He answered quite seriously, and used the word as if it denoted some profession.

`When you came into the Temple last night--' said I, pausing to wonder whether that could really have been last night, which seemed so long ago.

`Yes, dear boy?'

`When you came in at the gate and asked the watchman the way here, had you any one with you?'

`With me? No, dear boy.'

`But there was some one there?'

`I didn't take particular notice,' he said, dubiously, `not knowing the ways of the place. But I think there was a person, too, come in alonger me.'

`Are you known in London?'

`I hope not!' said he, giving his neck a jerk with his forefinger that made me turn hot and sick.

`Were you known in London, once?'

`Not over and above, dear boy. I was in the provinces mostly.'

`Were you - tried - in London?'

`Which time?' said he, with a sharp look.

`The last time.'

He nodded. `First knowed Mr Jaggers that way. Jaggers was for me.'

It was on my lips to ask him what he was tried for, but he took up a knife, gave it a flourish, and with the words, `And what I done is worked out and paid for!' fell to at his breakfast.

He ate in a ravenous way that was very disagreeable, and all his actions were uncouth, noisy, and greedy. Some of his teeth had failed him since I saw him eat on the marshes, and as he turned his food in his mouth, and turned his head sideways to bring his strongest fangs to bear upon, he looked terribly like a hungry old dog. If I had begun with any appetite, he would have taken it away, and I should have sat much as I did - repelled from him by an insurmountable aversion, and gloomily looking at the cloth.

`I'm a heavy grubber, dear boy,' he said, as a polite kind of apology when he made an end of his meal, `but I always was. If it had been in my constitution to be a lighter grubber, I might ha' got into lighter trouble. Similarly, I must have my smoke. When I was first hired out as shepherd t'other side the world, it's my belief I should ha' turned into a molloncolly-mad sheep myself, if I hadn't a had my smoke.'

As he said so, he got up from table, and putting his hand into the breast of the pea-coat he wore, brought out a short black pipe, and a handful of loose tobacco of the kind that is called Negro-head. Having filled his pipe, he put the surplus tobacco back again, as if his pocket were a drawer. Then, he took a live coal from the fire with the tongs, and lighted his pipe at it, and then turned round on the hearth-rug with his back to the fire, and went through his favourite action of holding out both his hands for mine.

`And this,' said he, dandling my hands up and down in his, as he puffed at his pipe; `and this is the gentleman what I made! The real genuine One! It does me good fur to look at you, Pip. All I stip'late, is, to stand by and look at you, dear boy!'