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and brought here。 I am a marked and disgraced man； and here I
am。 My shooting…gallery is rummaged； high and low； by Bucket；
such property as I have—’tis small—is turned this way and that；
till it don’t know itself； and （as aforesaid） here I am！ I don’t
particular complain of that。 Though I am in these present quarters
through no immediately preceding fault of mine； I can very well
understand that if I hadn’t gone into the vagabond way in my
youth； this wouldn’t have happened。 It has happened。 Then comes
the question how to meet it。”
He rubbed his swarthy forehead for a moment； with a good…
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humoured look； and said apologetically； “I am such a short…winded
talker that I must think a bit。” Having thought a bit； he looked up
again； and resumed。
“How to meet it。 Now； the unfortunate deceased was himself a
lawyer； and had a pretty tight hold of me。 I don’t wish to rake up
his ashes； but he had； what I should call if he was living； a Devil of
a tight hold of me。 I don’t like his trade the better for that。 If I had
kept clear of his trade； I should have kept outside this place。 But
that’s not what I mean。 Now suppose I had killed him。 Suppose I
really had discharged into his body any one of those pistols
recently fired off； that Bucket has found at my place； and； dear me！
might have found there any day since it has been my place。 What
should I have done as soon as I was hard and fast here？ Got a
lawyer。”
He stopped on hearing some one at the locks and bolts； and did
not resume until the door had been opened and was shut again。
For what purpose opened I will mention presently。
“I should have got a lawyer； and he would have said （as I have
often read in the newspapers）； ‘my client says nothing； my client
reserves his defence—my client this； that； and t’other。’ Well； ’tis
not the custom of that breed to go straight； according to my
opinion； or to think that other men do。 Say； I am innocent； and I
get a lawyer。 He would be as likely to believe me guilty as not；
perhaps more。 What would he do； whether or not？ Act as if I
was；—shut my mouth up； tell me not to commit myself； keep
circumstances back； chop the evidence small； quibble； and get me
off perhaps！ But； Miss Summerson； do I care for getting off in that
way； or would I rather be hanged in my own way—if you’ll excuse
my mentioning anything so disagreeable to a lady？”
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He had warmed into his subject now； and was under no further
necessity to wait a bit。
“I would rather be hanged in my own way。 And I mean to be！ I
don’t intend to say；” looking round upon us； with his powerful
arms akimbo and his dark eyebrows raised； “that I am more
partial to being hanged than another man。 What I say is； I must
come off clear and full or not at all。 Therefore； when I hear stated
against me what is true； I say it’s true； and when they tell me；
‘whatever you say will be used；’ I tell them I don’t mind that； I
mean it to be used。 If they can’t make me innocent out of the
whole truth； they are not likely to do it out of anything less； or
anything else。 And if they are； it’s worth nothing to me。”
Taking a pace or two over the stone floor； he came back to the
table； and finished what he had to say。
“I thank you； miss； and gentlemen both； many times for your
attention； and many times more for your interest。 That’s the plain
state of the matter； as it points itself out to a mere trooper with a
blunt broadsword kind of a mind。 I have never done well in life；
beyond my duty as a soldier； and if the worst comes after all； I
shall reap pretty much as I have sown。 When I got over the first
crash of being seized as a murderer—it don’t take a rover； who has
knocked about so much as myself； so very long to recover from a
crash—I worked my way round to what you find me now。 As such；
I shall remain。 No relations will be disgraced by me； or made
unhappy for me； and—and that’s all I’ve got to say。”
The door had been opened to admit another soldier…looking
man of less prepossessing appearance at first sight； and a weather…
tanned bright…eyed wholesome woman with a basket； who； from
her entrance； had been exceedingly attentive to all Mr George had
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said。 Mr George had received them with a familiar nod and a
friendly look； but without any more particular greeting in the
midst of his address。 He now shook them cordially by the hand；
and said； “Miss Summerson and gentlemen； this is an old comrade
of mine； Joseph Bagnet。 And this is his wife； Mrs Bagnet。”
Mr Bagnet made us a stiff military bow； and Mrs Bagnet
dropped us a curtsey。
“Real good friends of mine they are；” said Mr George。 “It was at
their house I was taken。”
“With a second…hand wiolinceller；” Mr Bagnet put in； twitching
his head angrily。 “Of a good tone。 For a friend。 That money was no
object to。”
“Mat；” said Mr George； “you have heard pretty well all I have
been saying to this lady and these two gentlemen。 I know it meets
your approval？”
Mr Bagnet； after considering； referred the point to his wife。
“Old girl；” said he。 “Tell him。 Whether or not。 It meets my
approval。”
“Why； George；” exclaimed Mrs Bagnet； who had been
unpacking her basket； in which there was a piece of cold pickled
pork； a little tea and sugar； and a brown loaf； “you ought to know it
don’t。 You ought to know it’s enough to drive a person wild to hear
you。 You won’t be got off this way； and you won’t be got off that
way—what do you mean by such picking and choosing？ It’s stuff
and nonsense； George。”
“Don’t be severe upon me in my misfortunes； Mrs Bagnet；” said
the trooper； lightly。
“Oh！ Bother your misfortunes！” cried Mrs Bagnet； if they don’t
make you more reasonable than that comes to。 I never was so
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ashamed in my life to hear a man talk folly； as I have been to hear
you talk this day to the present company。 Lawyers？ Why； what but
too many cooks should hinder you from having a dozen lawyers； if
the gentleman recommended them to you。”
“This is a very sensible woman；” said my Guardian。 “I hope you
will persuade him； Mrs Bagnet。”
“Persuade him； sir？” she returned。 “Lord bless you； no。 You
don’t know George。 Now；