‘By Heaven, ma’am!’ he replied, making her another bow. ‘It was my profound respect for the strength of your character, and my admiration of your beauty.’
‘I want neither the one nor the other from any one,’ said she, ‘and certainly not from you of all creatures. Go on with your report.’
‘Am I pardoned?’ he asked, with an air of half abashed gallantry.
‘You are paid,’ she said, ‘and that is all you want.’
Whether the girl hung behind because she was not to hear the business, or as already knowing enough about it, Clennam could not determine. They turned and she turned. She looked away at the river, as she walked with her hands folded before her; and that was all he could make of her without showing his face. There happened, by good fortune, to be a lounger really waiting for some one; and he sometimes looked over the railing at the water, and sometimes came to the dark corner and looked up the street, rendering Arthur less conspicuous.
When Miss Wade and the man came back again, she was saying, ‘You must wait until to-morrow.’
‘A thousand pardons?’ he returned. ‘My faith! Then it’s not convenient to-night?’
‘No. I tell you I must get it before I can give it to you.’
She stopped in the roadway, as if to put an end to the conference. He of course stopped too. And the girl stopped.
‘It’s a little inconvenient,’ said the man. ‘A little. But, Holy Blue! that’s nothing in such a service. I am without money to-night, by chance. I have a good banker in this city, but I would not wish to draw upon the house until the time when I shall draw for a round sum.’