Page 1130 - david-copperfield

to disgorge all that your rapacity has become possessed of,
and to make restoration to the last farthing. All the part-
nership books and papers must remain in our possession;
all your books and papers; all money accounts and securi-
ties, of both kinds. In short, everything here.’
‘Must it? I don’t know that,’ said Uriah. ‘I must have time
to think about that.’
‘Certainly,’ replied Traddles; ‘but, in the meanwhile,
and until everything is done to our satisfaction, we shall
maintain possession of these things; and beg you - in short,
compel you - to keep to your own room, and hold no com-
munication with anyone.’
‘I won’t do it!’ said Uriah, with an oath.
‘Maidstone jail is a safer place of detention,’ observed
Traddles; ‘and though the law may be longer in righting us,
and may not be able to right us so completely as you can,
there is no doubt of its punishing YOU. Dear me, you know
that quite as well as I! Copperfield, will you go round to the
Guildhall, and bring a couple of officers?’
Here, Mrs. Heep broke out again, crying on her knees
to Agnes to interfere in their behalf, exclaiming that he was
very humble, and it was all true, and if he didn’t do what we
wanted, she would, and much more to the same purpose;
being half frantic with fears for her darling. To inquire what
he might have done, if he had had any boldness, would be
like inquiring what a mongrel cur might do, if it had the
spirit of a tiger. He was a coward, from head to foot; and
showed his dastardly nature through his sullenness and
mortification, as much as at any time of his mean life.

11