on the long narrow window of the little room near the hall…door。
'Where may the lady be who has lost the use of her limbs； madam？' he
inquired； with that peculiar smile which Mistress Affery could not
choose but keep her eyes upon。
'Up there！' said Affery。 'Them two windows。'
'Hah！ I am of a fair size； but could not have the honour of presenting
myself in that room without a ladder。 Now； madam； frankly……frankness is
a part of my character……shall I open the door for you？'
'Yes； bless you； sir； for a dear creetur； and do it at once；' cried
Affery； 'for she may be a…calling to me at this very present minute； or
may be setting herself a fire and burning herself to death； or there's
no knowing what may be happening to her； and me a…going out of my mind
at thinking of it！'
'Stay； my good madam！' He restrained her impatience with a smooth white
hand。 'Business…hours； I apprehend； are over for the day？' 'Yes； yes；
yes；' cried Affery。 'Long ago。'
'Let me make； then； a fair proposal。 Fairness is a part of my character。
I am just landed from the packet…boat； as you may see。'
He showed her that his cloak was very wet； and that his boots
were saturated with water； she had previously observed that he was
dishevelled and sallow； as if from a rough voyage； and so chilled that
he could not keep his teeth from chattering。 'I am just landed from the
packet…boat； madam； and have been delayed by the weather： the infernal
； some necessary business that
I should otherwise have transacted here within the regular hours
（necessary business because money…business）； still remains to be done。
Now； if you will fetch any authorised neighbouring somebody to do it in
return for my opening the door； I'll open the door。 If this arrangement
should be objectionable； I'll……' and with the same smile he made a
significant feint of backing away。
Mistress Affery； heartily glad to effect the proposed promise； gave
in her willing adhesion to it。 The gentleman at once requested her to
do him the favour of holding his cloak； took a short run at the narrow
window； made a leap at the sill； clung his way up the bricks； and in
a moment had his hand at the sash； raising it。 His eyes looked so very
sinister； as he put his leg into the room and glanced round at Mistress
Affery； that she thought with a sudden coldness； if he were to go
straight up…stairs to murder the invalid； what could she do to prevent
him？
Happily he had no such purpose； for he reappeared； in a moment； at the
house door。 'Now； my dear madam；' he said； as he took back his cloak and
threw it on； 'if you have the goodness to……what the Devil's that！'
The strangest of sounds。 Evidently close at hand from the peculiar
shock it municated to the air； yet subdued as if it were far off。 A
tremble； a rumble； and a fall of some light dry matter。
'What the Devil is it？'
'I don't know what it is； but I've heard the like of it over and over
again；' said Affery； who had caught his arm。 He could hardly be a very
brave man； even she thought in her dreamy start and fright； for his
trembling lips had turned colourless。 After listening a few moments； he
made light of it。
'Bah！ Nothing！ Now； my dear madam； I think you spoke of some clever
personage。 Will you be so good as to confront me with that genius？' He
held the door in his hand； as though he were quite ready to shut her out
again if she failed。
'Don't you say anything about the door and me； then；' whispered Affery。
'Not a word。'
'And don't you stir from here； or speak if she calls； while I run round
the corner。'
'Madam； I am a statue。'
Affery had so vivid a fear of his going stealthily up…stairs the moment
her back was turned； that after hurrying out of sight； she returned to
the gateway to peep at him。 Seeing him still on the threshold； more out
of the house than in it； as if he had no love for darkness and no
desire to probe its mysteries； she flew into the next street； and sent a
message into the tavern to Mr Flintwinch； who came out directly。 The
two returning together……the lady in advance； and Mr Flintwinch ing up
briskly behind； animated with the hope of shaking her before she could
get housed……saw the gentleman standing in the same place in the dark；
and heard the strong voice of Mrs Clennam calling from her room； 'Who is
it？ What is it？ Why does no one answer？ Who is that； down there？'
CHAPTER 30。 The Word of a Gentleman
When Mr and Mrs Flintwinch panted up to the door of the old house in the
twilight； Jeremiah within a second of Affery； the stranger started back。
'Death of my soul！' he exclaimed。 'Why； how did you get here？'
Mr Flintwinch； to whom these words were spoken； repaid the stranger's
wonder in full。 He gazed at him with blank astonishment； he looked over
his own shoulder； as expecting to see some one he had not been aware of
standing behind him； he gazed at the stranger again； speechlessly； at
a loss to know what he meant； he looked to his wife for explanation；
receiving none； he pounced upon her； and shook her with such heartiness
that he shook her cap off her head； saying between his teeth； with grim
raillery； as he did it； 'Affery； my woman； you must have a dose； my
woman！ This is some of your tricks！ You have been dreaming again；
mistress。 What's it about？ Who is it？ What does it mean！ Speak out or be
choked！ It's the only choice I'll give you。'
Supposing Mistress Affery to have any power of election at the moment；
her choice was decidedly to be choked； for she answered not a syllable
to this adjuration； but； with her bare head wagging violently backwards
and forwards； resigned herself to her punishment。 The stranger； however；
picking up her cap with an air of gallantry； interposed。
'Permit me；' said he； laying his hand on the shoulder of Jeremiah； who
stopped and released his victim。 'Thank you。 Excuse me。 Husband and
wife I know； from this playfulness。 Haha！ Always agreeable to see that
relation playfully maintained。 Listen！ May I suggest that somebody
up…stairs； in the dark； is being energetically curious to know what
is going on here？'
This reference to Mrs Clennam's voice reminded Mr Flintwinch to step
into the hall and call up the staircase。 'It's all right； I am here；
Affery is ing with your light。' Then he said to the latter
flustered woman； who was putting her cap on； 'Get out with you； and get
up…stairs！' and then turned to the stranger and said to him； 'Now； sir；
what might you please to want？'
'I am afraid；' said the stranger； 'I must be so troublesome as to
propose a candle。'
'True；' assented Jeremiah。 'I was going to do so。 Please to stand where
you are while I get one。'
The visitor was standing in the doorway； but turned a little into the
gloom of the house as Mr Flintwinch turned； and pursued him with his
eyes into the little room； where he groped about for a phosphorus box。
When he found it； it was damp； or otherwise out of order； and match
after match that he struck into it lighted sufficiently to throw a dull
glare about his groping face； and to sprinkle his hands with pale little
spots of fire； but not sufficiently to light the candle。 The stranger；
taking advantage of this fitful illumination of his visage； looked
intently and wonderingly at him。 Jeremiah； when he at last lighted
the candle； knew he had been doing this； by seeing the last shade of
a lowering watchfulness clear away from his face； as it broke into the
doubtful smile that was a large ingredient in its expression。
'Be so good；' said Jeremiah； closing the house door； and taking a pretty
sharp survey of the smiling visitor in his turn； 'as to step into my
counting…house。……It's all right； I tell you！' petulantly breaking off to
answer the voice up…stairs； still unsatisfied； though Affery was there；
speaking in persuasive tones。 'Don't I tell you it's all right？ Preserve
the woman； has she no reason at all in her！'
'Timorous；' remarked the stranger。
'Timorous？' said Mr Flintwinch； turning his head to retort； as he went
before with the candle。 'More courageous than niy men in a hundred；
sir； let me tell you。'
'Though an invalid？'
'Many years an invalid。 Mrs Clennam。 The only one of that name left
in the House now。 My partner。' Saying something apologetically as he
crossed the hall； to the effect that at that time of night they were
not in the habit of receiving any one； and were always shut up；
Mr Flintwinch led the way into his own office； which presented a
sufficiently business…like appearance。 Here he put the light on his
desk； and said to the stranger； with his wryest twist upon him； 'Your
mands。'
'MY name is Blandois。'
'Blandois。 I don't know it；' said Jeremiah。
'I thought it possible；' resumed the other； 'that you might have been
advised from Paris……'
'We have had no advice from Paris respecting anybody of the name of
Blandois；' said Jeremiah。
'No？'
'No。'
Jeremiah stood in his favourite attitude。 The smiling Mr Blandois；
opening his cloak to get his hand to a breast…pocket； paused to say；
with a laugh in his glittering eyes； which it occurred to Mr Flintwinch
were too near together：
'You are so like a friend of mine！ Not so identically the same as I
supposed when I really did for the moment take you to be the same in the
dusk……for which I ought to apologise； permit me to do so； a readiness
to confess my errors is； I hope； a part of the frankness of my
character……still； however； unmonly like。'
'Indeed？' said Jeremiah； perversely。 'But I have not received any letter
of advice from anywhere respecting anybody of the name of Blandois。'
'Just so；' said the stranger。
'JUST so；' said Jeremiah。
Mr Blandois； not at all put out by this omission on the part of the
correspondents of the house of Clennam and Co。； took his pocket…book
from his breast…pocket； selected a letter from that receptacle； and
handed it to Mr Flintwinch。 'No doubt you are well acquainted with the
writing。 Perhaps the letter speaks for itself； and requires no advice。
You are a far more petent judge of such affairs than I am。 It is my
misfortune to be； not so much a man of business； as what the world calls
（arbitrarily） a gentleman。'
Mr Flintwinch took the letter； and read； under date of Paris； 'We have
to present to you； on behalf of a highly esteemed correspondent of our
Firm； M。 Blandois； of this city；' &c。 &c。 'Such facilities as he may
require and such attentions as may lie in your power；' &c。 &c。 'Also
have to add that if you will honour M。 Blandois' drafts at sight to the
extent of； say Fifty Pounds sterling （150）；' &c。 &c。
'Very good； sir；' said Mr Flintwinch。 'Take a chair。 To the extent of
anything that our House can do……we are in a retired； old…fashioned；
steady way of business； sir……we shall be happy to render you our best
assistance。 I observe； from the date of this； that we could not yet be
advised of it。 Probably you came over with the delayed mail that brings
the advice。'
'That I came over with the delayed mail； sir；' returned Mr Blandois；
passing his white hand down his high…hooked nose； 'I know to the cost
of my head and stomach： the detestable and intolerable weather having
racked them both。 You see me in the plight in which I cam