Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
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respectable old gentleman； with grey hair； wearing spectacles； and
dressed in a black spencer and gaiters and a broad…brimmed hat；
and carrying a large gold…headed cane； addressed him。
“I ask your pardon； my good friend；” said he； but is this
George’s Shooting Gallery？”
“It is； sir；” returned Mr George； glancing up at the great letters
in which that inscription was painted on the whitewashed wall。
“Oh！ To be sure！” said the old gentleman； following his eyes。
“Thank you。 Have you rung the bell？”
“My name is George； sir； and I have rung the bell。”
“Oh； indeed？” said the old gentleman。 “Your name is George？
Then I am here as soon as you； you see。 You came for me； no
doubt？”
“No； sir。 You have the advantage of me。”
“Oh； indeed？” said the old gentleman。 “Then it was your young
man who came for me。 I am a physician； and was requested—five
minutes ago—to come and visit a sick man； at George’s Shooting
Gallery。”
“The muffled drums；” said Mr George； turning to Richard and
me； and gravely shaking his head。 “It’s quite correct； sir。 Will you
please to walk in。”
The door being at that moment opened； by a very singular…
looking little man in a green baize cap and apron； whose face； and
hands； and dress； were blackened all over； we passed along a
dreary passage into a large building with bare brick walls； where
there were targets； and guns； and swords； and other things of that
kind。 When we had all arrived here； the physician stopped； and；
taking off his hat； appeared to vanish by magic； and to leave
another and quite a different man in his place。
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Bleak House 485
“Now look’ee here； George；” said the man turning quickly
round upon him； and tapping him on the breast with a large
forefinger。 “You know me； and I know you。 You’re a man of the
world； and I’m a man of the world。 My name’s Bucket； as you are
aware； and I have got a peace…warrant against Gridley。 You have
kept him out of the way a long time； and you have been artful in it；
and it does you credit。”
Mr George； looking hard at him； bit his lip and shook his head。
“Now； George；” said the other； keeping close to him； “you’re a
sensible man； and a well…conducted man； that’s what you are；
beyond a doubt。 And mind you； I don’t talk to you as a common
character； because you have served your country； and you know
that when duty calls we must obey。 Consequently； you’re very far
from wanting to give trouble。 If I required assistance； you’d assist
me； that’s what you’d do。 Phil Squod； don’t you go a…sidling round
the gallery like that；” the dirty little man was shuffling about with
his shoulder against the wall； and his eyes on the intruder； in a
manner that looked threatening； “because I know you； and I won’t
have it。”
“Phil！” said Mr George。
“Yes； Guv’ner。”
“Be quiet。”
The little man； with a low growl； stood still。
“Ladies and gentlemen；” said Mr Bucket； “you’ll excuse
anything that may appear to be disagreeable in this； for my name’s
Inspector Bucket of the Detective； and I have a duty to perform。
George； I know where my man is； because I was on the roof last
night； and saw him through the skylight； and you along with him。
He is in there； you know；” pointing； “that’s where he is—on a sofy。
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Now I must see my man； and I must tell my man to consider
himself in custody； but； you know me； and you know I don’t want
to take any uncomfortable measures。 You give me your word； as
from one man to another （and an old soldier； mind you； likewise！）；
that it’s honourable between us two； and I’ll accommodate you to
the utmost of my power。”
“I give it；” was the reply。 “But it wasn’t handsome in you； Mr
Bucket。”
“Gammon； George！ Not handsome？” said Mr Bucket； tapping
him on his broad breast again； and shaking hands with him。 “I
don’t say it wasn’t handsome in you to keep my man so close； do I？
Be equally good…tempered to me； old boy！ Old William Tell！ Old
Shaw； the Life Guardsman！ Why； he’s a model of the whole British
Army in himself； ladies and gentlemen。 I’d give a fifty…pun’ note to
be such a figure of a man。”
The affair being brought to this head； Mr George； after a little
consideration； proposed to go in first to his comrade （as he called
him）； taking Miss Flite with him。 Mr Bucket agreeing； they went
away to the further end of the gallery； leaving us sitting and
standing by a table covered with guns。 Mr Bucket took this
opportunity of entering into a light conversation： asking me if I
were afraid of firearms； as most young ladies were； asking Richard
if he were a good shot； asking Phil Squod which he considered the
best of those rifles； and what it might be worth first…hand； telling
him； in return； that it was a pity he ever gave way to his temper；
for he was naturally so amiable that he might have been a young
woman； and making himself generally agreeable。
After a time he followed us to the further end of the gallery； and
Richard and I were going quietly away； when Mr George came
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Bleak House 487
after us。 He said that if we had no objection to see his comrade； he
would take a visit from us very kindly。 The words had hardly
passed his lips； when the bell was rung； and my Guardian
appeared； “on the chance；” he slightly observed； “of being able to
do any little thing for a poor fellow involved in the same
misfortune as himself。” We all four went back together； and went
into the place where Gridley was。
It was a bare room partitioned off from the gallery with
unpainted wood。 As the screening was not more than eight or ten
feet high； and only enclosed the sides； not the top； the rafters of
the high gallery roof were overhead； and the skylight； through
which Mr Bucket had looked down。 The sun was low—near
setting—and its light came redly in above； without descending to
the ground。 Upon a plain canvas…covered sofa lay the man from
Shropshire—dressed much as we had seen him last； but so
changed； that at first I recognised no likeness in his colourless face
to what I recollected。
He had been still writing in his hiding…place； and still dwelling
on his grievances； hour after hour。 A table and some shelves were
covered with manuscript papers； and with worn pens； and a
medley of such tokens。 Touchingly and awfully drawn together； he
and the little mad woman were side by side； and； as it were； alone。
She sat on a chair holding his hand； and none of us went close to
them。
His voice had faded； with the old expression of his face； with his
strength； with his anger； with his resistance to the wrongs that had
at last subdued him。 The faintest shadow of an object full of form
and colour； is such a picture of it； as he was of the man from
Shropshire whom we had spoken with before。
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Bleak House 488
He inclined his head to Richard and me； and spoke to my
Guardian。
“Mr Jarndyce； it is very kind of you to come to see me。 I am not
long to be seen； I think。 I am very glad to take your hand； sir。 You
are a good man； superior to injustice； and God knows I honour
you。”
They shook hands earnestly； and my Guardian said some words
of comfort to him。
“It may seem strange to you； sir；” returned Gridley； “I should
not have liked to see you； if this had been the first time of our
meeting。 But； you know； I made a fight for it； you know I stood up
with my single hand against them all； you know I told them the
truth to the last； and told them what they were； and what they had
done to me； so I don’t mind your seeing me； this wreck。”
“You have been courageous with them； many and many a
time；” returned my Guardian。
“Sir； I have been；” with a faint smile。 “I told you what would
come of it； when I ceased to be so； and； see here！ Look at us！—look
at us！” He drew the hand Miss Flite held；
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