Page 1094 - bleak-house

to consider whether or not to buy this up. I should recom-
mend, on the whole, it’s being bought up myself; and I think
it may be bought pretty cheap. You see, that little pickled
cowcumber of a Mrs. Snagsby has been used by all sides of
the speculation and has done a deal more harm in bringing
odds and ends together than if she had meant it. Mr. Tulk-
inghorn, deceased, he held all these horses in his hand and
could have drove ‘em his own way, I haven’t a doubt; but he
was fetched off the box head-foremost, and now they have
got their legs over the traces, and are all dragging and pull-
ing their own ways. So it is, and such is life. The cat’s away,
and the mice they play; the frost breaks up, and the water
runs. Now, with regard to the party to be apprehended.’
Sir Leicester seems to wake, though his eyes have been
wide open, and he looks intently at Mr. Bucket as Mr. Buck-
et refers to his watch.
‘The party to be apprehended is now in this house,’ pro-
ceeds Mr. Bucket, putting up his watch with a steady hand
and with rising spirits, ‘and I’m about to take her into cus-
tody in your presence. Sir Leicester Dedlock, Baronet, don’t
you say a word nor yet stir. There’ll be no noise and no dis-
turbance at all. I’ll come back in the course of the evening,
if agreeable to you, and endeavour to meet your wishes re-
specting this unfortunate family matter and the nobbiest
way of keeping it quiet. Now, Sir Leicester Dedlock, Baron-
et, don’t you be nervous on account of the apprehension at
present coming off. You shall see the whole case clear, from
first to last.’
Mr. Bucket rings, goes to the door, briefly whispers Mer-

1094 Bleak House