"He keeps his grog ready-mixed in a little tub

on the table. Wait a moment, and you'll hear Clara lift him up to

take some. - There he goes!" Another roar, with a prolonged shake

at the end. "Now," said Herbert, as it was succeeded by silence,

"he's drinking. Now," said Herbert, as the growl resounded in the

beam once more, "he's down again on his back!"

Clara returned soon afterwards, and Herbert accompanied me

up-stairs to see our charge. As we passed Mr. Barley's door, he was

heard hoarsely muttering within, in a strain that rose and fell

like wind, the following Refrain; in which I substitute good wishes

for something quite the reverse.

"Ahoy! Bless your eyes, here's old Bill Barley. Here's old Bill

Barley, bless your eyes. Here's old Bill Barley on the flat of his

back, by the Lord. Lying on the flat of his back, like a drifting

old dead flounder, here's your old Bill Barley, bless your eyes.

Ahoy! Bless you."

In this strain of consolation, Herbert informed me the invisible

Barley would commune with himself by the day and night together;

often while it was light, having, at the same time, one eye at a

telescope which was fitted on his bed for the convenience of

sweeping the river.

In his two cabin rooms at the top of the house, which were fresh

and airy, and in which Mr. Barley was less audible than below, I

found Provis comfortably settled. He expressed no alarm, and seemed

to feel none that was worth mentioning; but it struck me that he

was softened - indefinably, for I could not have said how, and could

never afterwards recall how when I tried; but certainly.

The opportunity that the day's rest had given me for reflection,

had resulted in my fully determining to say nothing to him

respecting Compeyson. For anything I knew, his animosity towards

the man might otherwise lead to his seeking him out and rushing on

his own destruction. Therefore, when Herbert and I sat down with

him by his fire, I asked him first of all whether he relied on

Wemmick's judgment and sources of information?

"Ay, ay, dear boy!" he answered, with a grave nod, "Jaggers knows."

"Then, I have talked with Wemmick," said I, "and have come to tell

you what caution he gave me and what advice."

This I did accurately, with the reservation just mentioned; and I

told him how Wemmick had heard, in Newgate prison (whether from

officers or prisoners I could not say), that he was under some

suspicion, and that my chambers had been watched; how Wemmick had

recommended his keeping close for a time, and my keeping away from

him; and what Wemmick had said about getting him abroad. I added,

that of course, when the time came, I should go with him, or should

follow close upon him, as might be safest in Wemmick's judgment.

What was to follow that, I did not touch upon; neither indeed was I

at all clear or comfortable about it in my own mind, now that I saw

him in that softer condition, and in declared peril for my sake. As

to altering my way of living, by enlarging my expenses, I put it to

him whether in our present unsettled and difficult circumstances,

it would not be simply ridiculous, if it were no worse?

He could not deny this, and indeed was very reasonable throughout.

His coming back was a venture, he said, and he had always known it

to be a venture. He would do nothing to make it a desperate

venture, and he had very little fear of his safety with such good

help.

Herbert, who had been looking at the fire and pondering, here said

that something had come into his thoughts arising out of Wemmick's

suggestion, which it might be worth while to pursue. "We are both

good watermen, Handel, and could take him down the river ourselves

when the right time comes. No boat would then be hired for the

purpose, and no boatmen; that would save at least a chance of

suspicion, and any chance is worth saving. Never mind the season;

don't you think it might be a good thing if you began at once to

keep a boat at the Temple stairs, and were in the habit of rowing

up and down the river? You fall into that habit, and then who

notices or minds? Do it twenty or fifty times, and there is nothing

special in your doing it the twenty-first or fifty-first."

I liked this scheme, and Provis was quite elated by it.