He came round at the appointed time, took out his jackknife, and sat

down to his meal. He was full of plans "for his gentleman's coming out

strong, and like a gentleman," and urged me to begin speedily upon

the pocket-book which he had left in my possession. He considered the

chambers and his own lodging as temporary residences, and advised me to

look out at once for a "fashionable crib" near Hyde Park, in which he

could have "a shake-down." When he had made an end of his breakfast,

and was wiping his knife on his leg, I said to him, without a word of

preface,-"After you were gone last night, I told my friend of the struggle that

the soldiers found you engaged in on the marshes, when we came up. You

remember?"

"Remember!" said he. "I think so!"

"We want to know something about that man--and about you. It is strange

to know no more about either, and particularly you, than I was able to

tell last night. Is not this as good a time as another for our knowing

more?"

"Well!" he said, after consideration. "You're on your oath, you know,

Pip's comrade?"

"Assuredly," replied Herbert.

"As to anything I say, you know," he insisted. "The oath applies to

all."

"I understand it to do so."

"And look'ee here! Wotever I done is worked out and paid for," he

insisted again.

"So be it."

He took out his black pipe and was going to fill it with negro-head,

when, looking at the tangle of tobacco in his hand, he seemed to think

it might perplex the thread of his narrative. He put it back again,

stuck his pipe in a button-hole of his coat, spread a hand on each knee,

and after turning an angry eye on the fire for a few silent moments,

looked round at us and said what follows.




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