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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； and it had occurred to him； 'I
shall have the honour of dining with my esteemed friend Mr Merdle
this evening； and； strictly between ourselves； I will mention the
opportunity。' Such a purchase would involve not only a great legitimate
political influence； but some half…dozen church presentations of
considerable annual value。 Now； that Mr Merdle was already at no loss
to discover means of occupying even his capital； and of fully employing
even his active and vigorous intellect； Bar well knew： but he would
venture to suggest that the question arose in his mind； whether one who
had deservedly gained so high a position and so European a reputation
did not owe it……we would not say to himself； but we would say to
Society； to possess himself of such influences as these； and to exercise
them……we would not say for his own； or for his party's； but we would say
for Society's……benefit。
Mr Merdle again expressed himself as wholly devoted to that object of
his constant consideration； and Bar took his persuasive eye…glass up the
grand staircase。 Bishop then came undesignedly sidling in the direction
of the sideboard。
Surely the goods of this world； it occurred in an accidental way to
Bishop to remark； could scarcely be directed into happier channels than
when they accumulated under the magic touch of the wise and sagacious；
who； while they knew the just value of riches （Bishop tried here to
look as if he were rather poor himself）； were aware of their importance；
judiciously governed and rightly distributed； to the welfare of our
brethren at large。
Mr Merdle with humility expressed his conviction that Bishop couldn't
mean him； and with inconsistency expressed his high gratification in
Bishop's good opinion。
Bishop then……jauntily stepping out a little with his well…shaped right
leg； as though he said to Mr Merdle 'don't mind the apron； a mere form！'
put this case to his good friend：
Whether it had occurred to his good friend； that Society might not
unreasonably hope that one so blest in his undertakings； and whose
example on his pedestal was so influential with it； would shed a little
money in the direction of a mission or so to Africa？
Mr Merdle signifying that the idea should have his best attention；
Bishop put another case：
Whether his good friend had at all interested himself in the proceedings
of our bined Additional Endowed Dignitaries mittee； and whether it
had occurred to him that to shed a little money in that direction might
be a great conception finely executed？
Mr Merdle made a similar reply； and Bishop explained his reason for
inquiring。
Society looked to such men as his good friend to do such things。 It was
not that HE looked to them； but that Society looked to them。
Just as it was not Our mittee who wanted the Additional Endowed
Dignitaries； but it was Society that was in a state of the most
agonising uneasiness of mind until it got them。 He begged to assure his
good friend that he was extremely sensible of his good friend's regard
on all occasions for the best interests of Society； and he considered
that he was at once consulting those interests and expressing the
feeling of Society； when he wished him continued prosperity； continued
increase of riches； and continued things in general。
Bishop then betook himself up…stairs； and the other magnates gradually
floated up after him until there was no one left below but Mr Merdle。
That gentleman； after looking at the table…cloth until the soul of the
chief butler glowed with a noble resentment； went slowly up after the
rest； and became of no account in the stream of people on the grand
staircase。 Mrs Merdle was at home； the best of the jewels were hung out
to be seen； Society got what it came for； Mr Merdle drank twopennyworth
of tea in a corner and got more than he wanted。
Among the evening magnates was a famous physician； who knew everybody；
and whom everybody knew。 On entering at the door； he came upon Mr Merdle
drinking his tea in a corner； and touched him on the arm。
Mr Merdle started。 'Oh！ It's you！'
'Any better to…day？'
'No；' said Mr Merdle； 'I am no better。'
'A pity I didn't see you this morning。 Pray e to me to…morrow； or let
me e to you。'
'Well！' he replied。 'I will e to…morrow as I drive by。' Bar and
Bishop had both been bystanders during this short dialogue； and as Mr
Merdle was swept away by the crowd； they made their remarks upon it
to the Physician。 Bar said； there was a certain point of mental strain
beyond which no man could go； that the point varied with various
textures of brain and peculiarities of constitution； as he had had
occasion to notice in several of his learned brothers； but the point of
endurance passed by a line's breadth； depression and dyspepsia ensued。
Not to intrude on the sacred mysteries of medicine； he took it； now
（with the jury droop and persuasive eye…glass）； that this was Merdle's
case？ Bishop said that when he was a young man； and had fallen for a
brief space into the habit of writing sermons on Saturdays； a habit
which all young sons of the church should sedulously avoid； he had
frequently been sensible of a depression； arising as he supposed from an
over…taxed intellect； upon which the yolk of a new…laid egg； beaten up
by the good woman in whose house he at that time lodged； with a glass
of sound sherry； nutmeg； and powdered sugar acted like a charm。 Without
presuming to offer so simple a remedy to the consideration of so
profound a professor of the great healing art； he would venture to
inquire whether the strain； being by way of intricate calculations；
the spirits might not （humanly speaking） be restored to their tone by a
gentle and yet generous stimulant？
'Yes；' said the physician； 'yes； you are both right。 But I may as well
tell you that I can find nothing the matter with Mr Merdle。 He has
the constitution of a rhinoceros； the digestion of an ostrich； and
the concentration of an oyster。 As to nerves； Mr Merdle is of a cool
temperament； and not a sensitive man： is about as invulnerable； I should
say； as Achilles。 How such a man should suppose himself unwell without
reason； you may think strange。 But I have found nothing the matter with
him。 He may have some deep…seated recondite plaint。 I can't say。 I
only say； that at present I have not found it out。'
There was no shadow of Mr Merdle's plaint on the bosom now displaying
precious stones in rivalry with many similar superb jewel…stands； there
was no shadow of Mr Merdle's plaint on young Sparkler hovering about
the rooms； monomaniacally seeking any sufficiently ineligible young lady
with no nonsense about her； there was no shadow of Mr Merdle's plaint
on the Barnacles and Stiltstalkings； of whom whole colonies were
present； or on any of the pany。 Even on himself； its shadow was faint
enough as he moved about among the throng； receiving homage。
Mr Merdle's plaint。 Society and he had so much to do with one another
in all things else； that it is hard to imagine his plaint； if he
had one； being solely his own affair。 Had he that deep…seated recondite
plaint； and did any doctor find it out？ Patience； in the meantime；
the shadow of the Marshalsea wall was a real darkening influence； and
could be seen on the Dorrit Family at any stage of the sun's course。
CHAPTER 22。 A Puzzle
Mr Clennam did not increase in favour with the Father of the Marshalsea
in the ratio of his increasing visits。 His obtuseness on the great
Testimonial question was not calculated to awaken admiration in the
paternal breast； but had rather a tendency to give offence in that
sensitive quarter； and to be regarded as a positive shorting in point
of gentlemanly feeling。 An impression of disappointment； occasioned
by the discovery that Mr Clennam scarcely possessed that delicacy for
which； in the confidence of his nature； he had been inclined to give
him credit； began to darken the fatherly mind in connection with that
gentleman。 The father went so far as to say； in his private family
circle； that he feared Mr Clennam was not a man of high instincts。
He was happy； he observed； in his public capa