the bottle
into the glass. The blending, as he did so, of his old submission with a sense
of something humorous; the striving of that with a certain smouldering ferocity,
which might have flashed fire in an instant (as the born gentleman seemed to
think, for he had a wary eye upon him); and the easy yielding of all, to a
good-natured, careless, predominant propensity to sit down on the ground again;
formed a very remarkable combination of character.
    »This happy idea, brave sir,« Rigaud resumed after drinking, »was a happy
idea for several reasons. It amused me, it worried your dear mama and my
Flintwinch, it caused you agonies (my terms for a lesson in politeness towards a
gentleman), and it suggested to all the amiable persons interested that your
entirely devoted is a man to fear. By Heaven, he is a man to fear! Beyond this;
it might have restored her wit to my lady your mother - might, under the
pressing little suspicion your wisdom has recognised, have persuaded her at last
to announce, covertly, in the journals, that the difficulties of a certain
contract would be removed by the appearance of a certain important party to it.
Perhaps yes, perhaps no. But, that you have interrupted. Now, what is it you
say? What is it you want?«
    Never had Clennam felt more acutely that he was a prisoner in bonds, than
when he saw this man before him, and could not accompany him to his mother's
house. All the undiscernible difficulties and dangers he had ever feared were
closing in, when he could not stir hand or foot.
    »Perhaps, my friend, philosopher, man of virtue, Imbecile, what you will;
perhaps,« said Rigaud, pausing in his drink to look out of his glass with his
horrible smile, »you would have done better to leave me alone?«
    »No! At least,« said Clennam, »you are known to be alive and unharmed. At
least you cannot escape from these two witnesses; and they can produce you
before any public authorities, or before hundreds of people!«
    »But will not produce me before one,« said Rigaud, snapping his fingers
again with an air of triumphant menace. »To the Devil with your witnesses! To
the Devil with your produced! To the Devil with yourself! What! Do I know what I
know, for that? Have I my commodity on sale, for that? Bah, poor debtor! You
have interrupted my little