The dwarf shrugged his shoulders and shook his head.

See, Quilp, good tender-hearted Quilp,' said the old man, drawing

some scraps of paper from his pocket with a trembling hand, and

clasping the dwarf's arm, 'only see here. Look at these figures, the

result of long calculation, and painful and hard experience. I MUST

win. I only want a little help once more, a few pounds, but two score

pounds, dear Quilp.'

'The last advance was seventy,' said the dwarf; 'and it went in one

night.'

'I know it did,' answered the old man, 'but that was the very worst

fortune of all, and the time had not come then. Quilp, consider,

consider,' the old man cried, trembling so much the while, that the

papers in his hand fluttered as if they were shaken by the wind, 'that

orphan child! If I were alone, I could die with gladness - perhaps even

anticipate that doom which is dealt out so unequally: coming, as it

does, on the proud and happy in their strength, and shunning the

needy and afflicted, and all who court it in their despair - but what I

have done, has been for her. Help me for her sake I implore you; not

for mine; for hers!'

I'm sorry I've got an appointment in the city,' said Quilp, looking at

his watch with perfect self-possession, 'or I should have been very glad

to have spent half an hour with you while you composed yourself, very

glad.'

Nay, Quilp, good Quilp,' gasped the old man, catching at his skirts,

you and I have talked together, more than once, of her poor mother's

story. The fear of her coming to poverty has perhaps been bred in me

by that. Do not be hard upon me, but take that into account. You are

a great gainer by me. Oh spare me the money for this one last hope!'

I couldn't do it really,' said Quilp with unusual politeness, 'though I

tell you what - and this is a circumstance worth bearing in mind as

showing how the sharpest among us may be taken in sometimes - I

was so deceived by the penurious way in which you lived, alone with

Nelly - '

'All done to save money for tempting fortune, and to make her

triumph greater,' cried the old man.

Yes, yes, I understand that now,' said Quilp; 'but I was going to say, I

was so deceived by that, your miserly way, the reputation you had

among those who knew you of being rich, and your repeated

assurances that you would make of my advances treble and

quadruple the interest you paid me, that I'd have advanced you, even

The Old Curiosity Shop