第51章

MrMerdle’sComplaintUponthatestablishmentofstate，theMerdleestablishmentinHarleyStreet，CavendishSquare，therewastheshadowofnomorecommonwallthanthefrontsofotherestablishmentsofstateontheoppositesideofthestreet。LikeunexceptionableSociety，theopposingrowsofhousesinHarleyStreetwereverygrimwithoneanother。Indeed，themansionsandtheirinhabitantsweresomuchalikeinthatrespect，thatthepeoplewereoftentobefounddrawnuponoppositesidesofdinner-tables，intheshadeoftheirownloftiness，staringattheothersideofthewaywiththedullnessofthehouses。

Everybodyknowshowlikethestreetthetwodinner-rowsofpeoplewhotaketheirstandbythestreetwillbe。Theexpressionlessuniformtwentyhouses，alltobeknockedatandrungatinthesameform，allapproachablebythesamedullsteps，allfendedoffbythesamepatternofrailing，allwiththesameimpracticablefire-

escapes，thesameinconvenientfixturesintheirheads，andeverythingwithoutexceptiontobetakenatahighvaluation——whohasnotdinedwiththese？Thehousesodrearilyoutofrepair，theoccasionalbow-window，thestuccoedhouse，thenewly-frontedhouse，thecornerhousewithnothingbutangularrooms，thehousewiththeblindsalwaysdown，thehousewiththehatchmentalwaysup，thehousewherethecollectorhascalledforonequarterofanIdea，andfoundnobodyathome——whohasnotdinedwiththese？Thehousethatnobodywilltake，andistobehadabargain——whodoesnotknowher？Theshowyhousethatwastakenforlifebythedisappointedgentleman，andwhichdoesnotsuithimatall——whoisunacquaintedwiththathauntedhabitation？

HarleyStreet，CavendishSquare，wasmorethanawareofMrandMrsMerdle。IntruderstherewereinHarleyStreet，ofwhomitwasnotaware；butMrandMrsMerdleitdelightedtohonour。SocietywasawareofMrandMrsMerdle。Societyhadsaid’Letuslicensethem；

letusknowthem。’

MrMerdlewasimmenselyrich；amanofprodigiousenterprise；aMidaswithouttheears，whoturnedallhetouchedtogold。Hewasineverythinggood，frombankingtobuilding。HewasinParliament，ofcourse。HewasintheCity，necessarily。HewasChairmanofthis，Trusteeofthat，Presidentoftheother。Theweightiestofmenhadsaidtoprojectors，’Now，whatnamehaveyougot？HaveyougotMerdle？’And，thereplybeinginthenegative，hadsaid，’ThenIwon’tlookatyou。’

Thisgreatandfortunatemanhadprovidedthatextensivebosomwhichrequiredsomuchroomtobeunfeelingenoughin，withanestofcrimsonandgoldsomefifteenyearsbefore。Itwasnotabosomtoreposeupon，butitwasacapitalbosomtohangjewelsupon。MrMerdlewantedsomethingtohangjewelsupon，andheboughtitforthepurpose。StorrandMortimermighthavemarriedonthesamespeculation。

Likeallhisotherspeculations，itwassoundandsuccessful。Thejewelsshowedtotherichestadvantage。ThebosommovinginSocietywiththejewelsdisplayeduponit，attractedgeneraladmiration。Societyapproving，MrMerdlewassatisfied。Hewasthemostdisinterestedofmen，——dideverythingforSociety，andgotaslittleforhimselfoutofallhisgainandcare，asamanmight。

Thatistosay，itmaybesupposedthathegotallhewanted，otherwisewithunlimitedwealthhewouldhavegotit。ButhisdesirewastotheutmosttosatisfySociety(whateverthatwas)，andtakeupallitsdraftsuponhimfortribute。Hedidnotshineincompany；hehadnotverymuchtosayforhimself；hewasareservedman，withabroad，overhanging，watchfulhead，thatparticularkindofdullredcolourinhischeekswhichisratherstalethanfresh，andasomewhatuneasyexpressionabouthiscoat-

cuffs，asiftheywereinhisconfidence，andhadreasonsforbeinganxioustohidehishands。Inthelittlehesaid，hewasapleasantmanenough；plain，emphaticaboutpublicandprivateconfidence，andtenaciousoftheutmostdeferencebeingshownbyeveryone，inallthings，toSociety。InthissameSociety(ifthatwereitwhichcametohisdinners，andtoMrsMerdle’sreceptionsandconcerts)，hehardlyseemedtoenjoyhimselfmuch，andwasmostlytobefoundagainstwallsandbehinddoors。Alsowhenhewentouttoit，insteadofitscominghometohim，heseemedalittlefatigued，anduponthewholerathermoredisposedforbed；buthewasalwayscultivatingitnevertheless，andalwaysmovinginit——andalwayslayingoutmoneyonitwiththegreatestliberality。

MrsMerdle’sfirsthusbandhadbeenacolonel，underwhoseauspic