cious, not to say conscious, of having shown himself in a weak and
unprofessional light to the other. For this reason, I suppose, they
were now inflexible with one another; Mr. Jaggers being highly
dictatorial, and Wemmick obstinately justifying himself whenever
there was the smallest point in abeyance for a moment. I had
never seen them on such ill terms; for generally they got on very
well indeed together.

But, they were both happily relieved by the opportune appear-
ance of Mike, the client with the fur cap, and the habit of wiping
his nose on his sleeve, whom I had seen on the very first day of my
appearance within those walls. This individual, who, either in his
own person or in that of some member of his family, seemed to be
always in trouble (which in that place meant Newgate), called to
announce that his eldest daughter was taken up on suspicion of
shoplifting. As he imparted this melancholy circumstance to Wem-
mick, Mr. Jaggers standing magisterially before the fire and taking
no share in the proceedings, Mike's eye happened to twinkle with
a tear.

'What are you about?' demanded Wemmick, with the utmost in-
dignation. 'What do you come snivelling here for?'

'I didn't go to do it, Mr. Wemmick.'

'You did,' said Wemmick. 'How dare you? You're not in a fit
state to come here, if you can't come here without spluttering like
a bad pen. What do you mean by it?'

'A man can't help his feelings, Mr. Wemmick,' pleaded Mike.

'His what?' demanded Wemmick, quite savagely. 'Say that
again!'

'Now look here, my man,' said Mr. Jaggers, advancing a step,
and pointing to the door. 'Get out of this office. I'll have no feel-
ings here. Get out.'

'It serves you right,' said Wemmick. 'Get out.'

So the unfortunate Mike very humbly withdrew, and Mr. Jag-
gers and Wemmick appeared to have reestablished their good un-
derstanding, and went to work again with an air of refreshment
upon them as if they had just had lunch.

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