When I had begun to

advance Herbert's prospects by Stealth, I had been able to bear

this with cheerful philosophy; he and his affianced, for their

part, had naturally not been very anxious to introduce a third

person into their interviews; and thus, although I was assured that

I had risen in Clara's esteem, and although the young lady and I

had long regularly interchanged messages and remembrances by

Herbert, I had never seen her. However, I did not trouble Wemmick

with these particulars.

"The house with the bow-window," said Wemmick, "being by the

river-side, down the Pool there between Limehouse and Greenwich,

and being kept, it seems, by a very respectable widow who has a

furnished upper floor to let, Mr. Herbert put it to me, what did I

think of that as a temporary tenement for Tom, Jack, or Richard?

Now, I thought very well of it, for three reasons I'll give you.

That is to say. Firstly. It's altogether out of all your beats, and

is well away from the usual heap of streets great and small.

Secondly. Without going near it yourself, you could always hear of

the safety of Tom, Jack, or Richard, through Mr. Herbert. Thirdly.

After a while and when it might be prudent, if you should want to

slip Tom, Jack, or Richard, on board a foreign packet-boat, there

he is - ready."

Much comforted by these considerations, I thanked Wemmick again and

again, and begged him to proceed.

"Well, sir! Mr. Herbert threw himself into the business with a will,

and by nine o'clock last night he housed Tom, Jack, or Richard -

whichever it may be - you and I don't want to know - quite

successfully. At the old lodgings it was understood that he was

summoned to Dover, and in fact he was taken down the Dover road and

cornered out of it. Now, another great advantage of all this, is,

that it was done without you, and when, if any one was concerning

himself about your movements, you must be known to be ever so many

miles off and quite otherwise engaged. This diverts suspicion and

confuses it; and for the same reason I recommended that even if you

came back last night, you should not go home. It brings in more

confusion, and you want confusion."

Wemmick, having finished his breakfast, here looked at his watch,

and began to get his coat on.

"And now, Mr. Pip," said he, with his hands still in the sleeves, "I

have probably done the most I can do; but if I can ever do more -

from a Walworth point of view, and in a strictly private and

personal capacity - I shall be glad to do it. Here's the address.

There can be no harm in your going here to-night and seeing for

yourself that all is well with Tom, Jack, or Richard, before you go

home - which is another reason for your not going home last night.

But after you have gone home, don't go back here. You are very

welcome, I am sure, Mr. Pip;" his hands were now out of his sleeves,

and I was shaking them; "and let me finally impress one important

point upon you." He laid his hands upon my shoulders, and added in

a solemn whisper: "Avail yourself of this evening to lay hold of

his portable property. You don't know what may happen to him. Don't

let anything happen to the portable property."

Quite despairing of making my mind clear to Wemmick on this point,

I forbore to try.

"Time's up," said Wemmick, "and I must be off. If you had nothing

more pressing to do than to keep here till dark, that's what I

should advise. You look very much worried, and it would do you good

to have a perfectly quiet day with the Aged - he'll be up presently

- and a little bit of - you remember the pig?"

"Of course," said I.

"Well; and a little bit of him. That sausage you toasted was his,

and he was in all respects a first-rater. Do try him, if it is only

for old acquaintance sake. Good-bye, Aged Parent!" in a cheery

shout.

"All right, John; all right, my boy!" piped the old man from

within.