'If you could have heard
what has just passed - how I have been besought and entreated to
perform impossibilities - what confusion and affliction I carry
with me!'
'I can guess it all. But why did you ever come here, my good sir?'
retorted Snitchey.
'Come! How should I know who kept the house? When I sent my
servant on to you, I strolled in here because the place was new to
me; and I had a natural curiosity in everything new and old, in
these old scenes; and it was outside the town. I wanted to
communicate with you, first, before appearing there. I wanted to
know what people would say to me. I see by your manner that you
can tell me. If it were not for your confounded caution, I should
have been possessed of everything long ago.'
'Our caution!' returned the lawyer, 'speaking for Self and Craggs -
deceased,' here Mr. Snitchey, glancing at his hat-band, shook his
head, 'how can you reasonably blame us, Mr. Warden? It was
understood between us that the subject was never to be renewed, and
that it wasn't a subject on which grave and sober men like us (I
made a note of your observations at the time) could interfere. Our
caution too! When Mr. Craggs, sir, went down to his respected
grave in the full belief - '
'I had given a solemn promise of silence until I should return,
whenever that might be,' interrupted Mr.
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