按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
with the greatest liberality。
Mrs Merdle's first husband had been a colonel； under whose auspices the
bosom had entered into petition with the snows of North America； and
had e off at little disadvantage in point of whiteness； and at none
in point of coldness。 The colonel's son was Mrs Merdle's only child。 He
was of a chuckle…headed； high…shouldered make； with a general appearance
of being； not so much a young man as a swelled boy。 He had given so few
signs of reason； that a by…word went among his panions that his brain
had been frozen up in a mighty frost which prevailed at St john's； New
Brunswick； at the period of his birth there； and had never thawed from
that hour。 Another by…word represented him as having in his infancy；
through the negligence of a nurse； fallen out of a high window on his
head； which had been heard by responsible witnesses to crack。 It is
probable that both these representations were of ex post facto
origin； the young gentleman （whose expressive name was Sparkler） being
monomaniacal in offering marriage to all manner of undesirable young
ladies； and in remarking of every successive young lady to whom he
tendered a matrimonial proposal that she was 'a doosed fine gal……well
educated too……with no biggodd nonsense about her。'
A son…in…law with these limited talents； might have been a clog upon
another man； but Mr Merdle did not want a son…in…law for himself； he
wanted a son…in…law for Society。 Mr Sparkler having been in the Guards；
and being in the habit of frequenting all the races； and all the
lounges； and all the parties； and being well known； Society was
satisfied with its son…in…law。 This happy result Mr Merdle would have
considered well attained； though Mr Sparkler had been a more expensive
article。 And he did not get Mr Sparkler by any means cheap for
Society； even as it was。 There was a dinner giving in the Harley Street
establishment； while Little Dorrit was stitching at her father's new
shirts by his side that night； and there were magnates from the Court
and magnates from the City； magnates from the mons and magnates from
the Lords； magnates from the bench and magnates from the bar；
Bishop magnates； Treasury magnates； Horse Guard magnates； Admiralty
magnates；……all the magnates that keep us going； and sometimes trip us
up。
'I am told；' said Bishop magnate to Horse Guards； 'that Mr Merdle has
made another enormous hit。 They say a hundred thousand pounds。'
Horse Guards had heard two。
Treasury had heard three。
Bar； handling his persuasive double eye…glass； was by no means clear but
that it might be four。 It was one of those happy strokes of calculation
and bination； the result of which it was difficult to estimate。 It
was one of those instances of a prehensive grasp； associated with
habitual luck and characteristic boldness； of which an age presented us
but few。 But here was Brother Bellows； who had been in the great Bank
case； and who could probably tell us more。 What did Brother Bellows put
this new success at？
Brother Bellows was on his way to make his bow to the bosom； and could
only tell them in passing that he had heard it stated； with great
appearance of truth； as being worth； from first to last； half…a…million
of money。
Admiralty said Mr Merdle was a wonderful man； Treasury said he was a
new power in the country； and would be able to buy up the whole House of
mons。 Bishop said he was glad to think that this wealth flowed into
the coffers of a gentleman who was always disposed to maintain the best
interests of Society。
Mr Merdle himself was usually late on these occasions； as a man still
detained in the clutch of giant enterprises when other men had shaken
off their dwarfs for the day。 On this occasion； he was the last arrival。
Treasury said Merdle's work punished him a little。 Bishop said he was
glad to think that this wealth flowed into the coffers of a gentleman
who accepted it with meekness。
Powder！ There was so much Powder in waiting； that it flavoured the
dinner。 Pulverous particles got into the dishes； and Society's meats had
a seasoning of first…rate footmen。 Mr Merdle took down a countess who
was secluded somewhere in the core of an immense dress； to which she
was in the proportion of the heart to the overgrown cabbage。 If so low a
simile may be admitted； the dress went down the staircase like a richly
brocaded Jack in the Green； and nobody knew what sort of small person
carried it。
Society had everything it could want； and could not want； for dinner。
It had everything to look at； and everything to eat； and everything to
drink。 It is to be hoped it enjoyed itself； for Mr Merdle's own share of
the repast might have been paid for with eighteenpence。 Mrs Merdle was
magnificent。 The chief butler was the next magnificent institution of
the day。 He was the stateliest man in the pany。 He did nothing； but
he looked on as few other men could have done。 He was Mr Merdle's
last gift to Society。 Mr Merdle didn't want him； and was put out of
countenance when the great creature looked at him； but inappeasable
Society would have him……and had got him。
The invisible countess carried out the Green at the usual stage of
the entertainment； and the file of beauty was closed up by the bosom。
Treasury said； Juno。 Bishop said； Judith。
Bar fell into discussion with Horse Guards concerning courts…martial。
Brothers Bellows and Bench struck in。 Other magnates paired off。 Mr
Merdle sat silent； and looked at the table…cloth。 Sometimes a magnate
addressed him； to turn the stream of his own particular discussion
towards him； but Mr Merdle seldom gave much attention to it； or did more
than rouse himself from his calculations and pass the wine。
When they rose； so many of the magnates had something to say to Mr
Merdle individually that he held little levees by the sideboard； and
checked them off as they went out at the door。
Treasury hoped he might venture to congratulate one of England's
world…famed capitalists and merchant…princes （he had turned that
original sentiment in the house a few times； and it came easy to him） on
a new achievement。 To extend the triumphs of such men was to extend
the triumphs and resources of the nation； and Treasury felt……he gave Mr
Merdle to understand……patriotic on the subject。
'Thank you； my lord；' said Mr Merdle； 'thank you。 I accept your
congratulations with pride； and I am glad you approve。'
'Why； I don't unreservedly approve； my dear Mr Merdle。 Because；'
smiling Treasury turned him by the arm towards the sideboard and spoke
banteringly； 'it never can be worth your while to e among us and help
us。'
Mr Merdle felt honoured by the……
'No； no；' said Treasury； 'that is not the light in which one so
distinguished for practical knowledge and great foresight； can be
expected to regard it。 If we should ever be happily enabled； by
accidentally possessing the control over circumstances； to propose
to one so eminent to……to e among us； and give us the weight of his
influence； knowledge； and character； we could only propose it to him as
a duty。 In fact； as a duty that he owed to Society。'
Mr Merdle intimated that Society was the apple of his eye； and that its
claims were paramount to every other consideration。 Treasury moved
on； and Bar came up。 Bar； with his little insinuating jury droop； and
fingering his persuasive double eye…glass； hoped he might be excused if
he mentioned to one of the greatest converters of the root of all evil
into the root of all good； who had for a long time reflected a shining
lustre on the annals even of our mercial country……if he mentioned；
disinterestedly； and as； what we lawyers called in our pedantic way；
amicus curiae； a fact that had e by accident within his knowledge。 He
had been required to look over the title of a very considerable estate
in one of the eastern counties……lying； in fact； for Mr Merdle knew we
lawyers loved to be particular； on the borders of two of the eastern
counties。 Now； the title was perfectly sound； and the estate was to
be purchased by one who had the mand of……Money （jury droop and
persuasive eye…glass）； on remarkably advantageous terms。 This had e
to Bar's knowledge only that day； an