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innumerable fixes。'
'Fixes？' repeated Lord Decimus； with a majestic pausing and pondering
on the word that made the bashful Member shut his eyes quite tight。
'Fixes？'
'A very perplexing business indeed；' observed Mr Tite Barnacle； with an
air of grave resentment。
'What；' said Lord Decimus； 'was the character of his business； what was
the nature of these……a……Fixes； Ferdinand？'
'Oh； it's a good story； as a story；' returned that gentleman； 'as good
a thing of its kind as need be。 This Mr Dorrit （his name is Dorrit） had
incurred a responsibility to us； ages before the fairy came out of
the Bank and gave him his fortune； under a bond he had signed for the
performance of a contract which was not at all performed。 He was a
partner in a house in some large way……spirits； or buttons； or wine； or
blacking； or oatmeal； or woollen； or pork； or hooks and eyes； or iron；
or treacle； or shoes； or something or other that was wanted for troops；
or seamen； or somebody……and the house burst； and we being among
the creditors； detainees were lodged on the part of the Crown in a
scientific manner； and all the rest Of it。 When the fairy had appeared
and he wanted to pay us off； Egad we had got into such an exemplary
state of checking and counter…checking； signing and counter…signing；
that it was six months before we knew how to take the money； or how to
give a receipt for it。 It was a triumph of public business；' said this
handsome young Barnacle； laughing heartily； 'You never saw such a lot of
forms in your life。 〃Why；〃 the attorney said to me one day； 〃if I wanted
this office to give me two or three thousand pounds instead of take it；
I couldn't have more trouble about it。〃 〃You are right； old fellow；〃
I told him； 〃and in future you'll know that we have something to do
here。〃' The pleasant young Barnacle finished by once more laughing
heartily。 He was a very easy； pleasant fellow indeed； and his manners
were exceedingly winning。
Mr Tite Barnacle's view of the business was of a less airy character。 He
took it ill that Mr Dorrit had troubled the Department by wanting to
pay the money； and considered it a grossly informal thing to do after so
many years。 But Mr Tite Barnacle was a buttoned…up man； and consequently
a weighty one。 All buttoned…up men are weighty。 All buttoned…up men are
believed in。 Whether or no the reserved and never…exercised power of
unbuttoning； fascinates mankind； whether or no wisdom is supposed to
condense and augment when buttoned up； and to evaporate when unbuttoned；
it is certain that the man to whom importance is accorded is the
buttoned…up man。 Mr Tite Barnacle never would have passed for half his
current value； unless his coat had been always buttoned…up to his white
cravat。
'May I ask；' said Lord Decimus； 'if Mr Darrit……or Dorrit……has any
family？'
Nobody else replying； the host said； 'He has two daughters； my lord。'
'Oh！ you are acquainted with him？' asked Lord Decimus。
'Mrs Merdle is。 Mr Sparkler is； too。 In fact；' said Mr Merdle； 'I rather
believe that one of the young ladies has made an impression on Edmund
Sparkler。 He is susceptible； and……I……think……the conquest……' Here Mr
Merdle stopped； and looked at the table…cloth； as he usually did when he
found himself observed or listened to。
Bar was unmonly pleased to find that the Merdle family； and this
family； had already been brought into contact。 He submitted； in a low
voice across the table to Bishop； that it was a kind of analogical
illustration of those physical laws； in virtue of which Like flies to
Like。 He regarded this power of attraction in wealth to draw wealth
to it； as something remarkably interesting and curious……something
indefinably allied to the loadstone and gravitation。 Bishop； who
had ambled back to earth again when the present theme was broached；
acquiesced。 He said it was indeed highly important to Society that one
in the trying situation of unexpectedly finding himself invested with a
power for good or for evil in Society； should bee； as it were； merged
in the superior power of a more legitimate and more gigantic growth； the
influence of which （as in the case of our friend at whose board we sat）
was habitually exercised in harmony with the best interests of Society。
Thus； instead of two rival and contending flames； a larger and a lesser；
each burning with a lurid and uncertain glare； we had a blended and a
softened light whose genial ray diffused an equable warmth throughout
the land。 Bishop seemed to like his own way of putting the case very
much； and rather dwelt upon it； Bar； meanwhile （not to throw away a
jury…man）； making a show of sitting at his feet and feeding on his
precepts。
The dinner and dessert being three hours long； the bashful Member cooled
in the shadow of Lord Decimus faster than he warmed with food and drink；
and had but a chilly time of it。 Lord Decimus； like a tall tower in a
flat country； seemed to project himself across the table…cloth； hide the
light from the honourable Member； cool the honourable Member's marrow；
and give him a woeful idea of distance。 When he asked this unfortunate
traveller to take wine； he enpassed his faltering steps with the
gloomiest of shades； and when he said； 'Your health sir！' all around him
was barrenness and desolation。
At length Lord Decimus； with a coffee…cup in his hand； began to hover
about among the pictures； and to cause an interesting speculation to
arise in all minds as to the probabilities of his ceasing to hover； and
enabling the smaller birds to flutter up…stairs； which could not be
done until he had urged his noble pinions in that direction。 After some
delay； and several stretches of his wings which came to nothing； he
soared to the drawing…rooms。
And here a difficulty arose； which always does arise when two people
are specially brought together at a dinner to confer with one another。
Everybody （except Bishop； who had no suspicion of it） knew perfectly
well that this dinner had been eaten and drunk； specifically to the end
that Lord Decimus and Mr Merdle should have five minutes' conversation
together。 The opportunity so elaborately prepared was now arrived； and
it seemed from that moment that no mere human ingenuity could so much as
get the two chieftains into the same room。 Mr Merdle and his noble guest
persisted in prowling about at opposite ends of the perspective。 It was
in vain for the engaging Ferdinand to bring Lord Decimus to look at the
bronze horses near Mr Merdle。 Then Mr Merdle evaded； and wandered away。
It was in vain for him to bring Mr Merdle to Lord Decimus to tell him
the history of the unique Dresden vases。 Then Lord Decimus evaded and
wandered away； while he was getting his man up to the mark。
'Did you ever see such a thing as this？' said Ferdinand to Bar when he
had been baffled twenty times。
'Often；' returned Bar。
'Unless I butt one of them into an appointed corner； and you butt the
other；' said Ferdinand；'it will not e off after all。'
'Very good；' said Bar。 'I'll butt Merdle； if you like； but not my lord。'
Ferdinand laughed； in the midst of his vexation。 'Confound them both！'
said he； looking at his watch。 'I want to get away。 Why the deuce can't
they e together！ They both know what they want and mean to do。 Look
at them！'
They were still looming at opposite ends of the perspective； each with
an absurd pretence of not having the other on his mind； which could not
have been more transparently ridiculous though his real mind had been
chalked on his back。 Bishop； who had just now made a third with Bar and
Ferdinand； but whose innocence had again cut him out of the subject and
washed him in sweet oil； was seen to approach Lord Decimus and glide
into conversation。
'I must get Merdle's doctor to catch and secure him； I suppose；' said
Ferdinand； 'and then I must lay hold of my illustrious kinsman； and
decoy him if I can……drag him if I can't……to the conference。'
'Since you do me the honour；' said Bar； with his slyest smile； to ask
for my poor aid； it shall be yours with the greatest pleasure。 I don't
think this is to be done by one man。 But if you will undertake to pen
my lord into that furthest drawing…room where he is now so profoundly
engaged； I will undertake to bring our dear Merdle into the presence；
without the possibility of getting away。'
'Done！' said Ferdinand。
'Done！' said Bar。
Bar was a sight wondrous to behold； and full of matter； when； jauntily
waving his double eye…glass by its ribbon； and jauntily drooping to an
Universe of jurymen； he； in the most accidental manner ever seen；
found himself at Mr Merdle's shoulder； and embraced that opportunity of
mentioning a little point to him； on which he particularly wished to
be guided by the light of his practical knowledge。 （Here he took Mr
Merdle's arm and walked him gently away。） A banker； whom we would call
A。 B。； advanced a considerable sum of money； which we would call fifteen
thousand pounds； to a client or customer of his； whom he would call P。
q。 （Here； as they were getting towards Lord Decimus； he held Mr Merdle
tight。） As a security for the repayment of this advance to P。 Q。 whom
we would call a widow lady； there were placed in A。 B。's hands the
title…deeds of a freehold estate； which we would call Blinkiter Doddles。
Now； the point was this。 A limited right of felling and lopping in
the woods of Blinkiter Doddles； lay in the son of P。 Q。 then past his
majority； and whom we would call X。 Y。……but really this was too bad！ In
the presence of Lord Decimus； to detain the host with chopping our dry
chaff of law； was really too bad！ Another time！ Bar was truly repentant；
and would not say another syllable。 Would Bishop favour him with
half…a…dozen words？ （He had now set Mr Merdle down on a couch； side by
side with Lord Decimus； and to it they must go； now or never。）
And now the rest of the pany； highly excited and interested； always
excepting Bishop； who had not the slightest idea that anything was going
on； formed in one group round the fire in the next drawing…room； and
pretended to be chatting easily on the infinite variety of small topics；
while everybody's thoughts and eyes were secretly straying towards the
secluded pair。 The Chorus were excessively nervous； perhaps as labouring
under the dreadful apprehension that some good thing was going to
be diverted from them！ Bishop alone talked steadily and evenly。 He
conversed with the great Physician on that relaxation of the throat with
which young curates were too frequently afflicted； and on the means
of lessening the great prevalence of that disorder in the church。
Physician； as a general rule； was of opinion that the best way to avoid
it was to know how to read； before you made a profession of reading。
Bishop said dubiously； did he really think so？ And Physician said；
decidedly； yes he did。
Ferdinand； meanwhile； was the only one of the party who skirmished on
the outside of the circle； he kept about mid…way between it and the
two； as if some sort of surgical operation were being performed by Lord
Decimus on Mr Merdle； or by Mr Merdle on Lord Decimus； and his services
might at any moment be required as Dresser。 In fact； within a quarter
of an hour Lord Decimus called to him 'Ferdinand！' and he went； and
took his place in the conference for some five minutes more。 Then a
half…suppressed gasp broke out among the Chorus； for Lord Decimus rose
to take his leave。 Again coached up by Ferdinand to the point of making
himself popular； he shook hands in the most brilliant manner with the
whole pany； and even said to Bar； 'I hope you were not bored by my
pears？' To which Bar retorted； 'Eton； my lord； or Parliamentary？' neatly
showing that he had mastered the joke； and delicately insinuating that
he could never forget it while his life remained。
All the grave importance that was buttoned up in Mr Tite Barnacle； took
itself away next； and Ferdinand took himself away next； to the opera。
Some of the rest lingered a little； marrying golden liqueur glasses to
Buhl tables with sticky rings； on the desperate chance of Mr Merdle's
saying something。 But Merdle； as usual； oozed sluggishly and muddily
about his drawing…room； saying never a word。
In a day or two it wa