You understand - any one. Don't tell me anything: I don't want

to know anything; I am not curious."

Of course I saw that he knew the man was come.

"I merely want, Mr. Jaggers," said I, "to assure myself that what I

have been told, is true. I have no hope of its being untrue, but at

least I may verify it."

Mr. Jaggers nodded. "But did you say 'told' or 'informed'?" he asked

me, with his head on one side, and not looking at me, but looking

in a listening way at the floor. "Told would seem to imply verbal

communication. You can't have verbal communication with a man in

New South Wales, you know."

"I will say, informed, Mr. Jaggers."

"Good."

"I have been informed by a person named Abel Magwitch, that he is

the benefactor so long unknown to me."

"That is the man," said Mr. Jaggers," - in New South Wales."

"And only he?" said I.

"And only he," said Mr. Jaggers.

"I am not so unreasonable, sir, as to think you at all responsible

for my mistakes and wrong conclusions; but I always supposed it was

Miss Havisham."

"As you say, Pip," returned Mr. Jaggers, turning his eyes upon me

coolly, and taking a bite at his forefinger, "I am not at all

responsible for that."

"And yet it looked so like it, sir," I pleaded with a downcast

heart.

"Not a particle of evidence, Pip," said Mr. Jaggers, shaking his

head and gathering up his skirts. "Take nothing on its looks; take

everything on evidence. There's no better rule."

"I have no more to say," said I, with a sigh, after standing silent

for a little while. "I have verified my information, and there's an

end."

"And Magwitch - in New South Wales - having at last disclosed

himself," said Mr. Jaggers, "you will comprehend, Pip, how rigidly

throughout my communication with you, I have always adhered to the

strict line of fact. There has never been the least departure from

the strict line of fact. You are quite aware of that?"

"Quite, sir."

"I communicated to Magwitch - in New South Wales - when he first

wrote to me - from New South Wales - the caution that he must not

expect me ever to deviate from the strict line of fact. I also

communicated to him another caution. He appeared to me to have

obscurely hinted in his letter at some distant idea he had of

seeing you in England here. I cautioned him that I must hear no

more of that; that he was not at all likely to obtain a pardon;

that he was expatriated for the term of his natural life; and that

his presenting himself in this country would be an act of felony,

rendering him liable to the extreme penalty of the law. I gave

Magwitch that caution," said Mr. Jaggers, looking hard at me; "I

wrote it to New South Wales. He guided himself by it, no doubt."

"No doubt," said I.

"I have been informed by Wemmick," pursued Mr. Jaggers, still

looking hard at me, "that he has received a letter, under date

Portsmouth, from a colonist of the name of Purvis, or--"

"Or Provis," I suggested.

"Or Provis - thank you, Pip. Perhaps it is Provis? Perhaps you know

it's Provis?"

"Yes," said I.

"You know it's Provis. A letter, under date Portsmouth, from a

colonist of the name of Provis, asking for the particulars of your

address, on behalf of Magwitch. Wemmick sent him the particulars, I

understand, by return of post. Probably it is through Provis that

you have received the explanation of Magwitch - in New South

Wales?"

"It came through Provis," I replied.

"Good day, Pip," said Mr. Jaggers, offering his hand; "glad to have

seen you. In writing by post to Magwitch - in New South Wales - or

in communicating with him through Provis, have the goodness to

mention that the particulars and vouchers of our long account shall

be sent to you, together with the balance; for there is still a

balance remaining. Good day, Pip!"

We shook hands, and he looked hard at me as long as he could see

me.