Great Expectations

"Oh! He can't be in sight," said Mr. Wopsle. "He went out before I went

off. I saw him go."

Having the reason that I had for being suspicious, I even suspected

this poor actor. I mistrusted a design to entrap me into some admission.

Therefore I glanced at him as we walked on together, but said nothing.

"I had a ridiculous fancy that he must be with you, Mr. Pip, till I saw

that you were quite unconscious of him, sitting behind you there like a

ghost."

My former chill crept over me again, but I was resolved not to speak

yet, for it was quite consistent with his words that he might be set on

to induce me to connect these references with Provis. Of course, I was

perfectly sure and safe that Provis had not been there.

"I dare say you wonder at me, Mr. Pip; indeed, I see you do. But it is

so very strange! You'll hardly believe what I am going to tell you. I

could hardly believe it myself, if you told me."

"Indeed?" said I.

"No, indeed. Mr. Pip, you remember in old times a certain Christmas Day,

when you were quite a child, and I dined at Gargery's, and some soldiers

came to the door to get a pair of handcuffs mended?"

"I remember it very well."

"And you remember that there was a chase after two convicts, and that we

joined in it, and that Gargery took you on his back, and that I took the

lead, and you kept up with me as well as you could?"

"I remember it all very well." Better than he thought,--except the last

clause.

"And you remember that we came up with the two in a ditch, and that

there was a scuffle between them, and that one of them had been severely

handled and much mauled about the face by the other?"

"I see it all before me."

"And that the soldiers lighted torches, and put the two in the centre,

and that we went on to see the last of them, over the black marshes,

with the torchlight shining on their faces,--I am particular about

that,--with the torchlight shining on their faces, when there was an

outer ring of dark night all about us?"

"Yes," said I. "I remember all that."

"Then, Mr. Pip, one of those two prisoners sat behind you tonight. I saw

him over your shoulder."