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at？'
'At you；' panted Affery。
'Me； madam？'
'And the dismal evening； and……and everything；' said Affery。 'And here！
The wind has been and blown the door to； and I can't get in。'
'Hah！' said the gentleman； who took that very coolly。 'Indeed！ Do you
know such a name as Clennam about here？'
'Lord bless us； I should think I did； I should think I did！' cried
Affery； exasperated into a new wringing of hands by the inquiry。
'Where about here？'
'Where！' cried Affery； goaded into another inspection of the keyhole。
'Where but here in this house？ And she's all alone in her room； and lost
the use of her limbs and can't stir to help herself or me； and t'other
clever one's out； and Lord forgive me！' cried Affery； driven into a
frantic dance by these accumulated considerations； 'if I ain't a…going
headlong out of my mind！'
Taking a warmer view of the matter now that it concerned himself； the
gentleman stepped back to glance at the house； and his eye soon rested
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