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。