第113章

’HeisawaywithMrsMerdle，’returnedthatgentleman，slowlycomingoutofalongabstraction，inthecourseofwhichhehadbeenfittingatablespoonuphissleeve。’Itisnotindispensableforhimtobeonthespot。’

’ThemagicnameofMerdle，’saidBar，withthejurydroop，’nodoubtwillsufficeforall。’

’Why——yes——Ibelieveso，’assentedMrMerdle，puttingthespoonaside，andclumsilyhidingeachofhishandsinthecoat-cuffoftheotherhand。’Ibelievethepeopleinmyinterestdowntherewillnotmakeanydifficulty。’

’Modelpeople!’saidBar。

’Iamgladyouapproveofthem，’saidMrMerdle。

’Andthepeopleofthoseothertwoplaces，now，’pursuedBar，withabrighttwinkleinhiskeeneye，asitslightlyturnedinthedirectionofhismagnificentneighbour；’welawyersarealwayscurious，alwaysinquisitive，alwayspickingupoddsandendsforourpatchworkminds，sincethereisnoknowingwhenandwheretheymayfitintosomecorner；——thepeopleofthoseothertwoplacesnow？Dotheyyieldsolaudablytothevastandcumulativeinfluenceofsuchenterpriseandsuchrenown；dothoselittlerillsbecomeabsorbedsoquietlyandeasily，and，asitwerebytheinfluenceofnaturallaws，sobeautifully，intheswoopofthemajesticstreamasitflowsuponitswondrouswayenrichingthesurroundinglands；thattheircourseisperfectlytobecalculated，anddistinctlytobepredicated？’

MrMerdle，alittletroubledbyBar’seloquence，lookedfitfullyaboutthenearestsalt-cellarforsomemoments，andthensaidhesitating：

’Theyareperfectlyaware，sir，oftheirdutytoSociety。TheywillreturnanybodyIsendtothemforthatpurpose。’

’Cheeringtoknow，’saidBar。’Cheeringtoknow。’

ThethreeplacesinquestionwerethreelittlerottenholesinthisIsland，containingthreelittleignorant，drunken，guzzling，dirty，out-of-the-wayconstituencies，thathadreeledintoMrMerdle’spocket。FerdinandBarnaclelaughedinhiseasyway，andairilysaidtheywereanicesetoffellows。Bishop，mentallyperambulatingamongpathsofpeace，wasaltogetherswallowedupinabsenceofmind。

’Pray，’askedLordDecimus，castinghiseyesaroundthetable，’whatisthisstoryIhaveheardofagentlemanlongconfinedinadebtors’prisonprovingtobeofawealthyfamily，andhavingcomeintotheinheritanceofalargesumofmoney？Ihavemetwithavarietyofallusionstoit。Doyouknowanythingofit，Ferdinand？’

’Ionlyknowthismuch，’saidFerdinand，’thathehasgiventheDepartmentwithwhichIhavethehonourtobeassociated；’thissparklingyoungBarnaclethrewoffthephrasesportively，aswhoshouldsay，Weknowallabouttheseformsofspeech，butwemustkeepitup，wemustkeepthegamealive；’noendoftrouble，andhasputusintoinnumerablefixes。’

’Fixes？’repeatedLordDecimus，withamajesticpausingandponderingonthewordthatmadethebashfulMembershuthiseyesquitetight。’Fixes？’

’Averyperplexingbusinessindeed，’observedMrTiteBarnacle，withanairofgraveresentment。

’What，’saidLordDecimus，’wasthecharacterofhisbusiness；whatwasthenatureofthese——a——Fixes，Ferdinand？’

’Oh，it’sagoodstory，asastory，’returnedthatgentleman；’asgoodathingofitskindasneedbe。ThisMrDorrit(hisnameisDorrit)hadincurredaresponsibilitytous，agesbeforethefairycameoutoftheBankandgavehimhisfortune，underabondhehadsignedfortheperformanceofacontractwhichwasnotatallperformed。Hewasapartnerinahouseinsomelargeway——spirits，orbuttons，orwine，orblacking，oroatmeal，orwoollen，orpork，orhooksandeyes，oriron，ortreacle，orshoes，orsomethingorotherthatwaswantedfortroops，orseamen，orsomebody——andthehouseburst，andwebeingamongthecreditors，detaineeswerelodgedonthepartoftheCrowninascientificmanner，andalltherestOfit。Whenthefairyhadappearedandhewantedtop