登陆注册
4615900000163

第163章

`I follow you, sir.'

`Put the case, Pip, that here was one pretty little child out of the heap, who could be saved; whom the father believed dead, and dared make no stir about; as to whom, over the mother, the legal adviser had this power: "I know what you did, and how you did it. You came so and so, this was your manner of attack and this the manner of resistance, you went so and so, you did such and such things to divert suspicion. I have tracked you through it all, and I tell it you all. Part with the child, unless it should be necessary to produce it to clear you, and then it shall be produced. Give the child into my hands, and I will do my best to bring you off. If you are saved, your child is saved too; if you are lost, your child is still saved." Put the case that this was done, and that the woman was cleared.'

`I understand you perfectly.'

`But that I make no admissions?'

`That you make no admissions.' And Wemmick repeated, `No admissions.'

`Put the case, Pip, that passion and the terror of death had a little shaken the woman's intellects, and that when she was set at liberty, she was scared out of the ways of the world and went to him to be sheltered.

Put the case that he took her in, and that he kept down the old wild violent nature whenever he saw an inkling of its breaking out, by asserting his power over her in the old way. Do you comprehend the imaginary case?'

`Quite.'

`Put the case that the child grew up, and was married for money. That the mother was still living. That the father was still living. That the mother and father unknown to one another, were dwelling within so many miles, furlongs, yards if you like, of one another. That the secret was still a secret, except that you had got wind of it. Put that last case to yourself very carefully.'

`I do.'

`I ask Wemmick to put it to him self very carefully.'

And Wemmick said, `I do.'

`For whose sake would you reveal the secret? For the father's? I think he would not be much the better for the mother. For the mother's? I think if she had done such a deed she would be safer where she was. For the daughter's?

I think it would hardly serve her, to establish her parentage for the information of her husband, and to drag her back to disgrace, after an escape of twenty years, pretty secure to last for life. But, add the case that you had loved her, Pip, and had made her the subject of those "poor dreams" which have, at one time or another, been in the heads of more men than you think likely, then I tell you that you had better - and would much sooner when you had thought well of it - chop off that bandaged left hand of yours with your bandaged right hand, and then pass the chopper on to Wemmick there, to cut that off, too.'

I looked at Wemmick, whose face was very grave. He gravely touched his lips with his forefinger. I did the same. Mr Jaggers did the same. `Now, Wemmick,' said the latter then, resuming his usual manner, `what item was it you were at, when Mr Pip came in?'

Standing by for a little, while they were at work, I observed that the odd looks they had cast at one another were repeated several times: with this difference now, that each of them seemed suspicious, not to say conscious, of having shown himself in a weak and unprofessional light to the other.

For this reason, I suppose, they were now inflexible with one another;Mr Jaggers being highly dictatorial, and Wemmick obstinately justifying himself whenever there was the smallest point in abeyance for a moment.

I had never seen them on such ill terms; for generally they got on very well indeed together.

But, they were both happily relieved by the opportune appearance of Mike, the client with the fur cap and the habit of wiping his nose on his sleeve, whom I had seen on the very first day of my appearance within those walls. This individual, who, either in his own person or in that of some member of his family, seemed to be always in trouble (which in that place meant Newgate), called to announce that his eldest daughter was taken up on suspicion of shop-lifting. As he imparted this melancholy circumstance to Wemmick, Mr Jaggers standing magisterially before the fire and taking no share in the proceedings, Mike's eye happened to twinkle with a tear.

`What are you about?' demanded Wemmick, with the utmost indignation.

`What do you come snivelling here for?'

`I didn't go to do it, Mr Wemmick.'

`You did,' said Wemmick. `How dare you? You're not in a fit state to come here, if you can't come here without spluttering like a bad pen. What do you mean by it?'

`A man can't help his feelings, Mr Wemmick,' pleaded Mike.

`His what?' demanded Wemmick, quite savagely. `Say that again!'

`Now, look here my man,' said Mr Jaggers, advancing a step, and pointing to the door. `Get out of this office. I'll have no feelings here. Get out.'

`It serves you right,' said Wemmick, `Get out.'

So the unfortunate Mike very humbly withdrew, and Mr Jaggers and Wemmick appeared to have re-established their good understanding, and went to work again with an air of refreshment upon them as if they had just had lunch.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 巫峡

    巫峡

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 魂南记

    魂南记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 贵女长宁

    贵女长宁

    她,奚长宁,前生无怨无悔跟随大将军,却不想棋子就是棋子,夫妻恩爱也不过是一场梦,被姐姐夺爱杀子,最后落得忍受被大将军剜心之痛。重生后,她奚长宁誓要这些人血债血偿。相府因她鸡犬不宁,皇宫因她天翻地覆一世贵女,为报心仇,不惜牺牲一切;唯有未知人,唤她奚长宁,惜长宁。这一世,她定还自己一个绝代风华。小文的书友群:467363666小文的微博:Miss_易小文
  • 蒙哥大帝之血火淬金

    蒙哥大帝之血火淬金

    孛儿只斤·蒙哥是成吉思汗幼子拖雷的长子,从小就表现出非凡的勇气和意志。按蒙古传统,幼子拖雷本该继承汗位,但成吉思汗却把江山传给了窝阔台。拖雷夫妇失望之余,决定韬光养晦,着力培养蒙哥。射猎驭兽、战场杀敌、修文学艺、份地管理,在经历了生与死、勇与惧、情与仇、刚与柔的大考验、大洗礼,以及夺爱之恨、失亲之痛、杀父之仇等人生大悲痛后,蒙哥逐渐成长起来,肩负起了振兴家族的重任……
  • 六道天魔

    六道天魔

    自古顺天修者是为仙,逆天行者沦为魔,天要我亡,我却要逆天而行,而既然逆天之人是为魔,那从今天开始,我萧震就是逆天而行的魔。
  • 傲武星辰

    傲武星辰

    “何为意?”“似如幻之翼,若无边之羽,便是为意;意之极境,乃盗阴阳,行变化,控生死;如登逆天之道,幻化众生无妄;天地万物,取之有变,江湖四海,行之所往;无常也惧,魍魉皆殇;一念天地,一念永恒……”“但若予汝一双翅膀,可否换吾一世无双?”
  • 海贼之金色狮鹫

    海贼之金色狮鹫

    为了复仇,艾伦加入了堂吉诃德家族,成为了一名海贼!
  • 玄天九变

    玄天九变

    文弱少年路小南因为骷髅之戒改变了原来的命运。天剑一神,雪舞二仙,罗刹三尊,飞仙四圣。这些传说中的人物究竟实力如何。四大凶地又隐藏着哪些神秘故事。这一切如此偶然,却又如次相似。路小南注定要走上一条不能回头的逆天之路。
  • 男人二十几岁要懂的心理学

    男人二十几岁要懂的心理学

    《男人二十几岁要懂的心理学》将会指导你完善自我性格,促进人际和谐,改善思维方式,提高做事的能力和效率,在注重呵护身心健康的同时,逐渐把自身蕴藏的无限潜能一一发挥出来,直至实现幸福理想的人生。
  • 我家娘亲要逆天

    我家娘亲要逆天

    推荐新书《媳妇撒个娇呀》玉手一挥,万件神器尽数爆碎,儿子不忍直视,“娘亲,这么败家,你男人造吗?”男人二话不说,送上更多宝物,“败得好!”修为飙升,无数仙神瞬间秒杀,女儿不由嘟嘴,“娘亲,你这么暴力,真的好吗?”男人鼓掌喝彩,“继续暴!”宝贝们忍无可忍,“爹爹,你的高冷尊贵、英明神武、清贵绝尘……呢?”男人看了白凝一眼,眸光沉沉,“被你娘爆光了!”