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Lord knows where； I believe Columbus himself wouldn’t find
them。 Between you and me they have their hidden reasons； but
upon that point I have pledged myself to secrecy。 She appointed to
see you here to…night； I know； but found it inconvenient； and
couldn’t wait。 Here is the key of the door。 I am afraid you’ll find it
inconveniently large； but as the tenement is yours； your good…
nature will excuse that； Haredale； I am certain！’
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Chapter 27
r Haredale stood in the widow’s parlour with the door…
key in his hand； gazing by turns at Mr Chester and at
MGabriel Varden； and occasionally glancing downward at
the key as in the hope that of its own accord it would unlock the
mystery； until Mr Chester； putting on his hat and gloves； and
sweetly inquiring whether they were walking in the same
direction； recalled him to himself。
‘No；’ he said。 ‘Our roads diverge—widely； as you know。 For the
present； I shall remain here。’
‘You will be hipped； Haredale； you will be miserable；
melancholy； utterly wretched；’ returned the other。 ‘It’s a place of
the very last description for a man of your temper。 I know it will
make you very miserable。’
‘Let it；’ said Mr Haredale； sitting down； ‘and thrive upon the
thought。 Good night！’
Feigning to be wholly unconscious of the abrupt wave of the
hand which rendered this farewell tantamount to a dismissal； Mr
Chester retorted with a bland and heartfelt benediction； and
inquired of Gabriel in what direction he was going。
‘Yours； sir； would be too much honour for the like of me；’
replied the locksmith； hesitating。
‘I wish you to remain here a little while； Varden；’ said Mr
Haredale； without looking towards them。 ‘I have a word or two to
say to you。’
‘I will not intrude upon your conference another moment；’ said
Mr Chester with inconceivable politeness。 ‘May it be satisfactory
to you both！ God bless you！’ So saying； and bestowing upon the
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locksmith a most refulgent smile； he left them。
‘A deplorably constituted creature； that rugged person；’ he said；
as he walked along the street； ‘he is an atrocity that carries its own
punishment along with it—a bear that gnaws himself。 And here is
one of the inestimable advantages of having a perfect command
over one’s inclinations。 I have been tempted in these two short
interviews； to draw upon that fellow； fifty times。 Five men in six
would have yielded to the impulse。 By suppressing mine； I wound
him deeper and more keenly than if I were the best swordsman in
all Europe； and he the worst。 You are the wise man’s very last
resource；’ he said； tapping the hilt of his weapon； ‘we can but
appeal to you when all else is said and done。 To come to you
before； and thereby spare our adversaries so much； is a barbarian
mode of warfare； quite unworthy of any man with the remotest
pretensions to delicacy of feeling； or refinement。’
He smiled so very pleasantly as he communed with himself
after this manner； that a beggar was emboldened to follow for
alms； and to dog his footsteps for some distance。 He was gratified
by the circumstance； feeling it complimentary to his power of
feature； and as a reward suffered the man to follow him until he
called a chair； when he graciously dismissed him with a fervent
blessing。
‘Which is as easy as cursing；’ he wisely added； as he took his
seat； ‘and more becoming to the face。—To Clerkenwell； my good
creatures； if you please！’ The chairmen were rendered quite
vivacious by having such a courteous burden； and to Clerkenwell
they went at a fair round trot。
Alighting at a certain point he had indicated to them upon the
road； and paying them something less than they expected from a
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fare of such gentle speech； he turned into the street in which the
locksmith dwelt； and presently stood beneath the shadow of the
Golden Key。 Mr Tappertit； who was hard at work by lamplight； in
a corner of the workshop； remained unconscious of his presence
until a hand upon his shoulder made him start and turn his head。
‘Industry；’ said Mr Chester； ‘is the soul of business； and the
keystone of prosperity。 Mr Tappertit； I shall expect you to invite
me to dinner when you are Lord Mayor of London。’
‘Sir；’ returned the ’prentice； laying down his hammer； and
rubbing his nose on the back of a very sooty hand； ‘I scorn the
Lord Mayor and everything that belongs to him。 We must have
another state of society； sir； before you catch me being Lord
Mayor。 How de do； sir？’
‘The better； Mr Tappertit； for looking into your ingenuous face
once more。 I hope you are well。’
‘I am as well； sir；’ said Sim； standing up to get nearer to his ear；
and whispering hoarsely； ‘as any man can be under the
aggrawations to which I am exposed。 My life’s a burden to me。 If it
wasn’t for wengeance； I’d play at pitch and toss with it on the
losing hazard。’
‘Is Mrs Varden at home？’ said Mr Chester。
‘Sir；’ returned Sim； eyeing him over with a look of concentrated
expression；—‘she is。 Did you wish to see her？’
Mr Chester nodded。
‘Then come this way； sir；’ said Sim； wiping his face upon his
apron。 ‘Follow me； sir。—Would you permit me to whisper in your
ear； one half a second？’
‘By all means。’
Mr Tappertit raised himself on tiptoe； applied his lips to M