little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第139章

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that　period　with　all　he　could　get；　was　the　final　satisfactory　sum　and
substance　of　his　promised　explanation；　but　she　held　her　peace；　devoutly
thankful　to　be　quit　of　him。　As　it　seemed　reasonable　to　conclude　that　a
man　who　had　never　been　buried　could　not　be　unburied；　the　diggers　gave
him　up　when　their　task　was　done；　and　did　not　dig　down　for　him　into　the
depths　of　the　earth。

This　was　taken　in　ill　part　by　a　great　many　people；　who　persisted
in　believing　that　Flintwinch　was　lying　somewhere　among　the　London
geological　formation。　Nor　was　their　belief　much　shaken　by　repeated
intelligence　which　came　over　in　course　of　time；　that　an　old　man　who　wore
the　tie　of　his　neckcloth　under　one　ear；　and　who　was　very　well　known　to
be　an　Englishman；　consorted　with　the　Dutchmen　on　the　quaint　banks　of　the
canals　of　the　Hague　and　in　the　drinking…shops　of　Amsterdam；　under　the
style　and　designation　of　Mynheer　von　Flyntevynge。


CHAPTER　32。　Going


Arthur　continuing　to　lie　very　ill　in　the　Marshalsea；　and　Mr　Rugg
descrying　no　break　in　the　legal　sky　affording　a　hope　of　his　enlargement；
Mr　Pancks　suffered　desperately　from　self…reproaches。　If　it　had　not　been
for　those　infallible　figures　which　proved　that　Arthur；　instead　of　pining
in　imprisonment；　ought　to　be　promenading　in　a　carriage　and　pair；　and
that　Mr　Pancks；　instead　of　being　restricted　to　his　clerkly　wages；　ought
to　have　from　three　to　five　thousand　pounds　of　his　own　at　his　immediate
disposal；　that　unhappy　arithmetician　would　probably　have　taken　to　his
bed；　and　there　have　made　one　of　the　many　obscure　persons　who　turned
their　faces　to　the　wall　and　died；　as　a　last　sacrifice　to　the　late　Mr
Merdle's　greatness。　Solely　supported　by　his　unimpugnable　calculations；
Mr　Pancks　led　an　unhappy　and　restless　life；　constantly　carrying　his
figures　about　with　him　in　his　hat；　and　not　only　going　over　them　himself
on　every　possible　occasion；　but　entreating　every　human　being　he　could
lay　hold　of　to　go　over　them　with　him；　and　observe　what　a　clear　case　it
was。　Down　in　Bleeding　Heart　Yard　there　was　scarcely　an　inhabitant　of
note　to　whom　Mr　Pancks　had　not　imparted　his　demonstration；　and；　as
figures　are　catching；　a　kind　of　cyphering　measles　broke　out　in　that
locality；　under　the　influence　of　which　the　whole　Yard　was　light…headed。

The　more　restless　Mr　Pancks　grew　in　his　mind；　the　more　impatient　he
became　of　the　Patriarch。　In　their　later　conferences　his　snorting　assumed
an　irritable　sound　which　boded　the　Patriarch　no　good；　likewise；　Mr
Pancks　had　on　several　occasions　looked　harder　at　the　Patriarchal　bumps
than　was　quite　reconcilable　with　the　fact　of　his　not　being　a　painter；　or
a　peruke…maker　in　search　of　the　living　model。

However；　he　steamed　in　and　out　of　his　little　back　Dock　according　as　he
was　wanted　or　not　wanted　in　the　Patriarchal　presence；　and　business　had
gone　on　in　its　customary　course。　Bleeding　Heart　Yard　had　been　harrowed
by　Mr　Pancks；　and　cropped　by　Mr　Casby；　at　the　regular　seasons；　Mr　Pancks
had　taken　all　the　drudgery　and　all　the　dirt　of　the　business　as　his
share；　Mr　Casby　had　taken　all　the　profits；　all　the　ethereal　vapour；　and
all　the　moonshine；　as　his　share；　and；　in　the　form　of　words　which　that
benevolent　beamer　generally　employed　on　Saturday　evenings；　when　he
twirled　his　fat　thumbs　after　striking　the　week's　balance；　'everything
had　been　satisfactory　to　all　parties……all　parties……satisfactory；　sir；　to
all　parties。'

The　Dock　of　the　Steam…Tug；　Pancks；　had　a　leaden　roof；　which；　frying　in
the　very　hot　sunshine；　may　have　heated　the　vessel。　Be　that　as　it
may；　one　glowing　Saturday　evening；　on　being　hailed　by　the　lumbering
bottle…green　ship；　the　Tug　instantly　came　working　out　of　the　Dock　in　a
highly　heated　condition。　'Mr　Pancks；'　was　the　Patriarchal　remark；　'you
have　been　remiss；　you　have　been　remiss；　sir。'

'What　do　you　mean　by　that？'　was　the　short　rejoinder。

The　Patriarchal　state；　always　a　state　of　calmness　and　posure；　was
so　particularly　serene　that　evening　as　to　be　provoking。　Everybody　else
within　the　bills　of　mortality　was　hot；　but　the　Patriarch　was　perfectly
cool。　Everybody　was　thirsty；　and　the　Patriarch　was　drinking。　There　was
a　fragrance　of　limes　or　lemons　about　him；　and　he　made　a　drink　of　golden
sherry；　which　shone　in　a　large　tumbler　as　if　he　were　drinking　the
evening　sunshine。　This　was　bad；　but　not　the　worst。　The　worst　was；　that
with　his　big　blue　eyes；　and　his　polished　head；　and　his　long　white　hair；
and　his　bottle…green　legs　stretched　out　before　him；　terminating　in　his
easy　shoes　easily　crossed　at　the　instep；　he　had　a　radiant　appearance
of　having　in　his　extensive　benevolence　made　the　drink　for　the　human
species；　while　he　himself　wanted　nothing　but　his　own　milk　of　human
kindness。

Wherefore；　Mr　Pancks　said；　'What　do　you　mean　by　that？'　and　put　his　hair
up　with　both　hands；　in　a　highly　portentous　manner。

'I　mean；　Mr　Pancks；　that　you　must　be　sharper　with　the　people；　sharper
with　the　people；　much　sharper　with　the　people；　sir。　You　don't　squeeze
them。　You　don't　squeeze　them。　Your　receipts　are　not　up　to　the　mark。　You
must　squeeze　them；　sir；　or　our　connection　will　not　continue　to　be　as
satisfactory　as　I　could　wish　it　to　be　to　all　parties。　All　parties。'

'Don't　I　squeeze　'em？'　retorted　Mr　Pancks。　'What　else　am　I　made　for？'

'You　are　made　for　nothing　else；　Mr　Pancks。　You　are　made　to　do　your
duty；　but　you　don't　do　your　duty。　You　are　paid　to　squeeze；　and　you
must　squeeze　to　pay。'　The　Patriarch　so　much　surprised　himself　by　this
brilliant　turn；　after　Dr　Johnson；　which　he　had　not　in　the　least
expected　or　intended；　that　he　laughed　aloud；　and　repeated　with　great
satisfaction；　as　he　twirled　his　thumbs　and　nodded　at　his　youthful
portrait；　'Paid　to　squeeze；　sir；　and　must　squeeze　to　pay。'

'Oh；'　said　Pancks。　'Anything　more？'

'Yes；　sir；　yes；　sir。　Something　more。　You　will　please；　Mr　Pancks；　to
squeeze　the　Yard　again；　the　first　thing　on　Monday　morning。'

'Oh！'　said　Pancks。　'Ain't　that　too　soon？　I　squeezed　it　dry　to…day。'

'Nonsense；　sir。　Not　near　the　mark；　not　near　the　mark。'

'Oh！'　said　Pancks；　watching　him　as　he　benevolently　gulped　down　a　good
draught　of　his　mixture。　'Anything　more？'

'Yes；　sir；　yes；　sir；　something　more。　I　am　not　at　all　pleased；　Mr　Pancks；
with　my　daughter；　not　at　all　pleased。　Besides　calling　much　too　often
to　inquire　for　Mrs　Clennam；　Mrs　Clennam；　who　is　not　just　now　in
circumstances　that　are　by　any　means　calculated　to……to　be　satisfactory　to
all　parties；　she　goes；　Mr　Pancks；　unless　I　am　much　deceived；　to　inquire
for　Mr　Clennam　in　jail。　In　jail。'

'He's　laid　up；　you　know；'　said　Pancks。　'Perhaps　it's　kind。'

'Pooh；　pooh；　Mr　Pancks。　She　has　nothing　to　do　with　that；　nothing　to　do
with　that。　I　can't　allow　it。　Let　him　pay　his　debts　and　e　out；　e
out；　pay　his　debts；　and　e　out。'

Although　Mr　Pancks's　hair　was　standing　up　like　strong　wire；　he　gave　it
another　double…handed　impulse　in　the　perpendicular　direction；　and　smiled
at　his　proprietor　in　a　most　hideous　manner。

'You　will　please　to　mention　to　my　daughter；　Mr　Pancks；　that　I　can't
allow　it；　can't　allow　it；'　said　the　Patriarch　blandly。

'Oh！'　said　Pancks。　'You　couldn't　mention　it　yourself？'

'No；　sir；　no；　you　are　paid　to　mention　it；'　the　blundering　old　booby
could　not　resist　the　temptation　of　trying　it　again；　'and　you　must
mention　it　to　pay；　mention　it　to　pay。'

'Oh！'　said　Pancks。　'Anything　more？'

'Yes；　sir。　It　appears　to　me；　Mr　Pancks；　that　you　yourself　are　too　often
and　too　much　in　that　direction；　that　direction。　I　remend　you；　Mr
Pancks；　to　dismiss　from　your　attention　both　your　own　losses　and　other
people's　losses；　and　to　mind　your　business；　mind　your　business。'

Mr　Pancks　acknowledged　this　remendation　with　such　an　extraordinarily
abrupt；　short；　and　loud　utterance　of　the　monosyllable　'Oh！'　that　even
the　unwieldy　Patriarch　moved　his　blue　eyes　in　something　of　a　hurry；　to
look　at　him。　Mr　Pancks；　with　a　sniff　of　corresponding　intensity；　then
added；　'Anything　more？'

'Not　at　present；　sir；　not　at　present。　I　am　going；'　said　the　Patriarch；
finishing　his　mixture；　and　rising　with　an　amiable　air；　'to　take　a　little
stroll；　a　little　stroll。　Perhaps　I　shall　find　you　here　when　I　e　back。
If　not；　sir；　duty；　duty；　squeeze；　squeeze；　squeeze；　on　Monday；　squeeze
on　Monday！'

Mr　Pancks；　after　another　stiffening　of　his　hair；　looked　on　at　the
Patriarchal　assumption　of　the　broad…brimmed　hat；　with　a　momentary
appearance　of　indecision　contending　with　a　sense　of　injury。　He　was　also
hotter　than　at　first；　and　breathed　harder。　But　he　suffered　Mr　Casby　to
go　out；　without　offering　any　further　remark；　and　then　took　a　peep　at
him　over　the　little　green　window…blinds。　'I　thought　so；'　he　observed。　'I
knew　where　you　were　bound　to。　Good！'　He　then　steamed　back　to　his　Dock；
put　it　carefully　in　order；　took　down　his　hat；　looked　round　the　Dock；
said　'Good…bye！'　and　puffed　away　on　his　own　account。　He　steered　straight
for　Mrs　Plornish's　end　of　Bleeding　Heart　Yard；　and　arrived　there；　at　the
top　of　the　steps；　hotter　than　ever。

At　the　top　of　the　steps；　resisting　Mrs　Plornish's　invitations　to　e
and　sit　along　with　father　in　Happy　Cottage……which　to　his　relief　were　not
so　numerous　as　they　would　have　been　on　any　other　night　than　Saturday；
when　the　connection　who　so　gallantly　supported　the　business　with
everything　but　money　gave　their　orders　freely……at　the　top　of　the　steps
Mr　Pancks　remained　until　he　beheld　the　Patriarch；　who　always　entered
the　Yard　at　the　other　end；　slowly　advancing；　beaming；　and　surrounded
by　suitors。　Then　Mr　Pancks　descended　and　bore　down　upon　him；　with　his
utmost　pressure　of　steam　on。

The　Patriarch；　approaching　with　his　usual　benignity；　was　surprised　to
see　Mr　Pancks；　but　supposed　him　to　have　been　stimulated　to　an　immediate
squeeze　instead　of　postponing　that　operation　until　Monday。　The
population　of　the　Yard　were　astonished　at　the　meeting；　for　the　two
powers　had　never　been　seen　there　together；　within　the　memory　of　the
oldest　Bleeding　Heart。　But　they　were　overe　by　unutterable　amazement
when　Mr　Pancks；　going　close　up　to　the　most　venerable　of　men　and　halting
in　front　of　the　bottle…green　waistcoat；　made　a　trigger　of　his　right
thumb　and　forefinger；　applied　the　same　to　the　brim　of　the　broad…brimmed
hat；　and；　with　singular　smartness　and　precision；　shot　it　off　the
polished　head　as　if　it　had　been　a　large　marble。

Having　taken　this　little　liberty　with　the　Patriarchal　person；　Mr　Pancks
further　astounded　and　attracted　the　Bleeding　Hearts　by　saying　in　an
audible　voice；　'Now；　you　sugary　swindler；　I　mean　to　have　it　out　with
you！'

Mr　Pancks　and　the　Patriarch　were　instantly　the　centre　of　a　press；　all
eyes　and　ears；　windows　were　thrown　open；　and　door…steps　were　thronged。

'What　do　you　pretend　to　be？'　said　Mr　Pancks。　'What's　your　moral　game？
What　do　you　go　in　for？　Benevolence；　an't　it？　You　benevolent！'　Here　Mr
Pancks；　apparently　without　the　intention　of　hitting　him；　but　merely　to
relieve　his　mind　and　expend　his　superfluous　power　in　wholesome　exercise；
aimed　a　blow　at　the　bumpy　head；　which　the　bumpy　head　ducked　to
avoid。　This　singular　performance　was　repeated；　to　the　ever…increasing
admiration　of　the　spectators；　at　the　end　of　every　succeeding　article　of
Mr　Pancks's　oration。

'I　have　discharged　myself　from　your　service；'　said　Pancks；　'that　I　may
tell　you　what　you　are。　You're　one　of　a　lot　of　impostors　that　are　the
worst　lot　of　all　the　lots　to　be　met　with。　Speaking　as　a　sufferer　by
both；　I　don't　know　that　I　wouldn't　as　soon　have　the　Merdle　lot　as　your
lot。　You're　a　driver　in　disguise；　a　screwer　by　deputy；　a　wringer；　and
squeezer；　and　shaver　by　substitute。　You're　a　philanthropic　sneak。　You're
a　shabby　deceiver！'　（The　repetition　of　the　performance　at　this　point　was
received　with　a　burst　of　laughter。）

'Ask　these　good　people　who's　the　hard　man　here。　They'll　tell　you　Pancks；
I　believe。'

This　was　confirmed　with　cries　of　'Certainly；'　and　'Hear！'

'But　I　tell　you；　good　people……Casby！　This　mound　of　meekness；　this　lump
of　love；　this　bottle…green　smiler；　this　is　your　driver！'　said　Pancks。
'If　you　want　to　see　the　man　who　would　flay　you　alive……here　he　is！　Don't
look　for　him　in　me；　at　thirty　shillings　a　week；　but　look　for　him　in
Casby；　at　I　don't　know　how　much　a　year！'

'Good！'　cried　several　voices。　'Hear　Mr　Pancks！'

'Hear　Mr　Pancks？'　cried　that　gentleman　（after　repeating　the　popular
performance）。　'Yes；　I　should　think　so！　It's　almost　time　to　hear　Mr
Pancks。　Mr　Pancks　has　e　down　into　the　Yard　to…night　on　purpose　that
you　should　hear　him。　Pancks　is　only　the　Works；　but　here's　the　Winder！'

The　audience　would　have　gone　over　to　Mr　Pancks；　as　one　man；　woman；　and
child；　but　for　the　long；　grey；　silken　locks；　and　the　broad…brimmed　hat。

'Here's　the　Stop；'　said　Pancks；　'that　sets　the　tune　to　be　ground。　And
there　is　but　one　tune；　and　its　name　is　Grind；　Grind；　Grind！　Here's　the
Proprietor；　and　here's　his　Grubber。　Why；　good　people；　when　he　es
smoothly　spinning　through　the　Yard　to…night；　like　a　slow…going
benevolent　Humming…Top；　and　when　you　e　about　him　with　your　plaints
of　the　Grubber；　you　don't　know　what　a　cheat　the　Proprietor　is！　What　do
you　think　of　his　showing　himself　to…night；　that　I　may　have　all　the　blame
on　Monday？　What　do　you　think　of　his　having　had　me　over　the　coals　this
very　evening；　because　I　don't　squeeze　you　enough？　What　do　you