第142章

’MrsMerdle’smaidmustbecalled，andtoldtogetMrsMerdleup，andprepareherasgentlyasshecantoseeme。Ihavedreadfulnewstobreaktoher。’

ThusPhysiciantotheChiefButler。Thelatter，whohadacandleinhishand，calledhismantotakeitaway。Thenheapproachedthewindowwithdignity；lookingonatPhysician’snewsexactlyashehadlookedonatthedinnersinthatveryroom。

’MrMerdleisdead。’

’Ishouldwish，’saidtheChiefButler，’togiveamonth’snotice。’

’MrMerdlehasdestroyedhimself。’

’Sir，’saidtheChiefButler，’thatisveryunpleasanttothefeelingsofoneinmyposition，ascalculatedtoawakenprejudice；

andIshouldwishtoleaveimmediately。’

’Ifyouarenotshocked，areyounotsurprised，man？’demandedthePhysician，warmly。

TheChiefButler，erectandcalm，repliedinthesememorablewords。

’Sir，MrMerdleneverwasthegentleman，andnoungentlemanlyactonMrMerdle’spartwouldsurpriseme。IsthereanybodyelseIcansendtoyou，oranyotherdirectionsIcangivebeforeIleave，respectingwhatyouwouldwishtobedone？’

WhenPhysician，afterdischarginghimselfofhistrustup-stairs，rejoinedBarinthestreet，hesaidnomoreofhisinterviewwithMrsMerdlethanthathehadnotyettoldherall，butthatwhathehadtoldhershehadborneprettywell。Barhaddevotedhisleisureinthestreettotheconstructionofamostingeniousman-

trapforcatchingthewholeofhisjuryatablow；havinggotthatmattersettledinhismind，itwaslucidonthelatecatastrophe，andtheywalkedhomeslowly，discussingitineverybearing。

BeforepartingatthePhysician’sdoor，theybothlookedupatthesunnymorningsky，intowhichthesmokeofafewearlyfiresandthebreathandvoicesofafewearlystirrerswerepeacefullyrising，andthenlookedroundupontheimmensecity，andsaid，ifallthosehundredsandthousandsofbeggaredpeoplewhowereyetasleepcouldonlyknow，astheytwospoke，theruinthatimpendedoverthem，whatafearfulcryagainstonemiserablesoulwouldgouptoHeaven!

Thereportthatthegreatmanwasdead，gotaboutwithastonishingrapidity。Atfirst，hewasdeadofallthediseasesthateverwereknown，andofseveralbran-newmaladiesinventedwiththespeedofLighttomeetthedemandoftheoccasion。Hehadconcealedadropsyfrominfancy，hehadinheritedalargeestateofwateronthechestfromhisgrandfather，hehadhadanoperationperformeduponhimeverymorningofhislifeforeighteenyears，hehadbeensubjecttotheexplosionofimportantveinsinhisbodyafterthemanneroffireworks，hehadhadsomethingthematterwithhislungs，hehadhadsomethingthematterwithhisheart，hehadhadsomethingthematterwithhisbrain。Fivehundredpeoplewhosatdowntobreakfastentirelyuninformedonthewholesubject，believedbeforetheyhaddonebreakfast，thattheyprivatelyandpersonallyknewPhysiciantohavesaidtoMrMerdle，’Youmustexpecttogoout，someday，likethesnuffofacandle；’andthattheyknewMrMerdletohavesaidtoPhysician，’Amancandiebutonce。’Byabouteleveno’clockintheforenoon，somethingthematterwiththebrain，becamethefavouritetheoryagainstthefield；andbytwelvethesomethinghadbeendistinctlyascertainedtobe’Pressure。’

Pressurewassoentirelysatisfactorytothepublicmind，andseemedtomakeeverybodysocomfortable，thatitmighthavelastedalldaybutforBar’shavingtakentherealstateofthecaseintoCourtathalf-pastnine。ThisledtoitsbeginningtobecurrentlywhisperedalloverLondonbyaboutone，thatMrMerdlehadkilledhimself。Pressure，however，sofarfrombeingoverthrownbythediscovery，becameagreaterfavouritethanever。TherewasageneralmoralisinguponPressure，ineverystreet。Allthepeoplewhohadtriedtomakemoneyandhadnotbeenabletodoit，said，Thereyouwere!YounosoonerbegantodevoteyourselftothepursuitofwealththanyougotPressure。Theidlepeopleimprovedtheoccasioninasimilarmanner。See，saidthey，whatyoubroughtyourselftobywork，work，work!Youp