little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第108章

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'I　scarcely……ha……dared；'　said　Mr　Dorrit；　'I　assure　you；　to　hope　for
so……hum……vast　an　advantage　as　your　direct　advice　and　assistance。　Though
of　course　I　should；　under　any　circumstances；　like　the……ha；　hum……rest　of
the　civilised　world；　have　followed　in　Mr　Merdle's　train。'

'You　know　we　may　almost　say　we　are　related；　sir；'　said　Mr　Merdle；
curiously　interested　in　the　pattern　of　the　carpet；　'and；　therefore；　you
may　consider　me　at　your　service。'

'Ha。　Very　handsome；　indeed！'　cried　Mr　Dorrit。　'Ha。　Most　handsome！'

'It　would　not；'　said　Mr　Merdle；　'be　at　the　present　moment　easy　for
what　I　may　call　a　mere　outsider　to　e　into　any　of　the　good　things……of
course　I　speak　of　my　own　good　things……'

'Of　course；　of　course！'　cried　Mr　Dorrit；　in　a　tone　implying　that　there
were　no　other　good　things。

'……Unless　at　a　high　price。　At　what　we　are　accustomed　to　term　a　very　long
figure。'

Mr　Dorrit　laughed　in　the　buoyancy　of　his　spirit。　Ha；　ha；　ha！　Long
figure。　Good。　Ha。　Very　expressive　to　be　sure！

'However；'　said　Mr　Merdle；　'I　do　generally　retain　in　my　own　hands　the
power　of　exercising　some　preference……people　in　general　would　be　pleased
to　call　it　favour……as　a　sort　of　pliment　for　my　care　and　trouble。'
'And　public　spirit　and　genius；'　Mr　Dorrit　suggested。

Mr　Merdle；　with　a　dry；　swallowing　action；　seemed　to　dispose　of　those
qualities　like　a　bolus；　then　added；　'As　a　sort　of　return　for　it。　I　will
see；　if　you　please；　how　I　can　exert　this　limited　power　（for　people　are
jealous；　and　it　is　limited）；　to　your　advantage。'　'You　are　very　good；'
replied　Mr　Dorrit。　'You　are　very　good。'

'Of　course；'　said　Mr　Merdle；　'there　must　be　the　strictest　integrity
and　uprightness　in　these　transactions；　there　must　be　the　purest　faith
between　man　and　man；　there　must　be　unimpeached　and　unimpeachable
confidence；　or　business　could　not　be　carried　on。'

Mr　Dorrit　hailed　these　generous　sentiments　with　fervour。

'Therefore；'　said　Mr　Merdle；　'I　can　only　give　you　a　preference　to　a
certain　extent。'

'I　perceive。　To　a　defined　extent；'　observed　Mr　Dorrit。

'Defined　extent。　And　perfectly　above…board。　As　to　my　advice；　however；'
said　Mr　Merdle；　'that　is　another　matter。　That；　such　as　it　is……'

Oh！　Such　as　it　was！　（Mr　Dorrit　could　not　bear　the　faintest　appearance　of
its　being　depreciated；　even　by　Mr　Merdle　himself。）

'……That；　there　is　nothing　in　the　bonds　of　spotless　honour　between　myself
and　my　fellow…man　to　prevent　my　parting　with；　if　I　choose。　And　that；'
said　Mr　Merdle；　now　deeply　intent　upon　a　dust…cart　that　was　passing　the
windows；　'shall　be　at　your　mand　whenever　you　think　proper。'

New　acknowledgments　from　Mr　Dorrit。　New　passages　of　Mr　Merdle's　hand
over　his　forehead。　Calm　and　silence。　Contemplation　of　Mr　Dorrit's
waistcoat　buttons　by　Mr　Merdle。

'My　time　being　rather　precious；'　said　Mr　Merdle；　suddenly　getting　up；
as　if　he　had　been　waiting　in　the　interval　for　his　legs　and　they　had　just
e；　'I　must　be　moving　towards　the　City。　Can　I　take　you　anywhere；　sir？
I　shall　be　happy　to　set　you　down；　or　send　you　on。　My　carriage　is　at　your
disposal。'

Mr　Dorrit　bethought　himself　that　he　had　business　at　his　banker's。　His
banker's　was　in　the　City。　That　was　fortunate；　Mr　Merdle　would　take
him　into　the　City。　But；　surely；　he　might　not　detain　Mr　Merdle　while　he
assumed　his　coat？　Yes；　he　might　and　must；　Mr　Merdle　insisted　on　it。　So
Mr　Dorrit；　retiring　into　the　next　room；　put　himself　under　the　hands　of
his　valet；　and　in　five　minutes　came　back　glorious。

Then　said　Mr　Merdle；　'Allow　me；　sir。　Take　my　arm！'　Then　leaning　on
Mr　Merdle's　arm；　did　Mr　Dorrit　descend　the　staircase；　seeing　the
worshippers　on　the　steps；　and　feeling　that　the　light　of　Mr　Merdle　shone
by　reflection　in　himself。　Then　the　carriage；　and　the　ride　into　the
City；　and　the　people　who　looked　at　them；　and　the　hats　that　flew　off　grey
heads；　and　the　general　bowing　and　crouching　before　this　wonderful　mortal
the　like　of　which　prostration　of　spirit　was　not　to　be　seen……no；　by
high　Heaven；　no！　It　may　be　worth　thinking　of　by　Fawners　of　all
denominations……in　Westminster　Abbey　and　Saint　Paul's　Cathedral　put
together；　on　any　Sunday　in　the　year。　It　was　a　rapturous　dream　to　Mr
Dorrit　to　find　himself　set　aloft　in　this　public　car　of　triumph；　making　a
magnificent　progress　to　that　befitting　destination；　the　golden　Street　of
the　Lombards。

There　Mr　Merdle　insisted　on　alighting　and　going　his　way　a…foot；　and
leaving　his　poor　equipage　at　Mr　Dorrit's　disposition。　So　the　dream
increased　in　rapture　when　Mr　Dorrit　came　out　of　the　bank　alone；　and
people　looked　at　him　in　default　of　Mr　Merdle；　and　when；　with　the　ears　of
his　mind；　he　heard　the　frequent　exclamation　as　he　rolled　glibly　along；
'A　wonderful　man　to　be　Mr　Merdle's　friend！'

At　dinner　that　day；　although　the　occasion　was　not　foreseen　and　provided
for；　a　brilliant　pany　of　such　as　are　not　made　of　the　dust　of　the
earth；　but　of　some　superior　article　for　the　present　unknown；　shed
their　lustrous　benediction　upon　Mr　Dorrit's　daughter's　marriage。　And　Mr
Dorrit's　daughter　that　day　began；　in　earnest；　her　petition　with　that
woman　not　present；　and　began　it　so　well　that　Mr　Dorrit　could　all　but
have　taken　his　affidavit；　if　required；　that　Mrs　Sparkler　had　all　her
life　been　lying　at　full　length　in　the　lap　of　luxury；　and　had　never　heard
of　such　a　rough　word　in　the　English　tongue　as　Marshalsea。

Next　day；　and　the　day　after；　and　every　day；　all　graced　by　more　dinner
pany；　cards　descended　on　Mr　Dorrit　like　theatrical　snow。　As　the
friend　and　relative　by　marriage　of　the　illustrious　Merdle；　Bar；　Bishop；
Treasury；　Chorus；　Everybody；　wanted　to　make　or　improve　Mr　Dorrit's
acquaintance。　In　Mr　Merdle's　heap　of　offices　in　the　City；　when　Mr　Dorrit
appeared　at　any　of　them　on　his　business　taking　him　Eastward　（which　it
frequently　did；　for　it　throve　amazingly）；　the　name　of　Dorrit　was　always
a　passport　to　the　great　presence　of　Merdle。　So　the　dream　increased　in
rapture　every　hour；　as　Mr　Dorrit　felt　increasingly　sensible　that　this
connection　had　brought　him　forward　indeed。

Only　one　thing　sat　otherwise　than　auriferously；　and　at　the　same　time
lightly；　on　Mr　Dorrit's　mind。　It　was　the　Chief　Butler。　That　stupendous
character　looked　at　him；　in　the　course　of　his　official　looking　at　the
dinners；　in　a　manner　that　Mr　Dorrit　considered　questionable。　He　looked
at　him；　as　he　passed　through　the　hall　and　up　the　staircase；　going　to
dinner；　with　a　glazed　fixedness　that　Mr　Dorrit　did　not　like。　Seated
at　table　in　the　act　of　drinking；　Mr　Dorrit　still　saw　him　through　his
wine…glass；　regarding　him　with　a　cold　and　ghostly　eye。　It　misgave　him
that　the　Chief　Butler　must　have　known　a　Collegian；　and　must　have　seen
him　in　the　College……perhaps　had　been　presented　to　him。　He　looked　as
closely　at　the　Chief　Butler　as　such　a　man　could　be　looked　at；　and　yet
he　did　not　recall　that　he　had　ever　seen　him　elsewhere。　Ultimately　he　was
inclined　to　think　that　there　was　no　reverence　in　the　man；　no　sentiment
in　the　great　creature。　But　he　was　not　relieved　by　that；　for；　let　him
think　what　he　would；　the　Chief　Butler　had　him　in　his　supercilious　eye；
even　when　that　eye　was　on　the　plate　and　other　table…garniture；　and　he
never　let　him　out　of　it。　To　hint　to　him　that　this　confinement　in　his　eye
was　disagreeable；　or　to　ask　him　what　he　meant；　was　an　act　too　daring　to
venture　upon；　his　severity　with　his　employers　and　their　visitors　being
terrific；　and　he　never　permitting　himself　to　be　approached　with　the
slightest　liberty。




CHAPTER　17。　Missing


The　term　of　Mr　Dorrit's　visit　was　within　two　days　of　being　out；　and　he
was　about　to　dress　for　another　inspection　by　the　Chief　Butler　（whose
victims　were　always　dressed　expressly　for　him）；　when　one　of　the　servants
of　the　hotel　presented　himself　bearing　a　card。　Mr　Dorrit；　taking　it；
read：


'Mrs　Finching。'


The　servant　waited　in　speechless　deference。

'Man；　man；'　said　Mr　Dorrit；　turning　upon　him　with　grievous　indignation；
'explain　your　motive　in　bringing　me　this　ridiculous　name。　I　am　wholly
unacquainted　with　it。　Finching；　sir？'　said　Mr　Dorrit；　perhaps　avenging
himself　on　the　Chief　Butler　by　Substitute。

'Ha！　What　do　you　mean　by　Finching？'

The　man；　man；　seemed　to　mean　Flinching　as　much　as　anything　else；　for
he　backed　away　from　Mr　Dorrit's　severe　regard；　as　he　replied；　'A　lady；
sir。'

'I　know　no　such　lady；　sir；'　said　Mr　Dorrit。　'Take　this　card　away。　I　know
no　Finching　of　either　sex。'

'Ask　your　pardon；　sir。　The　lady　said　she　was　aware　she　might　be　unknown
by　name。　But　she　begged　me　to　say；　sir；　that　she　had　formerly　the　honour
of　being　acquainted　with　Miss　Dorrit。　The　lady　said；　sir；　the　youngest
Miss　Dorrit。'

Mr　Dorrit　knitted　his　brows　and　rejoined；　after　a　moment　or　two；　'Inform
Mrs　Finching；　sir；'　emphasising　the　name　as　if　the　innocent　man　were
solely　responsible　for　it；　'that　she　can　e　up。'

He　had　reflected；　in　his　momentary　pause；　that　unless　she　were　admitted
she　might　leave　some　message；　or　might　say　something　below；　having
a　disgraceful　reference　to　that　former　state　of　existence。　Hence　the
concession；　and　hence　the　appearance　of　Flora；　piloted　in　by　the　man；
man。

'I　have　not　the　pleasure；'　said　Mr　Dorrit；　standing　with　the　card　in　his
hand；　and　with　an　air　which　imported　that　it　would　scarcely　have　been　a
first…class　pleasure　if　he　had　had　it；　'of　knowing　either　this　name；　or
yourself；　madam。　Place　a　chair；　sir。'　The　responsible　man；　with　a　start；
obeyed；　and　went　out　on　tiptoe。　Flora；　putting　aside　her　veil　with　a
bashful　tremor　upon　her；　proceeded　to　introduce　herself。　At　the　same
time　a　singular　bination　of　perfumes　was　diffused　through　the　room；
as　if　some　brandy　had　been　put　by　mistake　in　a　lavender…water　bottle；　or
as　if　some　lavender…water　had　been　put　by　mistake　in　a　brandy…bottle。

'I　beg　Mr　Dorrit　to　offer　a　thousand　apologies　and　indeed　they　would
be　far　too　few　for　such　an　intrusion　which　I　know　must　appear　extremely
bold　in　a　lady　and　alone　too；　but　I　thought　it　best　upon　the　whole
however　difficult　and　even　apparently　improper　though　Mr　F。's　Aunt　would
have　willingly　acpanied　me　and　as　a　character　of　great　force　and
spirit　would　probably　have　struck　one　possessed　of　such　a　knowledge　of
life　as　no　doubt　with　so　many　changes　must　have　been　acquired；　for　Mr　F。
himself　said　frequently　that　although　well　educated　in　the　neighbourhood
of　Blackheath　at　as　high　as　eighty　guineas　which　is　a　good　deal　for
parents　and　the　plate　kept　back　too　on　going　away　but　that　is　more　a
meanness　than　its　value　that　he　had　learnt　more　in　his　first　years　as　a
mercial　traveller　with　a　large　mission　on　the　sale　of　an　article
that　nobody　would　hear　of　much　less　buy　which　preceded　the　wine　trade
a　long　time　than　in　the　whole　six　years　in　that　academy　conducted　by　a
college　Bachelor；　though　why　a　Bachelor　more　clever　than　a　married　man　I
do　not　see　and　never　did　but　pray　excuse　me　that　is　not　the　point。'

Mr　Dorrit　stood　rooted　to　the　carpet；　a　statue　of　mystification。

'I　must　openly　admit　that　I　have　no　pretensions；'　said　Flora；　'but
having　known　the　dear　little　thing　which　under　altered　circumstances
appears　a　liberty　but　is　not　so　intended　and　Goodness　knows　there　was　no
favour　in　half…a…crown　a…day　to　such　a　needle　as　herself　but　quite　the
other　way　and　as　to　anything　lowering　in　it　far　from　it　the　labourer　is
worthy　of　his　hire　and　I　am　sure　I　only　wish　he　got　it　oftener　and　more
animal　food　and　less　rheumatism　in　the　back　and　legs　poor　soul。'

'Madam；'　said　Mr　Dorrit；　recovering　his　breath　by　a　great　effort；　as　the
relict　of　the　late　Mr　Finching　stopped　to　take　hers；　'madam；'　said　Mr
Dorrit；　very　red　in　the　face；　'if　I　understand　you　to　refer　to……ha……to
anything　in　the　antecedents　of……hum……a　daughter　of　mine；　involving……ha
hum……daily　pensation；　madam；　I　beg　to　observe　that　the……ha……fact；
assuming　it……ha……to　be　fact；　never　was　within　my　knowledge。　Hum。　I
should　not　have　permitted　it。　Ha。　Never！　Never！'

'Unnecessary　to　pursue　the　subject；'　returned　Flora；　'and　would　not　have
mentioned　it　on　any　account　except　as　supposing　it　a　favourable　and　only
letter　of　introduction　but　as　to　being　fact　no　doubt　whatever　and　you
may　set　your　mind　at　rest　for　the　very　dress　I　have　on　now　can　prove　it
and　sweetly　made　though　there　is　no　denying　that　it　would　tell　better　on
a　better　figure　for　my　own　is　much　too　fat　though　how　to　bring　it　down　I
know　not；　pray　excuse　me　I　am　roving　off　again。'　Mr　Dorrit　backed　to　his
chair　in　a　stony　way；　and　seated　himself；　as　Flora　gave　him　a　softening
look　and　played　with　her　parasol。

'The　dear　little　thing；'　said　Flora；　'having　gone　off　perfectly　limp
and　white　and　cold　in　my　own　house　or　at　least　papa's　for　though　not
a　freehold　still　a　long　lease　at　a　peppercorn　on　the　morning　when
Arthur……foolish　habit　of　our　youthful　days　and　Mr　Clennam　far　more
adapted　to　existing　circumstances　particularly　addressing　a　stranger　and
that　stranger　a　gentleman　in　an　elevated　station……municated　the　glad
tidings　imparted　by　a　person　of　name　of　Pancks　emboldens　me。'

At　the　mention　of　these　two　names；　Mr　Dorrit　frowned；　stared；　frowned
again；　hesitated　with　his　fingers　at　his　lips；　as　he　had　hesitated　long
ago；　and　said；　'Do　me　the　favour　to……ha……state　your　pleasure；　madam。'

'Mr　Dorrit；'　said　Flora；　'you　are　very　kind　in　giving　me　permission　and