
    This action was not lost upon Trent, who, knowing that Richard Swiveller was
a mere tool in his hands and knew no more of his designs than he thought proper
to communicate, saw that the dwarf perfectly understood their relative position,
and fully entered into the character of his friend. It is something to be
appreciated, even in knavery. This silent homage to his superior abilities, no
less than a sense of the power with which the dwarf's quick perception had
already invested him, inclined the young man towards that ugly worthy, and
determined him to profit by his aid.
    It being now Mr. Quilp's cue to change the subject with all convenient
expedition, lest Richard Swiveller in his heedlessness should reveal anything
which it was inexpedient for the women to know, he proposed a game at
four-handed cribbage; and partners being cut for, Mrs. Quilp fell to Frederick
Trent, and Dick himself to Quilp. Mrs. Jiniwin being very fond of cards was
carefully excluded by her son-in-law from any participation in the game, and had
assigned to her the duty of occasionally replenishing the glasses from the
case-bottle; Mr. Quilp from that moment keeping one eye constantly upon her,
lest she should by any means procure a taste of the same, and thereby
tantalising the wretched old lady (who was as much attached to the case-bottle
as the cards) in a double degree and most ingenious manner.
    But it was not to Mrs. Jiniwin alone that Mr. Quilp's attention was
restricted, as several other matters required his constant vigilance. Among his
various eccentric habits he had a humorous one of always cheating at cards,
which rendered necessary on his part, not only a close observance of the game,
and a sleight-of-hand in counting and scoring, but also involved the constant
correction, by looks, and frowns, and kicks under the table, of Richard
Swiveller, who being bewildered by the rapidity with which his cards were told,
and the rate at which the pegs travelled down the board, could not be prevented
from sometimes expressing his surprise and incredulity. Mrs. Quilp too was the
partner of young Trent, and for every look that passed between them, and every
word they spoke, and every card they played, the dwarf had eyes and ears; not
occupied alone with what was passing above the table, but with signals that
might be exchanging beneath it, which he laid all kinds of traps to detect;
besides often treading on his wife's toes to see whether she cried out or
remained silent
