"i understand how to put you in a corner, mr. darnay," said bully stryver, "and i'll do it. if this fellow is a gentleman, i don't understand him. you may tell him so, with my compliments. you may also tell him, from me, that after abandoning his worldly goods and position to this butcherly mob, i wonder he is not at the head of them. but, no, gentlemen," said stryver, looking all round, and snapping his fingers, "i know something of human nature, and i tell you that you'll never find a fellow like this fellow, trusting himself to the mercies of such precious protégés. no, gentlemen; he'll always show 'em a clean pair of heels very early in the scuffle, and sneak away."