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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。 H