第57章

He，therefore，firstrequestingMrPanckstorememberhisvoluntarydeclarationthathisproprietorhadnopartinthedisclosure，andthathisownintentionsweregood(twodeclarationswhichthatcoalylittlegentlemanwiththegreatestardourrepeated)，openlytoldhimthatastotheDorritlineageorformerplaceofhabitation，hehadnoinformationtocommunicate，andthathisknowledgeofthefamilydidnotextendbeyondthefactthatitappearedtobenowreducedtofivemembers；namely，totwobrothers，ofwhomonewassingle，andoneawidowerwiththreechildren。TheagesofthewholefamilyhemadeknowntoMrPancks，asnearlyashecouldguessatthem；andfinallyhedescribedtohimthepositionoftheFatheroftheMarshalsea，andthecourseoftimeandeventsthroughwhichhehadbecomeinvestedwiththatcharacter。Toallthis，MrPancks，snortingandblowinginamoreandmoreportentousmannerashebecamemoreinterested，listenedwithgreatattention；appearingtoderivethemostagreeablesensationsfromthepainfullestpartsofthenarrative，andparticularlytobequitecharmedbytheaccountofWilliamDorrit’slongimprisonment。

’Inconclusion，MrPancks，’saidArthur，’Ihavebuttosaythis。

IhavereasonsbeyondapersonalregardforspeakingaslittleasIcanoftheDorritfamily，particularlyatmymother’shouse’(MrPancksnodded)，’andforknowingasmuchasIcan。Sodevotedamanofbusinessasyouare——eh？’

ForMrPanckshadsuddenlymadethatblowingeffortwithunusualforce。

’It’snothing，’saidPancks。

’Sodevotedamanofbusinessasyourselfhasaperfectunderstandingofafairbargain。Iwishtomakeafairbargainwithyou，thatyoushallenlightenmeconcerningtheDorritfamilywhenyouhaveitinyourpower，asIhaveenlightenedyou。Itmaynotgiveyouaveryflatteringideaofmybusinesshabits，thatI

failedtomakemytermsbeforehand，’continuedClennam；’butI

prefertomakethemapointofhonour。Ihaveseensomuchbusinessdoneonsharpprinciplesthat，totellyouthetruth，MrPancks，Iamtiredofthem。’

MrPanckslaughed。’It’sabargain，sir，’saidhe。’Youshallfindmesticktoit。’

Afterthat，hestoodalittlewhilelookingatClennam，andbitinghistennailsallround；evidentlywhilehefixedinhismindwhathehadbeentold，andwentoveritcarefully，beforethemeansofsupplyingagapinhismemoryshouldbenolongerathand。’It’sallright，’hesaidatlast，’andnowI’llwishyougoodday，asit’scollectingdayintheYard。By-the-bye，though。Alameforeignerwithastick。’

’Ay，ay。Youdotakeareferencesometimes，Isee？’saidClennam。

’Whenhecanpay，sir，’repliedPancks。’Takeallyoucanget，andkeepbackallyoucan’tbeforcedtogiveup。That’sbusiness。

ThelameforeignerwiththestickwantsatoproomdowntheYard。

Ishegoodforit？’

’Iam，’saidClennam，’andIwillanswerforhim。’

’That’senough。WhatImusthaveofBleedingHeartYard，’saidPancks，makinganoteofthecaseinhisbook，’ismybond。Iwantmybond，yousee。Payup，orproduceyourproperty!That’sthewatchworddowntheYard。Thelameforeignerwiththestickrepresentedthatyousenthim；buthecouldrepresent(asfarasthatgoes)thattheGreatMogulsenthim。Hehasbeeninthehospital，Ibelieve？’

’Yes。Throughhavingmetwithanaccident。Heisonlyjustnowdischarged。’

’It’spauperisingaman，sir，Ihavebeenshown，tolethimintoahospital？’saidPancks。Andagainblewoffthatremarkablesound。

’Ihavebeenshownsotoo，’saidClennam，coldly。

MrPancks，beingbythattimequitereadyforastart，gotundersteaminamoment，and，withoutanyothersignalorceremony，wassnortingdownthestep-ladderandworkingintoBleedingHeartYard，beforeheseemedtobewelloutofthecounting-house。

Throughouttheremainderoftheday，BleedingHeartYardwasinconsternation，asthegrimP