58

On awaking in the morning, Richard Swiveller saw Mr. Garland, the notary, and the single gentleman, they gathered round the Marchioness.

“Tell me, please,” said Dick, returning the pressure of Mr. Garland’s hand, “Is it too late?”

“No,” returned the old gentleman. “Set your mind at rest on that point. It is not, I assure you.”

“What can we do for you?” said Mr. Garland, kindly.

Dick looked at the him.

“You see, my good fellow,” said the single gentleman, “While we have no doubt that we can procure the poor Kit’s immediate pardon and liberation, we have a great difficulty in reaching Quilp, the chief agent in this villainy. If somebody must escape, let it be anyone but he.”

“Yes,” returned Dick, “certainly. But how can we reach him?”

“We have a plan,” said the single gentleman.

“Oh,” said Dick, “I wish you luck, sirs. Unfortunately I am too weak to join you.”

Meanwhile, the single gentleman, the notary, and Mr. Garland, went to a certain coffee-house, and from that place sent a letter to Miss Sally Brass, requesting her to give a consultation, as speedily as possible. Within ten minutes of the messenger’s return and report of its delivery, Miss Brass herself arrived.

“Pray ma’am,” said the single gentleman, whom she found alone in the room, “take a chair.”

Miss Brass sat herself down, in a very stiff and frigid state, and seemed as indeed she was not a little astonished to find that the lodger and her mysterious correspondent were one and the same person.

“You did not expect to see me?” said the single gentleman.

“I didn’t think much about it,” returned Mrs. Brass. “If it’s about the apartments, of course you’ll give my brother regular notice or money.”

“Certainly,” retorted the single gentleman, “But that is not the subject on which I wish to speak with you.”

“Oh!” said Sally. “I suppose it’s professional business?”

“It is connected with the law, certainly.”

“Very well,” returned Miss Brass. “My brother and I are just the same. I can take any instructions, or give you any advice.”

“As there are other parties interested besides myself,” said the single gentleman, rising and opening the door of an inner room, “we had better talk together. Miss Brass is here, gentlemen.”

Mr. Garland and the notary walked in, looking very grave: and, drawing up two chairs, one on each side of the single gentleman, formed a kind of fence round Sarah. She pulled out the tin box, and calmly took a pinch of snuff.

“Miss Brass,” said the notary, “we professional people understand each other, and can say what we have to say, in very few words. You advertised a runaway servant, the other day?”

“Well,” returned Miss Sally, with a sudden flush, “what of that?”

“She is found, ma’am,” said the notary, pulling out his pocket handkerchief. “She is found.”

“Who found her?” demanded Sarah hastily.

“We did, ma’am, we three. Only last night.”

“And what have you got to say?” said Miss Brass, folding her arms, “You have found her, you say. I can tell you (if you don’t know it) that you have found the most artful, lying, pilfering, devilish little minx that was ever born. Have you got her here?” she added, looking sharply round.

“No, she is not here at present,” returned the notary. “But she is quite safe.”

“Ha!” cried Sally, twitching a pinch of snuff out of her box; “she shall be safe enough from this time, I warrant you.”

“I hope so,” replied the notary. “Do you know that she had an opportunity of hearing the conference which you and Mr. Brass held together, on the night before that most unfortunate and innocent young man was accused of robbery?”

Sally took another pinch.

“Come, come, Miss Brass,” said the notary, “Now, you know the pains and penalties you are liable to, but I have a proposal to make to you. You have the honour of being sister to one of the greatest scoundrels; but connected with you two is a third party, a villain of the name of Quilp, the prime mover of the whole diabolical device. Miss Brass, do us the favour to reveal the whole history of this affair. Let me remind you that your doing so will place you in a safe and comfortable position. What is your decision, ma’am?”

With a smile upon her face, Miss Brass took two or three more pinches of snuff, and said “I am to accept or reject at once, am I?”

“Yes.”

She was opening her lips to speak in reply, when the door was hastily opened too, and the head of Sampson Brass was thrust into the room.

59

“Excuse me,” said Sampson Brass hastily. “Wait a bit!”

So saying, he crept in, shut the door, kissed his greasy glove, and made a most abject bow.

“Sarah,” said Brass, “hold your tongue if you please, and let me speak. Gentlemen! Well! Ah! I saw my sister on her way here, and, wondering where she could be going to, followed her. Since then, I have been listening.”

“If you’re not mad,” interposed Miss Sally, “stop there, and say no more.’

The three gentlemen looked at each other, but said nothing.

“Sarah, my dear,” rejoined Brass, “I thank you kindly, but will still proceed. Sirs, I say, I will answer all these questions. Quilp deludes me into his infernal den, and takes a delight in looking upon my sufferings, Quilp has treated me as a dog, Quilp, whom I have always hated with my whole heart! I can’t trust him. If the truth has come out, gentlemen, I had better turn upon this man than let this man turn upon me! That’s for my own profit.”

With that, Mr. Brass, in a great hurry, revealed the whole story and underlined his human weaknesses. He concluded thus:

“Now, gentlemen, you must do with me what you please, and take me where you please. If you wish to have this in writing, I’ll do it immediately. You will be tender with me, I am sure. I am quite confident you will be tender with me. You are men of honour, and have feeling hearts. Punish Quilp, gentlemen! Grind him down! Tread him under foot!”

“And this,” said Miss Brass, raising her head, and surveying him from head to foot with a bitter sneer, “this is my brother, is it? This is my brother, that I have worked and toiled for!”

“Sarah, my dear,” returned Sampson, rubbing his hands feebly; “you disturb our friends. Besides, you’re disappointed, Sarah, and do not know what you say.”

“You pitiful dastard,” retorted Sarah.

“He he!” simpered Brass. “The shame, gentlemen, if there is any, is mine.”

The three gentlemen spoke together apart, for a few moments. At the end of their consultation, which was very brief, the notary pointed to the writing materials on the table, and informed Mr. Brass that if he wished to make any statement in writing, he had the opportunity of doing so.

Sarah paced the room with manly strides, and sometimes stopped to pull out her snuff-box. Then she walked away.

The judge gave Mr. Brass a warm reception and detained him in a secure place. He said that he would liberate Kit without delay.

Their business ended, the three gentlemen hastened back to the lodgings of Mr. Swiveller.

“As you are so much better,” said the notary, sitting down at the bedside, “I may give you a piece of news which has come to me professionally.”

“Certainly, sir. I hope it’s not very disagreeable, though?”, asked Dick.

“If I thought it so, I should choose some better time,” replied the notary. “You are the nephew of Rebecca Swiveller, deceased, of Cheselbourne in Dorsetshire?”

“Deceased! Yes, I am her nephew,” cried Dick.

“Deceased. You have come into possession of one hundred and fifty pounds a year; I think I may congratulate.”

“Sir,” said Dick, sobbing and laughing together, “you may. Please God, we’ll make a scholar of the poor Marchioness!”

60

Mr. Quilp remained in his hermitage, undisturbed by anybody, and extremely well satisfied with the result of his machinations. The day was damp, dark, cold, and gloomy. In that low and marshy spot, the fog filled every nook and corner with a thick dense cloud. Every object was obscure at one or two yards’ distance.

The dwarf lighted up fresh candles and heaped more fuel on the fire. He ate a beefsteak, which he cooked himself in a savage and cannibal-like manner, lighted his pipe, and sat down to spend the evening.

At this moment, a low knocking at the cabin-door arrested his attention. When it had been twice or thrice repeated, he softly opened the little window, and thrusting his head out, demanded who was there.

“Only me, Quilp,” replied a woman’s voice.

“Only you!” cried the dwarf, stretching his neck to obtain a better view of his visitor. “And what brings you here, you jade? How dare you approach the ogre’s castle, eh?”

“I have come with some news,” rejoined his spouse. “Don’t be angry with me.”

“Is it good news, pleasant news?” said the dwarf. “Is the dear old lady dead?”

“I don’t know what news it is, or whether it’s good or bad,” rejoined his wife.

“Then she’s alive,” said Quilp, “Go home again, you bird of evil, go home!”

“I have brought a letter,” cried the meek little woman.

“Toss it in at the window here, and go your ways,” said Quilp, interrupting her, “or I’ll come out and scratch you.”

Opening the letter, he read;

“Sammy has broken confidence. It has all come out. They want to surprise you. Don’t lose time. I didn’t. I am not to be found anywhere. S. B.”

For a long time Quilp did not utter a word.

“Such a bloodless cur!” said Quilp, rubbing his hands very slowly, and pressing them tight together. “I thought his cowardice and servility were the best guarantee for his keeping silence. I was wrong! It is a good night for travelling anonymously.”

By a great exertion of strength, he closed the two old gates, which were deeply sunken in the mud, and barred them with a heavy lock.

“The fence between this wharf and the next is easily climbed,” said the dwarf, when he had taken these precautions. “There’s a back-lane, too. That shall be my way out. Unwelcome visitors are coming here, I think.”

A knocking at the gate he had closed. A loud and violent knocking. Then, a pause; as if those who knocked had stopped to listen. Then, the noise again, more clamorous and importunate than before.

“So soon!” said the dwarf. “And so eager! I am afraid I shall disappoint you. It’s well I’m quite prepared. Sally, I thank you!”

He left the room in pitchy darkness, and stepped into the open air. At that moment the knocking ceased. It was about eight o’clock. He darted forward for a few paces, then changed the direction of his steps; then, stood still, not knowing where to turn.

Nothing was heard in that deserted place, but, at intervals, the distant barkings of dogs.

“If I could find a wall or fence,” said the dwarf, stretching out his arms, and walking slowly on.

Then he staggered and fell and next moment found himself in the cold dark water. The strong tide filled his throat, and bore him on, upon its rapid current.