第144章

I cordially assented. I was so very nervous, that I had already lighted the Aged's sausage like a torch, and been obliged to blow it out.

`I accidentally heard, yesterday morning,' said Wemmick, `being in a certain place where I once took you - even between you and me, it's as well not to mention names when avoidable--'

`Much better not,' said I. `I understand you.'

`I heard there by chance, yesterday morning,' said Wemmick, `that a certain person not altogether of uncolonial pursuits, and not unpossessed of portable property - I don't know who it may really be - we won't name this person--'

`Not necessary,' said I.

` - had made some little stir in a certain part of the world where a good many people go, not always in gratification of their own inclinations, and not quite irrespective of the government expense--'

In watching his face, I made quite a firework of the Aged's sausage, and greatly discomposed both my own attention and Wemmick's; for which I apologized.

` - by disappearing from such place, and being no more heard of thereabouts.

From which,' said Wemmick, `conjectures had been raised and theories formed.

I also heard that you at your chambers in Garden-court, Temple, had been watched, and might be watched again.'

`By whom?' said I.

`I wouldn't go into that,' said Wemmick, evasively, `it might clash with official responsibilities. I heard it, as I have in my time heard other curious things in the same place. I don't tell it you on information received. I heard it.'

He took the toasting-fork and sausage from me as he spoke, and set forth the Aged's breakfast neatly on a little tray. Previous to placing it before him, he went into the Aged's room with a clean white cloth, and tied the same under the old gentleman's chin, and propped him up, and put his nightcap on one side, and gave him quite a rakish air. Then, he placed his breakfast before him with great care, and said, `All right, ain't you, Aged P.?'

To which the cheerful Aged replied, `All right, John, my boy, all right!'

As there seemed to be a tacit understanding that the Aged was not in a presentable state, and was therefore to be considered invisible, I made a pretence of being in complete ignorance of these proceedings.

`This watching of me at my chambers (which I have once had reason to suspect),' I said to Wemmick when he came back, `is inseparable from the person to whom you have adverted; is it?'

Wemmick looked very serious. `I couldn't undertake to say that, of my own knowledge. I mean, I couldn't undertake to say it was at first. But it either is, or it will be, or it's in great danger of being.'

As I saw that he was restrained by fealty to Little Britain from saying as much as he could, and as I knew with thankfulness to him how far out of his way he went to say what he did, I could not press him. But I told him, after a little meditation over the fire, that I would like to ask him a question, subject to his answering or not answering, as he deemed right, and sure that his course would be right. He paused in his breakfast, and crossing his arms, and pinching his shirt-sleeves (his notion of indoor comfort was to sit without any coat), he nodded to me once, to put my question.

`You have heard of a man of bad character, whose true name is Compeyson?'

He answered with one other nod.

`Is he living?'

One other nod.

`Is he in London?'

He gave me one other nod, compressed the post-office exceedingly, gave me one last nod, and went on with his breakfast.

`Now,' said Wemmick, `questioning being over;' which he emphasized and repeated for my guidance; `I come to what I did, after hearing what I heard.

I went to Garden-court to find you; not finding you, I went to Clarriker's to find Mr Herbert.'

`And him you found?' said I, with great anxiety.

`And him I found. Without mentioning any names or going into any details, I gave him to understand that if he was aware of anybody - Tom, Jack, or Richard - being about the chambers, or about the immediate neighbourhood, he had better get Tom, Jack, or Richard, out of the way while you were out of the way.'

`He would be greatly puzzled what to do?'

`He was puzzled what to do; not the less, because I gave him my opinion that it was not safe to try to get Tom, Jack, or Richard, too far out of the way at present. Mr Pip, I'll tell you something. Under existing circumstances there is no place like a great city when you are once in it. Don't break cover too soon. Lie close. Wait till things slacken, before you try the open, even for foreign air.'

I thanked him for his valuable advice, and asked him what Herbert had done?