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Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 805…
Bleak House 805
excuse himself。
“And what can you have to say； Snagsby；” demands Mr
Tulkinghorn； “about her？”
“Well sir；” returns the stationer； shading his communication
with his hat； “it falls a little hard upon me。 My domestic happiness
is very great—at least； it’s as great as can be expected； I’m sure—
but my little woman is rather given to jealousy。 Not to put too fine
a point upon it； she is very much given to jealousy。 And you see； a
foreign female of that genteel appearance coming into the shop；
and hovering—I should be the last to make use of a strong
expression； if I could avoid it； but hovering sir—in the court—you
know it is—now ain’t it？ I only put it to yourself sir。”
Mr Snagsby having said this in a very plaintive manner； throws
in a cough of general application to fill up all the blanks。
“Why； what do you mean？” asks Mr Tulkinghorn。
“Just so sir；” returns Mr Snagsby； “I was sure you would feel it
yourself； and would excuse the reasonableness of my feelings
when coupled with the known excitableness of my little woman。
You see； the foreign female—which you mentioned her name just
now； with quite a native sound I am sure—caught up the word
Snagsby that night； being uncommon quick； and made inquiry；
and got the direction and come at dinner…time。 Now Guster； our
young woman； is timid and has fits； and she； taking fright at the
foreigner’s looks—which are fierce—and at a grinding manner
that she has of speaking—which is calculated to alarm a weak
mind—gave way to it； instead of bearing up against it； and
tumbled down the kitchen stairs out of one into another； such fits
as I do sometimes think are never gone into； or come out of； in any
house but ours。 Consequently there was by good fortune ample
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
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Bleak House 806
occupation for my little woman； and only me to answer the shop。
When she did say that Mr Tulkinghorn； being always denied to her
by his Employer （which I had no doubt at the time was a foreign
mode of viewing a clerk）； she would do herself the pleasure of
continually calling at my place until she was let in here。 Since then
she has been； as I began by saying； hovering—Hovering sir；” Mr
Snagsby repeats the word with pathetic emphasis； “in the court。
The effects of which movement it is impossible to calculate。 I
shouldn’t wonder if it might have already given rise to the
painfullest mistakes even in the neighbours’ minds； not
mentioning （if such a thing was possible） my little woman。
Whereas； Goodness knows；” says Mr Snagsby； shaking his head； “I
never had an idea of a foreign female； except as being formerly
connected with a bunch of brooms and a baby； or at the present
time with a tambourine and earrings。 I never had； I do assure you
sir！”
Mr Tulkinghorn has listened gravely to this complaint； and
inquires； when the stationer has finished； “And that’s all； is it；
Snagsby？”
“Why yes sir； that’s all；” says Mr Snagsby； ending with a cough
that plainly adds； “and it’s enough too—for me。”
“I don’t know what Mademoiselle Hortense may want or mean；
unless she is mad；” says the lawyer。
“Even if she was； you know sir；” Mr Snagsby pleads； “it
wouldn’t be a consolation to have some weapon or another in the
form of a foreign dagger； planted in the family。”
“No；” says the other。 “Well； well！ This shall be stopped。 I am
sorry you have been inconvenienced。 If she comes again； send her
here。”
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
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Bleak House 807
Mr Snagsby； with much bowing and short apologetic coughing；
takes his leave； lightened in heart。 Mr Tulkinghorn goes upstairs；
saying to himself； “These women were created to give trouble； the
whole earth over。 The Mistress not being enough to deal with；
here’s the maid now！ But I will be short with this jade at least！”
So saying he unlocks his door； gropes his way into his murky
rooms； lights his candles； and looks about him。 It is too dark to see
much of allegory overhead there； but that importunate Roman；
who is for ever toppling out of the clouds and pointing； is at his old
work pretty distinctly。 Not honouring him with much attention；
Mr Tulkinghorn takes a small key from his pocket； unlocks a
drawer in which there is another key； which unlocks a chest in
which there is another； and so comes to the cellar…key； with which
he prepares to descend to the regions of old wine。 He is going
towards the door with a candle in his hand； when a knock comes。
“Who’s this？—Ay； ay； mistress； it’s you； is it？ You appear at a
good time。 I have just been hearing of you。 Now！ What do you
want？”
He stands the candle on the chimney…piece in the clerk’s hall；
and taps his dry cheek with the key； as he addresses these words
of welcome to Mademoiselle Hortense。 That feline personage； with
her lips tightly shut； and her eyes looking out at him sideways；
softly closes the door before replying。
“I have had great deal of trouble to find you； sir。”
“Have you！”
“I have been here very often； sir。 It has always been said to me；
he is not at home； he is engage； he is this and that； he is not for
you。”
“Quite right； and quite true。”
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
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Bleak House 808
“Not true。 Lies！”
At times； there is a suddenness in the manner of Mademoiselle
Hortense so like a bodily spring upon the subject of it； that such
subject involuntarily starts and falls back。 It is Mr Tulkinghorn’s
case at present； though Mademoiselle Hortense； with her eyes
almost shut up （but still looking out sideways）； is only smiling
contemptuously and shaking her head。
“Now； mistress；” says the lawyer； tapping the key hastily upon
the chimney…piece。 “If you have anything to say； say it； say it。”
“Sir； you have not use me well。 You have been mean and
shabby。”
“Mean and shabby； eh？” returns the lawyer； rubbing his nose
with the key。
“Yes。 What is it that I tell you？ You know you have。 You have
attrapped me—catched me—to give you information； you have
asked me to show you the dress of mine my Lady must have wore
that night； you have prayed me to come in it here to meet that
boy—Say！ Is it not？” Mademoiselle Hortense makes another