said Nicholas, 'and be thankful I have enough command over
myself not to fling you into the street, which no aid could prevent my
doing if I once grappled with you. I have been no lover of this lady's.
No contract or engagement, no word of love, has ever passed between us.
She does not even know my name.'

'I'll ask it for all that. I'll beg it of her with kisses,' said Arthur
Gride. 'Yes, and she'll tell me, and pay them back, and we'll laugh
together, and hug ourselves, and be very merry, when we think of the
poor youth that wanted to have her, but couldn't because she was bespoke
by me!'

This taunt brought such an expression into the face of Nicholas, that
Arthur Gride plainly apprehended it to be the forerunner of his putting
his threat of throwing him into the street in immediate execution; for
he thrust his head out of the window, and holding tight on with both
hands, raised a pretty brisk alarm. Not thinking it necessary to abide
the issue of the noise, Nicholas gave vent to an indignant defiance,
and stalked from the room and from the house. Arthur Gride watched him
across the street, and then, drawing in his head, fastened the window as
before, and sat down to take breath.

'If she ever turns pettish or ill-humoured, I'll taunt her with that
spark,' he said, when he had recovered. 'She'll little think I know
about him; and, if I manage it well, I can break her spirit by this
means and have her under my thumb. I'm glad nobody came. I didn't call
too loud. The audacity to enter my house, and open upon me! But I shall
have a very good triumph tomorrow, and he'll be gnawing his fingers off:
perhaps drown himself or cut his throat! I shouldn't wonder! That would
make it quite complete, that would: quite.'

When he had become restored to his usual condition by these and other
comments on his approaching triumph, Arthur Gride put away his book,
and, having locked the chest with great caution, descended into the
kitchen to warn Peg Sliderskew to bed, and scold her for having afforded
such ready admission to a stranger.

The unconscious Peg, however, not being able to comprehend the offence
of which she had been guilty, he summoned her to hold the light, while
he made a tour of the fastenings, and secured the street-door with his
own hands.

'Top bolt,' muttered Arthur, fastening as he spoke, 'bottom bolt, chain,
bar, double lock, and key out to put under my pillow! So, if any more
rejected admirers come, they m