[00:00.54] Chapter 8, Uriah Heep's Scheme.
[00:05.69] In the days after that terrible discovery, I went over and over everything that had happened.
[00:14.75] Agnes had been right yet again.
[00:19.72] Steerforth had behaved very badly, and I was ashamed of him.
[00:25.74] But I still could not believe that he was wholly evil.
[00:32.59] He had betrayed his friends through selfishness, but he had not meant to do them harm.
[00:41.06] Uriah Heep, on the other hand, intended every malicious act.
[00:52.55] Mr. Wickfield had employed Mr. Micawber as his clerk.
[00:58.54] At first, Mr. Micawber was delighted with his new job, but it wasn't long before Uriah was meddling in Mr. Micawber's affairs, pushing him deeper into debt and further into his power.
[01:12.05] One night, Agnes visited me in my rooms, looking exhausted and unhappy.
[01:20.73] Uriah Heap is now in partnership with my father, she told me, and father is completely in his power.
[01:33.08] So, Uriah had finally got his way.
[01:39.97] Uriah and his mother now live with us, Agnes continued, and Uriah is always at my father's side.
[01:49.93] He hides lots of papers from us.
[01:54.23] I'm sure he's scheming some even worse sort of fraud or treachery.
[02:05.50] I wondered if Agnes knew that Uriah wanted to marry her.
[02:11.82] But she seemed unaware of his plot, and I didn't want to make her even unhappier.
[02:22.25] I was determined Uriah should never get his way.
[02:28.62] So, a few days later, I went down to see Mr. Wickfield in Canterbury.
[02:36.59] Uriah was fawning and fluttering around the older man, who was trembling and anxious.
[02:46.24] But my arrival seemed to give Mr. Wickfield the courage to cry out for help.
[02:53.19] That man is my torturer, he said falteringly, pointing a finger at Uriah.
[03:02.20] He has taken every drop of peace and quiet from my life.
[03:11.79] Don't be a fool, snapped Uriah viciously.
[03:17.15] Without me, you would be nothing.
[03:20.73] I have kept your name and reputation.
[03:27.57] You have ruined me, wailed Mr. Wickfield.
[03:32.56] Silence him, Copperfield, Uriah snarled.
[03:38.58] Or the old fool will say something he regrets.
[03:43.76] I will not silence him, I cried, preparing to confront Uriah.
[03:49.77] You have ruined him.
[03:53.95] Uriah's eyes burned with hatred.
[03:58.53] This isn't about Mr. Wickfield, is it, Copperfield?
[04:03.79] He shouted, "This is about you.
[04:09.27] You are jealous of me because I have become Mr. Wickfield's partner.
[04:18.68] Uriah then rubbed his clammy hands together.
[04:27.51] I think it's time, Mr. Wickfield, for you to discover that one day in the near future, I shall marry your daughter.
[04:43.29] This was too much for Mr. Wickfield.
[04:47.40] He moaned in horror, started pulling his hair out and beating his head with his own fists.
[04:56.63] In fury, I hit out and slapped Heep's cheek.
[05:02.49] He caught my hand, and we stared in silent anger at each other for at least a minute.
[05:12.66] Then he smiled in an oily, contemptuous way.
[05:20.31] I forgive you, Copperfield, he said.
[05:25.29] There's nothing you can do to me now.
[05:34.85] I left the house, my mind made up that I would do everything in my power to wreck Uriah Heap's schemes.
[05:45.55] But I needed proof.