Of course, I was perfectly sure and safe that Provis had not been there.
"I dare say you wonder at me, Mr.Pip; indeed, I see you do.

But it is so very strange! You'll hardly believe what I am going to tell you.

I could hardly believe it myself, if you told me." "Indeed ?" said I.
"No, indeed.

Mr.Pip, you remember in old times a certain Christmas Day, when you were quite a child, and I dined at Gargery's, and some soldiers came to the door to get a pair of handcuffs mended ?" "I remember it very well." "And you remember that there was a chase after two convicts, and that we joined in it, and that Gargery took you on his back, and that I took the lead, and you kept up with me as well as you could ?" "I remember it all very well." Better than he thought,--except the last clause.
"And you remember that we came up with the two in a ditch, and that there was a scuffle between them, and that one of them had been severely handled and much mauled about the face by the other ?" "I see it all before me." "And that the soldiers lighted torches, and put the two in the centre, and that we went on to see the last of them, over the black marshes, with the torchlight shining on their faces,--I am particular about that,--with the torchlight shining on their faces, when there was an outer ring of dark night all about us ?" "Yes," said I."I remember all that." "Then, Mr.Pip, one of those two prisoners sat behind you tonight.

I saw him over your shoulder." "Steady!" I thought.