never hear any haunted noises here？'
'Noises；' returned Mr Flintwinch。 'No。'
'Nor see any devils？'
'Not；' said Mr Flintwinch； grimly screwing himself at his questioner；
'not any that introduce themselves under that name and in that
capacity。'
'Haha！ A portrait here； I see。'
（Still looking at Mr Flintwinch； as if he were the portrait。）
'It's a portrait； sir； as you observe。'
'May I ask the subject； Mr Flintwinch？'
'Mr Clennam； deceased。 Her husband。' 'Former owner of the remarkable
watch； perhaps？' said the visitor。
Mr Flintwinch； who had cast his eyes towards the portrait； twisted
himself about again； and again found himself the subject of the same
look and smile。 'Yes； Mr Blandois；' he replied tartly。 'It was his； and
his uncle's before him； and Lord knows who before him； and that's all I
can tell you of its pedigree。'
'That's a strongly marked character； Mr Flintwinch； our friend
up…stairs。'
'Yes； sir；' said Jeremiah； twisting himself at the visitor again； as he
did during the whole of this dialogue； like some screw…machine that
fell short of its grip； for the other never changed； and he always
felt obliged to retreat a little。 'She is a remarkable woman。 Great
fortitude……great strength of mind。'
'They must have been very happy；' said Blandois。
'Who？' demanded Mr Flintwinch； with another screw at him。
Mr Blandois shook his right forefinger towards the sick room； and his
left forefinger towards the portrait； and then； putting his arms akimbo
and striding his legs wide apart； stood smiling down at Mr Flintwinch
with the advancing nose and the retreating moustache。
'As happy as most other married people； I suppose；' returned Mr
Flintwinch。 'I can't say。 I don't know。 There are secrets in all
families。'
'Secrets！' cried Mr Blandois； quickly。 'Say it again； my son。'
'I say；' replied Mr Flintwinch； upon whom he had swelled himself so
suddenly that Mr Flintwinch found his face almost brushed by the dilated
chest。 'I say there are secrets in all families。'
'So there are；' cried the other； clapping him on both shoulders； and
rolling him backwards and forwards。 'Haha！ you are right。 So there are！
Secrets！ Holy Blue！ There are the devil's own secrets in some families；
Mr Flintwinch！' With that； after clapping Mr Flintwinch on both
shoulders several times； as if in a friendly and humorous way he were
rallying him on a joke he had made； he threw up his arms； threw back
his head； hooked his hands together behind it； and burst into a roar of
laughter。 It was in vain for Mr Flintwinch to try another screw at him。
He had his laugh out。
'But； favour me with the candle a moment；' he said； when he had done。
'Let us have a look at the husband of the remarkable lady。 Hah！' holding
up the light at arm's length。 'A decided expression of face here too；
though not of the same character。 Looks as if he were saying； what is
it……Do Not Forget……does he not； Mr Flintwinch？
By Heaven； sir； he does！'
As he returned the candle； he looked at him once more； and then；
leisurely strolling out with him into the hall； declared it to be a
charming old house indeed； and one which had so greatly pleased him that
he would not have missed inspecting it for a hundred pounds。 Throughout
these singular freedoms on the part of Mr Blandois； which involved a
general alteration in his demeanour； making it much coarser and rougher；
much more violent and audacious than before； Mr Flintwinch； whose
leathern face was not liable to many changes； preserved its immobility
intact。 Beyond now appearing perhaps； to have been left hanging a trifle
too long before that friendly operation of cutting down； he outwardly
maintained an equable posure。 They had brought their survey to a
close in the little room at the side of the hall； and he stood there；
eyeing Mr Blandois。
'I am glad you are so well satisfied； sir；' was his calm remark。 'I
didn't expect it。 You seem to be quite in good spirits。'
'In admirable spirits；' returned Blandois。 'Word of honour！ never more
refreshed in spirits。 Do you ever have presentiments； Mr Flintwinch？'
'I am not sure that I know what you mean by the term； sir；' replied that
gentleman。
'Say； in this case； Mr Flintwinch； undefined anticipations of pleasure
to e。'
'I can't say I'm sensible of such a sensation at present；' returned Mr
Flintwinch with the utmost gravity。 'If I should find it ing on； I'll
mention it。'
'Now I；' said Blandois； 'I； my son； have a presentiment to…night that we
shall be well acquainted。 Do you find it ing on？'
'N…no；' returned Mr Flintwinch； deliberately inquiring of himself。 'I
can't say I do。'
'I have a strong presentiment that we shall bee intimately
acquainted。……You have no feeling of that sort yet？'
'Not yet；' said Mr Flintwinch。
Mr Blandois； taking him by both shoulders again； rolled him about a
little in his former merry way； then drew his arm through his own； and
invited him to e off and drink a bottle of wine like a dear deep old
dog as he was。
Without a moment's indecision； Mr Flintwinch accepted the invitation；
and they went out to the quarters where the traveller was lodged；
through a heavy rain which had rattled on the windows； roofs； and
pavements； ever since nightfall。 The thunder and lightning had long ago
passed over； but the rain was furious。 On their arrival at Mr Blandois'
room； a bottle of port wine was ordered by that gallant gentleman； who
（crushing every pretty thing he could collect； in the soft disposition
of his dainty figure） coiled himself upon the window…seat； while Mr
Flintwinch took a chair opposite to him； with the table between them。 Mr
Blandois proposed having the largest glasses in the house； to which Mr
Flintwinch assented。 The bumpers filled； Mr Blandois； with a roystering
gaiety； clinked the top of his glass against the bottom of Mr
Flintwinch's； and the bottom of his glass against the top of Mr
Flintwinch's； and drank to the intimate acquaintance he foresaw。
Mr Flintwinch gravely pledged him； and drank all the wine he could get；
and said nothing。 As often as Mr Blandois clinked glasses （which was
at every replenishment）； Mr Flintwinch stolidly did his part of the
clinking； and would have stolidly done his panion's part of the wine
as well as his own： being； except in the article of palate； a mere cask。
In short； Mr Blandois found that to pour port wine into the reticent
Flintwinch was； not to open him but to shut him up。 Moreover； he had
the appearance of a perfect ability to go on all night； or； if occasion
were； all next day and all next night； whereas Mr Blandois soon grew
indistinctly conscious of swaggering too fiercely and boastfully。 He
therefore terminated the entertainment at the end of the third bottle。
'You will draw upon us to…morrow； sir；' said Mr Flintwinch； with a
business…like face at parting。
'My Cabbage；' returned the other； taking him by the collar with both
hands； 'I'll draw upon you； have no fear。 Adieu； my Flintwinch。 Receive
at parting；' here he gave him a southern embrace； and kissed him soundly
on both cheeks； 'the word of a gentleman！ By a thousand Thunders； you
shall see me again！'
He did not present himself next day； though the letter of advice came
duly to hand。 Inquiring after him at night； Mr Flintwinch found； with
surprise； that he had paid his bill and gone back to the Continent by
way of Calais。 Nevertheless； Jeremiah scraped out of his cogitating
face a lively conviction that Mr Blandois would keep his word on this
occasion； and would be seen again。
CHAPTER 31。 Spirit
Anybody may pass； any day； in the thronged thoroughfares of the
metropolis； some meagre； wrinkled； yellow old man （who might be supposed
to have dropped from the stars； if there were any star in the Heavens
dull enough to be suspected of casting off so feeble a spark）； creeping
along with a scared air； as though bewildered and a little frightened
by the noise and bustle。 This old man is always a little old man。 If he
were ever a big old man； he has shrunk into a little old man； if he were
always a little old man； he has dwindled into a less old man。 His coat
is a colour； and cut； that never was the mode anywhere； at any period。
Clearly； it was not made for him； or for any individual mortal。 Some
wholesale contractor measured Fate for five thousand coats of such
quality； and Fate has lent this old coat to this old man； as one of a
long unfinished line of many old men。 It has always large dull metal
buttons； similar to no other buttons。 This old man wears a hat； a
thumbed and napless and yet an obdurate hat； which has never adapted
itself to the shape of his poor head。 His coarse shirt and his coarse
neckcloth have no more individuality than his coat and hat； they have
the same character of not being his……of not being anybody's。 Yet this
old man wears these clothes with a certain unaccustomed air of being
dressed and elaborated for the public ways； as though he passed the
greater part of his time in a nightcap and gown。 And so； like the
country mouse in the second year of a famine； e to see the town
mouse； and timidly threading his way to the town…mouse's lodging through
a city of cats； this old man passes in the streets。
Sometimes； on holidays towards evening； he will be seen to walk with a
slightly increased infirmity； and his old eyes will glimmer with a moist
and marshy light。 Then the little old man is drunk。 A very small
measure will overset him； he may be bowled off his unsteady legs with
a half…pint pot。 Some pitying acquaintance……chance acquaintance
very often……has warmed up his weakness with a treat of beer； and the
consequence will be the lapse of a longer time than usual before he
shall pass again。 For the little old man is going home to the Workhouse；
and on his good behaviour they do not let him out often （though methinks
they might； considering the few years he has before him to go out in；
under the sun）； and on his bad behaviour they shut him up closer than
ever in a grove of two score and nieen more old men； every one of
whom smells of all the others。
Mrs Plornish's father；……a poor little reedy piping old gentleman； like
a worn…out bird； who had been in what he called the music…binding
business； and met with great misfortunes； and who had seldom been able
to make his way； or to see it or to pay it； or to do anything at all
with it but find it no thoroughfare；……had retired of his own accord to
the Workhouse which was appointed by law to be the Good Samaritan of his
district （without the twopence； which was bad political economy）； on
the settlement of that execution which had carried Mr Plornish to the
Marshalsea College。 Previous to his son…in…law's difficulties ing to
that head； Old Nandy （he was always so called in his legal Retreat； but
he was Old Mr Nandy among the Bleeding Hearts） had sat in a corner of
the Plornish fireside； and taken his bite and sup out of the Plornish
cupboard。 He still hoped to resume that domestic position when Fortune
should smile upon his son…in…law； in the meantime； while she preserved
an immovable countenance； he was； and resolved to remain； one of these
little old men in a grove of little old men with a munit