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Chapter 6. The Father of the Marshalsea

           Hencethesmugglershabituallyconsortedwiththedebtors(whoreceivedthemwithopenarms),exceptatcertainconstitutionalmomentswhensomebodycamefromsomeOffice,togothroughsomeformofoverlookingsomethingwhichneitherhenoranybodyelseknewanythingabout.OnthesetrulyBritishoccasions,thesmugglers,ifany,madeafeintofwalkingintothestrongcellsandtheblindalley,whilethissomebodypretendedtodohissomething:andmadearealityofwalkingoutagainassoonashehadn’tdoneit—neatlyepitomisingtheadministrationofmostofthepublicaffairsinourrightlittle,tightlittle,island.

           TherehadbeentakentotheMarshalseaPrison,longbeforethedaywhenthesunshoneonMarseillesandontheopeningofthisnarrative,adebtorwithwhomthisnarrativehassomeconcern.

           Hewas,atthattime,averyamiableandveryhelplessmiddle-agedgentleman,whowasgoingoutagaindirectly.Necessarily,hewasgoingoutagaindirectly,becausetheMarshalsealockneverturneduponadebtorwhowasnot.Hebroughtinaportmanteauwithhim,whichhedoubteditsbeingworthwhiletounpack;hewassoperfectlyclear—likealltherestofthem,theturnkeyonthelocksaid—thathewasgoingoutagaindirectly.

           Hewasashy,retiringman;well-looking,thoughinaneffeminatestyle;withamildvoice,curlinghair,andirresolutehands—ringsuponthefingersinthosedays—whichnervouslywanderedtohistremblinglipahundredtimesinthefirsthalf-hourofhisacquaintancewiththejail.Hisprincipalanxietywasabouthiswife.

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