their ways,
which puttin' 'em right close afore the fire, when fractious, is the
certainest and most compoging.'

While Mrs Gamp discoursed to this effect, Jonas was walking up and down
the room again, glancing covertly at the old clerk, as he did so. He now
made a stop, and said:

'I must look after him, I suppose, or I may have him doing some
mischief. What say you?'

'Nothin' more likely!' Mrs Gamp replied. 'As well I have experienged, I
do assure you, sir.'

'Well! Look after him for the present, and--let me see--three days from
this time let the other woman come here, and we'll see if we can make
a bargain of it. About nine or ten o'clock at night, say. Keep your eye
upon him in the meanwhile, and don't talk about it. He's as mad as a
March hare!'

'Madder!' cried Mrs Gamp. 'A deal madder!'

'See to him, then; take care that he does no harm; and recollect what I
have told you.'

Leaving Mrs Gamp in the act of repeating all she had been told, and
of producing in support of her memory and trustworthiness, many
commendations selected from among the most remarkable opinions of the
celebrated Mrs Harris, he descended to the little room prepared for him,
and pulling off his coat and his boots, put them outside the door before
he locked it. In locking it, he was careful so to adjust the key as to
baffle any curious person who might try to peep in through the key-hole;
and when he had taken these precautions, he sat down to his supper.

'Mr Chuff,' he muttered, 'it'll be pretty easy to be even with YOU. It's
of no use doing things by halves, and as long as I stop here, I'll take
good care of you. When I'm off you may say what you please. But it's
a d--d strange thing,' he added, pushing away his untouched plate, and
striding moodily to and fro, 'that his drivellings should have taken
this turn just now.'

After pacing the little room from end to end several times, he sat down
in another chair.

'I say just now, but for anything I know, he may have been carrying on
the same game all along. Old dog! He shall be gagged!'

He paced the room again in the same restless and unsteady way; and then
sat down upon the bedstead, leaning his chin upon his hand, and looking
at the table. When he had looked at it for a long time, he remembered
his supper; and resuming the chair he had first occupied, began to eat
with great rapacity; not like a hungry man, but as if he were determined
to do it. He drank too, roundly; somet