little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第44章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


drafts　upon　him　for　tribute。　He　did　not　shine　in　pany；　he　had　not
very　much　to　say　for　himself；　he　was　a　reserved　man；　with　a　broad；
overhanging；　watchful　head；　that　particular　kind　of　dull　red　colour
in　his　cheeks　which　is　rather　stale　than　fresh；　and　a　somewhat　uneasy
expression　about　his　coat…cuffs；　as　if　they　were　in　his　confidence；　and
had　reasons　for　being　anxious　to　hide　his　hands。　In　the　little　he　said；
he　was　a　pleasant　man　enough；　plain；　emphatic　about　public　and　private
confidence；　and　tenacious　of　the　utmost　deference　being　shown　by　every
one；　in　all　things；　to　Society。　In　this　same　Society　（if　that　were　it
which　came　to　his　dinners；　and　to　Mrs　Merdle's　receptions　and　concerts）；
he　hardly　seemed　to　enjoy　himself　much；　and　was　mostly　to　be　found
against　walls　and　behind　doors。　Also　when　he　went　out　to　it；　instead　of
its　ing　home　to　him；　he　seemed　a　little　fatigued；　and　upon　the
whole　rather　more　disposed　for　bed；　but　he　was　always　cultivating　it
nevertheless；　and　always　moving　in　it……and　always　laying　out　money　on　it
with　the　greatest　liberality。

Mrs　Merdle's　first　husband　had　been　a　colonel；　under　whose　auspices　the
bosom　had　entered　into　petition　with　the　snows　of　North　America；　and
had　e　off　at　little　disadvantage　in　point　of　whiteness；　and　at　none
in　point　of　coldness。　The　colonel's　son　was　Mrs　Merdle's　only　child。　He
was　of　a　chuckle…headed；　high…shouldered　make；　with　a　general　appearance
of　being；　not　so　much　a　young　man　as　a　swelled　boy。　He　had　given　so　few
signs　of　reason；　that　a　by…word　went　among　his　panions　that　his　brain
had　been　frozen　up　in　a　mighty　frost　which　prevailed　at　St　john's；　New
Brunswick；　at　the　period　of　his　birth　there；　and　had　never　thawed　from
that　hour。　Another　by…word　represented　him　as　having　in　his　infancy；
through　the　negligence　of　a　nurse；　fallen　out　of　a　high　window　on　his
head；　which　had　been　heard　by　responsible　witnesses　to　crack。　It　is
probable　that　both　these　representations　were　of　ex　post　facto
origin；　the　young　gentleman　（whose　expressive　name　was　Sparkler）　being
monomaniacal　in　offering　marriage　to　all　manner　of　undesirable　young
ladies；　and　in　remarking　of　every　successive　young　lady　to　whom　he
tendered　a　matrimonial　proposal　that　she　was　'a　doosed　fine　gal……well
educated　too……with　no　biggodd　nonsense　about　her。'

A　son…in…law　with　these　limited　talents；　might　have　been　a　clog　upon
another　man；　but　Mr　Merdle　did　not　want　a　son…in…law　for　himself；　he
wanted　a　son…in…law　for　Society。　Mr　Sparkler　having　been　in　the　Guards；
and　being　in　the　habit　of　frequenting　all　the　races；　and　all　the
lounges；　and　all　the　parties；　and　being　well　known；　Society　was
satisfied　with　its　son…in…law。　This　happy　result　Mr　Merdle　would　have
considered　well　attained；　though　Mr　Sparkler　had　been　a　more　expensive
article。　And　he　did　not　get　Mr　Sparkler　by　any　means　cheap　for
Society；　even　as　it　was。　There　was　a　dinner　giving　in　the　Harley　Street
establishment；　while　Little　Dorrit　was　stitching　at　her　father's　new
shirts　by　his　side　that　night；　and　there　were　magnates　from　the　Court
and　magnates　from　the　City；　magnates　from　the　mons　and　magnates　from
the　Lords；　magnates　from　the　bench　and　magnates　from　the　bar；
Bishop　magnates；　Treasury　magnates；　Horse　Guard　magnates；　Admiralty
magnates；……all　the　magnates　that　keep　us　going；　and　sometimes　trip　us
up。

'I　am　told；'　said　Bishop　magnate　to　Horse　Guards；　'that　Mr　Merdle　has
made　another　enormous　hit。　They　say　a　hundred　thousand　pounds。'

Horse　Guards　had　heard　two。

Treasury　had　heard　three。

Bar；　handling　his　persuasive　double　eye…glass；　was　by　no　means　clear　but
that　it　might　be　four。　It　was　one　of　those　happy　strokes　of　calculation
and　bination；　the　result　of　which　it　was　difficult　to　estimate。　It
was　one　of　those　instances　of　a　prehensive　grasp；　associated　with
habitual　luck　and　characteristic　boldness；　of　which　an　age　presented　us
but　few。　But　here　was　Brother　Bellows；　who　had　been　in　the　great　Bank
case；　and　who　could　probably　tell　us　more。　What　did　Brother　Bellows　put
this　new　success　at？

Brother　Bellows　was　on　his　way　to　make　his　bow　to　the　bosom；　and　could
only　tell　them　in　passing　that　he　had　heard　it　stated；　with　great
appearance　of　truth；　as　being　worth；　from　first　to　last；　half…a…million
of　money。

Admiralty　said　Mr　Merdle　was　a　wonderful　man；　Treasury　said　he　was　a
new　power　in　the　country；　and　would　be　able　to　buy　up　the　whole　House　of
mons。　Bishop　said　he　was　glad　to　think　that　this　wealth　flowed　into
the　coffers　of　a　gentleman　who　was　always　disposed　to　maintain　the　best
interests　of　Society。

Mr　Merdle　himself　was　usually　late　on　these　occasions；　as　a　man　still
detained　in　the　clutch　of　giant　enterprises　when　other　men　had　shaken
off　their　dwarfs　for　the　day。　On　this　occasion；　he　was　the　last　arrival。
Treasury　said　Merdle's　work　punished　him　a　little。　Bishop　said　he　was
glad　to　think　that　this　wealth　flowed　into　the　coffers　of　a　gentleman
who　accepted　it　with　meekness。

Powder！　There　was　so　much　Powder　in　waiting；　that　it　flavoured　the
dinner。　Pulverous　particles　got　into　the　dishes；　and　Society's　meats　had
a　seasoning　of　first…rate　footmen。　Mr　Merdle　took　down　a　countess　who
was　secluded　somewhere　in　the　core　of　an　immense　dress；　to　which　she
was　in　the　proportion　of　the　heart　to　the　overgrown　cabbage。　If　so　low　a
simile　may　be　admitted；　the　dress　went　down　the　staircase　like　a　richly
brocaded　Jack　in　the　Green；　and　nobody　knew　what　sort　of　small　person
carried　it。

Society　had　everything　it　could　want；　and　could　not　want；　for　dinner。
It　had　everything　to　look　at；　and　everything　to　eat；　and　everything　to
drink。　It　is　to　be　hoped　it　enjoyed　itself；　for　Mr　Merdle's　own　share　of
the　repast　might　have　been　paid　for　with　eighteenpence。　Mrs　Merdle　was
magnificent。　The　chief　butler　was　the　next　magnificent　institution　of
the　day。　He　was　the　stateliest　man　in　the　pany。　He　did　nothing；　but
he　looked　on　as　few　other　men　could　have　done。　He　was　Mr　Merdle's
last　gift　to　Society。　Mr　Merdle　didn't　want　him；　and　was　put　out　of
countenance　when　the　great　creature　looked　at　him；　but　inappeasable
Society　would　have　him……and　had　got　him。

The　invisible　countess　carried　out　the　Green　at　the　usual　stage　of
the　entertainment；　and　the　file　of　beauty　was　closed　up　by　the　bosom。
Treasury　said；　Juno。　Bishop　said；　Judith。

Bar　fell　into　discussion　with　Horse　Guards　concerning　courts…martial。
Brothers　Bellows　and　Bench　struck　in。　Other　magnates　paired　off。　Mr
Merdle　sat　silent；　and　looked　at　the　table…cloth。　Sometimes　a　magnate
addressed　him；　to　turn　the　stream　of　his　own　particular　discussion
towards　him；　but　Mr　Merdle　seldom　gave　much　attention　to　it；　or　did　more
than　rouse　himself　from　his　calculations　and　pass　the　wine。

When　they　rose；　so　many　of　the　magnates　had　something　to　say　to　Mr
Merdle　individually　that　he　held　little　levees　by　the　sideboard；　and
checked　them　off　as　they　went　out　at　the　door。

Treasury　hoped　he　might　venture　to　congratulate　one　of　England's
world…famed　capitalists　and　merchant…princes　（he　had　turned　that
original　sentiment　in　the　house　a　few　times；　and　it　came　easy　to　him）　on
a　new　achievement。　To　extend　the　triumphs　of　such　men　was　to　extend
the　triumphs　and　resources　of　the　nation；　and　Treasury　felt……he　gave　Mr
Merdle　to　understand……patriotic　on　the　subject。

'Thank　you；　my　lord；'　said　Mr　Merdle；　'thank　you。　I　accept　your
congratulations　with　pride；　and　I　am　glad　you　approve。'

'Why；　I　don't　unreservedly　approve；　my　dear　Mr　Merdle。　Because；'
smiling　Treasury　turned　him　by　the　arm　towards　the　sideboard　and　spoke
banteringly；　'it　never　can　be　worth　your　while　to　e　among　us　and　help
us。'

Mr　Merdle　felt　honoured　by　the……

'No；　no；'　said　Treasury；　'that　is　not　the　light　in　which　one　so
distinguished　for　practical　knowledge　and　great　foresight；　can　be
expected　to　regard　it。　If　we　should　ever　be　happily　enabled；　by
accidentally　possessing　the　control　over　circumstances；　to　propose
to　one　so　eminent　to……to　e　among　us；　and　give　us　the　weight　of　his
influence；　knowledge；　and　character；　we　could　only　propose　it　to　him　as
a　duty。　In　fact；　as　a　duty　that　he　owed　to　Society。'

Mr　Merdle　intimated　that　Society　was　the　apple　of　his　eye；　and　that　its
claims　were　paramount　to　every　other　consideration。　Treasury　moved
on；　and　Bar　came　up。　Bar；　with　his　little　insinuating　jury　droop；　and
fingering　his　persuasive　double　eye…glass；　hoped　he　might　be　excused　if
he　mentioned　to　one　of　the　greatest　converters　of　the　root　of　all　evil
into　the　root　of　all　good；　who　had　for　a　long　time　reflected　a　shining
lustre　on　the　annals　even　of　our　mercial　country……if　he　mentioned；
disinterestedly；　and　as；　what　we　lawyers　called　in　our　pedantic　way；
amicus　curiae；　a　fact　that　had　e　by　accident　within　his　knowledge。　He
had　been　required　to　look　over　the　title　of　a　very　considerable　estate
in　one　of　the　eastern　counties……lying；　in　fact；　for　Mr　Merdle　knew　we
lawyers　loved　to　be　particular；　on　the　borders　of　two　of　the　eastern
counties。　Now；　the　title　was　perfectly　sound；　and　the　estate　was　to
be　purchased　by　one　who　had　the　mand　of……Money　（jury　droop　and
persuasive　eye…glass）；　on　remarkably　advantageous　terms。　This　had　e
to　Bar's　knowledge　only　that　day；　and　it　had　occurred　to　him；　'I
shall　have　the　honour　of　dining　with　my　esteemed　friend　Mr　Merdle
this　evening；　and；　strictly　between　ourselves；　I　will　mention　the
opportunity。'　Such　a　purchase　would　involve　not　only　a　great　legitimate
political　influence；　but　some　half…dozen　church　presentations　of
considerable　annual　value。　Now；　that　Mr　Merdle　was　already　at　no　loss
to　discover　means　of　occupying　even　his　capital；　and　of　fully　employing
even　his　active　and　vigorous　intellect；　Bar　well　knew：　but　he　would
venture　to　suggest　that　the　question　arose　in　his　mind；　whether　one　who
had　deservedly　gained　so　high　a　position　and　so　European　a　reputation
did　not　owe　it……we　would　not　say　to　himself；　but　we　would　say　to
Society；　to　possess　himself　of　such　influences　as　these；　and　to　exercise
them……we　would　not　say　for　his　own；　or　for　his　party's；　but　we　would　say
for　Society's……benefit。

Mr　Merdle　again　expressed　himself　as　wholly　devoted　to　that　object　of
his　constant　consideration；　and　Bar　took　his　persuasive　eye…glass　up　the
grand　staircase。　Bishop　then　came　undesignedly　sidling　in　the　direction
of　the　sideboard。

Surely　the　goods　of　this　world；　it　occurred　in　an　accidental　way　to
Bishop　to　remark；　could　scarcely　be　directed　into　happier　channels　than
when　they　accumulated　under　the　magic　touch　of　the　wise　and　sagacious；
who；　while　they　knew　the　just　value　of　riches　（Bishop　tried　here　to
look　as　if　he　were　rather　poor　himself）；　were　aware　of　their　importance；
judiciously　governed　and　rightly　distributed；　to　the　welfare　of　our
brethren　at　large。

Mr　Merdle　with　humility　expressed　his　conviction　that　Bishop　couldn't
mean　him；　and　with　inconsistency　expressed　his　high　gratification　in
Bishop's　good　opinion。

Bishop　then……jauntily　stepping　out　a　little　with　his　well…shaped　right
leg；　as　though　he　said　to　Mr　Merdle　'don't　mind　the　apron；　a　mere　form！'
put　this　case　to　his　good　friend：

Whether　it　had　occurred　to　his　good　friend；　that　Society　might　not
unreasonably　hope　that　one　so　blest　in　his　undertakings；　and　whose
example　on　his　pedestal　was　so　influential　with　it；　would　shed　a　little
money　in　the　direction　of　a　mission　or　so　to　Africa？

Mr　Merdle　signifying　that　the　idea　should　have　his　best　attention；
Bishop　put　another　case：

Whether　his　good　friend　had　at　all　interested　himself　in　the　proceedings
of　our　bined　Additional　Endowed　Dignitaries　mittee；　and　whether　it
had　occurred　to　him　that　to　shed　a　little　money　in　that　direction　might
be　a　great　conception　finely　executed？

Mr　Merdle　made　a　similar　reply；　and　Bishop　explained　his　reason　for
inquiring。

Society　looked　to　such　men　as　his　good　friend　to　do　such　things。　It　was
not　that　HE　looked　to　them；　but　that　Society　looked　to　them。

Just　as　it　was　not　Our　mittee　who　wanted　the　Additional　Endowed
Dignitaries；　but　it　was　Society　that　was　in　a　state　of　the　most
agonising　uneasiness　of　mind　until　it　got　them。　He　begged　to　assure　his
good　friend　that　he　was　extremely　sensible　of　his　good　friend's　regard
on　all　occasions　for　the　best　interests　of　Society；　and　he　considered
that　he　was　at　once　consulting　those　interests　and　expressing　the
feeling　of　Society；　when　he　wished　him　continued　prosperity；　continued
increase　of　riches；　and　continued　things　in　general。

Bishop　then　betook　himself　up…stairs；　and　the　other　magnates　gradually
floated　up　after　him　until　there　was　no　one　left　below　but　Mr　Merdle。
That　gentleman；　after　looking　at　the　table…cloth　until　the　soul　of　the
chief　butler　glowed　with　a　noble　resentment；　went　slowly　up　after　the
rest；　and　became　of　no　account　in　the　stream　of　people　on　the　grand
staircase。　Mrs　Merdle　was　at　home；　the　best　of　the　jewels　were　hung　out
to　be　seen；　Society　got　what　it　came　for；　Mr　Merdle　drank　twopennyworth
of　tea　in　a　corner　and　got　more　than　he　wanted。

Among　the　evening　magnates　was　a　famous　physician；　who　knew　everybody；
and　whom　everybody　knew。　On　entering　at　the　door；　he　came　upon　Mr　Merdle
drinking　his　tea　in　a　corner；　and　touched　him