Bucket does have a remarkable talent for adapting himself to the type of person he
is dealing with. Very useful talent, indeed. I did get tired of Bucket constantly
addressing Dedlock by his full title, but Dickens does explain it. “...Mr. Bucket,
who delights in a full title, and does violence to himself when he dispenses with
any fragment of it...”
I assumed Bucket did not attempt to 'put him at his ease' sooner, because he could
not be sure at that point whether all his deductions were correct. He didn't want to
give false hopes.
The descriptions of the cornered Hortense were a bit florid, but when you conjure
up a picture from that description, it seems apt enough. A violent-tempered woman
could well react like a tigress at bay. At the same time, Detective Bucket also
says, “Upon my soul, I wonder at you. I thought the French were a polite nation, I
did, really.” Bucket’s reaction is possibly typical of the English re. the French,
and surely must reflect something of Dickens’.
Moving on to Ch.55, Mrs. Bagnet, bless her heart, has gone to fetch Mrs. Rouncewell to her long-lost George. George, imprisoned on a suspicion of murder, is being noble and pigheaded, and refusing to have anything to do with a lawyer. (I can understand his reluctance, but really!)
As Mrs. Bagnet puts it, “It won’t do to have truth and justice on his side; he must have law and lawyers.” Very true. Innocence can be doubted; it is proof that is needed.
We'll miss you, JUDE. I've enjoyed your contributions so much. Have a great time
at the Shakespeare Festival!