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round； he saw that the day began to break； and failing in his
purpose； turned and fled。
He was soon in the quarter he had lately traversed； and pacing
to and fro again as he had done before。 He was passing down a
mean street； when from an alley close at hand some shouts of
revelry arose； and there came straggling forth a dozen madcaps；
whooping and calling to each other； who； parting noisily； took
different ways and dispersed in smaller groups。
Hoping that some low place of entertainment which would
afford him a safe refuge might be near at hand； he turned into this
court when they were all gone； and looked about for a half…opened
door； or lighted window； or other indication of the place whence
they had come。 It was so profoundly dark； however； and so ill…
favoured； that he concluded they had but turned up there； missing
their way； and were pouring out again when he observed them。
With this impression； and finding there was no outlet but that by
which he had entered； he was about to turn； when from a grating
near his feet a sudden stream of light appeared； and the sound of
talking came。 He retreated into a doorway to see who these talkers
were； and to listen to them。
The light came to the level of the pavement as he did this； and a
man ascended； bearing in his hand a torch。 This figure unlocked
and held open the grating as for the passage of another； who
presently appeared； in the form of a young man of small stature
and uncommon self…importance； dressed in an obsolete and very
gaudy fashion。
‘Good night； noble captain；’ said he with the torch。 ‘Farewell；
commander。 Good luck； illustrious general！’
In return to these compliments the other bade him hold his
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tongue； and keep his noise to himself； and laid upon him many
similar injunctions； with great fluency of speech and sternness of
manner。
‘Commend me； captain； to the stricken Miggs；’ returned the
torch…bearer in a lower voice。 ‘My captain flies at higher game
than Miggses。 Ha； ha； ha！ My captain is an eagle； both as respects
his eye and soaring wings。 My captain breaketh hearts as other
bachelors break eggs at breakfast。’
‘What a fool you are； Stagg！’ said Mr Tappertit； stepping on the
pavement of the court； and brushing from his legs the dust he had
contracted in his passage upward。
‘His precious limbs！’ cried Stagg； clasping one of his ankles。
‘Shall a Miggs aspire to these proportions！ No； no； my captain。 We
will inveigle ladies fair； and wed them in our secret cavern。 We will
unite ourselves with blooming beauties； captain。’
‘I’ll tell you what； my buck；’ said Mr Tappertit； releasing his leg；
‘I’ll trouble you not to take liberties； and not to broach certain
questions unless certain questions are broached to you。 Speak
when you’re spoke to on particular subjects； and not otherways。
Hold the torch up till I’ve got to the end of the court； and then
kennel yourself； do you hear？’
‘I hear you； noble captain。’
‘Obey then；’ said Mr Tappertit haughtily。 ‘Gentlemen； lead on！’
With which word of command （addressed to an imaginary staff or
retinue） he folded his arms； and walked with surpassing dignity
down the court。
His obsequious follower stood holding the torch above his head；
and then the observer saw for the first time； from his place of
concealment； that he was blind。 Some involuntary motion on his
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part caught the quick ear of the blind man； before he was
conscious of having moved an inch towards him； for he turned
suddenly and cried； ‘Who’s there？’
‘A man；’ said the other； advancing。 ‘A friend。’
‘A stranger！’ rejoined the blind man。 ‘Strangers are not my
friends。 What do you do there？’
‘I saw your company come out； and waited here till they were
gone。 I want a lodging。’
‘A lodging at this time！’ returned Stagg； pointing towards the
dawn as though he saw it。 ‘Do you know the day is breaking？’
‘I know it；’ rejoined the other； ‘to my cost。 I have been
traversing this iron…hearted town all night。’
‘You had better traverse it again；’ said the blind man； preparing
to descend； ‘till you find some lodgings suitable to your taste。 I
don’t let any。’
‘Stay！’ cried the other； holding him by the arm。
‘I’ll beat this light about that hangdog face of yours （for
hangdog it is； if it answers to your voice）； and rouse the
neighbourhood besides； if you detain me；’ said the blind man。 ‘Let
me go。 Do you hear？’
‘Do you hear！’ returned the other； chinking a few shillings
together； and hurriedly pressing them into his hand。 ‘I beg nothing
of you。 I will pay for the shelter you give me。 Death！ Is it much to
ask of such as you！ I have come from the country； and desire to
rest where there are none to question me。 I am faint； exhausted；
worn out； almost dead。 Let me lie down； like a dog； before your
fire。 I ask no more than that。 If you would be rid of me； I will
depart to…morrow。’
‘If a gentleman has been unfortunate on the road；’ muttered
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Stagg； yielding to the other； who； pressing on him； had already
gained a footing on the steps—‘and can pay for his
accommodation—’
‘I will pay you with all I have。 I am just now past the want of
food； God knows； and wish but to purchase shelter。 What
companion have you below？’
‘None。’
‘Then fasten your grate there； and show me the way。 Quick！’
The blind man complied after a moment’s hesitation； and they
descended together。 The dialogue had passed as hurriedly as the
words could be spoken； and they stood in his wretched room
before he had had time to recover from his first surprise。
‘May I see where that door leads to； and what is beyond？’ said
the man； glancing keenly round。 ‘You will not mind that？’
‘I will show you myself。 Follow me； or go before。 Take your
choice。’
He bade him lead the way； and； by the light of the torch which
his conductor held up for the purpose； inspected all three cellars
narrowly。 Assured that the blind man had spoken truth； and that
he lived there alone； the visitor returned with him to the first； in
which a fire was burning； and flung himself with a deep groan
upon the ground before it。
His host pursued his usual occupation without seeming to heed
him any further。 But directly he fell asleep—and he noted his
falling into a slumber； as readily as the keenest…sighted man could
have done—he knelt down beside him； and passed his hand lightly
but carefully over his face and person。
His sleep was checkered with starts and moans； and sometimes
with a muttered word or two。 His hands were clenched； his brow
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bent； and his mouth firmly set。 All this； the blind man accurately
marked； and as if his curiosity were strongly awakened