togivehimthereputationofanhonestorigin；tobringhimupinfearandtrembling，andinalifeofpracticalcontritionforthesinsthatwereheavyonhisheadbeforehisentranceintothiscondemnedworld。Wasthatacruelty？WasI，too，notvisitedwithconsequencesoftheoriginaloffenceinwhichIhadnocomplicity？Arthur’sfatherandIlivednofurtherapart，withhalftheglobebetweenus，thanwhenweweretogetherinthishouse。Hedied，andsentthiswatchbacktome，withitsDonotforget。IdoNOTforget，thoughIdonotreaditashedid。I
readinit，thatIwasappointedtodothesethings。IhavesoreadthesethreeletterssinceIhavehadthemlyingonthistable，andIdidsoreadthem，withequaldistinctness，whentheywerethousandsofmilesaway。’
Asshetookthewatch-caseinherhand，withthatnewfreedomintheuseofherhandofwhichsheshowednoconsciousnesswhatever，bendinghereyesuponitasifsheweredefyingittomoveher，Rigaudcriedwithaloudandcontemptuoussnappingofhisfingers。
’Come，madame!Timerunsout。Come，ladyofpiety，itmustbe!
YoucantellnothingIdon’tknow。Cometothemoneystolen，orI
will!Deathofmysoul，Ihavehadenoughofyourotherjargon。
Comestraighttothestolenmoney!’
’Wretchthatyouare，’sheanswered，andnowherhandsclaspedherhead：’throughwhatfatalerrorofFlintwinch’s，throughwhatincompletenessonhispart，whowastheonlyotherpersonhelpinginthesethingsandtrustedwiththem，throughwhoseandwhatbringingtogetheroftheashesofaburntpaper，youhavebecomepossessedofthatcodicil，Iknownomorethanhowyouacquiredtherestofyourpowerhere——’
’Andyet，’interruptedRigaud，’itismyoddfortunetohavebyme，inaconvenientplacethatIknowof，thatsameshortlittleadditiontothewillofMonsieurGilbertClennam，writtenbyaladyandwitnessedbythesameladyandouroldintriguer!Ah，bah，oldintriguer，crookedlittlepuppet!Madame，letusgoon。Timepresses。YouorItofinish？’
’I!’sheanswered，withincreaseddetermination，ifitwerepossible。’I，becauseIwillnotenduretobeshownmyself，andhavemyselfshowntoanyone，withyourhorribledistortionuponme。You，withyourpracticesofinfamousforeignprisonsandgalleyswouldmakeitthemoneythatimpelledme。Itwasnotthemoney。’
’Bah，bah，bah!Irepudiate，forthemoment，mypoliteness，andsay，Lies，lies，lies。Youknowyousuppressedthedeedandkeptthemoney。’
’Notforthemoney’ssake，wretch!’Shemadeastruggleasifshewerestartingup；evenasif，inhervehemence，shehadalmostrisenonherdisabledfeet。’IfGilbertClennam，reducedtoimbecility，atthepointofdeath，andlabouringunderthedelusionofsomeimaginaryrelentingtowardsagirlofwhomhehadheardthathisnephewhadoncehadafancyforherwhichhehadcrushedoutofhim，andthatsheafterwardsdroopedawayintomelancholyandwithdrawalfromallwhoknewher——if，inthatstateofweakness，hedictatedtome，whoselifeshehaddarkenedwithhersin，andwhohadbeenappointedtoknowherwickednessfromherownhandandherownlips，abequestmeantasarecompensetoherforsupposedunmeritedsuffering；wastherenodifferencebetweenmyspurningthatinjustice，andcovetingmeremoney——athingwhichyou，andyourcomradesintheprisons，maystealfromanyone？’
’Timepresses，madame。Takecare!’
’Ifthishousewasblazingfromtherooftotheground，’shereturned，’Iwouldstayinittojustifymyselfagainstmyrighteousmotivesbeingclassedwiththoseofstabbersandthieves。’
Rigaudsnappedhisfingerstauntinglyinherface。’Onethousandguineastothelittlebeautyyouslowlyhuntedtodeath。Onethousandguineastotheyoungestdaughterherpatronmighthaveatfifty，orifhehadnonebrother’syoungestdaughter，onhercomingofage，“astheremembrancehisdisinterestednessmaylikebest，ofhisprotectionofafriendlessyoungorphangirl。“Twothousandguineas。What!Youwillnevercometothemoney？’
’Thatpatron，’shewasvehementlyproceeding，whenhecheckedher。
’Names!CallhimMrFrederickDorrit。Nomoreevasions。’
’ThatFrederickDorritwasthebeginningofitall。Ifhehadnotbeenaplayerofmusic，andhadnotkept，inthosedaysofhisyouthandprosperity，anidlehousewheresingers，andplayers，andsuch-likechildrenofEvilturnedtheirbacksontheLightandtheirfacestotheDarkness，shemighthaveremainedinherlowlystation，andmightnothavebeenraisedoutofittobecastdown。
But，no。SatanenteredintothatFrederickDorrit，andcounselledhimthathewasamanofinnocentandlaudabletasteswhodidkindactions，andthatherewasapoorgirlwithavoiceforsingingmusicwith。Thenheistohavehertaught。ThenArthur’sfather，whohasallalongbeensecretlypininginthewaysofvirtuousruggednessforthoseaccursedsnareswhicharecalledtheArts，becomesacquaintedwithher。Andso，agracelessorphan，trainingtobeasinginggirl，carriesit，bythatFrederickDorrit’sagency，againstme，andIamhumbledanddeceived!——NotI，thatistosay，’sheaddedquickly，ascolourflushedintoherface；’agreaterthanI。WhatamI？’
JeremiahFlintwinch，whohadbeengraduallyscrewinghimselftowardsher，andwhowasnowverynearherelbowwithoutherknowingit，madeaspeciallywryfaceofobjectionwhenshesaidthesewords，andmoreovertwitchedhisgaiters，asifsuchpretensionswereequivalenttolittlebarbsinhislegs。
’Lastly，’shecontinued，’forIamattheendofthesethings，andIwillsaynomoreofthem，andyoushallsaynomoreofthem，andallthatremainswillbetodeterminewhethertheknowledgeofthemcanbekeptamonguswhoareherepresent；lastly，whenI
suppressedthatpaper，withtheknowledgeofArthur’sfather——’
’Butnotwithhisconsent，youknow，’saidMrFlintwinch。
’Whosaidwithhisconsent？’ShestartedtofindJeremiahsonearher，anddrewbackherhead，lookingathimwithsomerisingdistrust。’YouwereoftenenoughbetweenuswhenhewouldhavehadmeproduceitandIwouldnot，tohavecontradictedmeifIhadsaid，withhisconsent。Isay，whenIsuppressedthatpaper，I
madenoefforttodestroyit，butkeptitbyme，hereinthishouse，manyyears。TherestoftheGilbertpropertybeinglefttoArthur’sfather，Icouldatanytime，withoutunsettlingmorethanthetwosums，havemadeapretenceoffindingit。But，besidesthatImusthavesupportedsuchpretencebyadirectfalsehoodagreatresponsibility，Ihaveseennonewreason，inallthetimeIhavebeentriedhere，tobringittolight。Itwasarewardingofsin；thewrongresultofadelusion。IdidwhatIwasappointedtodo，andIhaveundergone，withinthesefourwalls，whatIwasappointedtoundergo。Whenthepaperwasatlastdestroyed——asI
thought——inmypresence，shehadlongbeendead，andherpatron，FrederickDorrit，hadlongbeendeservedlyruinedandimbecile。Hehadnodaughter。Ihadfoundtheniecebeforethen；andwhatIdidforher，wasbetterforherfarthanthemoneyofwhichshewouldhavehadnogood。’Sheadded，afteramoment，asthoughsheaddressedthewatch：’Sheherselfwasinnocent，andImightnothaveforgottentorelinquishittoheratmydeath：’andsatlookingatit。
’ShallIrecallsomethingtoyou，worthymadame？’saidRigaud。
’Thelittlepaperwasinthishouseonthenightwhenourfriendtheprisoner——jail-comradeofmysoul——camehomefromforeigncountries。ShallIrecallyetsomethingmoretoyou？Thelittlesinging-birdthatneverwasfledged，waslongkeptinacagebyaguardianofyourappointing，wellenoughknowntoouroldintriguerhere。Shallwecoaxouroldintriguertotelluswhenhesawhimlast？’
’I’lltellyou!’criedAffery，unstoppinghermouth。’Idreamedit，firstofallmydreams。Jeremiah，ifyoucomea-nighmenow，I’llscreamtobeheardatStPaul’s!Thepersonasthismanhasspokenof，wasjeremiah’sowntwinbrother；andhewashereinthedeadofthenight，onthenightwhenArthurcomehome，andJeremiahwithhisownhandsgivehimthispaper，alongwithIdon’tknowwhatmore，andhetookitawayinanironbox——Help!Murder!SavemefromJere-mi-ah!’
MrFlintwinchhadmadearunather，butRigaudhadcaughthiminhisarmsmidway。Afteramoment’swrestlewithhim，Flintwinchgaveup，andputhishandsinhispockets。
’What!’criedRigaud，rallyinghimashepokedandjerkedhimbackwithhiselbows，’assaultaladywithsuchageniusfordreaming!
Ha，ha，ha!Why，she’llbeafortunetoyouasanexhibition。Allthatshedreamscomestrue。Ha，ha，ha!You’resolikehim，LittleFlintwinch。Solikehim，asIknewhimwhenIfirstspokeEnglishforhimtothehostintheCabaretoftheThreeBilliardTables，inthelittlestreetofthehighroofs，bythewharfatAntwerp!Ah，buthewasabraveboytodrink。Ah，buthewasabraveboytosmoke!Ah，buthelivedinasweetbachelor-
apartment——furnished，onthefifthfloor，abovethewoodandcharcoalmerchant’s，andthedress-maker’s，andthechair-maker’s，andthemakeroftubs——whereIknewhimtoo，andwherewithhiscognacandtobacco，hehadtwelvesleepsadayandonefit，untilhehadafittoomuch，andascendedtotheskies。Ha，ha，ha!
WhatdoesitmatterhowItookpossessionofthepapersinhisironbox？Perhapsheconfidedittomyhandsforyou，perhapsitwaslockedandmycuriositywaspiqued，perhapsIsuppressedit。Ha，ha，ha!Whatdoesitmatter，sothatIhaveitsafe？Wearenotparticularhere；hey，Flintwinch？Wearenotparticularhere；isitnotso，madame？’
Retiringbeforehimwithviciouscounter-jerksofhisownelbows，MrFlintwinchhadgotbackintohiscorner，wherehenowstoodwithhishandsinhispockets，takingbreath，andreturningMrsClennam’sstare。’Ha，ha，ha!Butwhat’sthis？’criedRigaud。
’Itappearsasifyoudon’tknow，onetheother。Permitme，MadameClennamwhosuppresses，topresentMonsieurFlintwinchwhointrigues。’
MrFlintwinch，unpocketingoneofhishandstoscrapehisjaw，advancedasteporsointhatattitude，stillreturningMrsClennam’slook，andthusaddressedher：
’Now，Iknowwhatyoumeanbyopeningyoureyessowideatme，butyouneedn’ttakethetrouble，becauseIdon’tcareforit。I’vebeentellingyouforhowmanyyearsthatyou’reoneofthemostopinionatedandobstinateofwomen。That’swhatYOUare。Youcallyourselfhumbleandsinful，butyouarethemostBumptiousofyoursex。That’swhatYOUare。Ihavetoldyou，overandoveragainwhenwehavehadatiff，thatyouwantedtomakeeverythinggodownbeforeyou，butIwouldn’tgodownbeforeyou——thatyouwantedtoswallowupeverybodyalive，butIwouldn’tbeswallowedupalive。
Whydidn’tyoudestroythepaperwhenyoufirstlaidhandsuponit？
Iadvisedyouto；butno，it’snotyourwaytotakeadvice。Youmustkeepitforsooth。Perhapsyoumaycarryitoutatsomeothertime，forsooth。AsifIdidn’tknowbetterthanthat!IthinkI
seeyourpridecarryingitout，withachanceofbeingsuspectedofhavingkeptitbyyou。Butthat’sthewayyoucheatyourself。
justasyoucheatyourselfintomakingoutthatyoudidn’tdoallthisbusinessbecauseyouwerearigorouswoman，allslight，andspite，andpower，andunforgiveness，butbecauseyouwereaservantandaminister，andwereappointedtodoit。Whoareyou，thatyoushouldbeappointedtodoit？Thatmaybeyourreligion，butit’smygammon。AndtotellyouallthetruthwhileIamaboutit，’
saidMrFlintwinch，crossinghisarms，andbecomingtheexpressimageofirascibledoggedness，’Ihavebeenrasped——raspedthesefortyyears——byyourtakingsuchhighgroundevenwithme，whoknowsbetter；theeffectofitbeingcoollytoputmeonlowground。Iadmireyouverymuch；youareawomanofstrongheadandgreattalent；butthestrongesthead，andthegreatesttalent，can’traspamanforfortyyearswithoutmakinghimsore。SoI