第24章

’TheDepartmentisaccessibletothe——Public，’MrBarnaclewasalwayscheckedalittlebythatwordofimpertinentsignification，’ifthe——Publicapproachesitaccordingtotheofficialforms；ifthe——Publicdoesnotapproachitaccordingtotheofficialforms，the——Publichasitselftoblame。’

MrBarnaclemadehimaseverebow，asawoundedmanoffamily，awoundedmanofplace，andawoundedmanofagentlemanlyresidence，allrolledintoone；andhemadeMrBarnacleabow，andwasshutoutintoMewsStreetbytheflabbyfootman。

Havinggottothispass，heresolvedasanexerciseinperseverance，tobetakehimselfagaintotheCircumlocutionOffice，andtrywhatsatisfactionhecouldgetthere。SohewentbacktotheCircumlocutionOffice，andoncemoresentuphiscardtoBarnaclejuniorbyamessengerwhotookitveryillindeedthatheshouldcomebackagain，andwhowaseatingmashedpotatoesandgravybehindapartitionbythehallfire。

HewasreadmittedtothepresenceofBarnaclejunior，andfoundthatyounggentlemansingeinghiskneesnow，andgapinghiswearywayontofouro’clock。

’Isay。Lookhere。Yousticktousinadevilofamanner，’SaidBarnaclejunior，lookingoverhisshoulder。

’Iwanttoknow——’

’Lookhere。Uponmysoulyoumustn’tcomeintotheplacesayingyouwanttoknow，youknow，’remonstratedBarnaclejunior，turningaboutandputtinguptheeye-glass。

’Iwanttoknow，’saidArthurClennam，whohadmadeuphismindtopersistenceinoneshortformofwords，’theprecisenatureoftheclaimoftheCrownagainstaprisonerfordebt，namedDorrit。’

’Isay。Lookhere。Youreallyaregoingitatagreatpace，youknow。Egad，youhaven’tgotanappointment，’saidBarnaclejunior，asifthethingweregrowingserious。

’Iwanttoknow，’saidArthur，andrepeatedhiscase。

Barnaclejuniorstaredathimuntilhiseye-glassfellout，andthenputitinagainandstaredathimuntilitfelloutagain。

’Youhavenorighttocomethissortofmove，’hethenobservedwiththegreatestweakness。’Lookhere。Whatdoyoumean？Youtoldmeyoudidn’tknowwhetheritwaspublicbusinessornot。’

’Ihavenowascertainedthatitispublicbusiness，’returnedthesuitor，’andIwanttoknow’——andagainrepeatedhismonotonousinquiry。

ItseffectuponyoungBarnaclewastomakehimrepeatinadefencelessway，’Lookhere!UponmySOULyoumustn’tcomeintotheplacesayingyouwanttoknow，youknow!’TheeffectofthatuponArthurClennamwastomakehimrepeathisinquiryinexactlythesamewordsandtoneasbefore。TheeffectofthatuponyoungBarnaclewastomakehimawonderfulspectacleoffailureandhelplessness。

’Well，Itellyouwhat。Lookhere。YouhadbettertrytheSecretarialDepartment，’hesaidatlast，sidlingtothebellandringingit。’Jenkinson，’tothemashedpotatoesmessenger，’MrWobbler!’

ArthurClennam，whonowfeltthathehaddevotedhimselftothestormingofth