little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第99章

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took　it　ill　that　Mr　Dorrit　had　troubled　the　Department　by　wanting　to
pay　the　money；　and　considered　it　a　grossly　informal　thing　to　do　after　so
many　years。　But　Mr　Tite　Barnacle　was　a　buttoned…up　man；　and　consequently
a　weighty　one。　All　buttoned…up　men　are　weighty。　All　buttoned…up　men　are
believed　in。　Whether　or　no　the　reserved　and　never…exercised　power　of
unbuttoning；　fascinates　mankind；　whether　or　no　wisdom　is　supposed　to
condense　and　augment　when　buttoned　up；　and　to　evaporate　when　unbuttoned；
it　is　certain　that　the　man　to　whom　importance　is　accorded　is　the
buttoned…up　man。　Mr　Tite　Barnacle　never　would　have　passed　for　half　his
current　value；　unless　his　coat　had　been　always　buttoned…up　to　his　white
cravat。

'May　I　ask；'　said　Lord　Decimus；　'if　Mr　Darrit……or　Dorrit……has　any
family？'

Nobody　else　replying；　the　host　said；　'He　has　two　daughters；　my　lord。'

'Oh！　you　are　acquainted　with　him？'　asked　Lord　Decimus。

'Mrs　Merdle　is。　Mr　Sparkler　is；　too。　In　fact；'　said　Mr　Merdle；　'I　rather
believe　that　one　of　the　young　ladies　has　made　an　impression　on　Edmund
Sparkler。　He　is　susceptible；　and……I……think……the　conquest……'　Here　Mr
Merdle　stopped；　and　looked　at　the　table…cloth；　as　he　usually　did　when　he
found　himself　observed　or　listened　to。

Bar　was　unmonly　pleased　to　find　that　the　Merdle　family；　and　this
family；　had　already　been　brought　into　contact。　He　submitted；　in　a　low
voice　across　the　table　to　Bishop；　that　it　was　a　kind　of　analogical
illustration　of　those　physical　laws；　in　virtue　of　which　Like　flies　to
Like。　He　regarded　this　power　of　attraction　in　wealth　to　draw　wealth
to　it；　as　something　remarkably　interesting　and　curious……something
indefinably　allied　to　the　loadstone　and　gravitation。　Bishop；　who
had　ambled　back　to　earth　again　when　the　present　theme　was　broached；
acquiesced。　He　said　it　was　indeed　highly　important　to　Society　that　one
in　the　trying　situation　of　unexpectedly　finding　himself　invested　with　a
power　for　good　or　for　evil　in　Society；　should　bee；　as　it　were；　merged
in　the　superior　power　of　a　more　legitimate　and　more　gigantic　growth；　the
influence　of　which　（as　in　the　case　of　our　friend　at　whose　board　we　sat）
was　habitually　exercised　in　harmony　with　the　best　interests　of　Society。

Thus；　instead　of　two　rival　and　contending　flames；　a　larger　and　a　lesser；
each　burning　with　a　lurid　and　uncertain　glare；　we　had　a　blended　and　a
softened　light　whose　genial　ray　diffused　an　equable　warmth　throughout
the　land。　Bishop　seemed　to　like　his　own　way　of　putting　the　case　very
much；　and　rather　dwelt　upon　it；　Bar；　meanwhile　（not　to　throw　away　a
jury…man）；　making　a　show　of　sitting　at　his　feet　and　feeding　on　his
precepts。

The　dinner　and　dessert　being　three　hours　long；　the　bashful　Member　cooled
in　the　shadow　of　Lord　Decimus　faster　than　he　warmed　with　food　and　drink；
and　had　but　a　chilly　time　of　it。　Lord　Decimus；　like　a　tall　tower　in　a
flat　country；　seemed　to　project　himself　across　the　table…cloth；　hide　the
light　from　the　honourable　Member；　cool　the　honourable　Member's　marrow；
and　give　him　a　woeful　idea　of　distance。　When　he　asked　this　unfortunate
traveller　to　take　wine；　he　enpassed　his　faltering　steps　with　the
gloomiest　of　shades；　and　when　he　said；　'Your　health　sir！'　all　around　him
was　barrenness　and　desolation。

At　length　Lord　Decimus；　with　a　coffee…cup　in　his　hand；　began　to　hover
about　among　the　pictures；　and　to　cause　an　interesting　speculation　to
arise　in　all　minds　as　to　the　probabilities　of　his　ceasing　to　hover；　and
enabling　the　smaller　birds　to　flutter　up…stairs；　which　could　not　be
done　until　he　had　urged　his　noble　pinions　in　that　direction。　After　some
delay；　and　several　stretches　of　his　wings　which　came　to　nothing；　he
soared　to　the　drawing…rooms。

And　here　a　difficulty　arose；　which　always　does　arise　when　two　people
are　specially　brought　together　at　a　dinner　to　confer　with　one　another。
Everybody　（except　Bishop；　who　had　no　suspicion　of　it）　knew　perfectly
well　that　this　dinner　had　been　eaten　and　drunk；　specifically　to　the　end
that　Lord　Decimus　and　Mr　Merdle　should　have　five　minutes'　conversation
together。　The　opportunity　so　elaborately　prepared　was　now　arrived；　and
it　seemed　from　that　moment　that　no　mere　human　ingenuity　could　so　much　as
get　the　two　chieftains　into　the　same　room。　Mr　Merdle　and　his　noble　guest
persisted　in　prowling　about　at　opposite　ends　of　the　perspective。　It　was
in　vain　for　the　engaging　Ferdinand　to　bring　Lord　Decimus　to　look　at　the
bronze　horses　near　Mr　Merdle。　Then　Mr　Merdle　evaded；　and　wandered　away。
It　was　in　vain　for　him　to　bring　Mr　Merdle　to　Lord　Decimus　to　tell　him
the　history　of　the　unique　Dresden　vases。　Then　Lord　Decimus　evaded　and
wandered　away；　while　he　was　getting　his　man　up　to　the　mark。

'Did　you　ever　see　such　a　thing　as　this？'　said　Ferdinand　to　Bar　when　he
had　been　baffled　twenty　times。

'Often；'　returned　Bar。

'Unless　I　butt　one　of　them　into　an　appointed　corner；　and　you　butt　the
other；'　said　Ferdinand；'it　will　not　e　off　after　all。'

'Very　good；'　said　Bar。　'I'll　butt　Merdle；　if　you　like；　but　not　my　lord。'

Ferdinand　laughed；　in　the　midst　of　his　vexation。　'Confound　them　both！'
said　he；　looking　at　his　watch。　'I　want　to　get　away。　Why　the　deuce　can't
they　e　together！　They　both　know　what　they　want　and　mean　to　do。　Look
at　them！'

They　were　still　looming　at　opposite　ends　of　the　perspective；　each　with
an　absurd　pretence　of　not　having　the　other　on　his　mind；　which　could　not
have　been　more　transparently　ridiculous　though　his　real　mind　had　been
chalked　on　his　back。　Bishop；　who　had　just　now　made　a　third　with　Bar　and
Ferdinand；　but　whose　innocence　had　again　cut　him　out　of　the　subject　and
washed　him　in　sweet　oil；　was　seen　to　approach　Lord　Decimus　and　glide
into　conversation。

'I　must　get　Merdle's　doctor　to　catch　and　secure　him；　I　suppose；'　said
Ferdinand；　'and　then　I　must　lay　hold　of　my　illustrious　kinsman；　and
decoy　him　if　I　can……drag　him　if　I　can't……to　the　conference。'

'Since　you　do　me　the　honour；'　said　Bar；　with　his　slyest　smile；　to　ask
for　my　poor　aid；　it　shall　be　yours　with　the　greatest　pleasure。　I　don't
think　this　is　to　be　done　by　one　man。　But　if　you　will　undertake　to　pen
my　lord　into　that　furthest　drawing…room　where　he　is　now　so　profoundly
engaged；　I　will　undertake　to　bring　our　dear　Merdle　into　the　presence；
without　the　possibility　of　getting　away。'

'Done！'　said　Ferdinand。

'Done！'　said　Bar。

Bar　was　a　sight　wondrous　to　behold；　and　full　of　matter；　when；　jauntily
waving　his　double　eye…glass　by　its　ribbon；　and　jauntily　drooping　to　an
Universe　of　jurymen；　he；　in　the　most　accidental　manner　ever　seen；
found　himself　at　Mr　Merdle's　shoulder；　and　embraced　that　opportunity　of
mentioning　a　little　point　to　him；　on　which　he　particularly　wished　to
be　guided　by　the　light　of　his　practical　knowledge。　（Here　he　took　Mr
Merdle's　arm　and　walked　him　gently　away。）　A　banker；　whom　we　would　call
A。　B。；　advanced　a　considerable　sum　of　money；　which　we　would　call　fifteen
thousand　pounds；　to　a　client　or　customer　of　his；　whom　he　would　call　P。
q。　（Here；　as　they　were　getting　towards　Lord　Decimus；　he　held　Mr　Merdle
tight。）　As　a　security　for　the　repayment　of　this　advance　to　P。　Q。　whom
we　would　call　a　widow　lady；　there　were　placed　in　A。　B。's　hands　the
title…deeds　of　a　freehold　estate；　which　we　would　call　Blinkiter　Doddles。
Now；　the　point　was　this。　A　limited　right　of　felling　and　lopping　in
the　woods　of　Blinkiter　Doddles；　lay　in　the　son　of　P。　Q。　then　past　his
majority；　and　whom　we　would　call　X。　Y。……but　really　this　was　too　bad！　In
the　presence　of　Lord　Decimus；　to　detain　the　host　with　chopping　our　dry
chaff　of　law；　was　really　too　bad！　Another　time！　Bar　was　truly　repentant；
and　would　not　say　another　syllable。　Would　Bishop　favour　him　with
half…a…dozen　words？　（He　had　now　set　Mr　Merdle　down　on　a　couch；　side　by
side　with　Lord　Decimus；　and　to　it　they　must　go；　now　or　never。）

And　now　the　rest　of　the　pany；　highly　excited　and　interested；　always
excepting　Bishop；　who　had　not　the　slightest　idea　that　anything　was　going
on；　formed　in　one　group　round　the　fire　in　the　next　drawing…room；　and
pretended　to　be　chatting　easily　on　the　infinite　variety　of　small　topics；
while　everybody's　thoughts　and　eyes　were　secretly　straying　towards　the
secluded　pair。　The　Chorus　were　excessively　nervous；　perhaps　as　labouring
under　the　dreadful　apprehension　that　some　good　thing　was　going　to
be　diverted　from　them！　Bishop　alone　talked　steadily　and　evenly。　He
conversed　with　the　great　Physician　on　that　relaxation　of　the　throat　with
which　young　curates　were　too　frequently　afflicted；　and　on　the　means
of　lessening　the　great　prevalence　of　that　disorder　in　the　church。
Physician；　as　a　general　rule；　was　of　opinion　that　the　best　way　to　avoid
it　was　to　know　how　to　read；　before　you　made　a　profession　of　reading。
Bishop　said　dubiously；　did　he　really　think　so？　And　Physician　said；
decidedly；　yes　he　did。

Ferdinand；　meanwhile；　was　the　only　one　of　the　party　who　skirmished　on
the　outside　of　the　circle；　he　kept　about　mid…way　between　it　and　the
two；　as　if　some　sort　of　surgical　operation　were　being　performed　by　Lord
Decimus　on　Mr　Merdle；　or　by　Mr　Merdle　on　Lord　Decimus；　and　his　services
might　at　any　moment　be　required　as　Dresser。　In　fact；　within　a　quarter
of　an　hour　Lord　Decimus　called　to　him　'Ferdinand！'　and　he　went；　and
took　his　place　in　the　conference　for　some　five　minutes　more。　Then　a
half…suppressed　gasp　broke　out　among　the　Chorus；　for　Lord　Decimus　rose
to　take　his　leave。　Again　coached　up　by　Ferdinand　to　the　point　of　making
himself　popular；　he　shook　hands　in　the　most　brilliant　manner　with　the
whole　pany；　and　even　said　to　Bar；　'I　hope　you　were　not　bored　by　my
pears？'　To　which　Bar　retorted；　'Eton；　my　lord；　or　Parliamentary？'　neatly
showing　that　he　had　mastered　the　joke；　and　delicately　insinuating　that
he　could　never　forget　it　while　his　life　remained。

All　the　grave　importance　that　was　buttoned　up　in　Mr　Tite　Barnacle；　took
itself　away　next；　and　Ferdinand　took　himself　away　next；　to　the　opera。
Some　of　the　rest　lingered　a　little；　marrying　golden　liqueur　glasses　to
Buhl　tables　with　sticky　rings；　on　the　desperate　chance　of　Mr　Merdle's
saying　something。　But　Merdle；　as　usual；　oozed　sluggishly　and　muddily
about　his　drawing…room；　saying　never　a　word。

In　a　day　or　two　it　was　announced　to　all　the　town；　that　Edmund　Sparkler；
Esquire；　son…in…law　of　the　eminent　Mr　Merdle　of　worldwide　renown；　was
made　one　of　the　Lords　of　the　Circumlocution　Office；　and　proclamation　was
issued；　to　all　true　believers；　that　this　admirable　appointment　was　to
be　hailed　as　a　graceful　and　gracious　mark　of　homage；　rendered　by　the
graceful　and　gracious　Decimus；　to　that　mercial　interest　which　must
ever　in　a　great　mercial　country……and　all　the　rest　of　it；　with
blast　of　trumpet。　So；　bolstered　by　this　mark　of　Government　homage；　the
wonderful　Bank　and　all　the　other　wonderful　undertakings　went　on　and　went
up；　and　gapers　came　to　Harley　Street；　Cavendish　Square；　only　to　look　at
the　house　where　the　golden　wonder　lived。

And　when　they　saw　the　Chief　Butler　looking　out　at　the　hall…door　in
his　moments　of　condescension；　the　gapers　said　how　rich　he　looked；　and
wondered　how　much　money　he　had　in　the　wonderful　Bank。　But；　if　they　had
known　that　respectable　Nemesis　better；　they　would　not　have　wondered
about　it；　and　might　have　stated　the　amount　with　the　utmost　precision。




CHAPTER　13。　The　Progress　of　an　Epidemic


That　it　is　at　least　as　difficult　to　stay　a　moral　infection　as　a　physical
one；　that　such　a　disease　will　spread　with　the　malignity　and　rapidity　of
the　Plague；　that　the　contagion；　when　it　has　once　made　head；　will　spare
no　pursuit　or　condition；　but　will　lay　hold　on　people　in　the　soundest
health；　and　bee　developed　in　the　most　unlikely　constitutions：　is
a　fact　as　firmly　established　by　experience　as　that　we　human　creatures
breathe　an　atmosphere。　A　blessing　beyond　appreciation　would　be　conferred
upon　mankind；　if　the　tainted；　in　whose　weakness　or　wickedness　these
virulent　disorders　are　bred；　could　be　instantly　seized　and　placed　in
close　confinement　（not　to　say　summarily　smothered）　before　the　poison　is
municable。

As　a　vast　fire　will　fill　the　air　to　a　great　distance　with　its　roar；　so
the　sacred　flame　which　the　mighty　Barnacles　had　fanned　caused　the　air　to
resound　more　and　more　with　the　name　of　Merdle。　It　was　deposited　on　every
lip；　and　carried　into　every　ear。　There　never　was；　there　never　had
been；　there　never　again　should　be；　such　a　man　as　Mr　Merdle。　Nobody；
as　aforesaid；　knew　what　he　had　done；　but　everybody　knew　him　to　be　the
greatest　that　had　appeared。

Down　in　Bleeding　Heart　Yard；　where　there　was　not　one　unappropriated
halfpenny；　as　lively　an　interest　was　taken　in　this　paragon　of　men　as　on
the　Stock　Exchange。　Mrs　Plornish；　now　established　in　the　small　grocery
and　general　trade　in　a　snug　little　shop　at　the　crack　end　of　the　Yard；
at　the　top　of　the　steps；　with　her　little　old　father　and　Maggy　acting
as　assistants；　habitually　held　forth　about　him　over　the　counter　in
conversation　with　her　customers。　Mr　Plornish；　who　had　a　small　share　in　a
small　builder's　business　in　the　neighbourhood；　said；　trowel　in　hand；　on
the　tops　of　scaffolds　and　on　the　tiles　of　houses；　that　people　did　tell
him　as　Mr　Merdle　was　the　one；　mind　you；　to　put　us　all　to　rights　in
respects　of　that　which　all　on　us　looked　to；　and