Pagina 687 di 896

Their housekeeping was of a very frugal kind: not only because

that was the safest way of life, involving the least offence to

the people, but because they were not rich, and Charles,

throughout his imprisonment, had had to pay heavily for his bad

food, and for his guard, and towards the living of the poorer

prisoners. Partly on this account, and partly to avoid a domestic

spy, they kept no servant; the citizen and citizeness who acted

as porters at the courtyard gate, rendered them occasional

service; and Jerry (almost wholly transferred to them by Mr.

Lorry) had become their daily retainer, and had his bed there

every night.