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and the strange man as they went down the street。 The man's footsteps
were so noisy on the echoing stones that he was unwilling to add the
sound of his own。 But when they had passed the turning and were in the
darkness of the dark corner leading to the terrace； he made after them
with such indifferent appearance of being a casual passenger on his way；
as he could assume。
When he rounded the dark corner； they were walking along the terrace
towards a figure which was ing towards them。 If he had seen it by
itself； under such conditions of gas…lamp； mist； and distance； he might
not have known it at first sight； but with the figure of the girl to
prompt him； he at once recognised Miss Wade。
He stopped at the corner； seeming to look back expectantly up the street
as if he had made an appointment with some one to meet him there； but he
kept a careful eye on the three。 When they came together； the man took
off his hat； and made Miss Wade a bow。 The girl appeared to say a few
words as though she presented him； or accounted for his being late； or
early； or what not； and then fell a pace or so behind； by herself。 Miss
Wade and the man then began to walk up and down； the man having the
appearance of being extremely courteous and plimentary in manner；
Miss Wade having the appearance of being extremely haughty。
When they came down to the corner and turned； she was saying；
'If I pinch myself for it； sir； that is my business。 Confine yourself to
yours； and ask me no question。'
'By Heaven； ma'am！' he replied； making her another bow。 'It was my
profound respect for the strength of your character； and my admiration
of your beauty。'
'I want neither the one nor the other from any one；' said she； 'and
certainly not from you of all creatures。 Go on with your report。'
'Am I pardoned？' he asked； with an air of half abashed gallantry。
'You are paid；' she said； 'and that is all you want。'
Whether the girl hung behind because she was not to hear the business；
or as already knowing enough about it； Clennam could not determine。 They
turned and she turned。 She looked away at the river； as she walked
with her hands folded before her； and that was all he could make of
her without showing his face。 There happened； by good fortune； to be a
lounger really waiting for some one； and he sometimes looked over the
railing at the water； and sometimes came to the dark corner and looked
up the street； rendering Arthur less conspicuous。
When Miss Wade and the man came back again； she was saying； 'You must
wait until to…morrow。'
'A thousand pardons？' he returned。 'My faith！ Then it's not convenient
to…night？'
'No。 I tell you I must get it before I can give it to you。'
She stopped in the roadway； as if to put an end to the conference。 He of
course stopped too。 And the girl stopped。
'It's a little inconvenient；' said the man。 'A little。 But； Holy Blue！
that's nothing in such a service。 I am without money to…night； by
chance。 I have a good banker in this city； but I would not wish to draw
upon the house until the time when I shall draw for a round sum。'
'Harriet；' said Miss Wade； 'arrange with him……this gentleman here……for
sending him some money to…morrow。' She said it with a slur of the word
gentleman which was more contemptuous than any emphasis； and walked
slowly on。 The man bent his head again； and the girl spoke to him as
they both followed her。 Clennam ventured to look at the girl as they
Moved away。 He could note that her rich black eyes were fastened upon
the man with a scrutinising expression； and that she kept at a little
distance from him； as they walked side by side to the further end of the
terrace。
A loud and altered clank upon the pavement warned him； before he could
discern what was passing there； that the man was ing back alone。
Clennam lounged into the road； towards the railing； and the man passed
at a quick swing； with the end of his cloak thrown over his shoulder；
singing a scrap of a French song。
The whole vista had no one in it now but himself。 The lounger had
lounged out of view； and Miss Wade and Tattycoram were gone。 More than
ever bent on seeing what became of them； and on having some information
to give his good friend； Mr Meagles； he went out at the further end of
the terrace； looking cautiously about him。 He rightly judged that； at
first at all events； they would go in a contrary direction from their
late panion。 He soon saw them in a neighbouring bye…street； which was
not a thoroughfare； evidently allowing time for the man to get well
out of their way。 They walked leisurely arm…in…arm down one side of the
street； and returned on the opposite side。 When they came back to the
street…corner； they changed their pace for the pace of people with an
object and a distance before them； and walked steadily away。 Clennam； no
less steadily； kept them in sight。
They crossed the Strand； and passed through Covent Garden （under the
windows of his old lodging where dear Little Dorrit had e that
night）； and slanted away north…east； until they passed the great
building whence Tattycoram derived her name； and turned into the Gray's
Inn Road。 Clennam e here； in right of Flora； not to
mention the Patriarch and Pancks； and kept them in view with ease。 He
was beginning to wonder where they might be going next； when that wonder
was lost in the greater wonder with which he saw them turn into the
Patriarchal street。 That wonder was in its turn swallowed up on the
greater wonder with which he saw them stop at the Patriarchal door。 A
low double knock at the bright brass knocker； a gleam of light into the
road from the opened door； a brief pause for inquiry and answer and the
door was shut； and they were housed。
After looking at the surrounding objects for assurance that he was
not in an odd dream； and after pacing a little while before the house；
Arthur knocked at the door。 It was opened by the usual maid…servant；
and she showed him up at once； with her usual alacrity； to Flora's
sitting…room。
There was no one with Flora but Mr F。's Aunt； which respectable
gentlewoman； basking in a balmy atmosphere of tea and toast； was
ensconced in an easy…chair by the fireside； with a little table at her
elbow； and a clean white handkerchief spread over her lap on which
two pieces of toast at that moment awaited consumption。 Bending over
a steaming vessel of tea； and looking through the steam； and breathing
forth the steam； like a malignant Chinese enchantress engaged in the
performance of unholy rites； Mr F。's Aunt put down her great teacup and
exclaimed； 'Drat him； if he an't e back again！'
It would seem from the foregoing exclamation that this unpromising
relative of the lamented Mr F。； measuring time by the acuteness of her
sensations and not by the clock； supposed Clennam to have lately gone
away； whereas at least a quarter of a year had elapsed since he had had
the temerity to present himself before her。
'My goodness Arthur！' cried Flora； rising to give him a cordial
reception； 'Doyce and Clennam what a start and a surprise for though not
far from the machinery and foundry business and surely might be taken
sometimes if at no other time about mid…day when a glass of sherry and a
humble sandwich of whatever cold meat in the larder might not e amiss
nor taste the worse for being friendly for you know you buy it somewhere
and wherever bought a profit must be made or they would never keep the
place it stands to reason without a motive still never seen and learnt
now not to be expected； for as Mr F。 himself said if seeing is believing
not seeing is believing too and when you don't see you may fully believe
you're not remembered not that I expect you Arthur Doyce and Clennam to
remember me why should I for the days are gone but bring another teacup
here directly and tell her fresh toast and pray sit near the fire。'
Arthur was in the greatest anxiety to explain the object of his
visit； but was put off for the moment； in spite of himself； by what he
understood of the reproachful purport of these words； and by the genuine
pleasure she testified in seeing him。 'And now pray tell me something
all you know；' said Flora； drawing her chair near to his； 'about
the good dear quiet little thing and all the changes of her fortunes
carriage people now no doubt and horses without number most romantic； a
coat of arms of course and wild beasts on their hind legs showing it
as if it was a copy they had done with mouths from ear to ear good
gracious； and has she her health which is the first consideration after
all for what is wealth without it Mr F。 himself so often saying when his
twinges came that sixpence a day and find yourself and no gout so much
preferable； not that he could have lived on anything like it being the
last man or that the previous little thing though far too familiar an
expression now had any tendency of that sort much too slight and small
but looked so fragile bless her？'
Mr F。's Aunt； who had eaten a piece of toast down to the crust； here
solemnly handed the crust to Flora； who ate it for her as a matter of
business。 Mr F。's Aunt then moistened her ten fingers in slow succession
at her lips； and wiped them in