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a bloodshot eye； took a small canvas bag from his pocket； and told the
amount into his hand。
Rigaud chinked the money； weighed it in his hand； threw it up a little
way and caught it； chinked it again。
'The sound of it； to the bold Rigaud Blandois； is like the taste of
fresh meat to the tiger。 Say； then； madame。 How much？'
He turned upon her suddenly with a menacing gesture of the weighted hand
that clenched the money； as if he were going to strike her with it。
'I tell you again； as I told you before； that we are not rich here； as
you suppose us to be； and that your demand is excessive。 I have not the
present means of plying with such a demand； if I had ever so great an
inclination。'
'If！' cried Rigaud。 'Hear this lady with her If！ Will you say that you
have not the inclination？'
'I will say what presents itself to me； and not what presents itself to
you。'
'Say it then。 As to the inclination。 Quick！ e to the inclination； and
I know what to do。'
She was no quicker； and no slower； in her reply。 'It would seem that
you have obtained possession of a paper……or of papers……which I assuredly
have the inclination to recover。'
Rigaud； with a loud laugh； drummed his heels against the table； and
chinked his money。 'I think so！ I believe you there！'
'The paper might be worth； to me； a sum of money。 I cannot say how much；
or how little。'
'What the Devil！' he asked savagely。'Not after a week's grace to
consider？'
'No！ I will not out of my scanty means……for I tell you again； we are
poor here； and not rich……I will not offer any price for a power that I
do not know the worst and the fullest extent of。 This is the third time
of your hinting and threatening。 You must speak explicitly； or you may
go where you will； and do what you will。 It is better to be torn to
pieces at a spring； than to be a mouse at the caprice of such a cat。'
He looked at her so hard with those eyes too near together that the
sinister sight of each； crossing that of the other； seemed to make the
bridge of his hooked nose crooked。 After a long survey； he said； with
the further setting off of his internal smile：
'You are a bold woman！'
'I am a resolved woman。'
'You always were。 What？ She always was； is it not so； my little
Flintwinch？'
'Flintwinch； say nothing to him。 It is for him to say； here and now；
all he can； or to go hence； and do all he can。 You know this to be our
determination。 Leave him to his action on it。'
She did not shrink under his evil leer； or avoid it。 He turned it upon
her again； but she remained steady at the point to which she had fixed
herself。 He got off the table； placed a chair near the sofa； sat down in
it； and leaned an arm upon the sofa close to her own； which he touched
with his hand。 Her face was ever frowning； attentive； and settled。
'It is your pleasure then； madame； that I shall relate a morsel of
family history in this little family society；' said Rigaud； with a
warning play of his lithe fingers on her arm。 'I am something of a
doctor。 Let me touch your pulse。'
She suffered him to take her wrist in his hand。 Holding it； he proceeded
to say：
'A history of a strange marriage； and a strange mother； and a revenge；
and a suppression。……Aye； aye； aye？ this pulse is beating curiously！
It appears to me that it doubles while I touch it。 Are these the usual
changes of your malady； madame？'
There was a struggle in her maimed arm as she twisted it away； but there
was none in her face。 On his face there was his own smile。
'I have lived an adventurous life。 I am an adventurous character。 I have
known many adventurers； interesting spirits……amiable society！ To one
of them I owe my knowledge and my proofs……I repeat it； estimable
lady……proofs……of the ravishing little family history I go to mence。
You will be charmed with it。 But； bah！ I forget。 One should name a
history。 Shall I name it the history of a house？ But； bah； again。 There
are so many houses。 Shall I name it the history of this house？'
Leaning over the sofa； poised on two legs of his chair and his left
elbow； that hand often tapping her arm to beat his words home； his
legs crossed； his right hand sometimes arranging his hair； sometimes
smoothing his moustache； sometimes striking his nose； always threatening
her whatever it did； coarse； insolent； rapacious； cruel； and powerful；
he pursued his narrative at his ease。
'In fine； then； I name it the history of this house。 I mence it。
There live here； let us suppose； an uncle and nephew。 The uncle； a
rigid old gentleman of strong force of character； the nephew； habitually
timid； repressed； and under constraint。'
Mistress Affery； fixedly attentive in the window…seat； biting the
rolled up end of her apron； and trembling from head to foot； here cried
out；'Jeremiah； keep off from me！ I've heerd； in my dreams； of Arthur's
father and his uncle。 He's a talking of them。 It was before my time
here； but I've heerd in my dreams that Arthur's father was a poor；
irresolute； frightened chap； who had had everything but his orphan life
scared out of him when he was young； and that he had no voice in the
choice of his wife even； but his uncle chose her。 There she sits！ I
heerd it in my dreams； and you said it to her own self。'
As Mr Flintwinch shook his fist at her； and as Mrs Clennam gazed upon
her； Rigaud kissed his hand to her。 'Perfectly right； dear Madame
Flintwinch。 You have a genius for dreaming。'
'I don't want none of your praises；' returned Affery。 'I don't want to
have nothing at all to say to you。 But Jeremiah said they was dreams；
and I'll tell 'em as such！' Here she put her apron in her mouth again；
as if she were stopping somebody else's mouth……perhaps jeremiah's； which
was chattering with threats as if he were grimly cold。
'Our beloved Madame Flintwinch；' said Rigaud； 'developing all of a
sudden a fine susceptibility and spirituality； is right to a marvel。
Yes。 So runs the history。 Monsieur； the uncle； mands the nephew to
marry。 Monsieur says to him in effect； 〃My nephew； I introduce to you a
lady of strong force of character； like myself……a resolved lady； a stern
lady； a lady who has a will that can bre