‘Doyce is highly gratified by your good opinion,’ he opened the business by saying, ‘and desires nothing so much as that you should examine the affairs of the Works for yourself, and entirely3 understand them. He has handed me the keys of all his books and papers—here they are jingling4 in this pocket—and the only charge he has given me is “Let Mr Clennam have the means of putting himself on a perfect equality with me as to knowing whatever I know. If it should come to nothing after all, he will respect my confidence. Unless I was sure of that to begin with, I should have nothing to do with him.” And there, you see,’ said Mr Meagles, ‘you have Daniel Doyce all over.’
‘A very honourable5 character.’
‘Oh, yes, to be sure. Not a doubt of it. Odd, but very honourable. Very odd though. Now, would you believe, Clennam,’ said Mr Meagles, with a hearty6 enjoyment7 of his friend’s eccentricity8, ‘that I had a whole morning in What’s-his-name Yard—’
‘Bleeding Heart?’
‘A whole morning in Bleeding Heart Yard, before I could induce him to pursue the subject at all?’
‘How was that?’
‘How was that, my friend? I no sooner mentioned your name in connection with it than he declared off.’
‘Declared off on my account?’
‘I no sooner mentioned your name, Clennam, than he said, “That will never do!” What did he mean by that? I asked him. No matter, Meagles; that would never do. Why would it never do? You’ll hardly believe it, Clennam,’ said Mr Meagles, laughing within himself, ‘but it came out that it would never do, because you and he, walking down to Twickenham together, had glided9 into a friendly conversation in the course of which he had referred to his intention of taking a partner, supposing at the time that you were as firmly and finally settled as St Paul’s Cathedral. “Whereas,” says he, “Mr Clennam might now believe, if I entertained his proposition, that I had a sinister10 and designing motive11 in what was open free speech. Which I can’t bear,” says he, “which I really am too proud to bear.”’
‘I should as soon suspect—’
‘Of course you would,’ interrupted Mr Meagles, ‘and so I told him. But it took a morning to scale that wall; and I doubt if any other man than myself (he likes me of old) could have got his leg over it. Well, Clennam. This business-like obstacle surmounted12, he then stipulated13 that before resuming with you I should look over the books and form my own opinion. I looked over the books, and formed my own opinion. “Is it, on the whole, for, or against?” says he. “For,” says I. “Then,” says he, “you may now, my good friend, give Mr Clennam the means of forming his opinion. To enable him to do which, without bias14 and with perfect freedom, I shall go out of town for a week.” And he’s gone,’ said Mr Meagles; ‘that’s the rich conclusion of the thing.’
‘Leaving me,’ said Clennam, ‘with a high sense, I must say, of his candour and his—’
‘Oddity,’ Mr Meagles struck in. ‘I should think so!’
It was not exactly the word on Clennam’s lips, but he forbore to interrupt his good-humoured friend.
‘And now,’ added Mr Meagles, ‘you can begin to look into matters as soon as you think proper. I have undertaken to explain where you may want explanation, but to be strictly15 impartial16, and to do nothing more.’
They began their perquisitions in Bleeding Heart Yard that same forenoon. Little peculiarities18 were easily to be detected by experienced eyes in Mr Doyce’s way of managing his affairs, but they almost always involved some ingenious simplification of a difficulty, and some plain road to the desired end. That his papers were in arrear19, and that he stood in need of assistance to develop the capacity of his business, was clear enough; but all the results of his undertakings20 during many years were distinctly set forth21, and were ascertainable22 with ease. Nothing had been done for the purposes of the pending23 investigation24; everything was in its genuine working dress, and in a certain honest rugged25 order. The calculations and entries, in his own hand, of which there were many, were bluntly written, and with no very neat precision; but were always plain and directed straight to the purpose. It occurred to Arthur that a far more elaborate and taking show of business—such as the records of the Circumlocution26 Office made perhaps—might be far less serviceable, as being meant to be far less intelligible27.
Three or four days of steady application tendered him master of all the facts it was essential to become acquainted with. Mr Meagles was at hand the whole time, always ready to illuminate28 any dim place with the bright little safety-lamp belonging to the scales and scoop29. Between them they agreed upon the sum it would be fair to offer for the purchase of a half-share in the business, and then Mr Meagles unsealed a paper in which Daniel Doyce had noted30 the amount at which he valued it; which was even something less. Thus, when Daniel came back, he found the affair as good as concluded.
‘And I may now avow31, Mr Clennam,’ said he, with a cordial shake of the hand, ‘that if I had looked high and low for a partner, I believe I could not have found one more to my mind.’
‘I say the same,’ said Clennam.
‘And I say of both of you,’ added Mr Meagles, ‘that you are well matched. You keep him in check, Clennam, with your common sense, and you stick to the Works, Dan, with your—’
‘Uncommon sense?’ suggested Daniel, with his quiet smile.
‘You may call it so, if you like—and each of you will be a right hand to the other. Here’s my own right hand upon it, as a practical man, to both of you.’
The purchase was completed within a month. It left Arthur in possession of private personal means not exceeding a few hundred pounds; but it opened to him an active and promising32 career. The three friends dined together on the auspicious33 occasion; the factory and the factory wives and children made holiday and dined too; even Bleeding Heart Yard dined and was full of meat. Two months had barely gone by in all, when Bleeding Heart Yard had become so familiar with short-commons again, that the treat was forgotten there; when nothing seemed new in the partnership34 but the paint of the inscription35 on the door-posts, DOYCE AND CLENNAM; when it appeared even to Clennam himself, that he had had the affairs of the firm in his mind for years.
The little counting-house reserved for his own occupation, was a room of wood and glass at the end of a long low workshop, filled with benches, and vices36, and tools, and straps37, and wheels; which, when they were in gear with the steam-engine, went tearing round as though they had a suicidal mission to grind the business to dust and tear the factory to pieces. A communication of great trap-doors in the floor and roof with the workshop above and the workshop below, made a shaft38 of light in this perspective, which brought to Clennam’s mind the child’s old picture-book, where similar rays were the witnesses of Abel’s murder. The noises were sufficiently39 removed and shut out from the counting-house to blend into a busy hum, interspersed40 with periodical clinks and thumps41. The patient figures at work were swarthy with the filings of iron and steel that danced on every bench and bubbled up through every chink in the planking. The workshop was arrived at by a step-ladder from the outer yard below, where it served as a shelter for the large grindstone where tools were sharpened. The whole had at once a fanciful and practical air in Clennam’s eyes, which was a welcome change; and, as often as he raised them from his first work of getting the array of business documents into perfect order, he glanced at these things with a feeling of pleasure in his pursuit that was new to him.
Raising his eyes thus one day, he was surprised to see a bonnet42 labouring up the step-ladder. The unusual apparition43 was followed by another bonnet. He then perceived that the first bonnet was on the head of Mr F.‘s Aunt, and that the second bonnet was on the head of Flora44, who seemed to have propelled her legacy45 up the steep ascent46 with considerable difficulty.
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Though not altogether enraptured47 at the sight of these visitors, Clennam lost no time in opening the counting-house door, and extricating48 them from the workshop; a rescue which was rendered the more necessary by Mr F.‘s Aunt already stumbling over some impediment, and menacing steam power as an Institution with a stony49 reticule she carried.
‘Good gracious, Arthur,—I should say Mr Clennam, far more proper—the climb we have had to get up here and how ever to get down again without a fire-escape and Mr F.‘s Aunt slipping through the steps and bruised50 all over and you in the machinery51 and foundry way too only think, and never told us!’
Thus, Flora, out of breath. Meanwhile, Mr F.‘s Aunt rubbed her esteemed52 insteps with her umbrella, and vindictively53 glared.
‘Most unkind never to have come back to see us since that day, though naturally it was not to be expected that there should be any attraction at our house and you were much more pleasantly engaged, that’s pretty certain, and is she fair or dark blue eyes or black I wonder, not that I expect that she should be anything but a perfect contrast to me in all particulars for I am a disappointment as I very well know and you are quite right to be devoted54 no doubt though what I am saying Arthur never mind I hardly know myself Good gracious!’
By this time he had placed chairs for them in the counting-house. As Flora dropped into hers, she bestowed55 the old look upon him.
‘And to think of Doyce and Clennam, and who Doyce can be,’ said Flora; ‘delightful man no doubt and married perhaps or perhaps a daughter, now has he really? then one understands the partnership and sees it all, don’t tell me anything about it for I know I have no claim to ask the question the golden chain that once was forged being snapped and very proper.’
Flora put her hand tenderly on his, and gave him another of the youthful glances.
‘Dear Arthur—force of habit, Mr Clennam every way more delicate and adapted to existing circumstances—I must beg to be excused for taking the liberty of this intrusion but I thought I might so far presume upon old times for ever faded never more to bloom as to call with Mr F.‘s Aunt to congratulate and offer best wishes, A great deal superior to China not to be denied and much nearer though higher up!’
‘I am very happy to see you,’ said Clennam, ‘and I thank you, Flora, very much for your kind remembrance.’
‘More than I can say myself at any rate,’ returned Flora, ‘for I might have been dead and buried twenty distinct times over and no doubt whatever should have been before you had genuinely remembered Me or anything like it in spite of which one last remark I wish to make, one last explanation I wish to offer—’
‘My dear Mrs Finching,’ Arthur remonstrated56 in alarm.
‘Oh not that disagreeable name, say Flora!’
‘Flora, is it worth troubling yourself afresh to enter into explanations? I assure you none are needed. I am satisfied—I am perfectly57 satisfied.’
A diversion was occasioned here, by Mr F.‘s Aunt making the following inexorable and awful statement:
‘There’s mile-stones on the Dover road!’
With such mortal hostility58 towards the human race did she discharge this missile, that Clennam was quite at a loss how to defend himself; the rather as he had been already perplexed59 in his mind by the honour of a visit from this venerable lady, when it was plain she held him in the utmost abhorrence60. He could not but look at her with disconcertment, as she sat breathing bitterness and scorn, and staring leagues away. Flora, however, received the remark as if it had been of a most apposite and agreeable nature; approvingly observing aloud that Mr F.‘s Aunt had a great deal of spirit. Stimulated61 either by this compliment, or by her burning indignation, that illustrious woman then added, ‘Let him meet it if he can!’ And, with a rigid62 movement of her stony reticule (an appendage63 of great size and of a fossil appearance), indicated that Clennam was the unfortunate person at whom the challenge was hurled64.
‘One last remark,’ resumed Flora, ‘I was going to say I wish to make one last explanation I wish to offer, Mr F.‘s Aunt and myself would not have intruded65 on business hours Mr F. having been in business and though the wine trade still business is equally business call it what you will and business habits are just the same as witness Mr F. himself who had his slippers66 always on the mat at ten minutes before six in the afternoon and his boots inside the fender at ten minutes before eight in the morning to the moment in all weathers light or dark—would not therefore have intruded without a motive which being kindly67 meant it may be hoped will be kindly taken Arthur, Mr Clennam far more proper, even Doyce and Clennam probably more business-like.’
‘Very polite of you to say so Arthur—cannot remember Mr Clennam until the word is out, such is the habit of times for ever fled, and so true it is that oft in the stilly night ere slumber’s chain has bound people, fond memory brings the light of other days around people—very polite but more polite than true I am afraid, for to go into the machinery business without so much as sending a line or a card to papa—I don’t say me though there was a time but that is past and stern reality has now my gracious never mind—does not look like it you must confess.’
Even Flora’s commas seemed to have fled on this occasion; she was so much more disjointed and voluble than in the preceding interview.
‘Though indeed,’ she hurried on, ‘nothing else is to be expected and why should it be expected and if it’s not to be expected why should it be, and I am far from blaming you or any one, When your mama and my papa worried us to death and severed69 the golden bowl—I mean bond but I dare say you know what I mean and if you don’t you don’t lose much and care just as little I will venture to add—when they severed the golden bond that bound us and threw us into fits of crying on the sofa nearly choked at least myself everything was changed and in giving my hand to Mr F. I know I did so with my eyes open but he was so very unsettled and in such low spirits that he had distractedly alluded70 to the river if not oil of something from the chemist’s and I did it for the best.’
‘My good Flora, we settled that before. It was all quite right.’
‘It’s perfectly clear you think so,’ returned Flora, ‘for you take it very coolly, if I hadn’t known it to be China I should have guessed myself the Polar regions, dear Mr Clennam you are right however and I cannot blame you but as to Doyce and Clennam papa’s property being about here we heard it from Pancks and but for him we never should have heard one word about it I am satisfied.’
‘No, no, don’t say that.’
‘What nonsense not to say it Arthur—Doyce and Clennam—easier and less trying to me than Mr Clennam—when I know it and you know it too and can’t deny it.’
‘But I do deny it, Flora. I should soon have made you a friendly visit.’
‘Ah!’ said Flora, tossing her head. ‘I dare say!’ and she gave him another of the old looks. ‘However when Pancks told us I made up my mind that Mr F.‘s Aunt and I would come and call because when papa—which was before that—happened to mention her name to me and to say that you were interested in her I said at the moment Good gracious why not have her here then when there’s anything to do instead of putting it out.’
‘When you say Her,’ observed Clennam, by this time pretty well bewildered, ‘do you mean Mr F.‘s—’
‘My goodness, Arthur—Doyce and Clennam really easier to me with old remembrances—who ever heard of Mr F.‘s Aunt doing needlework and going out by the day?’
‘Going out by the day! Do you speak of Little Dorrit?’
‘Why yes of course,’ returned Flora; ‘and of all the strangest names I ever heard the strangest, like a place down in the country with a turnpike, or a favourite pony72 or a puppy or a bird or something from a seed-shop to be put in a garden or a flower-pot and come up speckled.’
‘Then, Flora,’ said Arthur, with a sudden interest in the conversation, ‘Mr Casby was so kind as to mention Little Dorrit to you, was he? What did he say?’
‘Oh you know what papa is,’ rejoined Flora, ‘and how aggravatingly73 he sits looking beautiful and turning his thumbs over and over one another till he makes one giddy if one keeps one’s eyes upon him, he said when we were talking of you—I don’t know who began the subject Arthur (Doyce and Clennam) but I am sure it wasn’t me, at least I hope not but you really must excuse my confessing more on that point.’
‘Certainly,’ said Arthur. ‘By all means.’
‘You are very ready,’ pouted74 Flora, coming to a sudden stop in a captivating bashfulness, ‘that I must admit, Papa said you had spoken of her in an earnest way and I said what I have told you and that’s all.’
‘That’s all?’ said Arthur, a little disappointed.
‘Except that when Pancks told us of your having embarked75 in this business and with difficulty persuaded us that it was really you I said to Mr F.‘s Aunt then we would come and ask you if it would be agreeable to all parties that she should be engaged at our house when required for I know she often goes to your mama’s and I know that your mama has a very touchy76 temper Arthur—Doyce and Clennam—or I never might have married Mr F. and might have been at this hour but I am running into nonsense.’
‘It was very kind of you, Flora, to think of this.’
Poor Flora rejoined with a plain sincerity77 which became her better than her youngest glances, that she was glad he thought so. She said it with so much heart that Clennam would have given a great deal to buy his old character of her on the spot, and throw it and the mermaid78 away for ever.
‘I think, Flora,’ he said, ‘that the employment you can give Little Dorrit, and the kindness you can show her—’
‘Yes and I will,’ said Flora, quickly.
‘I am sure of it—will be a great assistance and support to her. I do not feel that I have the right to tell you what I know of her, for I acquired the knowledge confidentially79, and under circumstances that bind80 me to silence. But I have an interest in the little creature, and a respect for her that I cannot express to you. Her life has been one of such trial and devotion, and such quiet goodness, as you can scarcely imagine. I can hardly think of her, far less speak of her, without feeling moved. Let that feeling represent what I could tell you, and commit her to your friendliness81 with my thanks.’
Once more he put out his hand frankly82 to poor Flora; once more poor Flora couldn’t accept it frankly, found it worth nothing openly, must make the old intrigue83 and mystery of it. As much to her own enjoyment as to his dismay, she covered it with a corner of her shawl as she took it. Then, looking towards the glass front of the counting-house, and seeing two figures approaching, she cried with infinite relish84, ‘Papa! Hush85, Arthur, for Mercy’s sake!’ and tottered86 back to her chair with an amazing imitation of being in danger of swooning, in the dread87 surprise and maidenly88 flutter of her spirits.
The Patriarch, meanwhile, came inanely89 beaming towards the counting-house in the wake of Pancks. Pancks opened the door for him, towed him in, and retired90 to his own moorings in a corner.
‘I heard from Flora,’ said the Patriarch with his benevolent91 smile, ‘that she was coming to call, coming to call. And being out, I thought I’d come also, thought I’d come also.’
The benign92 wisdom he infused into this declaration (not of itself profound), by means of his blue eyes, his shining head, and his long white hair, was most impressive. It seemed worth putting down among the noblest sentiments enunciated93 by the best of men. Also, when he said to Clennam, seating himself in the proffered94 chair, ‘And you are in a new business, Mr Clennam? I wish you well, sir, I wish you well!’ he seemed to have done benevolent wonders.
‘Mrs Finching has been telling me, sir,’ said Arthur, after making his acknowledgments; the relict of the late Mr F. meanwhile protesting, with a gesture, against his use of that respectable name; ‘that she hopes occasionally to employ the young needlewoman you recommended to my mother. For which I have been thanking her.’
The Patriarch turning his head in a lumbering95 way towards Pancks, that assistant put up the note-book in which he had been absorbed, and took him in tow.
‘You didn’t recommend her, you know,’ said Pancks; ‘how could you? You knew nothing about her, you didn’t. The name was mentioned to you, and you passed it on. That’s what you did.’
‘You are glad she turns out well,’ said Pancks, ‘but it wouldn’t have been your fault if she had turned out ill. The credit’s not yours as it is, and the blame wouldn’t have been yours as it might have been. You gave no guarantee. You knew nothing about her.’
‘You are not acquainted, then,’ said Arthur, hazarding a random97 question, ‘with any of her family?’
‘Acquainted with any of her family?’ returned Pancks. ‘How should you be acquainted with any of her family? You never heard of ‘em. You can’t be acquainted with people you never heard of, can you? You should think not!’
All this time the Patriarch sat serenely98 smiling; nodding or shaking his head benevolently99, as the case required.
‘As to being a reference,’ said Pancks, ‘you know, in a general way, what being a reference means. It’s all your eye, that is! Look at your tenants100 down the Yard here. They’d all be references for one another, if you’d let ‘em. What would be the good of letting ‘em? It’s no satisfaction to be done by two men instead of one. One’s enough. A person who can’t pay, gets another person who can’t pay, to guarantee that he can pay. Like a person with two wooden legs getting another person with two wooden legs, to guarantee that he has got two natural legs. It don’t make either of them able to do a walking match. And four wooden legs are more troublesome to you than two, when you don’t want any.’ Mr Pancks concluded by blowing off that steam of his.
A momentary101 silence that ensued was broken by Mr F.‘s Aunt, who had been sitting upright in a cataleptic state since her last public remark. She now underwent a violent twitch102, calculated to produce a startling effect on the nerves of the uninitiated, and with the deadliest animosity observed:
‘You can’t make a head and brains out of a brass103 knob with nothing in it. You couldn’t do it when your Uncle George was living; much less when he’s dead.’
Mr Pancks was not slow to reply, with his usual calmness, ‘Indeed, ma’am! Bless my soul! I’m surprised to hear it.’ Despite his presence of mind, however, the speech of Mr F.‘s Aunt produced a depressing effect on the little assembly; firstly, because it was impossible to disguise that Clennam’s unoffending head was the particular temple of reason depreciated104; and secondly105, because nobody ever knew on these occasions whose Uncle George was referred to, or what spectral106 presence might be invoked107 under that appellation108.
Therefore Flora said, though still not without a certain boastfulness and triumph in her legacy, that Mr F.‘s Aunt was ‘very lively to-day, and she thought they had better go.’ But Mr F.‘s Aunt proved so lively as to take the suggestion in unexpected dudgeon and declare that she would not go; adding, with several injurious expressions, that if ‘He’—too evidently meaning Clennam—wanted to get rid of her, ‘let him chuck her out of winder;’ and urgently expressing her desire to see ‘Him’ perform that ceremony.
In this dilemma109, Mr Pancks, whose resources appeared equal to any emergency in the Patriarchal waters, slipped on his hat, slipped out at the counting-house door, and slipped in again a moment afterwards with an artificial freshness upon him, as if he had been in the country for some weeks. ‘Why, bless my heart, ma’am!’ said Mr Pancks, rubbing up his hair in great astonishment110, ‘is that you? How do you do, ma’am? You are looking charming to-day! I am delighted to see you. Favour me with your arm, ma’am; we’ll have a little walk together, you and me, if you’ll honour me with your company.’ And so escorted Mr F.‘s Aunt down the private staircase of the counting-house with great gallantry and success. The patriarchal Mr Casby then rose with the air of having done it himself, and blandly111 followed: leaving his daughter, as she followed in her turn, to remark to her former lover in a distracted whisper (which she very much enjoyed), that they had drained the cup of life to the dregs; and further to hint mysteriously that the late Mr F. was at the bottom of it.
Alone again, Clennam became a prey112 to his old doubts in reference to his mother and Little Dorrit, and revolved113 the old thoughts and suspicions. They were all in his mind, blending themselves with the duties he was mechanically discharging, when a shadow on his papers caused him to look up for the cause. The cause was Mr Pancks. With his hat thrown back upon his ears as if his wiry prongs of hair had darted114 up like springs and cast it off, with his jet-black beads115 of eyes inquisitively116 sharp, with the fingers of his right hand in his mouth that he might bite the nails, and with the fingers of his left hand in reserve in his pocket for another course, Mr Pancks cast his shadow through the glass upon the books and papers.
Mr Pancks asked, with a little inquiring twist of his head, if he might come in again? Clennam replied with a nod of his head in the affirmative. Mr Pancks worked his way in, came alongside the desk, made himself fast by leaning his arms upon it, and started conversation with a puff117 and a snort.
‘All right, sir,’ said Pancks.
‘I am so unfortunate as to have awakened119 a strong animosity in the breast of that lady,’ said Clennam. ‘Do you know why?’
‘Does she know why?’ said Pancks.
‘I suppose not.’
‘I suppose not,’ said Pancks.
He took out his note-book, opened it, shut it, dropped it into his hat, which was beside him on the desk, and looked in at it as it lay at the bottom of the hat: all with a great appearance of consideration.
‘Mr Clennam,’ he then began, ‘I am in want of information, sir.’
‘Connected with this firm?’ asked Clennam.
‘No,’ said Pancks.
‘With what then, Mr Pancks? That is to say, assuming that you want it of me.’
‘Yes, sir; yes, I want it of you,’ said Pancks, ‘if I can persuade you to furnish it. A, B, C, D. DA, DE, DI, DO. Dictionary order. Dorrit. That’s the name, sir?’
Mr Pancks blew off his peculiar17 noise again, and fell to at his right-hand nails. Arthur looked searchingly at him; he returned the look.
‘I don’t understand you, Mr Pancks.’
‘That’s the name that I want to know about.’
‘And what do you want to know?’
‘Whatever you can and will tell me.’ This comprehensive summary of his desires was not discharged without some heavy labouring on the part of Mr Pancks’s machinery.
‘This is a singular visit, Mr Pancks. It strikes me as rather extraordinary that you should come, with such an object, to me.’
‘It may be all extraordinary together,’ returned Pancks. ‘It may be out of the ordinary course, and yet be business. In short, it is business. I am a man of business. What business have I in this present world, except to stick to business? No business.’
With his former doubt whether this dry hard personage were quite in earnest, Clennam again turned his eyes attentively120 upon his face. It was as scrubby and dingy121 as ever, and as eager and quick as ever, and he could see nothing lurking122 in it that was at all expressive123 of a latent mockery that had seemed to strike upon his ear in the voice.
‘Now,’ said Pancks, ‘to put this business on its own footing, it’s not my proprietor124’s.’
‘Do you refer to Mr Casby as your proprietor?’
Pancks nodded. ‘My proprietor. Put a case. Say, at my proprietor’s I hear name—name of young person Mr Clennam wants to serve. Say, name first mentioned to my proprietor by Plornish in the Yard. Say, I go to Plornish. Say, I ask Plornish as a matter of business for information. Say, Plornish, though six weeks in arrear to my proprietor, declines. Say, Mrs Plornish declines. Say, both refer to Mr Clennam. Put the case.’
‘Well?’
‘Well, sir,’ returned Pancks, ‘say, I come to him. Say, here I am.’
With those prongs of hair sticking up all over his head, and his breath coming and going very hard and short, the busy Pancks fell back a step (in Tug125 metaphor126, took half a turn astern) as if to show his dingy hull127 complete, then forged a-head again, and directed his quick glance by turns into his hat where his note-book was, and into Clennam’s face.
‘Mr Pancks, not to trespass128 on your grounds of mystery, I will be as plain with you as I can. Let me ask two questions. First—’
‘All right!’ said Pancks, holding up his dirty forefinger129 with his broken nail. ‘I see! “What’s your motive?”’
‘Exactly.’
‘Motive,’ said Pancks, ‘good. Nothing to do with my proprietor; not stateable at present, ridiculous to state at present; but good. Desiring to serve young person, name of Dorrit,’ said Pancks, with his forefinger still up as a caution. ‘Better admit motive to be good.’
‘Secondly, and lastly, what do you want to know?’
Mr Pancks fished up his note-book before the question was put, and buttoning it with care in an inner breast-pocket, and looking straight at Clennam all the time, replied with a pause and a puff, ‘I want supplementary130 information of any sort.’
Clennam could not withhold131 a smile, as the panting little steam-tug, so useful to that unwieldy ship, the Casby, waited on and watched him as if it were seeking an opportunity of running in and rifling him of all he wanted before he could resist its manoeuvres; though there was that in Mr Pancks’s eagerness, too, which awakened many wondering speculations132 in his mind. After a little consideration, he resolved to supply Mr Pancks with such leading information as it was in his power to impart him; well knowing that Mr Pancks, if he failed in his present research, was pretty sure to find other means of getting it.
He, therefore, first requesting Mr Pancks to remember his voluntary declaration that his proprietor had no part in the disclosure, and that his own intentions were good (two declarations which that coaly little gentleman with the greatest ardour repeated), openly told him that as to the Dorrit lineage or former place of habitation, he had no information to communicate, and that his knowledge of the family did not extend beyond the fact that it appeared to be now reduced to five members; namely, to two brothers, of whom one was single, and one a widower133 with three children. The ages of the whole family he made known to Mr Pancks, as nearly as he could guess at them; and finally he described to him the position of the Father of the Marshalsea, and the course of time and events through which he had become invested with that character. To all this, Mr Pancks, snorting and blowing in a more and more portentous134 manner as he became more interested, listened with great attention; appearing to derive135 the most agreeable sensations from the painfullest parts of the narrative136, and particularly to be quite charmed by the account of William Dorrit’s long imprisonment137.
‘In conclusion, Mr Pancks,’ said Arthur, ‘I have but to say this. I have reasons beyond a personal regard for speaking as little as I can of the Dorrit family, particularly at my mother’s house’ (Mr Pancks nodded), ‘and for knowing as much as I can. So devoted a man of business as you are—eh?’
For Mr Pancks had suddenly made that blowing effort with unusual force.
‘It’s nothing,’ said Pancks.
‘So devoted a man of business as yourself has a perfect understanding of a fair bargain. I wish to make a fair bargain with you, that you shall enlighten me concerning the Dorrit family when you have it in your power, as I have enlightened you. It may not give you a very flattering idea of my business habits, that I failed to make my terms beforehand,’ continued Clennam; ‘but I prefer to make them a point of honour. I have seen so much business done on sharp principles that, to tell you the truth, Mr Pancks, I am tired of them.’
Mr Pancks laughed. ‘It’s a bargain, sir,’ said he. ‘You shall find me stick to it.’
After that, he stood a little while looking at Clennam, and biting his ten nails all round; evidently while he fixed138 in his mind what he had been told, and went over it carefully, before the means of supplying a gap in his memory should be no longer at hand. ‘It’s all right,’ he said at last, ‘and now I’ll wish you good day, as it’s collecting day in the Yard. By-the-bye, though. A lame71 foreigner with a stick.’
‘Ay, ay. You do take a reference sometimes, I see?’ said Clennam.
‘When he can pay, sir,’ replied Pancks. ‘Take all you can get, and keep back all you can’t be forced to give up. That’s business. The lame foreigner with the stick wants a top room down the Yard. Is he good for it?’
‘I am,’ said Clennam, ‘and I will answer for him.’
‘That’s enough. What I must have of Bleeding Heart Yard,’ said Pancks, making a note of the case in his book, ‘is my bond. I want my bond, you see. Pay up, or produce your property! That’s the watchword down the Yard. The lame foreigner with the stick represented that you sent him; but he could represent (as far as that goes) that the Great Mogul sent him. He has been in the hospital, I believe?’
‘Yes. Through having met with an accident. He is only just now discharged.’
‘It’s pauperising a man, sir, I have been shown, to let him into a hospital?’ said Pancks. And again blew off that remarkable139 sound.
‘I have been shown so too,’ said Clennam, coldly.
Mr Pancks, being by that time quite ready for a start, got under steam in a moment, and, without any other signal or ceremony, was snorting down the step-ladder and working into Bleeding Heart Yard, before he seemed to be well out of the counting-house.
Throughout the remainder of the day, Bleeding Heart Yard was in consternation140, as the grim Pancks cruised in it; haranguing141 the inhabitants on their backslidings in respect of payment, demanding his bond, breathing notices to quit and executions, running down defaulters, sending a swell142 of terror on before him, and leaving it in his wake. Knots of people, impelled143 by a fatal attraction, lurked144 outside any house in which he was known to be, listening for fragments of his discourses145 to the inmates146; and, when he was rumoured147 to be coming down the stairs, often could not disperse148 so quickly but that he would be prematurely149 in among them, demanding their own arrears150, and rooting them to the spot. Throughout the remainder of the day, Mr Pancks’s What were they up to? and What did they mean by it? sounded all over the Yard. Mr Pancks wouldn’t hear of excuses, wouldn’t hear of complaints, wouldn’t hear of repairs, wouldn’t hear of anything but unconditional151 money down. Perspiring152 and puffing153 and darting154 about in eccentric directions, and becoming hotter and dingier155 every moment, he lashed156 the tide of the yard into a most agitated157 and turbid158 state. It had not settled down into calm water again full two hours after he had been seen fuming159 away on the horizon at the top of the steps.
There were several small assemblages of the Bleeding Hearts at the popular points of meeting in the Yard that night, among whom it was universally agreed that Mr Pancks was a hard man to have to do with; and that it was much to be regretted, so it was, that a gentleman like Mr Casby should put his rents in his hands, and never know him in his true light. For (said the Bleeding Hearts), if a gentleman with that head of hair and them eyes took his rents into his own hands, ma’am, there would be none of this worriting and wearing, and things would be very different.
At which identical evening hour and minute, the Patriarch—who had floated serenely through the Yard in the forenoon before the harrying160 began, with the express design of getting up this trustfulness in his shining bumps and silken locks—at which identical hour and minute, that first-rate humbug161 of a thousand guns was heavily floundering in the little Dock of his exhausted162 Tug at home, and was saying, as he turned his thumbs:
‘A very bad day’s work, Pancks, very bad day’s work. It seems to me, sir, and I must insist on making this observation forcibly in justice to myself, that you ought to have got much more money, much more money.’
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收听单词发音
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1
negotiation
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| n.谈判，协商 | |
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2
entrusted
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| v.委托，托付( entrust的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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4
jingling
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| 叮当声 | |
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5
honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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6
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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7
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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8
eccentricity
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| n.古怪，反常，怪癖 | |
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9
glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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10
sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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11
motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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surmounted
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| 战胜( surmount的过去式和过去分词 )； 克服（困难）； 居于…之上； 在…顶上 | |
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13
stipulated
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| vt.& vi.规定；约定adj.[法]合同规定的 | |
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14
bias
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| n.偏见，偏心，偏袒；vt.使有偏见 | |
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15
strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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16
impartial
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| adj.(in,to)公正的，无偏见的 | |
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17
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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18
peculiarities
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| n. 特质, 特性, 怪癖, 古怪 | |
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19
arrear
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| n.欠款 | |
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20
undertakings
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| 企业( undertaking的名词复数 )； 保证； 殡仪业； 任务 | |
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21
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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22
ascertainable
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| adj.可确定（探知），可发现的 | |
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23
pending
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| prep.直到，等待…期间；adj.待定的；迫近的 | |
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24
investigation
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| n.调查，调查研究 | |
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25
rugged
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| adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的 | |
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26
circumlocution
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| n. 绕圈子的话，迂回累赘的陈述 | |
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27
intelligible
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| adj.可理解的，明白易懂的，清楚的 | |
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28
illuminate
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| vt.照亮，照明；用灯光装饰；说明，阐释 | |
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29
scoop
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| n.铲子，舀取，独家新闻；v.汲取，舀取，抢先登出 | |
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30
noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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31
avow
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| v.承认，公开宣称 | |
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32
promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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33
auspicious
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| adj.吉利的；幸运的，吉兆的 | |
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34
partnership
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| n.合作关系，伙伴关系 | |
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35
inscription
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| n.（尤指石块上的）刻印文字，铭文，碑文 | |
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36
vices
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| 缺陷( vice的名词复数 )； 恶习； 不道德行为； 台钳 | |
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37
straps
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| n.带子( strap的名词复数 )；挎带；肩带；背带v.用皮带捆扎( strap的第三人称单数 )；用皮带抽打；包扎；给…打绷带 | |
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38
shaft
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| n.(工具的)柄，杆状物 | |
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39
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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40
interspersed
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| adj.[医]散开的；点缀的v.intersperse的过去式和过去分词 | |
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41
thumps
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| n.猪肺病；砰的重击声( thump的名词复数 )v.重击， （指心脏）急速跳动( thump的第三人称单数 ) | |
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42
bonnet
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| n.无边女帽；童帽 | |
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43
apparition
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| n.幽灵，神奇的现象 | |
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44
flora
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| n.(某一地区的)植物群 | |
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45
legacy
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| n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西 | |
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46
ascent
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| n.(声望或地位)提高；上升，升高；登高 | |
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47
enraptured
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| v.使狂喜( enrapture的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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48
extricating
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| v.使摆脱困难，脱身( extricate的现在分词 ) | |
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49
stony
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| adj.石头的，多石头的，冷酷的，无情的 | |
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50
bruised
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| [医]青肿的，瘀紫的 | |
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51
machinery
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| n.(总称)机械，机器；机构 | |
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52
esteemed
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| adj.受人尊敬的v.尊敬( esteem的过去式和过去分词 )；敬重；认为；以为 | |
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53
vindictively
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| adv.恶毒地；报复地 | |
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54
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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55
bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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56
remonstrated
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| v.抗议( remonstrate的过去式和过去分词 )；告诫 | |
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57
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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58
hostility
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| n.敌对，敌意；抵制［pl.］交战，战争 | |
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59
perplexed
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| adj.不知所措的 | |
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60
abhorrence
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| n.憎恶；可憎恶的事 | |
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61
stimulated
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| a.刺激的 | |
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62
rigid
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| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
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63
appendage
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| n.附加物 | |
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64
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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65
intruded
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| n.侵入的，推进的v.侵入，侵扰，打扰( intrude的过去式和过去分词 )；把…强加于 | |
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66
slippers
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| n. 拖鞋 | |
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67
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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entreated
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| 恳求，乞求( entreat的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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69
severed
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| v.切断，断绝( sever的过去式和过去分词 )；断，裂 | |
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70
alluded
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| 提及，暗指( allude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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71
lame
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| adj.跛的，(辩解、论据等)无说服力的 | |
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72
pony
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| adj.小型的；n.小马 | |
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73
aggravatingly
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74
pouted
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| v.撅（嘴）( pout的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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75
embarked
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| 乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 )； 装载； 从事 | |
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76
touchy
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| adj.易怒的；棘手的 | |
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77
sincerity
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| n.真诚，诚意；真实 | |
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78
mermaid
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| n.美人鱼 | |
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79
confidentially
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| ad.秘密地，悄悄地 | |
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80
bind
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| vt.捆，包扎；装订；约束；使凝固；vi.变硬 | |
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81
friendliness
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| n.友谊，亲切，亲密 | |
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82
frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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83
intrigue
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| vt.激起兴趣，迷住；vi.耍阴谋；n.阴谋，密谋 | |
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84
relish
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| n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味 | |
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85
hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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86
tottered
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| v.走得或动得不稳( totter的过去式和过去分词 )；踉跄；蹒跚；摇摇欲坠 | |
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87
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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88
maidenly
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| adj. 像处女的, 谨慎的, 稳静的 | |
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89
inanely
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90
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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91
benevolent
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| adj.仁慈的，乐善好施的 | |
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92
benign
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| adj.善良的，慈祥的；良性的，无危险的 | |
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93
enunciated
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| v.（清晰地）发音( enunciate的过去式和过去分词 )；确切地说明 | |
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94
proffered
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| v.提供，贡献，提出( proffer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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95
lumbering
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| n.采伐林木 | |
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96
justifies
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| 证明…有理( justify的第三人称单数 )； 为…辩护； 对…作出解释； 为…辩解（或辩护） | |
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97
random
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| adj.随机的；任意的；n.偶然的(或随便的)行动 | |
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98
serenely
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| adv.安详地，宁静地，平静地 | |
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99
benevolently
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| adv.仁慈地，行善地 | |
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100
tenants
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| n.房客( tenant的名词复数 )；佃户；占用者；占有者 | |
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101
momentary
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| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
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102
twitch
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| v.急拉，抽动，痉挛，抽搐；n.扯，阵痛，痉挛 | |
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103
brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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104
depreciated
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| v.贬值，跌价，减价( depreciate的过去式和过去分词 )；贬低，蔑视，轻视 | |
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105
secondly
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| adv.第二，其次 | |
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106
spectral
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| adj.幽灵的，鬼魂的 | |
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107
invoked
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| v.援引( invoke的过去式和过去分词 )；行使（权利等）；祈求救助；恳求 | |
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108
appellation
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| n.名称，称呼 | |
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109
dilemma
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| n.困境，进退两难的局面 | |
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110
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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blandly
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| adv.温和地，殷勤地 | |
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112
prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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113
revolved
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| v.（使）旋转( revolve的过去式和过去分词 )；细想 | |
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114
darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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115
beads
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| n.（空心）小珠子( bead的名词复数 )；水珠；珠子项链 | |
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116
inquisitively
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| 过分好奇地； 好问地 | |
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117
puff
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| n.一口(气)；一阵(风)；v.喷气，喘气 | |
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118
appeased
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| 安抚，抚慰( appease的过去式和过去分词 )； 绥靖（满足另一国的要求以避免战争） | |
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119
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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120
attentively
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| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
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121
dingy
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| adj.昏暗的，肮脏的 | |
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122
lurking
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| 潜在 | |
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123
expressive
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| adj.表现的，表达…的，富于表情的 | |
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124
proprietor
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| n.所有人；业主；经营者 | |
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125
tug
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| v.用力拖(或拉)；苦干；n.拖；苦干；拖船 | |
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126
metaphor
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| n.隐喻，暗喻 | |
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127
hull
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| n.船身；(果、实等的)外壳；vt.去(谷物等)壳 | |
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128
trespass
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| n./v.侵犯，闯入私人领地 | |
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129
forefinger
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| n.食指 | |
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130
supplementary
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| adj.补充的，附加的 | |
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131
withhold
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| v.拒绝，不给；使停止，阻挡 | |
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132
speculations
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| n.投机买卖( speculation的名词复数 )；思考；投机活动；推断 | |
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133
widower
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| n.鳏夫 | |
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134
portentous
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| adj.不祥的，可怕的，装腔作势的 | |
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135
derive
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| v.取得；导出；引申；来自；源自；出自 | |
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136
narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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137
imprisonment
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| n.关押，监禁，坐牢 | |
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138
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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139
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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140
consternation
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| n.大为吃惊，惊骇 | |
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141
haranguing
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| v.高谈阔论( harangue的现在分词 ) | |
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142
swell
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| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
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143
impelled
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| v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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144
lurked
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| vi.潜伏，埋伏（lurk的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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145
discourses
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| 论文( discourse的名词复数 )； 演说； 讲道； 话语 | |
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146
inmates
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| n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 ) | |
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147
rumoured
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| adj.谣传的；传说的；风 | |
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148
disperse
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| vi.使分散；使消失；vt.分散；驱散 | |
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149
prematurely
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| adv.过早地，贸然地 | |
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150
arrears
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| n.到期未付之债，拖欠的款项；待做的工作 | |
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151
unconditional
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| adj.无条件的，无限制的，绝对的 | |
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152
perspiring
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| v.出汗，流汗( perspire的现在分词 ) | |
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153
puffing
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| v.使喷出( puff的现在分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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154
darting
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的现在分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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155
dingier
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| adj.暗淡的，乏味的( dingy的比较级 )；肮脏的 | |
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156
lashed
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| adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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157
agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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158
turbid
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| adj.混浊的，泥水的，浓的 | |
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159
fuming
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| 愤怒( fume的现在分词 )； 大怒； 发怒； 冒烟 | |
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160
harrying
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| v.使苦恼( harry的现在分词 )；不断烦扰；一再袭击；侵扰 | |
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161
humbug
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| n.花招，谎话，欺骗 | |
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162
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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