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there were more years； more impertinences； ignorances； and insults。 How
my lords then made a Minute； number five thousand one hundred and three；
whereby they resigned the business to the Circumlocution Office。 How the
Circumlocution Office； in course of time； took up the business as if
it were a bran new thing of yesterday； which had never been heard of
before； muddled the business； addled the business； tossed the business
in a wet blanket。 How the impertinences； ignorances； and insults went
through the multiplication table。 How there was a reference of the
invention to three Barnacles and a Stiltstalking； who knew nothing about
it； into whose heads nothing could be hammered about it； who got bored
about it； and reported physical impossibilities about it。 How the
Circumlocution Office； in a Minute； number eight thousand seven hundred
and forty； 'saw no reason to reverse the decision at which my lords had
arrived。' How the Circumlocution Office； being reminded that my lords
had arrived at no decision； shelved the business。 How there had been
a final interview with the head of the Circumlocution Office that very
morning； and how the Brazen Head had spoken； and had been； upon the
whole； and under all the circumstances； and looking at it from the
various points of view； of opinion that one of two courses was to be
pursued in respect of the business： that was to say； either to leave it
alone for evermore； or to begin it all over again。
'Upon which；' said Mr Meagles； 'as a practical man； I then and there； in
that presence； took Doyce by the collar； and told him it was plain to
me that he was an infamous rascal and treasonable disturber of the
government peace； and took him away。 I brought him out of the office
door by the collar； that the very porter might know I was a practical
man who appreciated the official estimate of such characters； and here
we are！'
If that airy young Barnacle had been there； he would have frankly told
them perhaps that the Circumlocution Office had achieved its function。
That what the Barnacles had to do； was to stick on to the national ship
as long as they could。 That to trim the ship； lighten the ship； clean
the ship； would be to knock them off； that they could but be knocked off
once； and that if the ship went down with them yet sticking to it； that
was the ship's look out； and not theirs。
'There！' said Mr Meagles； 'now you know all about Doyce。 Except； which I
own does not improve my state of mind； that even now you don't hear him
plain。'
'You must have great patience；' said Arthur Clennam； looking at him with
some wonder； 'great forbearance。'
'No；' he returned； 'I don't know that I have more than another man。'
'By the Lord； you have more than I have； though！' cried Mr Meagles。
Doyce smiled； as he said to Clennam； 'You see； my experience of these
things does not begin with myself。 It has been in my way to know a
little about them from time to time。 Mine is not a particular case。 I am
not worse used than a hundred others who have put themselves in the same
position……than all the others； I was going to say。'
'I don't know that I should find that a consolation； if it were my case；
but I am very glad that you do。'
'Understand me！ I don't say；' he replied in his steady； planning
way； and looking into the distance before him as if his grey eye were
measuring it； 'that it's repense for a man's toil and hope； but it's
a certain sort of relief to know that I might have counted on this。'
He spoke in that quiet deliberate manner； and in that undertone； which
is often observable in mechanics who consider and adjust with great
nicety。 It belonged to him like his suppleness of thumb； or his peculiar
way of tilting up his hat at the back every now and then； as if he were
contemplating some half…finished work of his hand and thinking about it。
'Disappointed？' he went on； as he walked between them under the trees。
'Yes。 No doubt I am disappointed。 Hurt？ Yes。 No doubt I am hurt。 That's
only natural。 But what I mean when I say that people who put themselves
in the same position are mostly used in the same way……'
'In England；' said Mr Meagles。
'Oh！ of course I mean in England。 When they take their inventions into
foreign countries； that's quite different。 And that's the reason why so
many go there。'
Mr Meagles very hot indeed again。
'What I mean is； that however this es to be the regular way of our
government； it is its regular way。 Have you ever heard of any projector
or inventor who failed to find it all but inaccessible； and whom it did
not discourage and ill…treat？'
'I cannot say that I ever have。'
'Have you ever known it to be beforehand in the adoption of any useful
thing？ Ever known it to set an example of any useful kind？'
'I am a good deal older than my friend here；' said Mr Meagles； 'and I'll
answer that。 Never。'
'But we all three have known； I expect；' said the inventor； 'a pretty
many cases of its fixed determination to be miles upon miles； and years
upon years； behind the rest of us； and of its being found out persisting
in the use of things long superseded； even after the better things were
well known and generally taken up？'
They all agreed upon that。
'Well then；' said Doyce； with a sigh； 'as I know what such a metal will
do at such a temperature； and such a body under such a pressure； so I
may know （if I will only consider）； how these great lords and gentlemen
will certainly deal with such a matter as mine。
I have no right to be surprised； with a head upon my shoulders； and
memory in it； that I fall into the ranks with all who came before me。 I
ought to have let it alone。 I have had warning enough； I am sure。'
With that he put up his spectacle…case； and said to Arthur； 'If I don't
plain； Mr Clennam； I can feel gratitude； and I assure you that I
feel it towards our mutual friend。 Many's the day； and many's the way in
which he has backed me。'
'Stuff and nonsense；' said Mr Meagles。
Arthur could not but glance at Daniel Doyce in the ensuing silence。
Though it was evidently in the grain of his character； and of his
respect for his own case； that he should abstain from idle murmuring；
it was evident that he had grown the older； the sterner； and the poorer；
for his long endeavour。 He could not but think what a blessed thing
it would have been for this man； if he had taken a lesson from the
gentlemen who were so kind as to take a nation's affairs in charge； and
had learnt How not to do it。
Mr Meagles was hot and despondent for about five minutes； and then began
to cool and clear up。
'e； e！' said he。 'We shall not make this the better by being grim。
Where do you think of going； Dan？'
'I shall go back to the factory；' said Dan。 'Why then； we'll all go
back to the factory； or walk in that direction；' returned Mr Meagles
cheerfully。 'Mr Clennam won't be deterred by its being in Bleeding Heart
Yard。'
'Bleeding Heart Yard？' said Clennam。 'I want to go there。'
'So much the better；' cried Mr Meagles。 'e along！'
As they went along； certainly one of the party； and probably more than
one； thought that Bleeding Heart Yard was no inappropriate destination
for a man who had been in official correspondence with my lords and the
Barnacles……and perhaps had a misgiving also that Britannia herself might
e to look for lodgings in Bleeding Heart Yard some ugly day or other；
if she over…did the Circumlocution Office。
CHAPTER 11。 Let Loose
A late； dull autumn night was closing in upon the river Saone。 The
stream； like a sullied looking…glass in a gloomy place； reflected the
clouds heavily； and the low banks leaned over here and there； as if they
were half curious； and half afraid； to see their darkening pictures in
the water。 The flat expanse of country about Chalons lay a long heavy
streak； occasionally made a little ragged by a row of poplar trees
against the wrathful sunset。 On the banks of the river Saone it was wet；
depressing； solitary； and the night deepened fast。
One man slowly moving on towards Chalons was the only visible figure in
the landscape。 Cain might have looked as lonely and avoided。 With an old
sheepskin knapsack at his bac