第93章

TheInnkeeper，hatinhandintheyard，sworetothecourierthathewasblighted，thathewasdesolated，thathewasprofoundlyafflicted，thathewasthemostmiserableandunfortunateofbeasts，thathehadtheheadofawoodenpig。Heoughtnevertohavemadetheconcession，hesaid，buttheverygenteelladyhadsopassionatelyprayedhimfortheaccommodationofthatroomtodinein，onlyforalittlehalf-hour，thathehadbeenvanquished。Thelittlehalf-hourwasexpired，theladyandgentlemanweretakingtheirlittledessertandhalf-cupofcoffee，thenotewaspaid，thehorseswereordered，theywoulddepartimmediately；but，owingtoanunhappydestinyandthecurseofHeaven，theywerenotyetgone。

NothingcouldexceedMrDorrit’sindignation，asheturnedatthefootofthestaircaseonhearingtheseapologies。Hefeltthatthefamilydignitywasstruckatbyanassassin’shand。Hehadasenseofhisdignity，whichwasofthemostexquisitenature。Hecoulddetectadesignuponitwhennobodyelsehadanyperceptionofthefact。Hislifewasmadeanagonybythenumberoffinescalpelsthathefelttobeincessantlyengagedindissectinghisdignity。

’Isitpossible，sir，’saidMrDorrit，reddeningexcessively，’thatyouhave——ha——hadtheaudacitytoplaceoneofmyroomsatthedispositionofanyotherperson？’

Thousandsofpardons!Itwasthehost’sprofoundmisfortunetohavebeenovercomebythattoogenteellady。HebesoughtMonseigneurnottoenragehimself。HethrewhimselfonMonseigneurforclemency。IfMonseigneurwouldhavethedistinguishedgoodnesstooccupytheothersalonespeciallyreservedforhim，forbutfiveminutes，allwouldgowell。

’No，sir，’saidMrDorrit。’Iwillnotoccupyanysalon。Iwillleaveyourhousewithouteatingordrinking，orsettingfootinit。

Howdoyoudaretoactlikethis？WhoamIthatyou——ha——separatemefromothergentlemen？’

Alas!ThehostcalledalltheuniversetowitnessthatMonseigneurwasthemostamiableofthewholebodyofnobility，themostimportant，themostestimable，themosthonoured。IfheseparatedMonseigneurfromothers，itwasonlybecausehewasmoredistinguished，morecherished，moregenerous，morerenowned。

’Don’ttellmeso，sir，’returnedMrDorrit，inamightyheat。

’Youhaveaffrontedme。Youhaveheapedinsultsuponme。Howdareyou？Explainyourself。’

Ah，justHeaven，then，howcouldthehostexplainhimselfwhenhehadnothingmoretoexplain；whenhehadonlytoapologise，andconfidehimselftothesowell-knownmagnanimityofMonseigneur!

’Itellyou，sir，’saidMrDorrit，pantingwithanger，’thatyouseparateme——ha——fromothergentlemen；thatyoumakedistinctionsbetweenmeandothergentlemenoffortuneandstation。Idemandofyou，why？Iwishtoknowon——ha——whatauthority，onwhoseauthority。Replysir。Explain。Answerwhy。’

PermitthelandlordhumblytosubmittoMonsieurtheCourierthen，thatMonseigneur，ordinarilysogracious，enragedhimselfwithoutcause。Therewasnowhy。MonsieurtheCourierwouldrepresenttoMonseigneur，thathedeceivedhimselfinsuspectingthattherewasanywhy，butthewhyhisdevotedservanthadalreadyhadthehonourtopresenttohim。Theverygenteellady——

’Silence!’criedMrDorrit。’Holdyourtongue!Iwillhearnomoreoftheverygenteellady；Iwillhearnomoreofyou。Lookatthisfamily——myfamily——afamilymoregenteelthananylady。Youhavetreatedthisfamilywithdisrespect；youhavebeeninsolenttothisfamily。I’llruinyou。Ha——sendforthehorses，packthecarriages，I’llnotsetfootinthisman’shouseagain!’

Noonehadinterferedinthedispute，whichwasbeyondtheFrenchcolloquialpowersofEdwardDorrit，Esquire，andscarcelywithintheprovinceoftheladies。MissFanny，however，nowsupportedherfatherwithgreatbitterness；declaring，inhernativetongue，thatitwasquitecleartherewassomethingspecialinthisman’simpertinence；andthatsheconsidereditimportantthatheshouldbe，bysomemeans，forcedtogiveuphisauthorityformakingdistinctionsbetweenthatfamilyandotherwealthyfamilies。Whatthereasonsofhispresumptioncouldbe，shewasatalosstoimagine；butreasonshemusthave，andtheyoughttobetornfromhim。

Alltheguides，mule-drivers，andidlersintheyard，hadmadethe