CHAPTER XXXVII. IN WHICH THE READER MAY PERCEIVE A CONTRAST, NOT UNCOMMON IN MATRIMONIAL CASES

trangerhadbeenmorefamiliar:sohedrankhisgin-and-waterinsilence,andreadthepaperwithgreatshowofpompandcircumstance. Itsohappened,however:asitwillhappenveryoften,whenmenfallintocompanyundersuchcircumstances:thatMr.Bumblefelt,everynowandthen,apowerfulinducement,whichhecouldnotresist,tostealalookatthestranger:andthatwheneverhedidso,hewithdrewhiseyes,insomeconfusion,tofindthatthestrangerwasatthatmomentstealingalookathim.Mr.Bumble’sawkwardnesswasenhancedbytheveryremarkableexpressionofthestranger’seye,whichwaskeenandbright,butshadowedbyascowlofdistrustandsuspicion,unlikeanythinghehadeverobservedbefore,andrepulsivetobehold. Whentheyhadencounteredeachother’sglanceseveraltimesinthisway,thestranger,inaharsh,deepvoice,brokesilence. “Wereyoulookingforme,”hesaid,“whenyoupeeredinatthewindow?” “NotthatIamawareof,unlessyou’reMr.—”HereMr.Bumblestoppedshortforhewascurioustoknowthestranger’sname,andthoughtinhisimpatience,hemightsupplytheblank. “Iseeyouwerenot,”saidthestrangeranexpressionofquietsarcasmplayingabouthismouth“oryouhaveknownmyname.Youdon’tknowit.Iwouldrecommendyounottoaskforit.” “Imeantnoharm,youngman,”observedMr.Bumble,majestically. “Andhavedonenone,”saidthestranger. Anothersilencesucceededthisshortdialogue:whichwasagainbrokenbythestranger. “Ihaveseenyoubefore,Ithink?”saidhe.“Youweredifferentlydressedatthattime,andIonlypassedyouinthestreet,butIshouldknowyouagain.Youwerebeadlehere,oncewereyounot?” “Iwas,”saidMr.Bumble,insomesurprise“porochialbeadle.” “Justso,”rejoinedtheother,noddinghishead.“ItwasinthatcharacterIsawyou.Whatareyounow?” “Masteroftheworkhouse,”rejoinedMr.Bumble,slowlyandimpressively,tocheckanyunduefamiliaritythestrangermightotherwiseassume.“Masteroftheworkhouse,youngman!” “Youhavethesameeyetoyourowninterest,thatyoualwayshad,Idoubtnot?”resumedthestranger,lookingkeenlyintoMr.Bumble’seyes,asheraisedtheminastonishmentatthequestion. “Don’tscrupletoanswerfreely,man.Iknowyouprettywell,yousee.” “Isuppose,amarriedman,”repliedMr.Bumble,shadinghiseyeswithhishand,andsurveyingthestranger,fromheadtofoot,inevidentperplexity,“isnotmoreaversetoturninganhonestpennywhenhecan,thanasingleone.Porochialofficersarenotsowellpaidthattheycanaffordtorefuseanylittleextrafee,whenitcomestotheminacivilandpropermanner.” Thestrangersmiled,andnoddedhisheadagain:asmuchtosay,hehadnotmistakenhismanthenrangthebell. “Fillthisglassagain,”hesaid,handingMr.Bumble’semptytumblertothelandlord.“Letitbestrongandhot.Youlikeitso,Isuppose?” “Nottoostrong,”repliedMr.Bumble,withadelicatecough. “Youunderstandwhatthatmeans,landlord!”saidthestranger,drily. Thehostsmiled,disappeared,andshortlyafterwardsreturnedwithasteamingjorum:ofwhich,thefirstgulpbroughtthewaterintoMr.Bumble’seyes. “Nowlistentome,”saidthestranger,afterclosingthedoorandwindow.“Icamedowntothisplace,to-day,tofindyououtand,byoneofthosechanceswhichthedevilthrowsinthewayofhisfriendssometimes,youwalkedintotheveryroomIwassittingin,whileyouwereuppermostinmymind.Iwantsomeinformationfromyou.Idon’taskyoutogiveitfornothing,slightasitis.Putupthat,tobeginwith.” Ashespoke,hepushedacoupleofsovereignsacrossthetabletohiscompanion,carefully,asthoughunwillingthatthechinkingofmoneyshouldbeheardwithout.WhenMr.Bumblehadscrupulouslyexaminedthecoins,toseethattheyweregenuine,andhadputthemup,withmuchsatisfaction,inhiswaistcoat-pocket,hewenton: “Carryyourmemoryback—letmesee—twelveyears,lastwinter.” “It’salongtime,”saidMr.Bumble.“Verygoo