ith Cag-Maggerth, give me Jaggerth!' These testimonies to the popularity of my guardian made a deep impression on me, and I admired and wondered more than ever.

At length, as I was looking out at the iron gate of Bartholomew Close into Little Britain, I saw Mr Jaggers coming across the road towards me. All the others who were waiting, saw him at the same time, and there was quite a rush at him. Mr Jaggers, putting a hand on my shoulder and walking me on at his side without saying anything to me, addressed himself to his followers.

First, he took the two secret men.

`Now, I have nothing to say to you,' said Mr Jaggers, throwing his finger at them. `I want to know no more than I know. As to the result, it's a toss-up. I told you from the first it was toss-up. Have you paid Wemmick?'

`We made the money up this morning, sir,' said one of the men, submissively, while the other perused Mr Jaggers's face.

`I don't ask you when you made it up, or where, or whether you made it up at all. Has Wemmick got it?'

`Yes, sir,' said both the men together.

`Very well; then you may go. Now, I won't have it!' said Mr Jaggers, waving his hand at them to put them behind him. `If you say a word to me, I'll throw up the case.'

`We thought, Mr Jaggers--' one of the men began, pulling off his hat.

`That's what I told you not to do,' said Mr Jaggers. `You thought! I think for you; that's enough for you. If I want you, I know where to find you; I don't want you to find me. Now I won't have it. I won't hear a word.'

The two men looked at one another as Mr Jaggers waved them behind again, and humbly fell back and were heard no more.

`And now you!' said Mr Jaggers, suddenly stopping, and turning on the two women with the shawls, from whom the three men had meekly separated. - `Oh! Amelia, is it?'

`Yes, Mr Jaggers.'

`And do you remember,' retorted Mr Jaggers, `that but for me you wouldn't be here and couldn't be here?'

`Oh yes, sir!' exclaimed both women together. `Lord bless you, sir, well we knows that!'

`Then why,' said Mr Jaggers, `do you come here?'

`My Bill, sir!' the crying woman pleaded.

`Now, I tell you what!' said Mr Jaggers. `Once for all. If you don't know that your Bill's in good hands, I know it. And if you come here, bothering about your Bill, I'll make an example of both your Bill and you, and let him slip through my fingers. Have you paid Wemmick?'

`Oh yes, sir! Every farden.'

`Very well. Then you have done all you have got to do. Say another word - one single word - and Wemmick shall give you your money back.'

This terrible threat caused the two women to fall off immediately. No one remained now but the excitable Jew, who had already raised the skirts of Mr Jaggers's coat to his lips several times.