of justice, and perhaps his knowledge of its antecedents
combined with his own experience in
that wise, gave him a reliance on its powers as a
sort of legal spell or charm. On this first occasion
of his producing it, I recalled how he had
made me swear fidelity in the churchyard long
ago, and how he had described himself last night
as always swearing to his resolutions in his solitude.

As he was at present dressed in a seafaring
slop suit, in which he looked as if he had
some parrots and cigars to dispose of, I next
discussed with him what dress he should wear.
He cherished an extraordinary belief in the
virtues of "shorts" as a disguise, and had in
his own mind sketched a dress for himself
that would have made him something between
a dean and a dentist. It was with considerable
difficulty that I won him over to the assumption
of a dress more like a prosperous farmer's; and
we arranged that he should cut his hair close
and wear a little powder. Lastly, as he had
not yet been seen by the laundress or her niece,
he was to keep himself out of their view until
his change of dress was made.

It would seem a simple matter to decide on
these precautions; but in my dazed, not to say
distracted, state, it took so long, that I did not
get out to further them, until two or three in
the afternoon. He was to remain shut up in
the chambers while I was gone, and was on no
account to open the door.

There being to my knowledge a respectable
lodging-house in Essex-street, the back of which
looked into the Temple, and was almost within
hail of my windows, I first of all repaired to
that house, and was so fortunate as to secure the
second floor for my uncle, Mr. Provis. I then
went from shop to shop, making such purchases as
were necessary to the change in his appearance.
This business transacted, I turned my face, on
my own account, to Little Britain. Mr. Jaggers
was at his desk, but, seeing me enter, got up
immediately and stood before his fire.

"Now, Pip," said he, "be careful."

"I will, sir," I returned. For, I had thought
well of what I was going to say coming along.

"Don't commit yourself," said Mr. Jaggers,
"and don't commit any one. You understand—
any one. Don't tell me anything: I don't want
to know anything; I am not curious."

Of course I saw that he knew the man was
come.

"I merely want, Mr. Jaggers," said I, "to
assure myself that what I have been told is
true. I have no hope of its being untrue, but at
least I may verify it."

Mr. Jaggers nodded. "But did you say
'told,' or 'informed'?" he asked me, with his
head on one side, and not looking at me, but
looking in a listening way at the floor. "Told
would seem to imply verbal communication.
You can't have verbal communication with a
man in New South Wales, you know."

"I will say, informed, Mr. Jaggers."

"Good."

"I have been informed by a person named
Abel Magwitch, that he is the benefactor so long
unknown to me."

"That is the man," said Mr. Jaggers, "—in
New South Wales."

"And only he?" said I.

"And only he," said Mr. Jaggers.

"I am not so unreasonable, sir, as to think
you at all responsible for my mistakes and wrong
conclusions; but I always supposed it was Miss
Havisham."

"As you say, Pip," returned Mr. Jaggers,
turning his eyes upon me coolly, and taking a
bite at his forefinger, "I am not at all responsible
for that."

"And yet it looked so like it, sir," I pleaded
with a downcast heart.

"Not a particle of evidence, Pip," said Mr.
Jaggers, shaking his head and gathering up his
skirts. "Take nothing on its looks; take
everything on evidence. There's no better
rule."

"I have no more to say," said I, with a sigh,
after standing silent for a little while. "I have
verified my information, and there an end."

"And Magwitch—in New South Wales—having
at last disclosed himself," said Mr. Jaggers,
"you will comprehend, Pip, how rigidly throughout
my communication with you, I have always
adhered to the strict line of fact. There has
never been the least departure from the strict
line of fact. You are quite aware of that?"

"Quite, sir."

"I communicated to Magwitch—in New South
Wales—when he first wrote to me—from New
South Wales—the caution that he must not expect
me ever to deviate from the strict line of
fact. I also communicated to him another
caution. He appeared to me to have obscurely
hinted in his letter at some distant idea he had
of seeing you in England here. I cautioned him
that I must hear no more of that; that he was
not at all likely to obtain a pardon; that he was
expatriated for the term of his natural life; and
that his presenting himself in this country would
be an act of felony, rendering him liable to the
extreme penalty of the law. I gave Magwitch
that caution," said Mr. Jaggers, looking hard at
me; "I wrote it to New South Wales. He
guided himself by it, no doubt."

"No doubt," said I.

"I have been informed by Wemmick," pursued
Mr. Jaggers, still looking hard at me, "that
he has received a letter, under date Portsmouth,
from a colonist of the name of Purvis, or—"

"Or Provis," I suggested.

"Or Provis—thank you, Pip. Perhaps it is
Provis? Perhaps you know it's Provis?"

"Yes," said I.

"You know it's Provis. A letter, under date
Portsmouth, from a colonist of the name of Provis,
asking for the particulars of your address, on
behalf of Magwitch. Wemmick sent him the
particulars, I understand, by return of post.
Probably it is through Provis that you have received
the explanation of Magwitch — in New
South Wales?"

"It came through Provis," I replied.