第112章

Inwhichstateofagitation，MrMerdle，evasivelyrollinghiseyesroundtheChiefButler’sshoeswithoutraisingthemtotheindexofthatstupendouscreature’sthoughts，hadsignifiedtohimhisintentionofgivingaspecialdinner：notaverylargedinner，butaveryspecialdinner。TheChiefButlerhadsignified，inreturn，thathehadnoobjectiontolookonatthemostexpensivethinginthatwaythatcouldbedone；andthedayofthedinnerwasnowcome。

MrMerdlestoodinoneofhisdrawing-rooms，withhisbacktothefire，waitingforthearrivalofhisimportantguests。Heseldomornevertookthelibertyofstandingwithhisbacktothefireunlesshewasquitealone。InthepresenceoftheChiefButler，hecouldnothavedonesuchadeed。Hewouldhaveclaspedhimselfbythewristsinthatconstabularymannerofhis，andhavepacedupanddownthehearthrug，orgonecreepingaboutamongtherichobjectsoffurniture，ifhisoppressiveretainerhadappearedintheroomatthatverymoment。Theslyshadowswhichseemedtodartoutofhidingwhenthefirerose，andtodartbackintoitwhenthefirefell，weresufficientwitnessesofhismakinghimselfsoeasy。

Theywereevenmorethansufficient，ifhisuncomfortableglancesatthemmightbetakentomeananything。

MrMerdle’srighthandwasfilledwiththeeveningpaper，andtheeveningpaperwasfullofMrMerdle。Hiswonderfulenterprise，hiswonderfulwealth，hiswonderfulBank，werethefatteningfoodoftheeveningpaperthatnight。ThewonderfulBank，ofwhichhewasthechiefprojector，establisher，andmanager，wasthelatestofthemanyMerdlewonders。SomodestwasMrMerdlewithal，inthemidstofthesesplendidachievements，thathelookedfarmorelikeamaninpossessionofhishouseunderadistraint，thanacommercialColossusbestridinghisownhearthrug，whilethelittleshipsweresailingintodinner。

Beholdthevesselscomingintoport!TheengagingyoungBarnaclewasthefirstarrival；butBarovertookhimonthestaircase。Bar，strengthenedasusualwithhisdoubleeye-glassandhislittlejurydroop，wasoverjoyedtoseetheengagingyoungBarnacle；andopinedthatweweregoingtositinBanco，aswelawyerscalledit，totakeaspecialargument？

’Indeed，’saidthesprightlyyoungBarnacle，whosenamewasFerdinand；’howso？’

’Nay，’smiledBar。’Ifyoudon’tknow，howcanIknow？Youareintheinnermostsanctuaryofthetemple；Iamoneoftheadmiringconcourseontheplainwithout。’

Barcouldbelightinhand，orheavyinhand，accordingtothecustomerhehadtodealwith。WithFerdinandBarnaclehewasgossamer。Barwaslikewisealwaysmodestandself-depreciatory——inhisway。Barwasamanofgreatvariety；butoneleadingthreadranthroughthewoofofallhispatterns。Everymanwithwhomhehadtodowasinhiseyesajury-man；andhemustgetthatjury-manover，ifhecould。

’Ourillustrioushostandfriend，’saidBar；’ourshiningmercantilestar；——goingintopolitics？’

’Going？HehasbeeninParliamentsometime，youknow，’returnedtheengagingyoungBarnacle。

’True，’saidBar，withhislight-comedylaughforspecialjury-men，whichwasaverydifferentthingfromhislow-comedylaughforcomictradesmenoncommonjuries：’hehasbeeninParliamentforsometime。Yethithertoourstarhasbeenavacillatingandwaveringstar？Humph？’

AnaveragewitnesswouldhavebeenseducedbytheHumph？intoanaffirmativeanswer，ButFerdinandBarnaclelookedknowinglyatBarashestrolledup-stairs，andgavehimnoansweratall。

’Justso，justso，’saidBar，noddinghishead，forhewasnottobeputoffinthatway，’andthereforeIspokeofoursittinginBancototakeaspecialargument——meaningthistobeahighandsolemnoccasion，when，asCaptainMacheathsays，“thejudgesaremet：aterribleshow!“Welawyersaresufficientlyliberal，yousee，toquotetheCaptain，thoughtheCaptainissevereuponus。

Nevertheless，IthinkIcouldputinevidenceanadmissionoftheCaptain’s，’saidBar，withalittlejocoserollofhishead；for，inhislegalcurrentofspeech，healwaysassumedtheairofrallyinghimselfwiththebestgraceintheworld；’anadmissionoftheCaptain’sthatLaw，inthegross，isatleastintendedtobeimpartial。ForwhatsaystheCaptain，ifIquotehimcorrectly——

andifnot，’withalight-comedytouchofhisdoubleeye-glassonhiscompanion’sshoulder，’mylearnedfriendwillsetmeright：

“Sincelawsweremadeforeverydegree，Tocurbviceinothersaswellasinme，Iwonderw