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of an ideal cloak over his shoulder。 While doing this； with a swiftness
incredible to one who has not watched an Italian peasant； he indicated a
very remarkable and sinister smile。
The whole change passed over him like a flash of light； and he stood in
the same instant； pale and astonished； before his patron。
'In the name of Fate and wonder；' said Clennam； 'what do you mean？ Do
you know a man of the name of Blandois？'
'No！' said Mr Baptist； shaking his head。
'You have just now described a man who was by when you heard that song；
have you not？'
'Yes！' said Mr Baptist； nodding fifty times。
'And was he not called Blandois？'
'No！' said Mr Baptist。 'Altro； Altro； Altro； Altro！' He could not reject
the name sufficiently； with his head and his right forefinger going at
once。
'Stay！' cried Clennam； spreading out the handbill on his desk。 'Was this
the man？ You can understand what I read aloud？'
'Altogether。 Perfectly。'
'But look at it； too。 e here and look over me； while I read。'
Mr Baptist approached； followed every word with his quick eyes； saw
and heard it all out with the greatest impatience； then clapped his
two hands flat upon the bill as if he had fiercely caught some noxious
creature； and cried； looking eagerly at Clennam； 'It is the man！ Behold
him！'
'This is of far greater moment to me' said Clennam； in great agitation；
'than you can imagine。 Tell me where you knew the man。'
Mr Baptist； releasing the paper very slowly and with much disfiture；
and drawing himself back two or three paces； and making as though he
dusted his hands； returned； very much against his will：
'At Marsiglia……Marseilles。'
'What was he？'
'A prisoner； and……Altro！ I believe yes！……an；' Mr Baptist crept closer
again to whisper it； 'Assassin！'
Clennam fell back as if the word had struck him a blow： so terrible
did it make his mother's munication with the man appear。
Cavalletto dropped on one knee； and implored him； with a redundancy of
gesticulation； to hear what had brought himself into such foul pany。
He told with perfect truth how it had e of a little contraband
trading； and how he had in time been released from prison； and how he
had gone away from those antecedents。 How； at the house of entertainment
called the Break of Day at Chalons on the Saone； he had been awakened
in his bed at night by the same assassin； then assuming the name of
Lagnier； though his name had formerly been Rigaud； how the assassin had
proposed that they should join their fortunes together； how he held
the assassin in such dread and aversion that he had fled from him at
daylight； and how he had ever since been haunted by the fear of seeing
the assassin again and being claimed by him as an acquaintance。 When he
had related this； with an emphasis and poise on the word； 'assassin；'
peculiarly belonging to his own language； and which did not serve to
render it less terrible to Clennam； he suddenly sprang to his feet；
pounced upon the bill again； and with a vehemence that would have been
absolute madness in any man of Northern origin； cried 'Behold the same
assassin！ Here he is！'
In his passionate raptures； he at first forgot the fact that he had
lately seen the assassin in London。 On his remembering it； it suggested
hope to Clennam that the recognition might be of later date than the
night of the visit at his mother's； but Cavalletto was too exact and
clear about time and place； to leave any opening for doubt that it had
preceded that occasion。
'Listen；' said Arthur； very seriously。 'This man； as we have read here；
has wholly disappeared。'
'Of it I am well content！' said Cavalletto； raising his eyes piously。 'A
thousand thanks to Heaven！ Accursed assassin！'
'Not so；' returned Clennam； 'for until something more is heard of him； I
can never know an hour's peace。'
'Enough； Benefactor； that is quite another thing。 A million of excuses！'
'Now； Cavalletto；' said Clennam； gently turning him by the arm； so that
they looked into each other's eyes。 'I am certain that for the little
I have been able to do for you； you are the most sincerely grateful of
men。'
'I swear it！' cried the other。
'I know it。 If you could find this man； or discover what has bee of
him； or gain any later intelligence whatever of him； you would render
me a service above any other service I could receive in the world； and
would make me （with far greater reason） as grateful to you as you are to
me。' 'I know not where to look；' cried the little man； kissing Arthur's
hand in a transport。 'I know not where to begin。 I know not where to go。
But； courage！ Enough！ It matters not！ I go； in this instant of time！'
'Not a word to any one but me； Cavalletto。'
'Al…tro！' cried Cavalletto。 And was gone with great speed。
CHAPTER 23。 Mistress Affery makes a Conditional Promise；
respecting her Dreams
Left alone； with the expressive looks and gestures of Mr Baptist；
otherwise Giovanni Baptista Cavalletto； vividly before him； Clennam
entered on a weary day。 It was in vain that he tried to control his
attention by directing it to any business occupation or train of
thought； it rode at anchor by the haunting topic； and would hold to no
other idea。 As though a criminal should be chained in a stationary boat
on a deep clear river； condemned； whatever countless leagues of water
flowed past him； always to see the body of the fellow…creature he had
drowned lying at the bottom； immovable； and unchangeable； except as
the eddies made it broad or long； now expanding； now contracting
its terrible lineaments； so Arthur； below the shifting current of
transparent thoughts and fancies which were gone and succeeded by others
as soon as e； saw； steady and dark； and not to be stirred from its
place； the one subject that he endeavoured with all his might to rid
himself of； and that he could not fly from。 The assurance he now
had； that Blandois； whatever his right name； was one of the worst of
characters； greatly augmented the burden of his anxieties。 Though the
disappearance should be accounted for to…morrow； the fact that
his mother had been in munication with such a man； would remain
unalterable。 That the munication had been of a secret kind； and that
she had been submissive to him and afraid of him； he hoped might be
known to no one beyond himself； yet； knowing it； how could he separate
it from his old vague fears； and how believe that there was nothing evil
in such relations？ Her resolution not to enter on the question with him；
and his knowledge of her indomitable character； enhanced his sense of
helplessness。 It was like the oppression of a dream to believe that
shame and exposure were impending over her and his father's memory； and
to be shut out； as by a brazen wall； from the possibility of ing to
their aid。 The purpose he had brought home to his native country； and
had ever since kept in view； was； with her greatest determination；
defeated by his mother herself； at the time of all others when he feared
that it pressed most。 His advice； energy； activity； money； credit；
all his resources whatsoever； were all made useless。 If she had been
possessed of the old fabled influence； and had