no more. You begun it.
You said, and likeways showed pretty plain, as you warn't by no means
friendly to him. But I don't seek to force my company nor yet my
opinions on no man. I am a honest man, that's what I am. Put me in the
dock anywhere--I don't care where--and I says, "My Lord, I am a honest
man." Put me in the witness-box anywhere--I don't care where--and I
says the same to his lordship, and I kisses the book. I don't kiss my
coat-cuff; I kisses the book.'

It was not so much in deference to these strong testimonials to
character, as in his restless casting about for any way or help towards
the discovery on which he was concentrated, that Bradley Headstone
replied: 'You needn't take offence. I didn't mean to stop you. You were
too--loud in the open street; that was all.'

''Totherest Governor,' replied Mr Riderhood, mollified and mysterious,
'I know wot it is to be loud, and I know wot it is to be soft. Nat'rally
I do. It would be a wonder if I did not, being by the Chris'en name of
Roger, which took it arter my own father, which took it from his own
father, though which of our fam'ly fust took it nat'ral I will not in
any ways mislead you by undertakin' to say. And wishing that your elth
may be better than your looks, which your inside must be bad indeed if
it's on the footing of your out.'

Startled by the implication that his face revealed too much of his mind,
Bradley made an effort to clear his brow. It might be worth knowing what
this strange man's business was with Lightwood, or Wrayburn, or both, at
such an unseasonable hour. He set himself to find out, for the man might
prove to be a messenger between those two.

'You call at the Temple late,' he remarked, with a lumbering show of
ease.

'Wish I may die,' cried Mr Riderhood, with a hoarse laugh, 'if I warn't
a goin' to say the self-same words to you, T'otherest Governor!'

'It chanced so with me,' said Bradley, looking disconcertedly about him.

'And it chanced so with me,' said Riderhood. 'But I don't mind telling
you how. Why should I mind telling you? I'm a Deputy Lock-keeper up the
river, and I was off duty yes'day, and I shall be on to-morrow.'

'Yes?'

'Yes, and I come to London to look arter my private affairs. My private
affairs is to get appinted to the Lock as reg'lar keeper at fust hand,
and to have the law of a busted B'low-Bridge steamer which drownded of
me. I ain't a goin' to be drownded and not paid for it!'

Bradley looked a