第23章

WithBarnaclejunior，hesignifiedhisdesiretoconfer；andfoundthatyounggentlemansingeingthecalvesofhislegsattheparentalfire，andsupportinghisspineagainstthemantel-shelf。

Itwasacomfortableroom，handsomelyfurnishedinthehigherofficialmanner；anpresentingstatelysuggestionsoftheabsentBarnacle，inthethickcarpet，theleather-covereddesktositat，theleather-covereddesktostandat，theformidableeasy-chairandhearth-rug，theinterposedscreen，thetorn-uppapers，thedispatch-boxeswithlittlelabelsstickingoutofthem，likemedicinebottlesordeadgame，thepervadingsmellofleatherandmahogany，andageneralbamboozlingairofHownottodoit。

ThepresentBarnacle，holdingMrClennam’scardinhishand，hadayouthfulaspect，andthefluffiestlittlewhisker，perhaps，thateverwasseen。Suchadownytipwasonhiscallowchin，thatheseemedhalffledgedlikeayoungbird；andacompassionateobservermighthaveurgedthat，ifhehadnotsingedthecalvesofhislegs，hewouldhavediedofcold。Hehadasuperioreye-glassdanglingroundhisneck，butunfortunatelyhadsuchflatorbitstohiseyesandsuchlimplittleeyelidsthatitwouldn’tstickinwhenheputitup，butkepttumblingoutagainsthiswaistcoatbuttonswithaclickthatdiscomposedhimverymuch。

’Oh，Isay。Lookhere!Myfather’snotintheway，andwon’tbeinthewayto-day，’saidBarnacleJunior。’IsthisanythingthatIcando？’

(Click!Eye-glassdown。BarnacleJuniorquitefrightenedandfeelingallroundhimself，butnotabletofindit。)

’Youareverygood，’saidArthurClennam。’IwishhowevertoseeMrBarnacle。’

’ButIsay。Lookhere!Youhaven’tgotanyappointment，youknow，’saidBarnacleJunior。

(Bythistimehehadfoundtheeye-glass，andputitupagain。)

’No，’saidArthurClennam。’ThatiswhatIwishtohave。’

’ButIsay。Lookhere!Isthispublicbusiness？’askedBarnaclejunior。

(Click!Eye-glassdownagain。BarnacleJuniorinthatstateofsearchafteritthatMrClennamfeltituselesstoreplyatpresent。)

’Isit，’saidBarnaclejunior，takingheedofhisvisitor’sbrownface，’anythingabout——Tonnage——orthatsortofthing？’

(Pausingforareply，heopenedhisrighteyewithhishand，andstuckhisglassinit，inthatinflammatorymannerthathiseyebeganwateringdreadfully。)

’No，’saidArthur，’itisnothingabouttonnage。’

’Thenlookhere。Isitprivatebusiness？’

’Ireallyamnotsure。ItrelatestoaMrDorrit。’

’Lookhere，Itellyouwhat!Youhadbettercallatourhouse，ifyouaregoingthatway。Twenty-four，MewsStreet，GrosvenorSquare。Myfather’sgotaslighttouchofthegout，andiskeptathomebyit。’

(ThemisguidedyoungBarnacleevidentlygoingblindonhiseye-

glassside，butashamedtomakeanyfurtheralterationinhispainfularrangements。)

’Thankyou。Iwillcalltherenow。Goodmorning。’YoungBarnacleseemeddiscomfitedatthis，asnothavingatallexpectedhimtogo。

’Youarequitesure，’saidBarnaclejunior，callingafterhimwhenhegottothedoor，unwillingwhollytorelinquishthebrightbusinessideahehadconceived；’thatit’snothingaboutTonnage？’

’Quitesure。’

Withsuchassurance，andratherwonderingwhatmighthavetakenplaceifitHADbeenanythingabouttonnage，MrClennamwithdrewtopursuehisinquiries。

MewsStreet，GrosvenorSquare，wasnotabsolutelyGrosvenorSquareitself，butitwasverynearit。Itwasahideouslittlestreetofdeadwall，stables，anddunghills，withloftsovercoach-housesinhabitedbycoachmen’sfamilies，whohadapassionfordryingclothesanddeco