Rigaudtookhiscigarettefromhismouth，andeyedhimwithamomentaryrevelationofsurprise。Butheputitbetweenhislipsagain，asheansweredwithcoolness：
’Isellanythingthatcommandsaprice。Howdoyourlawyerslive，yourpoliticians，yourintriguers，yourmenoftheExchange？Howdoyoulive？Howdoyoucomehere？Haveyousoldnofriend？Ladyofmine!Iratherthink，yes!’
Clennamturnedawayfromhimtowardsthewindow，andsatlookingoutatthewall。
’Effectively，sir，’saidRigaud，’Societysellsitselfandsellsme：andIsellSociety。Iperceiveyouhaveacquaintancewithanotherlady。Alsohandsome。Astrongspirit。Letussee。Howdotheycallher？Wade。’
Hereceivednoanswer，butcouldeasilydiscernthathehadhitthemark。
’Yes，’hewenton，’thathandsomeladyandstrongspiritaddressesmeinthestreet，andIamnotinsensible。Irespond。Thathandsomeladyandstrongspiritdoesmethefavourtoremark，infullconfidence，“Ihavemycuriosity，andIhavemychagrins。Youarenotmorethanordinarilyhonourable，perhaps？“Iannouncemyself，“Madame，agentlemanfromthebirth，andagentlemantothedeath；butNOTmorethanordinarilyhonourable。Idespisesuchaweakfantasy。“Thereuponsheispleasedtocompliment。“Thedifferencebetweenyouandtherestis，“sheanswers，“thatyousayso。“ForsheknowsSociety。Iaccepthercongratulationswithgallantryandpoliteness。Politenessandlittlegallantriesareinseparablefrommycharacter。Shethenmakesaproposition，whichis，ineffect，thatshehasseenusmuchtogether；thatitappearstoherthatIamforthepassingtimethecatofthehouse，thefriendofthefamily；thathercuriosityandherchagrinsawakenthefancytobeacquaintedwiththeirmovements，toknowthemanneroftheirlife，howthefairGowanaisbeloved，howthefairGowanaischerished，andsoon。Sheisnotrich，butofferssuchandsuchlittlerecompensesforthelittlecaresandderangementsofsuchservices；andIgraciously——todoeverythinggraciouslyisapartofmycharacter——consenttoacceptthem。Oyes!Sogoestheworld。Itisthemode。’
ThoughClennam’sbackwasturnedwhilehespoke，andthenceforthtotheendoftheinterview，hekeptthoseglitteringeyesofhisthatweretooneartogether，uponhim，andevidentlysawintheverycarriageofthehead，ashepassedwithhisbraggartrecklessnessfromclausetoclauseofwhathesaid，thathewassayingnothingwhichClennamdidnotalreadyknow。
’Whoof!ThefairGowana!’hesaid，lightingathirdcigarettewithasoundasifhislightestbreathcouldblowheraway。’Charming，butimprudent!ForitwasnotwellofthefairGowanatomakemysteriesoflettersfromoldlovers，inherbedchamberonthemountain，thatherhusbandmightnotseethem。No，no。Thatwasnotwell。Whoof!TheGowanawasmistakenthere。’
’Iearnestlyhope，’criedArthuraloud，’thatPancksmaynotbelonggone，forthisman’spresencepollutestheroom。’
’Ah!Buthe’llflourishhere，andeverywhere，’saidRigaud，withanexultinglookandsnapofhisfingers。’Healwayshas；healwayswill!’StretchinghisbodyoutontheonlythreechairsintheroombesidesthatonwhichClennamsat，hesang，smitinghimselfonthebreastasthegallantpersonageofthesong。
’Whopassesbythisroadsolate？
CompagnondelaMajolaine!
Whopassesbythisroadsolate？
Alwaysgay!
’SingtheRefrain，pig!Youcouldsingitonce，inanotherjail。
Singit!Or，byeverySaintwhowasstonedtodeath，I’llbeaffrontedandcompromising；andthensomepeoplewhoarenotdeadyet，hadbetterhavebeenstonedalongwiththem!’
’Ofalltheking’sknights’tistheflower，CompagnondelaMajolaine!
Ofalltheking’sknights’tistheflower，Alwaysgay!’
Partlyinhisoldhabitofsubmission，partlybecausehisnotdoingitmightinjurehisbenefactor，andpartlybecausehewouldassoondoitasanythingelse，CavallettotookuptheRefrainthistime。
Rigaudlaughed，andfelltosmokingwithhiseyesshut。
PossiblyanotherquarterofanhourelapsedbeforeMrPancks’sstepwashearduponthestairs，buttheintervalseemedtoClennaminsupportablylong。Hisstepwasattendedbyanotherstep；andwhenCavallettoopenedthedoor，headmittedMrPancksandMrFlintwinch。Thelatterwasnosoonervisible，thanRigaudrushedathimandembracedhimboisterously。
’Howdoyoufindyourself，sir？’saidMrFlintwinch，assoonashecoulddisengagehimself，whichhestruggledtodowithverylittleceremony。’Thankyou，no；Idon’twantanymore。’Thiswasinreferencetoanothermenaceofattentionfromhisrecoveredfriend。
’Well，Arthur。YourememberwhatIsaidtoyouaboutsleepingdogsandmissingones。It’scometrue，yousee。’
Hewasasimperturbableasever，toallappearance，andnoddedhisheadinamoralisingwayashelookedroundtheroom。
’AndthisistheMarshalseaprisonfordebt!’saidMrFlintwinch。
’Hah!youhavebroughtyourpigstoaveryindifferentmarket，Arthur。’
IfArthurhadpatience，Rigaudhadnot。HetookhislittleFlintwinch，withfierceplayfulness，bythetwolapelsofhiscoat，andcried：
’TotheDevilwiththeMarket，totheDevilwiththePigs，andtotheDevilwiththePig-Driver!Now!Givemetheanswertomyletter。’
’Ifyoucanmakeitconvenienttoletgoamoment，sir，’returnedMrFlintwinch，’I’llfirsthandMrArthuralittlenotethatIhaveforhim。’
Hedidso。Itwasinhismother’smaimedwriting，onaslipofpaper，andcontainedonlythesewords：
’Ihopeitisenoughthatyouhaveruinedyourself。Restcontentedwithoutmoreruin。JeremiahFlintwinchismymessengerandrepresentative。YouraffectionateM。C。’
Clennamreadthistwice，insilence，andthentoreittopieces。
Rigaudinthemeanwhilesteppedintoachair，andsathimselfonthebackwithhisfeetupontheseat。
’Now，BeauFlintwinch，’hesaid，whenhehadcloselywatchedthenotetoitsdestruction，’theanswertomyletter？’
’MrsClennamdidnotwrite，MrBlandois，herhandsbeingcramped，andshethinkingitaswelltosenditverballybyme。’MrFlintwinchscrewedthisoutofhimself，unwillinglyandrustily。
’Shesendshercompliments，andsaysshedoesn’tonthewholewishtotermyouunreasonable，andthatsheagrees。Butwithoutprejudicingtheappointmentthatstandsforthisdayweek。’
MonsieurRigaud，afterindulginginafitoflaughter，descendedfromhisthrone，saying，’Good!Igotoseekanhotel!’But，therehiseyesencounteredCavalletto，whowasstillathispost。
’Come，Pig，’headded，’Ihavehadyouforafolloweragainstmywill；now，I’llhaveyouagainstyours。Itellyou，mylittlereptiles，Iamborntobeserved。Idemandtheserviceofthiscontrabandistasmydomesticuntilthisdayweek。’
InanswertoCavalletto’slookofinquiry，Clennammadehimasigntogo；butheaddedaloud，’unlessyouareafraidofhim。’
Cavallettorepliedwithaveryemphaticfinger-negative。’No，master，Iamnotafraidofhim，whenInomorekeepitsecrettementallythathewasoncemycomrade。’Rigaudtooknonoticeofeitherremarkuntilhehadlightedhislastcigaretteandwasquitereadyforwalking。
’Afraidofhim，’hesaidthen，lookingrounduponthemall。
’Whoof!Mychildren，mybabies，mylittledolls，youareallafraidofhim。Yougivehimhisbottleofwinehere；yougivehimmeat，drink，andlodgingthere；youdarenottouchhimwithafingeroranepithet。No。Itishischaractertotriumph!Whoof!
’Ofalltheking’sknightshe’stheflower，Andhe’salwaysgay!’
WiththisadaptationoftheRefraintohimself，hestalkedoutoftheroomcloselyfollowedbyCavalletto，whomperhapshehadpressedintohisservicebecausehetolerablywellknewitwouldnotbeeasytogetridofhim。MrFlintwinch，afterscrapinghischin，andlookingaboutwithcausticdisparagementofthePig-
Market，noddedtoArthur，andfollowed。MrPancks，stillpenitentanddepressed，followedtoo；afterreceivingwithgreatattentionasecretwordortwoofinstructionsfromArthur，andwhisperingbackthathewouldseethisaffairout，andstandbyittotheend。
Theprisoner，withthefeelingthathewasmoredespised，morescornedandrepudiated，morehelpless，altogethermoremiserableandfallenthanbefore，wasleftaloneagain。
CHAPTER29
APleaintheMarshalseaHaggardanxietyandremorsearebadcompanionstobebarredupwith。Broodingallday，andrestingverylittleindeedatnight，twillnotarmamanagainstmisery。Nextmorning，Clennamfeltthathishealthwassinking，ashisspiritshadalreadysunkandthattheweightunderwhichhebentwasbearinghimdown。
Nightafternighthehadrisenfromhisbedofwretchednessattwelveoroneo’clock，andhadsatathiswindowwatchingthesicklylampsintheyard，andlookingupwardforthefirstwantraceofday，hoursbeforeitwaspossiblethattheskycouldshowittohim。Nowwhenthenightcame，hecouldnotevenpersuadehimselftoundress。
Foraburningrestlessnesssetin，anagonisedimpatienceoftheprison，andaconvictionthathewasgoingtobreakhisheartanddiethere，whichcausedhimindescribablesuffering。Hisdreadandhatredoftheplacebecamesointensethathefeltitalabourtodrawhisbreathinit。Thesensationofbeingstifledsometimessooverpoweredhim，thathewouldstandatthewindowholdinghisthroatandgasping。Atthesametimealongingforotherair，andayearningtobebeyondtheblindblankwall，madehimfeelasifhemustgomadwiththeardourofthedesire。
Manyotherprisonershadhadexperienceofthisconditionbeforehim，anditsviolenceandcontinuityhadwornthemselvesoutintheircases，astheydidinhis。Twonightsandadayexhaustedit。Itcamebackbyfits，butthosegrewfainterandreturnedatlengtheningintervals。Adesolatecalmsucceeded；andthemiddleoftheweekfoundhimsettleddowninthedespondencyoflow，slowfever。
WithCavallettoandPancksaway，hehadnovisitorstofearbutMrandMrsPlornish。Hisanxiety，inreferencetothatworthypair，wasthattheyshouldnotcomenearhim；for，inthemorbidstateofhisnerves，hesoughttobeleftalone，andsparedthebeingseensosubduedandweak。HewroteanotetoMrsPlornishrepresentinghimselfasoccupiedwithhisaffairs，andboundbythenecessityofdevotinghimselftothem，toremainforatimeevenwithoutthepleasantinterruptionofasightofherkindface。AstoYoungJohn，wholookedindailyatacertainhour，whentheturnkeyswererelieved，toaskifhecoulddoanythingforhim；healwaysmadeapretenceofbeingengagedinwriting，andtoanswercheerfullyinthenegative。Thesubjectoftheironlylongconversationhadneverbeenrevivedbetweenthem。Throughallthesechangesofunhappiness，however，ithadneverlostitsholdonClennam’smind。
Thesixthdayoftheappointedweekwasamoist，hot，mistyday。
Itseemedasthoughtheprison’spoverty，andshabbiness，anddirt，weregrowinginthesultryatmosphere。Withanachingheadandawearyheart，Clennamhadwatchedthemiserablenightout，listeningtothefallofrainontheyardpavement，thinkingofitssofterfalluponthecountryearth。Ablurredcircleofyellowhazehadrisenupintheskyinlieuofsun，andhehadwatchedthepatchitputuponhiswall，likeabitoftheprison’sraggedness。Hehadheardthegatesopen；andthebadlyshodfeetthatwaitedoutsideshufflein；andthesweeping，andpumping，andmovingabout，begin，whichcommencedtheprisonmorning。Soillandfaintthathewasobligedtorestmanytimesintheprocessofgettinghimselfwashed，hehadatlengthcrepttohischairbytheopenwindow。Inithesatdozing，whiletheoldwomanwhoarrangedhisroomwentthroughhermorning’swork。
Lightofheadwithwantofsleepandwantoffoodhisappetite，andevenhissenseoftaste，havingforsakenhim，hehadbeentwoorthreetimesconscious，inthenight，ofgoingastray。Hehadheardfragmentsoftunesandsongsinthewarmwind，whichheknewhadnoexistence。Nowthathebegantodozeinexhaustion，heheardthemagain；andvoicesseemedtoaddresshim，andheanswered，andstarted。
Dozinganddreaming，withoutthepowerofreckoningtime，sothataminutemighthavebeenanhourandanhouraminute，someabidingimpressionofagardenstoleoverhim——agardenofflowers，withadampwarmwindgentlystirringtheirscents。Itrequiredsuchapainfulefforttolifthisheadforthepurposeofinquiringintothis，orinquiringintoanything，thattheimpressionappearedtohavebecomequiteanoldandimportunateonewhenhelookedround。
Besidethetea-cuponhistablehesaw，then，abloomingnosegay：
awonderfulhandfulofthechoicestandmostlovelyflowers。
Nothinghadeverappearedsobeautifulinhissight。Hetookthemupandinhaledtheirfragrance，andheliftedthemtohishothead，andheputthemdownandopenedhisparchedhandstothem，ascoldhandsareopenedtoreceivethecheeringofafire。Itwasnotuntilhehaddelightedinthemforsometime，thathewonderedwhohadsentthem；andopenedhisdoortoaskthewomanwhomusthaveputthemthere，howtheyhadcomeintoherhands。Butshewasgone，andseemedtohavebeenlonggone；fortheteashehadleftforhimonthetablewascold。Hetriedtodrinksome，butcouldnotbeartheodourofit：sohecreptbacktohischairbytheopenwindow，andputtheflowersonthelittleroundtableofold。
Whenthefirstfaintnessconsequentonhavingmovedabouthadlefthim，hesubsidedintohisformerstate。Oneofthenight-tuneswasplayinginthewind，whenthedoorofhisroomseemedtoopentoalighttouch，and，afteramoment’spause，aquietfigureseemedtostandthere，withablackmantleonit。Itseemedtodrawthemantleoffanddropitontheground，andthenitseemedtobehisLittleDorritinherold，worndress。Itseemedtotremble，andtoclaspitshands，andtosmile，andtoburstintotears。
Herousedhimself，andcriedout。Andthenhesaw，intheloving，pitying，sorrowing，dearface，asinamirror，howchangedhewas；
andshecametowardshim；andwithherhandslaidonhisbreasttokeephiminhischair，andwithherkneesuponthefloorathisfeet，andwithherlipsraiseduptokisshim，andwithhertearsdroppingonhimastherainfromHeavenhaddroppedupontheflowers，LittleDorrit，alivingpresence，calledhimbyhisname。
’O，mybestfriend!DearMrClennam，don’tletmeseeyouweep!
Unlessyouweepwithpleasuretoseeme。Ihopeyoudo。Yourownpoorchildcomeback!’
Sofaithful，tender，andunspoiledbyFortune。Inthesoundofhervoice，inthelightofhereyes，inthetouchofherhands，soAngelicallycomfortingandtrue!