`Perhaps not,' answered Ralph. `Nor to ruin a great many people whom I know. You were going to say--?'
Ralph's summary and matter-of-course way of holding up this example, and throwing out the hint that followed it, had evidently an effect (as doubtless it was designed to have) upon Mr Squeers, who said, after a little hesitation and in a much more subdued tone--`Why, what I was a-going to say, sir, is, that this here business regarding of that ungrateful and hard-hearted chap, Snawley senior, puts me out of my way, and occasions a inconveniency quite unparalleled, besides, as Imay say, making, for whole weeks together, Mrs Squeers a perfect widder.
It's a pleasure to me to act with you, of course.'
`Of course,' said Ralph, drily.
`Yes, I say of course,' resumed Mr Squeers, rubbing his knees, `but at the same time, when one comes, as I do now, better than two hundred and fifty mile to take a afferdavid, it does put a man out a good deal, letting alone the risk.'
`And where may the risk be, Mr Squeers?' said Ralph.
`I said, letting alone the risk,' replied Squeers, evasively.
`And I said, where was the risk?'
`I wasn't complaining, you know, Mr Nickleby,' pleaded Squeers. `Upon my word I never see such a--'
`I ask you where is the risk?' repeated Ralph, emphatically.
`Where the risk?' returned Squeers, rubbing his knees still harder.
`Why, it an't necessary to mention--certain subjects is best awoided. Oh, you know what risk I mean.'
`How often have I told you,' said Ralph, `and how often am I to tell you, that you run no risk? What have you sworn, or what are you asked to swear, but that at such and such a time a boy was left with you in the name of Smike; that he was at your school for a given number of years, was lost under such and such circumstances, is now found, and has been identified by you in such and such keeping? This is all true--is it not?'
`Yes,' replied Squeers, `that's all true.'
`Well, then,' said Ralph, `what risk do you run? Who swears to a lie but Snawley--a man whom I have paid much less than I have you?'
`He certainly did it cheap, did Snawley,' observed Squeers.
`He did it cheap!' retorted Ralph, testily; `yes, and he did it well, and carries it off with a hypocritical face and a sanctified air, but you--risk!
What do you mean by risk? The certificates are all genuine, Snawley had another son, he has been married twice, his first wife is dead, none but her ghost could tell that she didn't write that letter, none but Snawley himself can tell that this is not his son, and that his son is food for worms! The only perjury is Snawley's, and I fancy he is pretty well used to it. Where's your risk?'
`Why, you know,' said Squeers, fidgeting in his chair, `if you come to that, I might say where's yours?'
`You might say where's mine!' returned Ralph; `you may say where's mine.
I don't appear in the business--neither do you. All Snawley's interest is to stick well to the story he has told; and all his risk is, to depart from it in the least. Talk of your risk in the conspiracy!'
`I say,' remonstrated Squeers, looking uneasily round: `don't call it that--just as a favour, don't.'
`Call it what you like,' said Ralph, irritably, `but attend to me. This tale was originally fabricated as a means of annoyance against one who hurt your trade and half cudgelled you to death, and to enable you to obtain repossession of a half-dead drudge, whom you wished to regain, because, while you wreaked your vengeance on him for his share in the business, you knew that the knowledge that he was again in your power would be the best punishment you could inflict upon your enemy. Is that so, Mr Squeers?'
`Why, sir,' returned Squeers, almost overpowered by the determination which Ralph displayed to make everything tell against him, and by his stern unyielding manner, `in a measure it was.'
`What does that mean?' said Ralph.
`Why, in a measure means," returned Squeers, `as it may be, that it wasn't all on my account, because you had some old grudge to satisfy, too.'
`If I had not had,' said Ralph, in no way abashed by the reminder, `do you think I should have helped you?'
`Why no, I don't suppose you would,' Squeers replied. `I only wanted that point to be all square and straight between us.'
`How can it ever be otherwise?' retorted Ralph. `Except that the account is against me, for I spend money to gratify my hatred, and you pocket it, and gratify yours at the same time. You are, at least, as avaricious as you are revengeful. So am I. Which is best off? You, who win money and revenge, at the same time and by the same process, and who are, at all events, sure of money, if not of revenge; or I, who am only sure of spending money in any case, and can but win bare revenge at last?'
As Mr Squeers could only answer this proposition by shrugs and smiles, Ralph bade him be silent, and thankful that he was so well off; and then, fixing his eyes steadily upon him, proceeded to say:
First, that Nicholas had thwarted him in a plan he had formed for the disposal in marriage of a certain young lady, and had, in the confusion attendant on her father's sudden death, secured that lady himself, and borne her off in triumph.
Secondly, that by some will or settlement--certainly by some instrument in writing, which must contain the young lady's name, and could be, therefore, easily selected from others, if access to the place where it was deposited were once secured--she was entitled to property which, if the existence of this deed ever became known to her, would make her husband (and Ralph represented that Nicholas was certain to marry her) a rich and prosperous man, and most formidable enemy.