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Bleak House 996
precaution； stooping on his knee for a moment； from mere force of
habit； so to adjust the key in the lock as that no one shall peep in
from the outer…side。
“Sir Leicester Dedlock； Baronet； I mentioned yesterday
evening； that I wanted but a very little to complete this case。 I have
now completed it； and collected proof against the person who did
this crime。”
“Against the soldier？”
“No； Sir Leicester Dedlock； not the soldier。”
Sir Leicester looks astounded； and inquires； “Is the man in
custody？”
Mr Bucket tells him； after a pause； “It was a woman。”
Sir Leicester leans back in his chair； and breathlessly
ejaculates； “Good Heaven！”
“Now； Sir Leicester Dedlock； Baronet；” Mr Bucket begins；
standing over him with one hand spread out on the library table；
and the forefinger of the other in impressive use； “it’s my duty to
prepare you for a train of circumstances that may； and I go so far
as to say that will； give you a shock。 But Sir Leicester Dedlock；
Baronet； you are a gentleman； and I know what a gentleman is；
and what a gentleman is capable of。 A gentleman can bear a
shock； when it must come； boldly and steadily。 A gentleman can
make up his mind to stand up against almost any blow。 Why； take
yourself； Sir Leicester Dedlock； Baronet。 If there’s a blow to be
inflicted on you； you naturally think of your family。 You ask
yourself； how would all them ancestors of yours； away to Julius
Caesar—not to go beyond him at present—have borne that blow；
you remember scores of them that would have borne it well； and
you bear it well on their accounts； and to maintain the family
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Bleak House 997
credit。 That’s the way you argue； and that’s the way you act； Sir
Leicester Dedlock； Baronet。”
Sir Leicester； leaning back in his chair； and grasping the
elbows； sits looking at him with a stony face。
“Now； Sir Leicester Dedlock；” proceeds Mr Bucket； “thus
preparing you； let me beg of you not to trouble your mind for a
moment； as to anything having come to my knowledge。 I know so
much about so many characters； high and low； that a piece of
information more or less； don’t signify a straw。 I don’t suppose
there’s a move on the board that would surprise me； and as to this
or that move having taken place； why my knowing it is no odds at
all； any possible move whatever （provided it’s in a wrong
direction） being a probable move according to my experience。
Therefore； what I say to you； Sir Leicester Dedlock； Baronet； is；
don’t you go and let yourself be put out of the way； because of my
knowing anything of your family affairs。”
“I thank you for your preparation；” returns Sir Leicester； after
a silence； without moving hand； foot； or feature； “which I hope is
not necessary； though I give it credit for being well intended。 Be so
good as to go on。 Also—” Sir Leicester seems to shrink in the
shadow of his figure—“also to take a seat； if you have no
objection。”
None at all。 Mr Bucket brings a chair； and diminishes his
shadow。 “Now； Sir Leicester Dedlock； Baronet； with this short
preface I come to the point。 Lady Dedlock—”
Sir Leicester raises himself in his seat； and stares at him
fiercely。 Mr Bucket brings the finger into play as an emollient。
“Lady Dedlock； you see； she’s universally admired。 That’s what
her Ladyship is； she’s universally admired；” says Mr Bucket。
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“I would greatly prefer； officer；” Sir Leicester returns； stiffly；
“my Lady’s name being entirely omitted from this discussion。”
“So would I； Sir Leicester Dedlock Baronet； but—it’s
impossible。”
“Impossible？”
Mr Bucket shakes his relentless head。
“Sir Leicester Dedlock； Baronet； it’s altogether impossible。
What I have got to say； is about her Ladyship。 She is the pivot it all
turns on。”
“Officer；” retorts Sir Leicester； with a fiery eye； and a quivering
lip； “you know your duty。 Do your duty； but be careful not to
overstep it。 I would not suffer it。 I would not endure it。 You bring
my Lady’s name into this communication upon your
responsibility—upon your responsibility。 My Lady’s name is not a
name for common persons to trifle with！”
“Sir Leicester Dedlock； Baronet； I say what I must say； and no
more。”
“I hope it may prove so。 Very well。 Go on。 Go on； sir！”
Glancing at the angry eyes which now avoid him； and at the
angry figure trembling from head to foot； yet striving to be still； Mr
Bucket feels his way with his forefinger； and in a low voice
proceeds。
“Sir Leicester Dedlock； Baronet； it becomes my duty to tell you
that the deceased Mr Tulkinghorn long entertained mistrusts and
suspicions of Lady Dedlock。”
“If he had dared to breathe them to me； sir—which he never
did—I would have killed him myself！” exclaims Sir Leicester；
striking his hand upon the table。 But； in the very heat and fury of
the act； he stops； fixed by the knowing eyes of Mr Bucket； whose
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Bleak House 999
forefinger is slowly going； and who； with mingled confidence and
patience； shakes his head。
“Sir Leicester Dedlock； the deceased Mr Tulkinghorn was deep
and close； and what he fully had in his mind in the very beginning；
I can’t quite take upon myself to say。 But I know from his lips； that
he long ago suspected Lady Dedlock of having discovered；
through the sight of some handwriting—in this very house； and
when you yourself； Sir Leicester Dedlock； were present—the
existence； in great poverty； of a certain person； who had been her
lover before you courted her； and who ought to have been her
husband；” Mr Bucket stops； and deliberately repeats； “ought to
have been her husband； not a doubt about it。 I know from his lips；
that when that person soon afterwards died； he suspected Lady
Dedlock of visiting his wretched lodging； and his wretcheder
grave； alone and in secret。 I know from my own inquiries； and
through my eyes and ears； that Lady Dedlock did make such visit；
in the dress of her own maid； for the deceased Mr Tulkinghorn
employed me to reckon up her Ladyship—if you’ll excuse my
making use of the term we commonly employ—and I reckoned her
up； so far； completely。 I confronted the m