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of the afternoon. Whether this was an intentional and waking
departure, or a somnambulistic leave-taking and walking in her sleep,
may remain a subject of contention; but, on one point (and indeed the
main one) all parties are agreed. In whatever state she walked away,
she certainly did not walk back again.
Mention having been made of the dusk of the afternoon, it will be
inferred that Mr Brass's task occupied some time in the completion. It
was not finished until evening; but, being done at last, that worthy
person and the three friends adjourned in a hackney-coach to the
private office of a justice, who, giving Mr Brass a warm reception and
detaining him in a secure place that he might insure to himself the
pleasure of seeing him on the morrow, dismissed the others with the
cheering assurance that a warrant could not fail to be granted next
day for the apprehension of Mr Quilp, and that a proper application
and statement of all the circumstances to the secretary of state (who
was fortunately in town), would no doubt procure Kit's free pardon
and liberation without delay.
And now, indeed, it seemed that Quilp's malignant career was drawing
to a close, and that retribution, which often travels slowly - especially
when heaviest - had tracked his footsteps with a sure and certain
scent and was gaining on him fast. Unmindful of her stealthy tread,
her victim holds his course in fancied triumph. Still at his heels she
comes, and once afoot, is never turned aside!
Their business ended, the three gentlemen hastened back to the
lodgings of Mr Swiveller, whom they found progressing so favourably
in his recovery as to have been able to sit up for half an hour, and to
have conversed with cheerfulness. Mrs Garland had gone home some
time since, but Mr Abel was still sitting with him. After telling him all
they had done, the two Mr Garlands and the single gentleman, as if by
some previous understanding, took their leaves for the night, leaving
the invalid alone with the Notary and the small servant.
'As you are so much better,' said Mr Witherden, sitting down at the
bedside, 'I may venture to communicate to you a piece of news which
has come to me professionally.'
The idea of any professional intelligence from a gentleman connected
with legal matters, appeared to afford Richard any-thing but a
pleasing anticipation. Perhaps he connected it in his own mind with
one or two outstanding accounts, in reference to which he had already
received divers threatening letters. His countenance fell as he replied,
'Certainly, sir. I hope it's not anything of a very disagreeable nature,
though?'
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