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our mutual friend by charles dickenschapter 13 tracking the bird of prey the two lime merchants, with their escort,entered the dominions of miss abbey potterson, to whom their escort (presentingthem and their pretended business over the half-door of the bar, in a confidential way) preferred his figurative request that'a mouthful of fire' might be lighted in cosy. always well disposed to assist theconstituted authorities, miss abbey bade bob gliddery attend the gentlemen to thatretreat, and promptly enliven it with fire
and gaslight. of this commission the bare-armed bob,leading the way with a flaming wisp of paper, so speedily acquitted himself, thatcosy seemed to leap out of a dark sleep and embrace them warmly, the moment they passedthe lintels of its hospitable door. 'they burn sherry very well here,' said mrinspector, as a piece of local intelligence. 'perhaps you gentlemen might like abottle?' the answer being by all means, bob glidderyreceived his instructions from mr inspector, and departed in a becoming stateof alacrity engendered by reverence for the
majesty of the law. 'it's a certain fact,' said mr inspector,'that this man we have received our information from,' indicating riderhoodwith his thumb over his shoulder, 'has for some time past given the other man a bad name arising out of your lime barges, andthat the other man has been avoided in consequence.i don't say what it means or proves, but it's a certain fact. i had it first from one of the opposite sexof my acquaintance,' vaguely indicating miss abbey with his thumb over hisshoulder, 'down away at a distance, over
yonder.' then probably mr inspector was not quiteunprepared for their visit that evening? lightwood hinted.'well you see,' said mr inspector, 'it was a question of making a move. it's of no use moving if you don't knowwhat your move is. you had better by far keep still. in the matter of this lime, i certainly hadan idea that it might lie betwixt the two men; i always had that idea.still i was forced to wait for a start, and i wasn't so lucky as to get a start.
this man that we have received ourinformation from, has got a start, and if he don't meet with a check he may make therunning and come in first. there may turn out to be somethingconsiderable for him that comes in second, and i don't mention who may or who may nottry for that place. there's duty to do, and i shall do it,under any circumstances; to the best of my judgment and ability.''speaking as a shipper of lime--' began eugene. 'which no man has a better right to do thanyourself, you know,' said mr inspector. 'i hope not,' said eugene; 'my fatherhaving been a shipper of lime before me,
and my grandfather before him--in fact wehaving been a family immersed to the crowns of our heads in lime during several generations--i beg to observe that if thismissing lime could be got hold of without any young female relative of anydistinguished gentleman engaged in the lime trade (which i cherish next to my life) being present, i think it might be a moreagreeable proceeding to the assisting bystanders, that is to say, lime-burners.' 'i also,' said lightwood, pushing hisfriend aside with a laugh, 'should much prefer that.'
'it shall be done, gentlemen, if it can bedone conveniently,' said mr inspector, with coolness.'there is no wish on my part to cause any distress in that quarter. indeed, i am sorry for that quarter.''there was a boy in that quarter,' remarked eugene.'he is still there?' 'no,' said mr inspector.' he has quitted those works.he is otherwise disposed of.' 'will she be left alone then?' askedeugene. 'she will be left,' said mr inspector,'alone.'
bob's reappearance with a steaming jugbroke off the conversation. but although the jug steamed forth adelicious perfume, its contents had not received that last happy touch which thesurpassing finish of the six jolly fellowship porters imparted on suchmomentous occasions. bob carried in his left hand one of thoseiron models of sugar-loaf hats, before mentioned, into which he emptied the jug,and the pointed end of which he thrust deep down into the fire, so leaving it for a few moments while he disappeared and reappearedwith three bright drinking-glasses. placing these on the table and bending overthe fire, meritoriously sensible of the
trying nature of his duty, he watched thewreaths of steam, until at the special instant of projection he caught up the iron vessel and gave it one delicate twirl,causing it to send forth one gentle hiss. then he restored the contents to the jug;held over the steam of the jug, each of the three bright glasses in succession; finallyfilled them all, and with a clear conscience awaited the applause of hisfellow-creatures. it was bestowed (mr inspector havingproposed as an appropriate sentiment 'the lime trade!') and bob withdrew to reportthe commendations of the guests to miss abbey in the bar.
it may be here in confidence admitted that,the room being close shut in his absence, there had not appeared to be the slightestreason for the elaborate maintenance of this same lime fiction. only it had been regarded by mr inspectoras so uncommonly satisfactory, and so fraught with mysterious virtues, thatneither of his clients had presumed to question it. two taps were now heard on the outside ofthe window. mr inspector, hastily fortifying himselfwith another glass, strolled out with a noiseless foot and an unoccupiedcountenance.
as one might go to survey the weather andthe general aspect of the heavenly bodies. 'this is becoming grim, mortimer,' saideugene, in a low voice. 'i don't like this.' 'nor i' said lightwood.'shall we go?' 'being here, let us stay.you ought to see it out, and i won't leave you. besides, that lonely girl with the darkhair runs in my head. it was little more than a glimpse we had ofher that last time, and yet i almost see her waiting by the fire to-night.
do you feel like a dark combination oftraitor and pickpocket when you think of that girl?''rather,' returned lightwood. 'do you?' 'very much so.'their escort strolled back again, and reported. divested of its various lime-lights andshadows, his report went to the effect that gaffer was away in his boat, supposed to beon his old look-out; that he had been expected last high-water; that having missed it for some reason or other, he wasnot, according to his usual habits at
night, to be counted on before next high-water, or it might be an hour or so later; that his daughter, surveyed through the window, would seem to be so expecting him,for the supper was not cooking, but set out ready to be cooked; that it would be high-water at about one, and that it was now barely ten; that there was nothing to be done but watch and wait; that the informerwas keeping watch at the instant of that present reporting, but that two heads werebetter than one (especially when the second was mr inspector's); and that the reportermeant to share the watch. and forasmuch as crouching under the lee ofa hauled-up boat on a night when it blew
cold and strong, and when the weather wasvaried with blasts of hail at times, might be wearisome to amateurs, the reporter closed with the recommendation that the twogentlemen should remain, for a while at any rate, in their present quarters, which wereweather-tight and warm. they were not inclined to dispute thisrecommendation, but they wanted to know where they could join the watchers when sodisposed. rather than trust to a verbal descriptionof the place, which might mislead, eugene (with a less weighty sense of personaltrouble on him than he usually had) would go out with mr inspector, note the spot,and come back.
on the shelving bank of the river, amongthe slimy stones of a causeway--not the special causeway of the six jollyfellowships, which had a landing-place of its own, but another, a little removed, and very near to the old windmill which was thedenounced man's dwelling-place--were a few boats; some, moored and already beginningto float; others, hauled up above the reach of the tide. under one of these latter, eugene'scompanion disappeared. and when eugene had observed its positionwith reference to the other boats, and had made sure that he could not miss it, heturned his eyes upon the building where, as
he had been told, the lonely girl with thedark hair sat by the fire. he could see the light of the fire shiningthrough the window. perhaps it drew him on to look in. perhaps he had come out with the expressintention. that part of the bank having rank grassgrowing on it, there was no difficulty in getting close, without any noise offootsteps: it was but to scramble up a ragged face of pretty hard mud some three or four feet high and come upon the grassand to the window. he came to the window by that means.she had no other light than the light of
the fire. the unkindled lamp stood on the table.she sat on the ground, looking at the brazier, with her face leaning on her hand. there was a kind of film or flicker on herface, which at first he took to be the fitful firelight; but, on a second look, hesaw that she was weeping. a sad and solitary spectacle, as shown himby the rising and the falling of the fire. it was a little window of but four piecesof glass, and was not curtained; he chose it because the larger window near it was. it showed him the room, and the bills uponthe wall respecting the drowned people
starting out and receding by turns.but he glanced slightly at them, though he looked long and steadily at her. a deep rich piece of colour, with the brownflush of her cheek and the shining lustre of her hair, though sad and solitary,weeping by the rising and the falling of she started up.he had been so very still that he felt sure it was not he who had disturbed her, somerely withdrew from the window and stood near it in the shadow of the wall. she opened the door, and said in an alarmedtone, 'father, was that you calling me?' and again, 'father!'and once again, after listening, 'father!
i thought i heard you call me twicebefore!' no response. as she re-entered at the door, he droppedover the bank and made his way back, among the ooze and near the hiding-place, tomortimer lightwood: to whom he told what he had seen of the girl, and how this wasbecoming very grim indeed. 'if the real man feels as guilty as i do,'said eugene, 'he is remarkably uncomfortable.' 'influence of secrecy,' suggestedlightwood. 'i am not at all obliged to it for makingme guy fawkes in the vault and a sneak in
the area both at once,' said eugene. 'give me some more of that stuff.'lightwood helped him to some more of that stuff, but it had been cooling, and didn'tanswer now. 'pooh,' said eugene, spitting it out amongthe ashes. 'tastes like the wash of the river.''are you so familiar with the flavour of the wash of the river?' 'i seem to be to-night.i feel as if i had been half drowned, and swallowing a gallon of it.''influence of locality,' suggested lightwood.
'you are mighty learned to-night, you andyour influences,' returned eugene. 'how long shall we stay here?''how long do you think?' 'if i could choose, i should say a minute,'replied eugene, 'for the jolly fellowship porters are not the jolliest dogs i haveknown. but i suppose we are best here until theyturn us out with the other suspicious characters, at midnight.'thereupon he stirred the fire, and sat down on one side of it. it struck eleven, and he made believe tocompose himself patiently. but gradually he took the fidgets in oneleg, and then in the other leg, and then in
one arm, and then in the other arm, andthen in his chin, and then in his back, and then in his forehead, and then in his hair, and then in his nose; and then he stretchedhimself recumbent on two chairs, and groaned; and then he started up.'invisible insects of diabolical activity swarm in this place. i am tickled and twitched all over.mentally, i have now committed a burglary under the meanest circumstances, and themyrmidons of justice are at my heels.' 'i am quite as bad,' said lightwood,sitting up facing him, with a tumbled head; after going through some wonderfulevolutions, in which his head had been the
lowest part of him. 'this restlessness began with me, long ago.all the time you were out, i felt like gulliver with the lilliputians firing uponhim.' 'it won't do, mortimer. we must get into the air; we must join ourdear friend and brother, riderhood. and let us tranquillize ourselves by makinga compact. next time (with a view to our peace ofmind) we'll commit the crime, instead of taking the criminal.you swear it?' 'certainly.'
'sworn!let tippins look to it. her life's in danger.' mortimer rang the bell to pay the score,and bob appeared to transact that business with him: whom eugene, in his carelessextravagance, asked if he would like a situation in the lime-trade? 'thankee sir, no sir,' said bob.'i've a good sitiwation here, sir.' 'if you change your mind at any time,'returned eugene, 'come to me at my works, and you'll always find an opening in thelime-kiln.' 'thankee sir,' said bob.
'this is my partner,' said eugene, 'whokeeps the books and attends to the wages. a fair day's wages for a fair day's work isever my partner's motto.' 'and a very good 'un it is, gentlemen,'said bob, receiving his fee, and drawing a bow out of his head with his right hand,very much as he would have drawn a pint of beer out of the beer engine. 'eugene,' mortimer apostrophized him,laughing quite heartily when they were alone again, 'how can you be soridiculous?' 'i am in a ridiculous humour,' quotheugene; 'i am a ridiculous fellow. everything is ridiculous.come along!'
it passed into mortimer lightwood's mindthat a change of some sort, best expressed perhaps as an intensification of all thatwas wildest and most negligent and reckless in his friend, had come upon him in thelast half-hour or so. thoroughly used to him as he was, he foundsomething new and strained in him that was for the moment perplexing. this passed into his mind, and passed outagain; but he remembered it afterwards. 'there's where she sits, you see,' saideugene, when they were standing under the bank, roared and riven at by the wind. 'there's the light of her fire.''i'll take a peep through the window,' said
mortimer.'no, don't!' eugene caught him by the arm. 'best, not make a show of her.come to our honest friend.' he led him to the post of watch, and theyboth dropped down and crept under the lee of the boat; a better shelter than it hadseemed before, being directly contrasted with the blowing wind and the bare night. 'mr inspector at home?' whispered eugene.'here i am, sir.' 'and our friend of the perspiring brow isat the far corner there? good.
anything happened?''his daughter has been out, thinking she heard him calling, unless it was a sign tohim to keep out of the way. it might have been.' 'it might have been rule britannia,'muttered eugene, 'but it wasn't. mortimer!''here!' (on the other side of mr inspector.) 'two burglaries now, and a forgery!'with this indication of his depressed state of mind, eugene fell silent.they were all silent for a long while. as it got to be flood-tide, and the watercame nearer to them, noises on the river
became more frequent, and they listenedmore. to the turning of steam-paddles, to theclinking of iron chain, to the creaking of blocks, to the measured working of oars, tothe occasional violent barking of some passing dog on shipboard, who seemed toscent them lying in their hiding-place. the night was not so dark but that, besidesthe lights at bows and mastheads gliding to and fro, they could discern some shadowybulk attached; and now and then a ghostly lighter with a large dark sail, like a warning arm, would start up very near them,pass on, and vanish. at this time of their watch, the waterclose to them would be often agitated by
some impulsion given it from a distance. often they believed this beat and plash tobe the boat they lay in wait for, running in ashore; and again and again they wouldhave started up, but for the immobility with which the informer, well used to theriver, kept quiet in his place. the wind carried away the striking of thegreat multitude of city church clocks, for those lay to leeward of them; but therewere bells to windward that told them of its being one--two--three. without that aid they would have known howthe night wore, by the falling of the tide, recorded in the appearance of an ever-widening black wet strip of shore, and the
emergence of the paved causeway from theriver, foot by foot. as the time so passed, this slinkingbusiness became a more and more precarious one. it would seem as if the man had had someintimation of what was in hand against him, or had taken fright? his movements might have been planned togain for him, in getting beyond their reach, twelve hours' advantage? the honest man who had expended the sweatof his brow became uneasy, and began to complain with bitterness of the pronenessof mankind to cheat him--him invested with
the dignity of labour! their retreat was so chosen that while theycould watch the river, they could watch the house. no one had passed in or out, since thedaughter thought she heard the father calling.no one could pass in or out without being seen. 'but it will be light at five,' said mrinspector, 'and then we shall be seen.' 'look here,' said riderhood, 'what do yousay to this? he may have been lurking in and out, andjust holding his own betwixt two or three
bridges, for hours back.''what do you make of that?' said mr inspector. stoical, but contradictory.'he may be doing so at this present time.' 'what do you make of that?' said mrinspector. 'my boat's among them boats here at thecause'ay.' 'and what do you make of your boat?' saidmr inspector. 'what if i put off in her and take a lookround? i know his ways, and the likely nooks hefavours. i know where he'd be at such a time of thetide, and where he'd be at such another
time.ain't i been his pardner? none of you need show. none of you need stir.i can shove her off without help; and as to me being seen, i'm about at all times.' 'you might have given a worse opinion,'said mr inspector, after brief consideration.'try it.' 'stop a bit. let's work it out.if i want you, i'll drop round under the fellowships and tip you a whistle.'
'if i might so far presume as to offer asuggestion to my honourable and gallant friend, whose knowledge of naval mattersfar be it from me to impeach,' eugene struck in with great deliberation, 'it would be, that to tip a whistle is toadvertise mystery and invite speculation. my honourable and gallant friend will, itrust, excuse me, as an independent member, for throwing out a remark which i feel tobe due to this house and the country.' 'was that the t'other governor, or lawyerlightwood?' asked riderhood. for, they spoke as they crouched or lay,without seeing one another's faces. 'in reply to the question put by myhonourable and gallant friend,' said
eugene, who was lying on his back with hishat on his face, as an attitude highly expressive of watchfulness, 'i can have no hesitation in replying (it not beinginconsistent with the public service) that those accents were the accents of thet'other governor.' 'you've tolerable good eyes, ain't you,governor? you've all tolerable good eyes, ain't you?'demanded the informer. all. 'then if i row up under the fellowship andlay there, no need to whistle. you'll make out that there's a speck ofsomething or another there, and you'll know
it's me, and you'll come down that cause'ayto me. understood all?' understood all.'off she goes then!' in a moment, with the wind cutting keenlyat him sideways, he was staggering down to his boat; in a few moments he was clear,and creeping up the river under their own shore. eugene had raised himself on his elbow tolook into the darkness after him. 'i wish the boat of my honourable andgallant friend,' he murmured, lying down again and speaking into his hat, 'may beendowed with philanthropy enough to turn
bottom-upward and extinguish him!--mortimer.' 'my honourable friend.''three burglaries, two forgeries, and a midnight assassination.' yet in spite of having those weights on hisconscience, eugene was somewhat enlivened by the late slight change in thecircumstances of affairs. so were his two companions. its being a change was everything.the suspense seemed to have taken a new lease, and to have begun afresh from arecent date. there was something additional to look for.
they were all three more sharply on thealert, and less deadened by the miserable influences of the place and time. more than an hour had passed, and they wereeven dozing, when one of the three--each said it was he, and he had not dozed--madeout riderhood in his boat at the spot agreed on. they sprang up, came out from theirshelter, and went down to him. when he saw them coming, he droppedalongside the causeway; so that they, standing on the causeway, could speak withhim in whispers, under the shadowy mass of the six jolly fellowship porters fastasleep.
'blest if i can make it out!' said he,staring at them. 'make what out? have you seen him?''no.' 'what have you seen?' asked lightwood.for, he was staring at them in the strangest way. 'i've seen his boat.''not empty?' 'yes, empty.and what's more,--adrift. and what's more,--with one scull gone. and what's more,--with t'other scull jammedin the thowels and broke short off.
and what's more,--the boat's drove tight bythe tide 'atwixt two tiers of barges. and what's more,--he's in luck again, bygeorge if he ain't!'
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