Great Expectations Page #7

Estella has been part of my existence

ever since I first came here,

the rough, common boy

whose heart she wounded even then.

She has been the embodiment

of every graceful fancy

that my mind has ever known.

To the last hour of my life

she will remain part of my character,

part of the little good in me,

part of the evil.

But you may dismiss me

from your mind and conscience.

But Estella is a different case.

And if you can ever undo

any scrap of what you've done amiss,

in keeping part of her right nature

away from her,

it will be better to do that than to bemoan

the past through a hundred years.

Late that evening, I left the room

with the long table for the last time

and started on my way back to London.

- Mr. Pip, I believe. Good morning.

- Good morning.

I have a note for you, sir.

The messenger said it's urgent.

- Get me a cab off the stand.

- Yes, sir.

- Morning. What's the trouble?

- You got my note then?

- Yes, I came straight here.

- What have you done to your hands!

- I got them burnt. I'm very anxious...

- Everything's taken care of.

Pray, come in.

You don't object to an aged parent?

- Oh, no, delighted.

- This is Mr. Pip, Aged P.

And I wish you could hear his name.

Give him a nod, that's what he likes.

You have made acquaintance

with my son at his office, I expect.

- Yes.

- Nod away, if you please, like winking.

Yes, yes.

Yes, yes.

I hear that my son is a wonderful hand

at his business, sir.

You're as proud of me as punch,

ain't you, Aged P?

There's a nod for you.

There's another one for you.

Now, Mr. Pip and I have business

to discuss.

Come and sit down.

I want to offer an apology,

he doesn't have many pleasures.

Just tip him a nod now and then

and he'll be as happy as a king.

You'll appreciate I'm most anxious

to know what's happened.

Of course. Now...

I heard by chance yesterday morning

that an old enemy of a certain convict,

whose name we needn't mention...

- Yes...

- ..have got wind of his being in England.

So I went to the Temple and found Mr.

Herbert.

I told him that if he was aware

of any such person,

whose name we needn't mention,

being about your chambers,

that he'd better get him out of the way.

I also heard that you had been watched.

- That I'd been watched?

- Yes.

And might be watched again.

So he had better get him out of the way

while you were out of the way.

I see. He would be

greatly puzzled what to do.

He was!

But we've now moved him to a house

by the river, down Limehouse way.

- I should like to join them at once.

- My advice is to wait till after dark,

by which time, you see,

we can have those hands attended to.

- Good evening.

- Good evening, sir.

- Thank you. Our supper, if you will.

- Very good, sir.

- How is he?

- All's well.

I'm a heavy grubber, dear boy,

always was.

Are you sure you can rely on

Wemmick's judgment and sources?

Aye, Wemmick knows.

He spoke to me

of a particular enemy of yours.

- Do you know who that might be?

- Aye.

The man you saw fighting with me

on the marshes, with the scar.

He turned informer on me

to save his skin.

He'd do it again to see me hanged,

but no sneaking rat like him's

going to make me leave, my boy.

If you're worried, there's no need.

I'm coming with you.

No!

You're a game 'un.

What a game 'un my boy's

turned out to be, eh?

The following day,

I sent Herbert to make some enquiries.

He found that the packet boat

for the continent

left Gravesend Pier

at high tide every Thursday.

I set myself to hire a boat.

It was soon done.

I couldn't get rid of

the notion of being watched.

How many undesigning persons

I suspected of watching me,

it would be hard to calculate.

I began to go out

as for training and practice,

sometimes alone, sometimes with

Herbert.

We were out in all weathers

and became familiar figures on the river.

My burns were still very painful.

We made it a practice that Herbert

should embark from the place

nearest to the house

where our convict was hidden.

As the hours of the tide changed,

we took to going further downriver.

There, on the marshes,

we found a lone public house

where we decided to stay

on the night of our escape.

And from a nearby buoy we timed

the passing of the packet boat.

We chose this spot carefully.

It was just above the point where

the steamer picked up the river pilot.

The river pilot.

Our river pilot.

One day, Herbert bought

two steamship tickets

and our plans were set.

Boat ahoy!

Ahoy there!

- Tell me something.

- What, dear boy?

What I did for you as a child

was such a small thing.

Why have you done so much for me?

I had a child of me own once, Pip.

A little girl who I loved and lost.

What happened to her?

I don't know. It's a dark part of my life,

dear boy. Ain't worth telling.

But when on those lone,

shivering marshes

a boy was kind to a half-starved convict,

that boy took the place

of the child he had lost.

Pull on your left.

Here she comes!

One, two.

One, two.

One, two. One, two...

One, two.

You have an escaped convict there.

That's the man in the stern.

I call upon him to surrender

and you to assist!

Look out!

Look out!

Help!

I'll never forgive myself for this.

I'm all right, dear boy.

I'm content to have seen my boy

and to take my chance.

Jaggers will help us.

He'll get you off, all right.

Prisoners at the bar.

It is now my duty to pronounce

the sentence demanded by the law.

The sentence of this court is...

that you be taken hence to the place

from whence you came,

and from thence to the place

of execution.

And that each of you there be hanged

by the neck until you be dead.

And may Almighty God

have mercy on your souls.

Are you certain there is nothing

you can do to save him?

Nothing. You realize that

you no longer inherit his money?

- That will be claimed by the Crown.

- The money's of no interest.

If you'd been a blood relation, it might

have been different, but you are not.

You mean, if he had a child,

the money would go to the child?

The money might go to the child.

Mr. Jaggers, there was a child.

- So you think there was child?

- I know there was a child.

And what's more, Mr. Jaggers,

you know it.

Sit down, Pip.

I'm going to put a case to you, Pip,

but I admit nothing.

I understand. You admit nothing.

Put the case that a woman

is charged with murder.

Put the case that this woman

has a child whose father is a convict.

- I understand perfectly.

- But that I make no admissions?

But that you make no admissions.

Now, Pip, put the case

that this woman's legal advisor

knows an eccentric and very rich lady

who is anxious to adopt a little girl.

You understand, Pip?

I understand, but I can hardly believe.

Ring that bell, Mr. Pip.

- Yes, sir?

- Basin.

Yes, sir.

Well, Pip?

If I am in my right mind,

and that woman is Estella's mother,

this legal advisor you mention

will have a lot to answer for.

Now, Pip.

Put the case that this legal advisor

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