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'However；' said Mr Merdle； 'I do generally retain in my own hands the
power of exercising some preference……people in general would be pleased
to call it favour……as a sort of pliment for my care and trouble。'
'And public spirit and genius；' Mr Dorrit suggested。
Mr Merdle； with a dry； swallowing action； seemed to dispose of those
qualities like a bolus； then added； 'As a sort of return for it。 I will
see； if you please； how I can exert this limited power （for people are
jealous； and it is limited）； to your advantage。' 'You are very good；'
replied Mr Dorrit。 'You are very good。'
'Of course；' said Mr Merdle； 'there must be the strictest integrity
and uprightness in these transactions； there must be the purest faith
between man and man； there must be unimpeached and unimpeachable
confidence； or business could not be carried on。'
Mr Dorrit hailed these generous sentiments with fervour。
'Therefore；' said Mr Merdle； 'I can only give you a preference to a
certain extent。'
'I perceive。 To a defined extent；' observed Mr Dorrit。
'Defined extent。 And perfectly above…board。 As to my advice； however；'
said Mr Merdle； 'that is another matter。 That； such as it is……'
Oh！ Such as it was！ （Mr Dorrit could not bear the faintest appearance of
its being depreciated； even by Mr Merdle himself。）
'……That； there is nothing in the bonds of spotless honour between myself
and my fellow…man to prevent my parting with； if I choose。 And that；'
said Mr Merdle； now deeply intent upon a dust…cart that was passing the
windows； 'shall be at your mand whenever you think proper。'
New acknowledgments from Mr Dorrit。 New passages of Mr Merdle's hand
over his forehead。 Calm and silence。 Contemplation of Mr Dorrit's
waistcoat buttons by Mr Merdle。
'My time being rather precious；' said Mr Merdle； suddenly getting up；
as if he had been waiting in the interval for his legs and they had just
e； 'I must be moving towards the City。 Can I take you anywhere； sir？
I shall be happy to set you down； or send you on。 My carriage is at your
disposal。'
Mr Dorrit bethought himself that he had business at his banker's。 His
banker's was in the City。 That was fortunate； Mr Merdle would take
him into the City。 But； surely； he might not detain Mr Merdle while he
assumed his coat？ Yes； he might and must； Mr Merdle insisted on it。 So
Mr Dorrit； retiring into the next room； put himself under the hands of
his valet； and in five minutes came back glorious。
Then said Mr Merdle； 'Allow me； sir。 Take my arm！' Then leaning on
Mr Merdle's arm； did Mr Dorrit descend the staircase； seeing the
worshippers on the steps； and feeling that the light of Mr Merdle shone
by reflection in himself。 Then the carriage； and the ride into the
City； and the people who looked at them； and the hats that flew off grey
heads； and the general bowing and crouching before this wonderful mortal
the like of which prostration of spirit was not to be seen……no； by
high Heaven； no！ It may be worth thinking of by Fawners of all
denominations……in Westminster Abbey and Saint Paul's Cathedral put
together； on any Sunday in the year。 It was a rapturous dream to Mr
Dorrit to find himself set aloft in this public car of triumph； making a
magnificent progress to that befitting destination； the golden Street of
the Lombards。
There Mr Merdle insisted on alighting and going his way a…foot； and
leaving his poor equipage at Mr Dorrit's disposition。 So the dream
increased in rapture when Mr Dorrit came out of the bank alone； and
people looked at him in default of Mr Merdle； and when； with the ears of
his mind； he heard the frequent exclamation as he rolled glibly along；
'A wonderful man to be Mr Merdle's friend！'
At dinner that day； although the occasion was not foreseen and provided
for； a brilliant pany of such as are not made of the dust of the
earth； but of some superior article for the present unknown； shed
their lustrous benediction upon Mr Dorrit's daughter's marriage。 And Mr
Dorrit's daughter that day began； in earnest； her petition with that
woman not present； and began it so well that Mr Dorrit could all but
have taken his affidavit； if required； that Mrs Sparkler had all her
life been lying at full length in the lap of luxury； and had never heard
of such a rough word in the English tongue as Marshalsea。
Next day； and the day after； and every day； all graced by more dinner
pany； cards descended on Mr Dorrit like theatrical snow。 As the
friend and relative by marriage of the illustrious Merdle； Bar； Bishop；
Treasury； Chorus； Everybody； wanted to make or improve Mr Dorrit's
acquaintance。 In Mr Merdle's heap of offices in the City； when Mr Dorrit
appeared at any of them on his business taking him Eastward （which it
frequently did； for it throve amazingly）； the name of Dorrit was always
a passport to the great presence of Merdle。 So the dream increased in
rapture every hour； as Mr Dorrit felt increasingly sensible that this
connection had brought him forward indeed。
Only one thing sat otherwise than auriferously； and at the same time
lightly； on Mr Dorrit's mind。 It was the Chief Butler。 That stupendous
character looked at him； in the course of his official looking at the
dinners； in a manner that Mr Dorrit considered questionable。 He looked
at him； as he passed through the hall and up the staircase； going to
dinner； with a glazed fixedness that Mr Dorrit did not like。 Seated
at table in the act of drinking； Mr Dorrit still saw him through his
wine…glass； regarding him with a cold and ghostly eye。 It misgave him
that the Chief Butler must have known a Collegian； and must have seen
him in the College……perhaps had been presented to him。 He looked as
closely at the Chief Butler as such a man could be looked at； and yet
he did not recall that he had ever seen him elsewhere。 Ultimately he was
inclined to think that there was no reverence in the man； no sentiment
in the great creature。 But he was not relieved by that； for； let him
think what he would； the Chief Butler had him in his supercilious eye；
even when that eye was on the plate and other table…garniture； and he
never let him out of it。 To hint to him that this confinement in his eye
was disagreeable； or to ask him what he meant； was an act too daring to
venture upon； his severity with his employers and their visitors being
terrific； and he never permitting himself to be approached with the
slightest liberty。
CHAPTER 17。 Missing
The term of Mr Dorrit's visit was within two days of being out； and he
was about to dress for another inspection by the Chief Butler （whose
victims were always dressed expressly for him）； when one of the servants
of the hotel presented himself bearing a card。 Mr Dorrit； taking it；
read：
'Mrs Finching。'
The servant waited in speechless deference。
'Man； man；' said Mr Dorrit； turning upon him with grievous indignation；
'explain your motive in bringing me this ridiculous name。 I am wholly
unacquainted with it。 Finching； sir？' said Mr Dorrit； perhaps avenging
himself on the Chief Butler by Substitute。
'Ha！ What do you mean by Finching？'
The man； man； seemed to mean Flinching as much as anything else； for
he backed away from Mr Dorrit's severe regard； as he replied； 'A lady；
sir。'
'I know no such lady； sir；' said Mr Dorrit。 'Take this card away。 I know
no Finching of either sex。'
'Ask your pardon； sir。 The lady said she was aware she might be unknown
by name。 But she begged me to say； sir； that she had formerly the honour
of being acquainted with Miss Dorrit。 The lady said； sir； the youngest
Miss Dorrit。'
Mr Dorrit knitted his brows and rejoined； after a moment or two； 'Inform
Mrs Finching； sir；' emphasising the name as if the innocent man were
solely responsible for it； 'that she can e up。'
He had reflected； in his momentary pause； that unless she were admitted
she might leave some message； or might say something below； having
a disgraceful reference to that former state of existence。 Hence the
concession； and hence the appearance of Flora； piloted in by the man；
man。
'I have not the pleasure；' said Mr Dorrit； standing with the card in his
hand； and with an air which imported that it would scarcely have been a
first…class pleasure if he had had it； 'of knowing either this name； or
yourself； madam。 Place a chair； sir。' The responsible man； with a start；
obeyed； and went out on tiptoe。 Flora； putting aside her veil with a
bashful tremor upon her； proceeded to introduce herself。 At the same
time a singular bination of perfumes was diffused through the room；
as if some brandy had been put by mistake in a lavender…water bottle； or
as if some lavender…water had been put by mistake in a brandy…bottle。
'I beg Mr Dorrit to offer a thousand apologies and indeed they would
be far too few for such an intrusion which I know must appear extremely
bold in a lady and alone too； but I thought it best upon the whole
however difficult and even apparently improper though Mr F。's Aunt would
have willingly acpanied me and as a character of great force and
spirit would probably have struck one possessed of such a knowledge of
life as no doubt with so many changes must have been acquired； for Mr F。
himself said frequently that although well educated in the neighbourhood
of Blackheath at as high as eighty guineas which is a good deal for
parents and the plate kept back too on going away but that is more a
meanness than its value that he had learnt more in his first years as a
mercial traveller with a large mission on the sale of an article
that nobody would hear of much less buy which preceded the wine trade
a long time than in the whole six years in that academy conducted by a
college Bachelor； though why a Bachelor more clever than a married man I
do not see and never did but pray excuse me that is not the point。'
Mr Dorrit stood rooted to the carpet； a statue of mystification。
'I must openly admit that I have no pretensions；' said Flora； 'but
having known the dear little thing which under altered circumstances
appears a liberty but is not so intended and Goodness knows there was no
favour in half…a…crown a…day to such a needle as herself but quite the
other way and as to anything lowering in it far from it the labourer is
worthy of his hire and I am sure I only wish he got it oftener and more
animal food and less rheumatism in the back and legs poor soul。'
'Madam；' said Mr Dorrit； recovering his breath by a great effort； as the
relict of the late Mr Finching stopped to take hers； 'madam；' said Mr
Dorrit； very red in the face； 'if I understand you to refer to……ha……to
anything in the antecedents of……hum……a daughter of mine； involving……ha
hum……daily pensation； madam； I beg to observe that the……ha……fact；
assuming it……ha……to be fact； never was within my knowledge。 Hum。 I
should not have permitted it。 Ha。 Never！ Never！'
'Unnecessary to pursue the subject；' returned Flora； 'and would not have
mentioned it on any account except as supposing it a favourable and only
letter of introduction but as to being fact no doubt whatever and you
may set your mind at rest for the very dress I have on now can prove it
and sweetly made though there is no denying that it would tell better on
a better figure for my own is much too fat though how to bring it down I
know not； pray excuse me I am roving off again。' Mr Dorrit backed to his
chair in a stony way； and seated himself； as Flora gave him a softening
look and played with her parasol。
'The dear little thing；' said Flora； 'having gone off perfectly limp
and white and cold in my own house or at least papa's for though not
a freehold still a long lease at a peppercorn on the morning when
Arthur……foolish habit of our youthful days and Mr Clennam far more
adapted to existing circumstances particularly addressing a stranger and
that stranger a gentleman in an elevated station……municated the glad
tidings imparted by a person of name of Pancks emboldens me。'
At the mention of these two names； Mr Dorrit frowned； stared； frowned
again； hesitated with his fingers at his lips； as he had hesitated long
ago； and said； 'Do me the favour to……ha……state your pleasure； madam。'
'Mr Dorrit；' said Flora； 'you are very kind in giving me