 Chapter 26. Book the Second of Little Dorrid. Read for LibriVox.org by Ellis Christoff. Little Dorrid by Charles Dickens. Book the Second. Chapter 26. Reaping the Whirlwind. With the precursory sound of hurried breath and hurried feet, Mr. Panks rushed into Arthur Clanham's counting house. The inquest was over, the letter was public, the bank was broken, the other modal structures of straw had taken fire and were turned to smoke. The admired piratical ship had blown up in the midst of a vast fleet of ships of all rates and boats of all sizes. And on the deep was nothing but ruin, nothing but burning hulls, bursting magazines, great guns self-exploded tearing friends and neighbors to pieces, drowning men clinging to the unseaworthy spas and going down every minute, spent swimmers floating dead and sharks. The usual diligence and order of the counting house at the works were overthrown. Unopened letters and unsorted papers lay strewn about the desk. In the midst of these tokens of prostrated energy and dismissed hope, the master of the counting house stood idle in his usual place with his arms crossed on the desk and his head bowed down upon them. Mr. Panks rushed in and saw him and stood still. In another minute, Mr. Panks' arms were on the desk and Mr. Panks' head was bowed down upon them. And for some time they remained in these attitudes, idle and silent, with the width of the little room between them. Mr. Panks was the first to lift up his head and speak. I persuaded you to it, Mr. Clenum. I know it. Say what you will. You can't say more to me than I say to myself. You can't say more than I deserve. Oh, Panks, Panks, returned Clenum. Don't speak of deserving. What do I myself deserve? Better luck, said Panks. I pursued Clenum without attending to him, who have ruined my partner. Panks, Panks, I have ruined Dois, the honest, self-helpful, indefatigable old man who has worked his way all through his life, the man who has contended against so much disappointment and who has brought out of it such a good and hopeful nature. The man I have felt so much for and meant to be so true and useful to. I have ruined him, brought him to shame and his grace, ruined him, ruined him. The agony into which the reflection wrought his mind was so distressing to see that Mr. Panks took hold of himself by the hair of his head and tore it in desperation at the spectacle. Reproach me, cried Panks. Reproach me, sir, or I'll do myself an injury. Say, you fool, you villain. Say, ass, how could you do it? Beast, what did you mean by it? Catch hold of me somewhere. Something abusive to me. All the time Mr. Panks was staring at his tough hair in a most pitiless and cruel manner. If you had never yielded to this fatal mania, Panks, said Clenum, more in commiseration than retaliation, it would have been how much better for you and how much better for me. At me again, sir, cried Panks, grinding his teeth in remorse. At me again. If you had never gone into those accursed calculations and brought out your results with such abominable clearness, groaned Clenum, it would have been how much better for you, Panks, and how much better for me. At me again, sir, exclaimed Panks, loosening his hold of his hair. At me again and again. Clenum, however, finding him already beginning to be pacified, had said all he wanted to say, and more. He wrung his hand, only adding, blind leaders of the blind, Panks, blind leaders of the blind, but doys, doys, doys, my injured partner, that brought his head down on the desk once more. Their former attitudes and their former silence were once more first encroached upon by Panks. Not being too bad, sir, since it began to get about, being high and low, on the chance of finding some hope of saving any cinders from the fire, all in vain, all gone, all vanished. I know it, returned Clenum, too well. Mr. Panks filled up a pause with a groan that came out of the very depths of his soul. Only yesterday, Panks, said Arthur, only yesterday, Monday, I had the fixed intention of selling, realizing and making an end of it. I can't say as much for myself, sir, returned Panks, though it's wonderful how many people I've heard of who were going to realize yesterday of all days in the 365 if it hadn't been too late. His steam-like breathings usually droll in their effect were more tragic than so many groans, while from head to foot he was in that begrimed, besmeared, neglected state that he might have been an authentic portrait of misfortune, which could scarcely be discerned through its want of cleaning. Mr. Clenum, had you laid out everything? He got over the break before the last word and also brought out the last word itself with great difficulty. Everything. Mr. Panks took hold of his tough hair again and gave it such a wrench that he pulled out several prongs of it. After looking at these with an eye of wild hatred, he put them in his pocket. My cause, said Clenum, brushing away some tears that had been silently dropping down his face, must be taken at once. What wretched amends I can make must be made. I must clear my unfortunate partner's reputation. I must retain nothing for myself. I must resign to our creditors the power of management I have so much abused, and I must work out as much of my fault or crime as is susceptible of being worked out in the rest of my days. Is it impossible, sir, to tide over the present? Out of the question. Nothing can be tideed over now, Panks. The sooner the business can pass out of my hands, the better for it. Their engagements to be met this week, which would bring the catastrophe before many days were over, even if I would postpone it for a single day by going on for that space secretly knowing what I know. All last night I thought of what I would do. What remains is to do it. Vitaly of yourself, said Panks, whose face was as damp as if his steam were turning into water as fast as he dismally blew it off. Have some legal help? Perhaps I had better. Have rug. There is not much to do. He will do it as well as another. Shall I fetch rug, Mr. Clinton? If you could spare the time, I should be much obliged to you. Mr. Panks put on his hat that moment and steamed away to Pentonville. While he was gone, Arthur never raised his head from the desk, but remained in that one position. Mr. Panks brought his friend and professional advisor, Mr. Rugg, back with him. Mr. Rugg had had such ample experience on the road of Mr. Panks's being at that present in an irrational state of mind that he opened his professional mediation by requesting that gentleman to take himself out of the way. Mr. Panks, crushed and submissive, obeyed. He is not unlike what my daughter was, sir, when we began the breach of promise action of Rugg and Borkin's in which she was plaintiff, said Mr. Rugg. He takes too strong and direct an interest in the case. His feelings are worked upon. There is no getting on in our profession with feelings worked upon, sir. As he pulled off his gloves and put them in his hat, he saw, in a side glance or two, that a great change had come over his client. I am sorry to perceive, sir, said Mr. Rugg, that you have been allowing your own feelings to be worked upon. Now, pray don't, pray don't. These losses are much to be deplored, sir, but we must look them in the face. If the money I have sacrificed had been all my own, Mr. Rugg, sighed Mr. Clenum, I should have cared far less. Indeed, sir, said Mr. Rugg, rubbing his hands with a cheerful air. You surprise me, that singular, sir, I have generally found in my experience that it's their own money people are most particular about. I have seen people get rid of a good deal of other people's money and bear it very well, very well indeed. With these comforting remarks, Mr. Rugg seated himself on an office stool at the desk and proceeded to business. Now, Mr. Clenum, by your leave, let us go into the matter. Let us see the state of the case. The question is simple. The question is the usual, plain, straightforward, common sense question. What can we do for ourself? What can we do for ourself? This is not the question with me, Mr. Rugg, said Arthur. You mistake it in the beginning. It is what can I do for my partner. How can I best make reparation to him? I am afraid, sir, do you know, argued Mr. Rugg persuasively, that you are still allowing your feeling to be worked upon? I don't like the term reparation, sir, except as a lever in the hands of counsel. Will you excuse my saying that I feel it my duty to offer you the caution that you really must not allow your feelings to be worked upon? Mr. Rugg, said Clenum, nirving himself to go through with what he had resolved upon and surprising that gentleman by appearing in his despondency to have a settled determination of purpose. You give me the impression that you will not be much disposed to adopt the cause I have made up my mind to take. If your disapproval of it should render you unwilling to discharge such business as it necessitates, I am sorry for it and must seek other aid. But I will represent to you at once that to argue against it with me is useless. Good sir, answered Mr. Rugg, shrugging his shoulders. Good sir, since the business is to be done by some hands, I did be done by mine. Such was my principle in the case of rug and walk-ins. Such is my principle in most cases. Clenum then proceeded to state to Mr. Rugg his fixed resolution. He told Mr. Rugg that his partner was a man of great simplicity and integrity and that in all he meant to do he was guided above all things by a knowledge of his partner's character and a respect for his feelings. He explained that his partner was then absent on an enterprise of importance and that it particularly behoved himself publicly to accept the blame of what he had rashly done and publicly to exonerate his partner from all participation in the responsibility of it, lest the successful conduct of that enterprise should be endangered by the slightest suspicion wrongly attaching to his partner's honour and credit in another country. He told Mr. Rugg that to clear his partner morally, to the fullest extent and publicly and unreservedly to declare that he, Arthur Clenum of that firm, had of his own sole act and even expressly against his partner's caution embarked its resources in the swindles that had lately perished, was the only real atonement within his power, was a better atonement to the particular man than it would be to many men and was therefore the atonement he had first to make. With this view, his intention was to print a declaration to the foregoing effect, which he had already drawn up and besides circulating it among all who had dealings with the house, to advertise it in the public papers. Concurrently with this measure, the description of which cost Mr. Rugg innumerable rye faces and great uneasiness in his limbs, he would address a letter to all the creditors, exonerating his partner in a solemn manner, informing them of the stoppage of the house until their pleasure could be known and his partner communicated with and humbly submitting himself to their direction. If through their consideration for his partner's innocence the affairs could ever be got into such train as that the business could be profitably resumed and its present downfall overcome, then his own share in it should revert to his partner, as the only reparation he could make to him in money value for the distress and loss he had unhappily brought upon him and he himself, at as small a salary as he could live upon, would ask to be allowed to serve the business as a faithful clerk. Though Mr. Rugg saw plainly there was no preventing this from being done, still the rye-ness of his face and the uneasiness of his limbs so sorely required the propitiation of a protest that he made one. I offer no objection, sir, said he. I argue no point with you. I will carry out your views, sir, but under protest. Mr. Rugg then stated, not without prolixity, the heads of his protest. These were in effect because the whole town, or he might say the whole country, was in the first madness of the late discovery and the resentment against the victims would be very strong. Those who had not been deluded being certain to wax exceedingly roth with them for not having been as wise as they were and those who had been deluded being certain to find excuses and reasons for themselves, of which they were equally certain to see, that other sufferers were wholly devoid. Not to mention the great probability of every individual sufferer persuading himself to his violent indignation, that but for the example of all the other sufferers he never would have put himself in the way of suffering. Because such a declaration as Klenom's made at such a time would certainly draw down upon him a storm of animosity, rendering it impossible to calculate on forbearance in the creditors or on unanimity among them and exposing him a solitary target to a struggling crossfire which might bring him down from half a dozen quarters at once. To all this, Klenom merely replied that granting the whole protest nothing in it lessened the force or could lessen the force of the voluntary and public exoneration of his partner. He therefore, once and for all, requested Mr. Ragh's immediate aid in getting the business dispatched. Upon that Mr. Ragh failed to work. And Arthur, retaining no property to himself but his clothes and books and a little loose money, placed his small private bankers' account with the papers of the business. The disclosure was made and the storm rateed fearfully. Thousands of people were wildly staring about for somebody alive to heap reproaches on, and this notable case, courting publicity, set the living somebody so much wanted on a scaffold. When people who had nothing to do with the case were so sensible of its flagrancy, people who lost money by it could scarcely be expected to deal mildly with it. Letters of reproach and invective showered in from the creditors. And Mr. Ragh, who sat upon the high stool every day and read them all, informed his client within a week that he feared there were rits out. I must take the consequences of what I have done, said Klenom. The rits will find me here. On the very next morning, as he was turning in bleeding heart yard by Mrs. Blawnish's corner, Mrs. Blawnish stood at the door waiting for him and mysteriously besought him to step into happy cottage. There he found Mr. Ragh. I thought I'd wait for you here. I wouldn't go onto the counting house this morning if I was you, sir. Why not, Mr. Ragh? There are as many as five out to my knowledge. It cannot be too soon over, said Klenom. Let them take me at once. Yes, but, said Mr. Ragh, getting between him and the door, here reason, here reason, they'll take you soon enough, Mr. Klenom, I don't doubt, but here reason it almost always happens in these cases that some insignificant matter pushes itself in front and makes much of itself. Now, I find there is a little one out, a mere palace court jurisdiction, and I have reason to believe that a caption may be made upon that. I wouldn't be taken upon that. Why not, asked Klenom. I'd be taken on a full-grown one, sir, said Mr. Ragh. It's as well to keep up appearances. As your professional advisor, I should prefer you are being taken on a writ from one of the superior courts if you have no objection to do me that favour. It looks better. Mr. Ragh, said Arthur, in his dejection, only wishes that it should be over. I will go on and take my chance. Another word of reason, sir, cried Mr. Ragh. Now, this is reason, the other may be taste, but this is reason. If you should be taken on a little one, sir, you would go to the Marshall Sea. Now, you know what the Marshall Sea is, very close, excessively confined, whereas in the King's bench Mr. Ragh waved his right hand freely, as expressing abundance of space. I would rather, said Klenom, be taken to the Marshall Sea than to any other prison. Do you say so indeed, sir? returned Mr. Ragh. Then this is taste, too, and we may be walking. He was a little offended at first, but he soon overlooked it. They walked through the yard to the other end. The bleeding hearts were more interested in Arthur since his reverses than formally. Now, regarding him as one who was true to the place and had taken up his freedom, many of them came out to look after him and to observe to one another, with great anxiousness that he was pulled down by it. Mrs. Plournish and her father stood at the top of the steps at their own end, much depressed and shaking their heads. There was nobody visibly in waiting when Arthur and Mr. Ragh arrived at the counting house, but an elderly member of the Jewish persuasion, preserved in rum, followed them close, and looked in at the glass before Mr. Ragh had opened one of the day's letters. Oh, said Mr. Ragh, looking up. How do you do? Step in, Mr. Klenom. I think this is the gentleman I was mentioning. This gentleman explained the object of his visit to Beir, a twything madder of Bujnish, and executed his legal function. Shall I accompany you, Mr. Klenom? Asked Mr. Ragh politely, rubbing his hands. I would rather go alone, thank you. Be so good as send me my clothes. Mr. Ragh in a light, airy way replied in the affirmative, and shook hands with him. He and his attendant then went downstairs, got into the first conveyance they found, and drove to the old gates. Where a little thought, heaven forgive me, said Klenom to himself, that I should ever enter thus. Mr. Chivri was on the lock, and young John was in the lodge, either newly released from it, or waiting to take his own spell of duty. Both were more astonished on seeing who the prisoner was, than one might have thought turnkeys would have been. The elder Mr. Chivri shook hands with him in a shame-faced kind of way, and said, I don't call to mind, sir, as I was ever less glad to see you. The younger Mr. Chivri, more distant, did not shake hands with him at all. He stood looking at him in a state of indecision, so observable, that it even came within the observation of Klenom with his heavy eyes and heavy heart. Presently afterwards, young John disappeared into the jail. As Klenom knew enough of the place to know that he was required to remain in the lodge a certain time, he took a seat in a corner, and feigned to be occupied with the perusal of letters from his pocket. They did not so engross his attention, but that he saw with gratitude how the elder Mr. Chivri kept the lodge clear of prisoners, how he signed to some with his keys not to come in, how he nudged others with his elbows to go out, and how he made his misery as easy to him as he could. Arthur was sitting with his eyes fixed on the floor, recalling the past, brooding over the present, and not attending to either, when he felt himself touched upon the shoulder. It was by young John, and he said, you can come now. Arthur sat up and followed young John. When they had gone a step or two within the inner iron gate, young John turned and said to him, you are a room, I have got you one. I thank you heartily. Young John turned again, and took him in at the old doorway, up the old staircase, into the old room. Arthur stretched out his hand. Young John looked at it, looked at him, and suddenly, swelled, choked, and said, I don't know as I can, no, I find I can't, but I thought you'd like the room and here it is for you. Surprise at this inconsistent behavior yielded when he was gone. He went away directly to the feelings which the empty room awakened in Glenham's wounded breast, and to the crowding associations with the one good and gentle creature who had sanctified it. Her absence in his altered fortunes made it, and him in it, so very desolate and so much in need of such a face of love and truth that he turned against the wall to weep, sobbing out as his heart relieved itself, oh, my little Dorit. End of chapter the 26, book the second of Little Dorit. This recording is in the public domain. Chapter the 27th, book the second of Little Dorit. Read for LibriVox.org by Ellis Christoff. Little Dorit by Charles Dickens. Book the second. Chapter the 27th. The pupil of the Marshall Sea. The day was sunny, and the Marshall Sea, with the hot noon striking upon it, was unwoundedly quiet. Arthur Clenham dropped into a solitary armchair, itself as faded as any debtor in the jail, and yielded himself to his thoughts. In the unnatural peace of having gone through the dreaded arrest and got there, the first change of feeling, which the prison most commonly induced, and from which dangerous resting place so many men had slipped down to the depths of degradation and disgrace by so many ways, he could think of some passages in his life almost as if he were removed from them into another state of existence. Taking into account where he was, the interest that had first brought him there when he had been free to keep away, and the gentle presence that was equally inseparable from the walls and bars about him, and from the impalpable remembrances of his later life, which no walls or bars could imprison, it was not remarkable that everything his memory turned upon should bring him round again to Little Dorit. Yet it was remarkable to him, not because of the fact itself, but because of the reminder it brought with it, how much the dear little creature had influenced his better resolutions. None of us clearly know to whom or to what we are indebted in this wise, until some marked stop in the whirling wheel of life brings the right perception with it. It comes with sickness, it comes with sorrow, it comes with the loss of the dearly loved, it is one of the most frequent uses of adversity. It came to Clenum in his adversity, strongly and tenderly. When I first gathered myself together, he thought, and said something like purpose before my jaded eyes, whom had I before me toiling on for a good object's sake without encouragement, without notice, against ignoble obstacles that would have turned an army of received heroes and heroines. One weak girl. When I tried to conquer my misplaced love and to be generous to the man who was more fortunate than I, though he should never know it or repay me with a gracious word, in whom had I watched patience, self-denial, self-subdual, charitable construction, the noblest generosity of the affections, in the same poor girl. If I, a man, with a man's advantages and means and energies, had slighted the whisper in my heart, that if my father had erred, it was my first duty to conceal the fault and to repair it, what youthful figure with tender feet going almost bare on the damp ground with spare hands ever working, with its slight shape, but half protected from the sharp weather would have stood before me to put me to shame. Little Doritz. So always as he sat alone in the faded chair thinking. Always little Dorit, until it seemed to him, as if he met the reward of having wandered away from her and suffered anything to pass between him and his remembrance of her virtues. His door was opened and the head of the elder chivalry was put in a very little way without being turned towards him. I am off the lock, Mr. Clenum, I am going out. Can I do anything for you? Many thanks, nothing. You'll excuse me opening the door, said Mr. Chivalry, but I couldn't make you ear. Did you knock? Half a dozen times. Rousing himself, Clenum observed that the prison had awakened from its noontide dose, that the inmates were loitering about the shady yard and that it was late in the afternoon. He had been thinking for hours. Your things is come, said Mr. Chivalry, and my son is going to carry him up. I should have sent him up, but for his wishing to carry him himself, indeed he would have him himself and so I couldn't send him up. Mr. Clenum, could I say a word to you? Pray come in, said Arthur. For Mr. Chivalry's head was still put in at the door a very little way and Mr. Chivalry had but one ear upon him, instead of both eyes. This was native delicacy in Mr. Chivalry, true politeness, though his exterior had very much of a turnkey about it and not the least of a gentleman. Thank you, sir, said Mr. Chivalry, without advancing. It's no odds me coming in. Mr. Clenum, don't you take notice of my son if you'll be so good in case you find him caught up anyways difficult. My son has a heart and my son's heart is in the right place. May un his mother knows where to find it and we find it situated correct. With this mysterious speech Mr. Chivalry took his ear away and shut the door. He might have been gone ten minutes when his son succeeded him. Here's your part, Manto, he said to Arthur putting it carefully down. It's very kind of you. I am ashamed that you should have the trouble. He was gone before it came to that, but soon returned, leaving exactly as before. Here's your black box, which he also put down with care. I am very sensible of this attention. I hope we may shake hands now, Mr. John. Young John, however, drew back, turning his right wrist in a socket made of his left thumb and middle finger and said as he had said at first, I don't know as I can't. No, I find I can't. He then stood regarding the prisoner sternly, though with a swelling humor in his eyes that looked like pity. Why, are you angry with me? said Clenum, and yet so ready to do me these kind services. There must be some mistake between us. If I have done anything to occasion it, I am sorry. No mistake, sir, returned John, turning the wrist backwards and forwards in the socket, for which it was rather tight. No mistake, sir, in the feelings with which my eyes behold you at the present moment. If I was at all fairly equal to your weight, Mr. Clenum, which I am not, and if you weren't under a cloud, which you are, and if it wasn't against all rules of the martial sea which it is, those feeling as such, that they would stimulate me more to having it out with you in a round on the present spot than to anything else I could name. Arthur looked at him for a moment in some wonder, well, well, he said, a mistake, a mistake, turning away he sat down with a heavy sigh in the faded chair again. Young John followed him with his eyes, and after a short pause cried out, I beg your pardon, freely granted, said Clenum, waving his hand without raising his sunken head, say no more, I am not worth it. This furniture, sir, said Young John in a voice of mild and soft explanation, belongs to me, I am in the habit of letting it out to parties without furniture, that have the room, it ain't much, but it's at your service, free, I mean, I could not think of letting you have it on any other terms, you're welcome to it for nothing. Arthur raised his head again to thank him, and to say he could not accept the favour. John was still turning his wrist and still contending with himself in his former divided manner. What is the matter between us? said Arthur. I declined to name it, sir, returned Young John suddenly turning loud and sharp. Nothing's the matter. Arthur looked at him again in vain for an explanation of his behaviour. After a while, Arthur turned away he scared again. Young John said, presently afterwards, with the utmost mildness, a little round table, sir, that's now your elbow, was, you know who's, I didn't mention him, he died a great gentleman, a boy of an individual that he gave it to, and that lived here after him, but the individual wasn't anyway is equal to him, most individuals would find it hard to come up to his level. Arthur drew the little table nearer, rested his arm upon it, and kept it there. Said Young John, that I intruded upon him when he was over here in London, on the whole he was of opinion that it was an intrusion, though he was so good as to ask me to sit down and to inquire after father and all other old friends, least ways unblessed acquaintances. He looked to me a good deal changed and I said so when I came back I asked him if Miss Amy was well, and she was. I should have thought you would have known without putting the question to such as May, returned Young John after appearing to take a large, invisible pill. Since you do put me the question, I am sorry I can't answer it, but the truth is, he looked upon the inquiry as a liberty and said, what was that to me? He was then I became quite aware, I was intruding, of which I had been fearful before, however he spoke very handsome afterwards, they were both silent for several minutes, except that Young John remarked, at about the middle of the pause, he both spoke and acted very handsome, it was again Young John who broke the silence by inquiring, if it's not a liberty, how long may it be your intention sir to go without eating and drinking? I have not felt the wonder of anything yet, returned Clenum, I have no appetite just now, the more reason why you should take some support sir, urged Young John, if you find yourself going on sitting here for hours and hours, partaking of no refreshment because you have no appetite, why then you should and must partake of refreshment without an appetite, I am going to have tea in my own apartment, if it's not a liberty, please to come and take a cup, or I can bring the tray here in two minutes. Feeling that Young John would impose that trouble on himself if he refused, and also feeling anxious to show that he bore in mind both the elder Mr. Chivalry's entreaty and the younger Mr. Chivalry's apology, Arthur rose and expressed his willingness to take a cup of tea in Mr. John's apartment. Young John locked his door for him as they went out, slid the key into his pocket with great dexterity, and led the way to his own residence. It was at the top of the house nearest to the gateway, it was the room to which Clenum had hurried when the enriched family had left the prison forever, and where he had lifted her insensible from the floor. He foresaw where they were going as soon as their feet touched the staircase. The room was so far changed that it was papered now and had been repainted and was far more comfortably furnished. But he could recall it just as he had seen it in that single glance when he raised her from the ground and carried her down to the carriage. Young John looked hard at him, biting his fingers. I see you recollect the room, Mr. Clenum. I recollect it well, heaven bless her. Oblivious of the tea, Young John continued to bite his fingers and to look at his visitor as long as his visitor continued to glance about the room. Finally, he made a start at the teapot, gustyly rattled a quantity of tea into it from a canister and set off to the common kitchen to fill it with hot water. The room was so eloquent to Clenum in the changed circumstances of his return to the miserable Marshall Sea. It spoke to him so mournfully of her and of his loss of her that it would have gone hard with him to resist it, even though he had not been alone. Alone he did not try. He had his hand on the insensible wall as tenderly as if it had been herself that he touched and pronounced her name in a low voice. He stood at the window looking over the prison parapet with its grim spiked border and breathed the benediction through the summer haze towards the distant land where she was rich and prosperous. Young John was some time absent and when he came back showed that he had been outside by bringing with him fresh butter in a cabbage leaf, some thin slices of boiled ham in another cabbage leaf and a little basket of watercresses and salad herbs. When these were arranged upon the table to his satisfaction they sat down to tea. Clenum tried to do honour to the meal but unavailingly. The ham sickened him. The bread seemed to turn to sand in his mouth. He could force nothing upon himself but a cup of tea. Try a little something green, said young John, handing him the basket. He took a sprig or so of watercress and tried again. But the bread turned to a heavier sand than before. And the ham, though it was good enough of itself, seemed to blow a faint semen of ham through the whole Marshall Sea. Try a little more something green, sir, said young John and again handed the basket. It was so like handing green meat into the cage of a dull imprisoned bird and John had so evidently brought the little basket as a handful of fresh relief from the stale hot paving stones and bricks of the jail. That Clenum said with a smile it was very kind of you to think of putting this between the wires but I cannot even get this down today. As if the difficulty were contagious young John soon pushed away his own plate and fell to folding the cabbage leaf that had contained the ham. When he had folded it into a number of layers one over another and it was small in the palm of his hand he began to flatten it between both his hands and to eye Clenum attentively. I wonder he at length said compressing his green packet with some force that if it's not worth your while to take care of yourself for your own sake it's not worth doing for someone else's. Truly returned Arthur with a sigh and a smile I don't know for whose. Clenum said John warmly I am surprised that a gentleman who is capable of the straightforwardness that you are capable of should be capable of the mean action of making me such an answer. Mr. Clenum I am surprised that a gentleman who is capable of having a heart of his own should be capable of the artlessness of treating mine in that way I am astonished at it sir really and truly I am astonished. Having got upon his feet to emphasise his concluding words young John sat down again and fell to rolling his green packet on his right leg never taking his eyes off Clenum but surveying him with a fixed look of indignant reproach I had got over it sir said John I had conquered it knowing that it must be conquered and had come to the resolution to think no more about it I shouldn't have given my mind to it again I hope if to this prison you had not been brought and in an hour unfortunate for me this day in his agitation young John adopted his mother's powerful construction of sentences when you first came upon me sir in the lodge this day more as if a upstree had been made a capture of than a private defendant such mingled streams of feelings broke loose again within me that everything was for the first few minutes swept away before them and I was going round and round in a vortex I got out of it I struggled and got out of it if it was the last word I had to speak against the vortex with my utmost powers I strove and out of it I came I argued that if I had been rude apologies was due and those apologies without a question of demeaning I did make and now when I've been so wishful to show that one thought is next to being a holy one with me goes before all others now after all you dodged me when I ever so gently entered it and throw me back upon myself for do not sir said young John do not be so base as to deny that dodgy do and thrown me back upon myself you have all amazement Arthur gazed at him like one lust only saying what is it what do you mean John but John being in that state of mind in which nothing would seem to be more impossible to a certain class of people than the giving of an answer went ahead blindly I hadn't John declared no I hadn't and I never had the audaciousness to think I am sure that always anything but lost I hadn't know why should I say I hadn't if I ever had any hope that it was possible to be so blessed not after the words that passed not even if barriers insurmountable had not been raised but is that a reason why I am to have no memory why I am to have no thoughts why I am to have no sacred spots nor anything what can you mean cried Arthur it's so very well to trample on it sir John went on scouring very prairie wild words if a person can make up his mind to be guilty of the action it's so very well to trample on it but is there it may be that he couldn't be trampled upon if it wasn't there but that doesn't make it gentlemanly that doesn't justify throwing a person back upon himself after he has struggled and strived out of himself like a butterfly the word may sneer at the turn K but he's a man when he isn't a woman which among female criminals he is expected to be ridiculous as the incoherence of his talk was there was yet a truthfulness in young John simple sentimental character and a sense of being wounded in some very tender respect expressed in his burning face and in the agitation of his voice and manner which Arthur must have been cruel to disregard he turned his thoughts back to the starting point of this unknown injury and in the meantime young John having rolled his green packet pretty round cut it carefully into three pieces and laid it on a plate as if it was some particular delicacy it seems to me just possible said Arthur when he had retraced the conversation to the watercresses and back again that you have made some reference to Miss Dorit it is just possible sir returned John Chivory I don't understand it I hope I may not be so unluckiest to make you think I mean to offend you again for I never have meant to offend you yet when I say I don't understand it sir said young John will you have the perfect to deny that you know I long have known that I felt towards Miss Dorit call it not the presumption of love but adoration and sacrifice indeed John I will not have any perfect if I know it why you should suspect me of it I am at a loss to think did you ever hear from Miss Chivory your mother that I went to see her once no sir returned John shortly never heard of such a thing but I did, can you imagine why no sir John shortly I can't imagine why I will tell you I was solicitous to promote Miss Dorit's happiness and if I could have supposed that Miss Dorit returned your affection poor John Chivory turned crimson to the tips of his years Miss Dorit never did sir I wish to be honorable and true so far as in my humble way I can and I would scorn to pretend for a moment that she ever did or that she ever led me to believe she did nor even that it was ever to be expected in any cool reason that she would or could she was far above me all respects at all times as likewise I did John similarly was her gentle family his chivalrous feeling towards all that belonged to her made him so very respectable in spite of his small stature and his rather weak legs and his very weak hair and his poetical temperament that a goliath might have sat in his place demanding less consideration at Arthur's hands you speak John he said with cordial admiration like a man well sir returned John brushing his hand across his eyes then now we should do the same he was quick with this unexpected retort and it again made Arthur regard him with a wondering expression of face least wise said John stretching his hand across the tea tray if too strong a remark withdrawn but why not why not when I say to you Mr. Clenum take care of yourself for someone else's sake why not be open though a tanky why did I get you the room which I knew you'd like best why did I carry up your things not that I found them heavy I don't mention them on that account far from it why have I cultivated you in the manner I have done since the morning ground of your own merits no they're very great I have no doubt at all but not on the ground of them another's merits have had their weight and have had far more weight with me then why not speak free unaffectedly John said clenum you are so good a fellow and I have so true a respect for your character that if I have appeared to be less sensible than I really am of the fact that the kind services you have rendered me today are attributable to my having been trusted by Ms. Doret as her friend I confess it to be a fault and I ask you of forgiveness oh why not John repeated with returning scorn why not speak free I declare to you returned Arthur that I do not understand you look at me consider the trouble I have been in is it likely that I would willfully add to my other self-reproaches that of being ungrateful or treacherous to you I do not understand you John's incredulous face slowly softened into a face of doubt he rose backed into the garret window of the room beckoned Arthur to come there and stood looking at him thoughtfully Mr. Clenum do you mean to say that you don't know what John Lord said young John appealing with a gasp to the spikes on the wall he says what Clenum looked at the spikes and looked at John and looked at the spikes and looked at John he says what and what is more exclaimed young John surveying him in a doleful maze he appears to main it do you see this window sir of course I see this window see this room why of course I see this room that wall opposite and that yard down below they have all been witnesses of it from day to day, from night to night from week to week from month to month for how often have I seen Miss Dorit here when she has not seen me witnesses of what of Miss Dorit's love for whom you said John and touched him with the back of his hand upon the breast and back to his chair and sat down on it with a pale face holding the arms and looking his head at him if he had dealt Clenum a heavy blow instead of laying that light touch upon him its effect could not have been to shake him more he stood amazed his eyes looking at John his lips parted and seeming now and then to form the word me without uttering it his hands dropped at his sides his whole appearance became awakened from sleep and stupefied by intelligence beyond his full comprehension me he had length said aloud ah, groaned young John you he did what he could to master a smile and returned you're fancy you are completely mistaken I mistaken sir said young John I completely mistaken on that subject Mr. Clenum, don't tell me so on any other if you like for I don't serve up to be a penetrating character and I'm well aware of my own deficiencies but I mistaken on a point that has caused me more smart in my breast than a flight of savages arrows could have done I mistaken on a point that almost sent me into my grave as I sometimes wished it would if the grave could only have been made compatible with the tobacco business and father and mother's feelings I mistaken on a point that even at the present moment makes me take up my pocket handkerchief like a great girl as people say, though I am sure I don't know why a great girl should be a term of reproach for every rightly constituted male mind loves them grey and small don't tell me so don't tell me so still highly respectable at bottom though absurd enough upon the surface young John took out his pocket handkerchief with a genuine absence of both of display and concealment which is only to be seen in a man with a great deal of good in him when he takes out his pocket handkerchief for the purpose of wiping his eyes having dried them and indulged in the harmless luxury of a sob and a sniff he put it up again the touch was still in its influence so like a blow that Arthur could not get many words together to close the subject with he assured John Chivory he had returned his handkerchief to his pocket that he did all honour to his disinterestedness and to the fidelity of his remembrance of Miss Torrid as to the impression on his mind of which he had just relieved it here John interposed and said no impression certainty as to that they might perhaps speak of it at another time but would say no more now feeling low spirited and weary he would go back to his room with John's leave and come out no more that night John assented and he crept back in the shadow of the wall to his own lodging the feeling of the blow was still strong upon him that when the dirty old woman was gone whom he found sitting on the stairs outside his door waiting to make his bed and who gave him to understand while doing it that she had received her instructions from Mr Chivory not the old unbut the young he sat down in the faded armchair pressing his head between his hands as if he had been stunned little Dorrid loved him more bewildering to him than his misery far consider the improbability he had been accustomed to call her his child and his dear child and to invite her confidence by dwelling upon the difference in their respective ages and to speak of himself as one who was turning old yet she might not have thought him old something reminded him that he had not thought himself so until the roses had floated away upon the river he had her two letters among other papers in his box and he took them out and read them there seemed to be a sound in them like the sound of her sweet voice it fell upon his ear with many tones of tenderness that were not insusceptible of the new meaning now it was that the quiet desolation of her answer no no no made to him that night in that very room that night when he had been shown the dawn of her altered fortune and when other words had passed between them which he had been destined to remember in humiliation than the prisoner rushed into his mind consider the improbability but it had a preponderating tendency when considered to become fainter there was another and a curious inquiry of his own hearts that concurrently became stronger in the reluctance he had felt to believe that she loved anyone in his desire to set that question at rest in a half formed consciousness he had had that there would be a kind of nobleness in his helping her love for anyone was there no suppressed something on his own side that he had hushed as it arose had he ever whispered to himself that he must not think of such a thing as her loving him that he must not take advantage of her gratitude that he must keep his experience in remembrance as a warning and reproof that he must regard such youthful hopes as having passed away as his friends dead daughter had passed away that he must be steady in saying to himself that the time had gone by him and he was too saddened and old he had kissed her when he raised her from the ground on the day when she had been so consistently and expressively forgotten quite as he might have kissed her if she had been conscious no difference the darkness found him occupied with these thoughts the darkness also found Mr. and Mrs. Plonish knocking at his door they brought with them a basket filled with choice selections from that stock in trade which met with such a quick sale and produced such a slow return Mrs. Plonish was affected to tears Mr. Plonish amably growled in his philosophical but not lucid manner that there was ups you see and there was downs it was in vain to ask why ups why downs there there was you know he had heard it given for a truth that according as the world went round even the best of gentlemen must take his turn of standing with his head upside down and all his air of flying the wrong way into what you might call space very well then what Mr. Plonish said was very well then that gentleman said would come upwards when his turn come that gentleman there would be a pleasure to look upon being all smooth again and very well then it has been already stated that Mrs. Plonish not being philosophical wept it further happened that Mrs. Plonish not being philosophical was intelligible it may have arisen out of her softened state of mind out of her sexes wit out of a woman's quick association of ideas or out of a woman's no association of ideas but it further happened somehow that Mrs. Plonish's intelligibility displayed itself upon the very subject of Arthur's meditations the way father has been talking about you Mr. Clenum said Mrs. Plonish you hardly would believe it's made him quite poorly as to his voice this misfortune has took it away you know what a sweet singer father is but he couldn't get a note out for the children at tea if you'll credit what I tell you while speaking Mrs. Plonish shook her head and wiped her eyes and looked retrospectively about the room as to Mr. Baptist pursued Mrs. Plonish whatever he'll do when he comes to know of it I can't conceive nor yet imagine he'd have been here before now you may be sure but that is a way of confidential business of your own the persevering manner in which he follows up that business and gives himself no rest from it he really do said Mrs. Plonish winding up in the Italian manner as I say to him Muscia toniscia padrona though not conceited Mrs. Plonish felt that she had turned this Tuscan sentence with peculiar elegance Mr. Plonish could not conceal his exaltation in her accomplishments as a linguist but what I say is Mr. Clenum, the good woman went on there's always something to be thankful for as I am sure you will yourself admit speaking in this room it's not hard to think what the present something is it's a thing to be thankful for indeed that Mrs. Dorit is not here to know it Arthur thought she looked at him with particular expression it's a thing, reiterated Mrs. Plonish to be thankful for indeed that Mrs. Dorit is far away it's to be hoped she is not likely to hear of it if she had been here to see it sir it's not to be doubted that the sight of you Mrs. Plonish repeated those words not to be doubted that the sight of you in misfortune and trouble would have been almost too much for her affectionate heart there's nothing I can think of that would have touched Mrs. Dorit so bad as that of a certainty Mrs. Plonish did look at him now with a sort of quivering defiance in her friendly emotion yes said she and it shows what notice father takes though at his time of life that he says to me this afternoon I neither make it up nor anyways in large Mary it's much to be rejoiced in that Mrs. Dorit is not on the spot to behold it those were father's words father's own words was much to be rejoiced in Mary that Mrs. Dorit is not on the spot to behold it I says to father then I says to him father you're right that Mrs. Plonish concluded with the error of a very precise legal witness is what passed between father and me and I tell you nothing it passed between me and father Mr. Plonish as being of a more laconic temperament embraced this opportunity of interposing with the suggestion that she should now leave Mr. Clenum to himself for you say said Mr. Plonish gravely I know what it is old gal repeating that valuable remark several times as if it appeared to him to include some great moral secret finally the worthy couple went away arm in arm little Dorit little Dorit again for hours always little Dorit happily if it ever had been so it was over and better over granted that she had loved him and he had known it and had suffered himself to love her what a road to have led her away upon the road that would have brought her back to this miserable place he ought to be much comforted by the reflection that she was quit of it forever that she was or would soon be married vague rumors of her father's projects in that direction had reached bleeding heart yard with the news of her sister's marriage and that the Marshall Seagate had chatted forever on all those perplexed possibilities of a time that was gone dear little Dorit looking back upon his own poor story she was its vanishing point everything in its perspective led to her innocent figure he had travelled thousands of miles towards it previous unquiet hopes and doubts had worked themselves out before it it was the centre of the interest of his life it was the termination of everything that was good and pleasant in it beyond there was nothing but mere waste and dark and sky as illites as on the first night of his lying down to sleep within those dreary walls he wore the night out with such thoughts what time young John lay wrapped in peaceful slumber after composing and arranging the following monumental inscription on his pillow stranger respect the tomb of John Chivory Jr. who died at an advanced age not necessary to mention he encountered his rival in a stressed state and felt inclined to have a round with him but for the sake of the Loved One conquered those feelings of bitterness and became magnanimous end of chapter the 27th book the second of little Dorit this recording is in the public domain chapter the 28th book the second of little Dorit read for LibriVox.org this is Christof little Dorit by Charles Dickens book the second chapter the 28th an appearance in the Marshall sea the opinion of the community outside the prison gates wore hard on Clenum as time went on and he made no friends among the community within too depressed to associate with the herd in the yard who got together to forget their cares too retiring and too unhappy to join in the poor socialities of the tavern he kept his own room and was held in distrust some said he was proud some objected that he was sullen and reserved some were contemptuous of him for that he was a poor spirited dog who pined under his debts the whole population were shy of him on these various counts of indictment but especially the last which involved a species of domestic treason and he soon became so confirmed in his seclusion that his only time for walking up and down was when the evening club were assembled at their songs and toasts and sentiments and when the yard was nearly left to the women and children imprisonment began to tell upon him he knew that he idled and moped after what he had known of the influences of imprisonment within the four small walls of the very room he occupied and homelessness made him afraid of himself shrinking from the observation of other men and shrinking from his own he began to change very sensibly anybody might see that the shadow of the wall was dark upon him one day when he might have been some 10 or 12 weeks in jail and when he had been trying to read and had not been able to release even the imaginary people of the book from the Marshall sea and a hand tapped at it he arose and opened it and an agreeable voice accosted him with how do you do Mr. Clenham I hope I am not unwelcoming calling to see you it was the sprightly young barnacle Ferdinand he looked very good natured and prepossessing though overpoweringly gay and free in contrast with the squalid prison you are surprised to see me Mr. Clenham he said taking the seat Mr. Clenham offered him I must confess to being much surprised not a disagreeably I hope by no means thank you, frankly said the engaging young barnacle I have been excessively sorry to hear the children that the necessity of a temporary retirement here and I hope of course as between two private gentlemen that our place has had nothing to do with it your office our circumlocution place I cannot charge any part of my reverses upon that remarkable establishment upon my life said the vivacious young barnacle I am heartily glad to know it it is quite a relief to me to hear you say it I should have so exceedingly regretted our place having had anything to do with your difficulties Clenham again assured him that he absorbed it of the responsibility that's right said Ferdinand I am very happy to hear it I was rather afraid in my own mind that we might have helped to flaw you because there is no doubt that it is arm's fortune to do that kind of thing now and then we don't want to do it but if men will be graveled why we can't help it without giving an unqualified ascent to what you say returned Arthur Gloomily I am a much obliged to you for your interest in me no, but really our place is said the easy young barnacle the most inoffensive place possible we are a humbug I won't say we are not but all that sort of thing is intended to be and must be, don't you see I do not, said Clenham you don't regard it from the right point of view it is the point of view that is the essential thing regard our place from the point of view that we only ask you to leave us alone and we are as capital a department as you'll find anywhere is your place there to be left alone asked Clenham you're exactly hit it returned Ferdinand it is there with the express intention that everything shall be left alone that is what it means that is what it's for no doubt there is a certain form to be kept up that it's for something else but it's only a form why, good heaven, we are nothing but forms think what a lot of our forms you have gone through and you have never got any nearer to an end never, said Clenham look at it from the right point of view and there you have us official and defectual it's like a limited game of cricket a field of outsiders are always going into bowl at the public service and we block the bowls Clenham asked what became of the bowlers the airy young barnacle replied that they grew tired got dead beat got lameed got their backs broken died off, gave it up went in for other games myself again, he pursued on the circumstance that our place has had nothing to do with your temporary retirement it very easily might have had a hand in it because it is undeniable that we are sometimes a most unlucky place in our effects upon people who will not leave us alone Mr. Clenham, I am quite unreserved with you as between yourself and myself I know I may be I was so when I first saw you making the mistake of not leaving us alone because I perceived that you were inexperienced and sanguine and had I hope you'll not object to my saying some simplicity not at all some simplicity, therefore I felt what a pity it was and I went out of my way to hint to you which really was not official but I never am official when I can help it something to the effect that if I were you I wouldn't bother myself however you did bother yourself and you have since bothered yourself now don't do it anymore I am not likely to have the opportunity said Clenham oh yes you are you'll leave here everybody leaves here there are no ends of ways of leaving here now don't come back to us that in treaty is the second object of my call pray don't come back to us upon my honor said Ferdinand in a very friendly and confiding way I shall be greatly vexed if you don't take warning by the past and keep away from us and the invention said Clenham my good fellow return Ferdinand if you'll excuse the freedom of that form of address nobody wants to know of the invention and nobody cares tapence-hapen about it nobody in the office that is to say nor out of it everybody is ready to dislike and ridicule any invention you have no idea how many people want to be left alone you have no idea how the genius of the country overlook the parliamentary nature of the phrase and don't be bored by it tends to being left alone believe me Mr. Clenham said the sprightly young barnacle in his pleasantest manner our place is not a wicked giant to be charged at full tilt but only a windmill showing you as it grinds immense quantities of chaff which way the country wind blows if I could believe that said Clenham it would be a dismal prospect for all of us oh don't say so return Ferdinand it's alright we must have humbug we all like humbug we couldn't get on without humbug a little humbug and a groove and everything goes on admirably if you leave it alone with this hopeful confession of his faith as the head of the rising barnacles who were born of woman to be followed under a variety of watchwords which they utterly repudiated and disbelieved Ferdinand Rose nothing could be more agreeable than his frank and courteous bearing or adapted with a more gentle manly instinct to the circumstances of his visit is it fair to ask as Clenham gave him his hand with a real feeling of thankfulness for his candour and good humour whether it is true that our late lamented model is the cause of this passing inconvenience I am one of the many he has ruined yes he must have been an exceedingly clever fellow said Ferdinand Barnacle Arthur not being in the mood to extol the memory of the deceased was silent consimate rascal of course said Ferdinand but remarkably clever one cannot help admiring the fellow must have been such a master of humbug new people so well got over them so completely did so much with them in his easy way he was really moved to genuine admiration I hope said Arthur that he and his dupes may be a warning to people not to have so much done with them again my dear Mr. Clenham returned Ferdinand laughing have you really such a verdant hope the next man who has as larger capacity and as genuine a taste for swindling will succeed as well pardon me I think you really have no idea how the human bees will swarm to the beating of any old tin kettle in that fact lies the complete manual of governing them when they can be got to believe that the kettle is made of the precious metals in that fact lies the whole power of men like our late lamented no doubt there are here and there said Ferdinand politely exceptional cases where people have been taken in for what appeared to them to be much better reasons to go far to find such a case but they don't invalidate the rule good day I hope that when I have the pleasure of seeing you next this passing cloud will have given place to sunshine don't come a step beyond the door I know the way out perfectly good day with those words the best and brightest of the barnacles went downstairs hand his way through the lodge mounted his horse in the front courtyard and rode off to keep an appointment with his noble kinsman who wanted a little coaching before he could triumphantly answer certain infidels knobs who were going to question the knobs about their statement ship he must have passed Mr. Ragh on his way out for a minute or two afterwards that Radi had a gentleman shown in at the door like an elderly fevers how do you do today sir said Mr. Ragh is there any little thing I can do for you today sir no thank you Mr. Ragh's enjoyment of embarrassed affairs was like a housekeeper's enjoyment in pickling and preserving or a washerwoman's enjoyment of a heavy wash or a dustman's enjoyment of an overflowing dust bin or any other professional enjoyment of a mess in the way of business I still look round from time to time sir said Mr. Ragh cheerfully to see whether any lingering detainers are accumulating at the gate they have fallen in pretty thick sir as thick as we could have expected he remarked upon the circumstance as if it were a matter of congratulation rubbing his hands briskly and rolling his head a little as thick repeated Mr. Ragh as we could reasonably have expected quite a shower bath of them I don't often intrude upon you now when I look round because I know you are not inclined for company and that if you wish to see me you would leave word in the lodge but I am here pretty well every day sir would this be an unseasonable time sir asked Mr. Ragh coaxingly for me to offer an observation as seasonable a time as any other public opinion sir said Mr. Ragh has been busy with you I don't doubt it might it not be advisable sir said Mr. Ragh more coaxingly yet now to make at last and after all a trifling concession to public opinion we all do it in one way or another the fact is we must do it I cannot set myself right with it Mr. Ragh and have no business to expect that I ever shall don't say that sir don't say that the cost of being moved to the bench is almost insignificant and if the general feeling is strong that you ought to be there why really I thought you had settled Mr. Ragh said Arthur that my determination to remain here was a matter of taste well sir, well but is it good taste is it good taste that's the question Mr. Ragh was so soothingly persuasive as to be quite pathetic I was almost going to say is it good feeling an extensive affair of yours and you're remaining here where a man can come for a pound or two is remarked upon as not in keeping it is not in keeping I can't tell you sir in how many quarters I heard it mentioned I heard comments made upon it last night in a parlor frequented by what I should call if I did not look in there now and then myself the best legal company I heard there comments on it that I was sorry to hear they hurt me on your account again only this morning at breakfast my daughter but a woman you'll say yet still with a feeling for these things and even with some little personal experience as the plaintiff in Ragh and Borkins was expressing her great surprise her great surprise now under these circumstances and considering that none of us can quite set ourselves above public opinion wouldn't a trifling concession to that opinion be come sir said Ragh I will put it on the lowest ground of argument and say amiable Arthur Stortz had once more wandered away to little Dorit and the question remained unanswered as to myself sir said Mr Ragh hoping that his eloquence had reduced him to a state of indecision it is a principle of mine not to consider myself when a client's inclinations are in the scale but knowing your considerate character and general wish to oblige I will repeat that I should prefer your being in the bench your case has made a noise it is a creditable case to be professionally concerned in I should feel on a better standing with my connection if you went to the bench don't let that influence you sir I merely state the fact so Aaron had the prisoner's attention already grown in solitude and ejection and so accustomed had it become to commune with only one silent figure within the ever frowning walls that Clenum had to shake off a kind of stupor before he could look at Mr Ragh recall the thread of his talk and hurriedly say I am unchanged and unchangeable in my decision pray let it be let it be Mr Ragh without concealing that his nettle and mortified replied oh beyond a doubt sir I have travelled out of the record sir I am aware in putting the point to you but really when I heard it remarked in several companies and in very good company that however worthy of a foreigner it is not worthy of the spirit of an Englishman to remain in the marshal's sea when the glorious liberties of his island home admit of his removal to the bench I thought I would depart from the narrow professional line marked out to me and mention it personally said Mr Ragh I have no opinion on the topic that's well returned Arthur oh non at all sir said Mr Ragh if I had I should have been unwilling some minutes ago to see a client of mine visited in this place by a gentleman of a high family riding a saddle horse but it was not my business if I had I might have wished to be now empowered to mention to another gentleman a gentleman of military exterior at present waiting in the lodge that my client had never intended to remain here and was on the eve of removal to a superior abode but my cause as a professional machine is clear I have nothing to do with it is it your good pleasure to see the gentleman sir who is waiting to see me did you say I did take that unprofessional liberty sir hearing that I was your professional advisor he declined to interpose before my very limited function was performed happily said Mr Ragh with sarcasm I did not so far travel out of the record as to ask the gentleman for his name I suppose I have no resource but to see him sighed Clenham wearily then it is your good pleasure sir retorted Ragh am I honored by your instructions to mention as much to the gentleman as I pass out I am thank you sir I take my leave his leave he took accordingly in Dungeon the gentleman of military exterior had so imperfectly awakened Clenham's curiosity in the existing state of his mind that a half forgetfulness of such a visitor having been referred to was already creeping over it as a part of the somber veil which almost always dimmed it now when a heavy footstep on the stairs aroused him it appeared to ascend them not very promptly or spontaneously yet with the display of stride and clatter meant to be insulting as it paused for a moment on the landing outside his door he could not recall his association with the peculiarity of its sound though he thought he had won only a moment was given him for consideration his door was immediately swung open by a thump and in the doorway stood the missing blonde war the cause of many anxieties solve a fellow jail bird said he you won't meet seems here I am before Arthur could speak to him in his indignant wonder Cavaletto followed him into the room Mr. Panks followed Cavaletto neither of the two had been there since its present occupant had had possession of it Mr. Panks breathing hard sidled near the window put his head on the ground stirred his hair up with both hands and folded his arms like a man who had come to a pause in a hard day's work Mr. Baptist never taking his eyes from the dreaded Chamervold softly sat down on the floor with his back against the door and one of his ankles in each hand resuming the attitude except that it was now expressive of unwinking watchfulness in which he had sat before the same in the deeper shade of another prison one hot morning at Marseille I have it on the witnessing of these two mad men said Monsieur Blandois otherwise Lanier otherwise Rigo that you won't meet brother bird here I am glancing round contemptuously at the bedstead which was turned up by day he leaned his back against it as a resting place without removing his head from his head and stood defiantly lounging with his hands in his pockets you villain of ill omen said Arthur you have purposely cast a dreadful suspicion upon my mother's house why have you done it what prompted you to the devilish invention Monsieur Rigo after frowning at him for a moment laughed hear this noble gentleman listen all the world to this creature of virtue but take care take care it is possible my friend that your rudder is a little compromising holy blue it is possible Signore interposed Cavaletto also addressing Arthur for to commence hear me I received your instructions to find him Rigo is it not it is the truth I go consequentementally it would have given Mrs. Plawnish a great concern if she could have been persuaded that his occasional lengthening of an adverb in this way was the chief fault of his English first among my countrymen I ask them what news in Londra of foreigners arrived then I go among the French then I go among the Germans they all tell me a great part of us know well the other and they all tell me but no person can tell me nothing of him that Cavaletto thrice throwing out his left hand with all its fingers spread and doing it so rapidly that the sense of sight could hardly follow the action I ask of him in every place where go the foreigners and fifteen times repeating the same swift performance they know nothing but at this significant Italian rest on the word but his backhanded shake of his right forefinger came into play a very little and very cautiously but after a long time when I have not been able to find that he is here in Londra someone tells me of a soldier with white hair hey not hair like this that he carries white who lives ritard secretamentally in a certain place but with another rest upon the word who sometimes in the after dinner walks and smokes it is necessary as they say in Italy and as they know poor people to have patience I have patience I ask where is this certain place one believes it is here one believes it is there hey well, it is not here it is not there I wait, pay attention mentally at last I find it then I watch then I hide until he walks and smokes he is a soldier with great hair but a very decided rest indeed in the next play from side to side of the back handed forefinger he is also this man that you see it was noticeable that in his old habit of submission to one who had been at the trouble of asserting superiority over him he even then bestowed upon Rigo a confused bend of his head after thus pointing him out hey well, signore he cried in conclusion addressing Arthur again I waited for a good opportunity I write it some words to signore Panko an air of novelty came over Mr. Panks with this designation to come and help I showed him Rigo at his window to signore Panko who was often the spy in the day I slept at night near the door of the house at last we entered only this today and now you see him as he would not come up in presence of the illustrious advocate such was Mr. Baptist's honorable mention of Mr. Ragh we waited down below there together and signore Panko guarded the street at the close of this recital Arthur turned his eyes upon the impudent and wicked face as it met his the nose came down over the moustache and the moustache went up under the nose when nose and moustache had settled into their places again Mr. Rigo loudly snapped his fingers half a dozen times bending forward to jerk the snaps at Arthur as if they were palpable missiles which he jerked into his face now philosopher said Rigo what do you want with me I want to know returned Arthur without disguising his appearance how you dare direct the suspicion of murder against my mother's house dare cried Rigo ho ho hear him dare is it dare by heaven my small boy but you are a little imprudent I want that suspicion to be cleared away said Arthur you shall be taken there and be publicly seen I want to know more over what business you had there when I had a burning desire to fling you downstairs don't frown at me man I have seen enough of you to know that you're a bully and coward I need no revival of my spirits from the effects of this wretched place to tell you so plain a fact and one that you know so well wide to the lips Rigo stroked his moustache muttering by heaven my small boy but you are a little compromising of my lady your respectable mother and seemed for a minute undecided how to act his indecision was soon gone he sat himself down with a threatening swagger and said give me a bottle of wine you can buy wine here send one of your mad men to get me a bottle of wine I won't talk to you without wine come yes or no fetch him what he wants Cavaletto said Arthur scornfully producing the money contraband beast and Rigo bring port wine I'll drink nothing but Porto Porto the contraband beast however present with his significant finger that he peremptorily declined to leave his post at the door Signor Panko offered his services he soon returned with the bottle of wine which according to the custom of the place originating in a scarcity of corkscrews among the collegians in common with a scarcity of much elves was already opened for use mad man a large glass said Rigo Signor Panko put a tumbler before him not without a visible conflict of feeling on the question of throwing it at his head ha ha boasted Rigo once a gentleman and always a gentleman a gentleman from the beginning and a gentleman to the end what the devil a gentleman must be waited on I hope it's a part of my character to be waited on he half filled the tumbler as he said it and drank off the contents when he had done saying it ha smacking his lips not a very old prisoner that I judge by your looks brave sir that imprisonment will subdue your blood much sooner than it softens this hot wine your arm mellowing losing body and collar already I salute you he tossed off another half glass holding it up both before and afterwards so as to display his small wide hand to business he then continued to conversation you have shown yourself more free of speech than body sir I have used the freedom of telling you what you know yourself to be you know yourself as we all know you to be far worse than that add always a gentleman and it's no matter except in that regard we are all alike for example you couldn't for your life be a gentleman I couldn't for my life be otherwise how great the difference let us go on word sir never influence the cause of the cards or the cause of the dice do you know that you do I also play a game and words are without power over it now that he was confronted with Cavaletto and knew that his story was known whatever thin disguise he had worn he dropped and faced it out bare face as the infamous wretch he was know my son he resumed with a snap of his fingers I play my game to the end in spite of words and death of my body and death of my soul I'll win it you want to know why I played this little trick that you have interrupted know then that I had and that I have do you understand me have a commodity to sell to my lady or respectable mother I described my precious commodity and fixed my price touching the bargain your admirable mother was a little too calm too stolid too immovable and statu like in thin your admirable mother vexed me to make variety in my position and to amuse myself what a gentleman must be amused at somebody's expense I conceived the happy idea of disappearing an idea see you that your characteristic mother and my flintwinch would have been well enough pleased to execute ah bah bah bah don't look us from high to low at me I repeated well enough pleased excessively enchanted and with all their hearts ravished how strongly will you have it he threw out the leaves of his glass on the ground so that they nearly spattered cabaletto this seemed to draw his attention to him anew he set down his glass and said I'll not fill it what? I am born to be served come then you cabaletto and fill the little man looked at clenum whose eyes were occupied with rigor and seeing no prohibition got up from the ground and poured out from the bottle into the glass the blending as he did so have his old submission generous the striving of that with a certain smouldering ferocity which might have flashed fire in an instant as the born gentleman seemed to think for he had a wary eye upon him and the easy yielding of all to a good natured careless predominant propensity to sit down on the ground again formed a very remarkable combination of character this happy idea brave sir rigor resumed after drinking was a happy idea for several reasons it amused me it worried your dear mama and my flintwinch it caused you agonies my term for a lesson in politeness towards a gentleman and it suggested to all the amiable persons interested that your entirely devoted is a man to fear by heaven he is a man to fear beyond this it might have restored her wit to my lady or mother might under the pressing little suspicion your wisdom has recognized have persuaded her at last to announce covertly in the journals that the difficulties of a certain contract would be removed by the appearance of a certain important party to it perhaps yes perhaps no but that you have interrupted now what is it you say what is it you want never had clenum felt more acutely that he was a prisoner in bonds than when he saw this man before him and could not accompany him to his mother's house all the undissernable difficulties and dangers he had ever feared were closing in when he could not stir hand or food perhaps my friend philosopher man of virtue imbecile what you will perhaps said rego posing in his drink to look out of his glass with his horrible smile you would have done better to leave me alone no at least said clenum you are known to be alive and unharmed at least you cannot escape from these two witnesses and they can produce you before any public authorities or before hundreds of people but will not produce me before one said rego wrapping his fingers again with an air of triumphant menace to the devil with your witnesses to the devil with your produced to the devil with yourself what do i know what i know for that have i my commodity on sale for that poor data you have interrupted my little project let it pass how then what remains to you nothing to me all reduce me is that what you want i will produce myself only too quickly contrabandist give me pen ink and paper cavaletto got up again as before and laid them before him in his former manner rego after some villainous thinking and smiling wrote and read aloud as follows to mrs. clenum wait answer prison of the marshal c at the apartment of your son dear madam i am in despair to be informed today by our prisoner here who has had the goodness to employ spies to seek me living for political reasons in retirement that you have had fears for my safety reassure yourself dear madam i am well i am strong and constant with the greatest impatience that i should fly to your house but that i foresee it to be possible under the circumstances that you will not yet have quite definitively arranged the little proposition i have had the honor to submit to you i name one week from this day for a last final visit on my part when you will unconditionally accept it or reject it with its train of consequences i suppress my ardor to embrace you and receive this interesting business in order that you may have leisure to adjust its details to our perfect mutual satisfaction in the meanwhile it is not too much to propose our prisoner having deranged my housekeeping that my expenses of lodging and nourishment at an hotel shall be paid by you receive dear madam the assurance of my highest and most distinguished consideration oh blond war a thousand friendships to that dear flintwinge i kiss the hands of madam f when he had finished this epistle rigor folded it and tossed it with a flourish at clenum's feet hola you a proposal of producing let somebody produce that at its address and produce the answer here cavaletto siddhartha will you take this fellow's letter but cavaletto's significant finger again expressing that his post was at the door to keep watch over rigor now he had found him with so much trouble and that the duty of his post was to sit on the floor backed up by the door looking at rigor and holding his own ankles senior panko once more volunteered his services being accepted cavaletto suffered the door to open barely wide enough to admit of his squeezing himself out and immediately shut it on him touch me with a finger touch me with an epithet question my superiority as i sit here drinking my wine at my pleasure said rigor and i follow the letter and cancel my week's grace you wanted me? you have got me how do you like me? you know returned clenum with a bitter sense of his helplessness but when i sought you i was not a prisoner to the devil with you and your prison retorted rigor leisurely as he took from his pocket a case containing the materials for making cigarettes and employed his facile hands in folding a few for present use i care for neither of you contrabandist a light again cavaletto got up and gave him what he wanted there had been something dreadful in the noiseless skill of his cold wide hands with the fingers lightly twisting about and twining one over another like serpents clenum could not prevent himself from shattering inwardly as if he had been looking on at a nest of those creatures hola pig cried rigor with a noisy stimulating cry as if cavaletto were an italian horse or mule what? the infernal old jail was a respectable one to this there was dignity in the bars and stones of that place it was a prison for men this bar a hospital for imbeciles he smoked his cigarette out with his ugly smile so fixed upon his face that he looked as though he was smoking with his drooping beak of a nose rather than with his mouth like a fancy in a weird picture when he had lighted a second cigarette at the still burning end of the first he said to clenum one must pass the time in the madman's absence one must talk one can't drink strong wine all day long or i would have another bottle she's handsome sir though not exactly to my taste still by the thunder and the lightning handsome i felicitate you on your admiration i neither know nor ask said clenum of whom you speak della bella govana sir as they say in italy of the gawan the fair gawan this husband you were the follower i think sir follower your insolent the friend do you sell all your friends we go took his cigarette from his mouth and dyed him with a momentary revelation of surprise but he put it between his lips again as he answered with coolness i sell anything that commands a prize how do your lawyers live your politicians your intrigues your men of the exchange how do you live how do you come here have you sold no friend lady of mine i rather think yes clenum turned away from him towards the window and sat looking out at the wall effectively sir said rego society sells itself and sells me and i sell society i perceive you have acquaintance with another lady also handsome a strong spirit let us see how do they call her wade he received no answer but could easily discern that he had hit the mark yes he went on that handsome lady and strong spirit addresses me in the street and i am not insensible i respond that handsome lady and strong spirit does me the favor to remark in full confidence i have my curiosity and i have my chagrin more than ordinarily honorable perhaps i announce myself madame a gentleman from the birth and a gentleman to the death but not more than ordinary honorable i despise such a weak fantasy thereupon she is pleased to compliment the difference between you and the rest is she answers that you say so or she knows society i accept her congratulations with gallantry and politeness politeness and little gallantries are inseparable from my character she then makes a proposition which is in effect that she has seen as much together that it appears to her that i am for the passing time the cat of the house the friend of the family that her curiosity and her chagrin awaken the fancy to be acquainted with their movements to know the manner of their life how the fair goanna is beloved how the fair goanna is cherished and so on she is not rich but offers such and such little recompenses for the little cares and derangements of such services and i graciously to do everything graciously is a part of my character consent to accept them oh yes so goes the world it is the mode though clenum's back was turned while he spoke and thenceforth to the end of the interview he kept those glittering eyes of his that were too near together upon him and evidently so in the very carriage of the head as he passed with his braggart recklessness from claws to claws of what he said that he was saying nothing which clenum did not already know oof the fair goanna he said lighting a third cigarette with a sound as if his lightest breath could blow her away charming but imprudent for it was not well of the fair goanna but it was the most mysterious of letters of from old lovers in her bed chamber on the mountain that her husband might not see them no no that was not well oof the goanna was mistaken there i earnestly hope cried ather aloud that panks may not be long gone for this mans presence pollutes the room ah but he'll flourish here and everywhere who can snap of his fingers he always has he always will stretching his body out on the only three chairs in the room besides that on which clenum sat he sang smiting himself on the breast as the gallant personage of the song who passes by this road so late companion de la majolaine who passes by this road so late always gay sing the refrain pig you could sing it once in another jail sing it or by every saint who was stoned to death i'll be affronted and compromising and then some people who are not dead yet had better have been stoned along with them of all the kings knights is the flower companion de la majolaine of all the kings knights is the flower always gay partly in his old habit of submission partly because not doing it might injure his benefactor and partly because he would as soon do it as anything else cavaletto took up the refrain this time rigor laughed and fell to smoking with his eyes shut possibly another quarter of an hour elapsed before mr. panks step was heard upon the stairs but the interval seemed to clenum insupportably long his step was attended by another step and when cavaletto opened the door he admitted mr. panks and mr. flintwinch the latter was no sooner visible than rigor rushed at him and embraced him boisterously how do you find yourself sir said mr. flintwinch as soon as he could disengage himself which he struggled to do with very little ceremony thank you no i don't want anymore this was in reference to another menace of attention from his recovered friend well Arthur you remember what i said to you about sleeping dogs and missing ones it's come true you see he was as imperturbable as ever to all appearance and nodded his head in a moralizing way as he looked around the room and this is the marshall sea prison for debt said mr. flintwinch ha you have brought your pigs to a very indifferent market Arthur if Arthur had patience rigor had not he took his little flintwinch with fierce playfulness by the two labels of his coat and cried to the devil with the market to the devil with the pigs and to the devil with the pig driver now give me the answer to my letter if you can make it convenient to let go a moment sir returned mr. flintwinch i'll first hand mr. Arthur a little note that i have for him he did so it was in his mother's maimed writing on a slip of paper and contained only these words i hope it is enough that you have ruined yourself rest contented without more ruin Jeremiah flintwinch is my messenger and representative you're affectionate mc clenum read this twice in silence and then tore it to pieces regored in the meanwhile stepped into a chair and sat himself on the back seat now bow flintwinch he said when he had closely watched the note to its destruction the answer to my letter mrs. clenum did not write mr. blandua her aunts being cramped and she thinking it is well to send it verbally by may mr. flintwinch screwed this out of himself unwillingly and rustily she sends her compliments and says she doesn't on the whole wish to term you unreasonable that she agrees but without prejudicing the appointment that stands for this day week mr. regored after indulging in a fit of laughter descended from his throne saying good, i go to seek an hotel but there his eyes encountered cavaletto who was still at his post come pig he added i have had you for a follower against my will now i'll have you against yours i tell you my little reptiles i am born to be served i demand the service of this contrabandist as my domestic until this day week in answer to cavaletto's look of inquiry clenum made him a sign to go but he added a loud unless you are afraid of him cavaletto replied with a very emphatic finger negative no master, i am not afraid of him when i no more keep it secretementally that he was once my comrade rego took no notice of either remark until he had lighted his last cigarette and was quite ready for walking afraid of him he said then looking round upon them all oh my children my babies my little dolls you are all afraid of him you give him his bottle of wine here you give him meat, drink and lodging there you dare not touch him with a finger or an epithet no it is his character to triumph of all the kings knights he is the flower and he is always gay with this adaptation of the refrain to himself he stalked out of the room closely followed by cavaletto whom perhaps he had pressed into his service because he tolerably well knew it would not be easy to get rid of him mr flintwinch after scraping his chin out with caustic disparagement of the pig market nodded to Arthur and followed mr panks still penitent and depressed followed too after receiving with great attention a secret word or two of instructions from Arthur and whispering back that he would see this affair out and stand by it to the end the prisoner with the feeling that he was more despised more scorned and repudiated more helpless altogether more miserable and fallen than before was left alone again end of chapter the 28th book the second of little dorrid this recording is in the public domain