little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第115部分

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about　the　provinces　when　the　House　was　up；　warbling　the　praises　of　their
Chief；　were　to　be　represented　there。　It　was　understood　to　be　a　great
occasion。　Mr　Merdle　was　going　to　take　up　the　Barnacles。　Some　delicate
little　negotiations　had　occurred　between　him　and　the　noble　Decimus……the
young　Barnacle　of　engaging　manners　acting　as　negotiator……and　Mr　Merdle
had　decided　to　cast　the　weight　of　his　great　probity　and　great　riches
into　the　Barnacle　scale。　Jobbery　was　suspected　by　the　malicious；　perhaps
because　it　was　indisputable　that　if　the　adherence　of　the　immortal　Enemy
of　Mankind　could　have　been　secured　by　a　job；　the　Barnacles　would　have
jobbed　him……for　the　good　of　the　country；　for　the　good　of　the　country。

Mrs　Merdle　had　written　to　this　magnificent　spouse　of　hers；　whom　it　was
heresy　to　regard　as　anything　less　than　all　the　British　Merchants　since
the　days　of　Whittington　rolled　into　one；　and　gilded　three　feet　deep　all
over……had　written　to　this　spouse　of　hers；　several　letters　from　Rome；　in
quick　succession；　urging　upon　him　with　importunity　that　now　or　never　was
the　time　to　provide　for　Edmund　Sparkler。　Mrs　Merdle　had　shown　him　that
the　case　of　Edmund　was　urgent；　and　that　infinite　advantages　might　result
from　his　having　some　good　thing　directly。　In　the　grammar　of　Mrs
Merdle's　verbs　on　this　momentous　subject；　there　was　only　one　mood；　the
Imperative；　and　that　Mood　had　only　one　Tense；　the　Present。　Mrs　Merdle's
verbs　were　so　pressingly　presented　to　Mr　Merdle　to　conjugate；　that　his
sluggish　blood　and　his　long　coat…cuffs　became　quite　agitated。

In　which　state　of　agitation；　Mr　Merdle；　evasively　rolling　his　eyes
round　the　Chief　Butler's　shoes　without　raising　them　to　the　index　of　that
stupendous　creature's　thoughts；　had　signified　to　him　his　intention　of
giving　a　special　dinner：　not　a　very　large　dinner；　but　a　very　special
dinner。　The　Chief　Butler　had　signified；　in　return；　that　he　had　no
objection　to　look　on　at　the　most　expensive　thing　in　that　way　that　could
be　done；　and　the　day　of　the　dinner　was　now　e。

Mr　Merdle　stood　in　one　of　his　drawing…rooms；　with　his　back　to　the　fire；
waiting　for　the　arrival　of　his　important　guests。　He　seldom　or　never　took
the　liberty　of　standing　with　his　back　to　the　fire　unless　he　was　quite
alone。　In　the　presence　of　the　Chief　Butler；　he　could　not　have　done　such
a　deed。　He　would　have　clasped　himself　by　the　wrists　in　that　constabulary
manner　of　his；　and　have　paced　up　and　down　the　hearthrug；　or　gone
creeping　about　among　the　rich　objects　of　furniture；　if　his　oppressive
retainer　had　appeared　in　the　room　at　that　very　moment。　The　sly　shadows
which　seemed　to　dart　out　of　hiding　when　the　fire　rose；　and　to　dart　back
into　it　when　the　fire　fell；　were　sufficient　witnesses　of　his　making
himself　so　easy。

They　were　even　more　than　sufficient；　if　his　unfortable　glances　at
them　might　be　taken　to　mean　anything。

Mr　Merdle's　right　hand　was　filled　with　the　evening　paper；　and　the
evening　paper　was　full　of　Mr　Merdle。　His　wonderful　enterprise；　his
wonderful　wealth；　his　wonderful　Bank；　were　the　fattening　food　of　the
evening　paper　that　night。　The　wonderful　Bank；　of　which　he　was　the　chief
projector；　establisher；　and　manager；　was　the　latest　of　the　many　Merdle
wonders。　So　modest　was　Mr　Merdle　withal；　in　the　midst　of　these　splendid
achievements；　that　he　looked　far　more　like　a　man　in　possession　of　his
house　under　a　distraint；　than　a　mercial　Colossus　bestriding　his　own
hearthrug；　while　the　little　ships　were　sailing　into　dinner。

Behold　the　vessels　ing　into　port！　The　engaging　young　Barnacle　was　the
first　arrival；　but　Bar　overtook　him　on　the　staircase。　Bar；　strengthened
as　usual　with　his　double　eye…glass　and　his　little　jury　droop；　was
overjoyed　to　see　the　engaging　young　Barnacle；　and　opined　that　we　were
going　to　sit　in　Banco；　as　we　lawyers　called　it；　to　take　a　special
argument？

'Indeed；'　said　the　sprightly　young　Barnacle；　whose　name　was　Ferdinand；
'how　so？'

'Nay；'　smiled　Bar。　'If　you　don't　know；　how　can　I　know？　You　are　in　the
innermost　sanctuary　of　the　temple；　I　am　one　of　the　admiring　concourse　on
the　plain　without。'

Bar　could　be　light　in　hand；　or　heavy　in　hand；　according　to　the　customer
he　had　to　deal　with。　With　Ferdinand　Barnacle　he　was　gossamer。　Bar　was
likewise　always　modest　and　self…depreciatory……in　his　way。　Bar　was　a　man
of　great　variety；　but　one　leading　thread　ran　through　the　woof　of　all　his
patterns。　Every　man　with　whom　he　had　to　do　was　in　his　eyes　a　jury…man；
and　he　must　get　that　jury…man　over；　if　he　could。

'Our　illustrious　host　and　friend；'　said　Bar；　'our　shining　mercantile
star；……going　into　politics？'

'Going？　He　has　been　in　Parliament　some　time；　you　know；'　returned　the
engaging　young　Barnacle。

'True；'　said　Bar；　with　his　light…edy　laugh　for　special　jury…men；
which　was　a　very　different　thing　from　his　low…edy　laugh　for　ic
tradesmen　on　mon　juries：　'he　has　been　in　Parliament　for　some　time。
Yet　hitherto　our　star　has　been　a　vacillating　and　wavering　star？　Humph？'

An　average　witness　would　have　been　seduced　by　the　Humph？　into　an
affirmative　answer；　But　Ferdinand　Barnacle　looked　knowingly　at　Bar　as　he
strolled　up…stairs；　and　gave　him　no　answer　at　all。

'Just　so；　just　so；'　said　Bar；　nodding　his　head；　for　he　was　not　to　be　put
off　in　that　way；　'and　therefore　I　spoke　of　our　sitting　in　Banco　to　take
a　special　argument……meaning　this　to　be　a　high　and　solemn　occasion；　when；
as　Captain　Macheath　says；　〃the　judges　are　met：　a　terrible　show！〃　We
lawyers　are　sufficiently　liberal；　you　see；　to　quote　the　Captain；　though
the　Captain　is　severe　upon　us。　Nevertheless；　I　think　I　could　put　in
evidence　an　admission　of　the　Captain's；'　said　Bar；　with　a　little　jocose
roll　of　his　head；　for；　in　his　legal　current　of　speech；　he　always　assumed
the　air　of　rallying　himself　with　the　best　grace　in　the　world；　'an
admission　of　the　Captain's　that　Law；　in　the　gross；　is　at　least
intended　to　be　impartial。　For　what　says　the　Captain；　if　I　quote
him　correctly……and　if　not；'　with　a　light…edy　touch　of　his　double
eye…glass　on　his　panion's　shoulder；　'my　learned　friend　will　set　me
right：


　　　　　〃Since　laws　were　made　for　every　degree；
　　　　　To　curb　vice　in　others　as　well　as　in　me；
　　　　　I　wonder　we　ha'n't　better　pany
　　　　　Upon　Tyburn　Tree！〃'


These　words　brought　them　to　the　drawing…room；　where　Mr　Merdle　stood
before　the　fire。　So　immensely　astounded　was　Mr　Merdle　by　the　entrance
of　Bar　with　such　a　reference　in　his　mouth；　that　Bar　explained　himself
to　have　been　quoting　Gay。　'Assuredly　not　one　of　our　Westminster　Hall
authorities；'　said　he；　'but　still　no　despicable　one　to　a　man　possessing
the　largely…practical　Mr　Merdle's　knowledge　of　the　world。'

Mr　Merdle　looked　as　if　he　thought　he　would　say　something；　but
subsequently　looked　as　if　he　thought　he　wouldn't。　The　interval　afforded
time　for　Bishop　to　be　announced。　Bishop　came　in　with　meekness；　and　yet
with　a　strong　and　rapid　step　as　if　he　wanted　to　get　his　seven…league
dress…shoes　on；　and　go　round　the　world　to　see　that　everybody　was　in
a　satisfactory　state。　Bishop　had　no　idea　that　there　was　anything
significant　in　the　occasion。　That　was　the　most　remarkable　trait　in
his　demeanour。　He　was　crisp；　fresh；　cheerful；　affable；　bland；　but　so
surprisingly　innocent。

Bar　sidled　up　to　prefer　his　politest　inquiries　in　reference　to　the
health　of　Mrs　Bishop。　Mrs　Bishop　had　been　a　little　unfortunate　in　the
article　of　taking　cold　at　a　Confirmation；　but　otherwise　was　well。　Young
Mr　Bishop　was　also　well。　He　was　down；　with　his　young　wife　and　little
family；　at　his　Cure　of　Souls。　The　representatives　of　the　Barnacle　Chorus
dropped　in　next；　and　Mr　Merdle's　physician　dropped　in　next。　Bar；　who
had　a　bit　of　one　eye　and　a　bit　of　his　double　eye…glass　for　every　one　who
came　in　at　the　door；　no　matter　with　whom　he　was　conversing　or　what　he
was　talking　about；　got　among　them　all　by　some　skilful　means；　without
being　seen　to　get　at　them；　and　touched　each　individual　gentleman　of　the
jury　on　his　own　individual　favourite　spot。　With　some　of　the　Chorus；
he　laughed　about　the　sleepy　member　who　had　gone　out　into　the　lobby　the
other　night；　and　voted　the　wrong　way：　with　others；　he　deplored　that
innovating　spirit　in　the　time　which　could　not　even　be　prevented　from
taking　an　unnatural　interest　in　the　public　service　and　the　public　money：
with　the　physician　he　had　a　word　to　say　about　the　general　health；　he　had
also　a　little　information　to　ask　him　for；　concerning　a　professional　man
of　unquestioned　erudition　and　polished　manners……but　those　credentials
in　their　highest　development　he　believed　were　the　possession　of　other
professors　of　the　healing　art　（jury　droop）……whom　he　had　happened　to
have　in　the　witness…box　the　day　before　yesterday；　and　from　whom　he　had
elicited　in　cross…examination　that　he　claimed　to　be　one　of　the　exponents
of　this　new　mode　of　treatment　which　appeared　to　Bar　to……eh？……well；　Bar
thought　so；　Bar　had　thought；　and　hoped；　Physician　would　tell　him　so。
Without　presuming　to　decide　where　doctors　disagreed；　it　did　appear　to
Bar；　vieon　sense　and　not　of　so…called　legal
peration；　that　this　new　system　was……might　be；　in　the　presence　of　so
great　an　authority……say；　Humbug？　Ah！　Fortified　by　such　encouragement；　he
could　venture　to　say　Humbug；　and　now　Bar's　mind　was　relieved。

Mr　Tite　Barnacle；　who；　like　Dr　johnson's　celebrated　acquaintance；　had
only　one　idea　in　his　head　and　that　was　a　wrong　one；　had　appeared　by　this
time。　This　eminent　gentleman　and　Mr　Merdle；　seated　diverse　ways　and　with
ruminating　aspects　on　a　yellow　ottoman　in　the　light　of　the　fire；
holding　no　verbal　munication　with　each　other；　bore　a　strong　general
resemblance　to　the　two　cows　in　the　Cuyp　picture　over　against　them。

But　now；　Lord　Decimus　arrived。　The　Chief　Butler；　who　up　to　this　time
had　limited　himself　to　a　branch　of　his　usual　function　by　looking　at　the
pany　as　they　entered　（and　that；　with　more　of　defiance　than　favour）；
put　himself　so　far　out　of　his　way　as　to　e　up…stairs　with　him　and
announce　him。　Lord　Decimus　being　an　overpowering　peer；　a　bashful　young
member　of　the　Lower　House　who　was　the　last　fish　but　one　caught　by　the
Barnacles；　and　who　had　been　invited　on　this　occasion　to　memorate　his
capture；　shut　his　eyes　when　his　Lordship　came　in。

Lord　Decimus；　nevertheless；　was　glad　to　see　the　Member。　He　was　also
glad　to　see　Mr　Merdle；　glad　to　see　Bishop；　glad　to　see　Bar；　glad　to　see
Physician；　glad　to　see　Tite　Barnacle；　glad　to　see　Chorus；　glad　to
see　Ferdinand　his　private　secretary。　Lord　Decimus；　though　one　of　the
greatest　of　the　earth；　was　not　remarkable　for　ingratiatory　manners；　and
Ferdinand　had　coached　him　up　to　the　point　of　noticing　all　the　fellows
he　might　find　there；　and　saying　he　was　glad　to　see　them。　When　he　had
achieved　this　rush　of　vivacity　and　condescension；　his　Lordship　posed
himself　into　the　picture　after　Cuyp；　and　made　a　third　cow　in　the　group。

Bar；　who　felt　that　he　had　got　all　the　rest　of　the　jury　and　must　now　lay
hold　of　the　Foreman；　soon　came　sidling　up；　double　eye…glass　in　hand。　Bar
tendered　the　weather；　as　a　subject　neatly　aloof　from　official　reserve；
for　the　Foreman's　consideration。　Bar　said　that　he　was　told　（as　everybody
always　is　told；　though　who　tells　them；　and　why；　will　ever　remain　a
mystery）；　that　there　was　to　be　no　wall…fruit　this　year。　Lord　Decimus