Крихітка Дорріт

Chapter 28. An Appearance in the Marshalsea

           Hesoonreturnedwiththebottleofwine:which,accordingtothecustomoftheplace,originatinginascarcityofcorkscrewsamongtheCollegians(incommonwithascarcityofmuchelse),wasalreadyopenedforuse.

           ‘Madman!Alargeglass,’saidRigaud.

           SignorPancoputatumblerbeforehim;notwithoutavisibleconflictoffeelingonthequestionofthrowingitathishead.

           ‘Haha!’boastedRigaud.‘Onceagentleman,andalwaysagentleman.Agentlemanfromthebeginning,andagentlemantotheend.WhattheDevil!Agentlemanmustbewaitedon,Ihope?It’sapartofmycharactertobewaitedon!’

           Hehalffilledthetumblerashesaidit,anddrankoffthecontentswhenhehaddonesayingit.

           ‘Hah!’smackinghislips.‘Notaveryoldprisonerthat!Ijudgebyyourlooks,bravesir,thatimprisonmentwillsubdueyourbloodmuchsoonerthanitsoftensthishotwine.Youaremellowing—losingbodyandcolouralready.Isaluteyou!’

           Hetossedoffanotherhalfglass:holdingitupbothbeforeandafterwards,soastodisplayhissmall,whitehand.

           ‘Tobusiness,’hethencontinued.‘Toconversation.Youhaveshownyourselfmorefreeofspeechthanbody,sir.’

           ‘Ihaveusedthefreedomoftellingyouwhatyouknowyourselftobe.Youknowyourself,asweallknowyou,tobefarworsethanthat.’

           ‘Add,alwaysagentleman,andit’snomatter.Exceptinthatregard,weareallalike.Forexample:youcouldn’tforyourlifebeagentleman;Icouldn’tformylifebeotherwise.Howgreatthedifference!Letusgoon.

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