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first mentioned to my proprietor by Plornish in the Yard。 Say； I go to
Plornish。 Say； I ask Plornish as a matter of business for information。
Say； Plornish； though six weeks in arrear to my proprietor； declines。
Say； Mrs Plornish declines。 Say； both refer to Mr Clennam。 Put the
case。' 'Well？'
'Well； sir；' returned Pancks； 'say； I e to him。 Say； here I am。'
With those prongs of hair sticking up all over his head； and his breath
ing and going very hard and short； the busy Pancks fell back a step
（in Tug metaphor； took half a turn astern） as if to show his dingy hull
plete； then forged a…head again； and directed his quick glance by
turns into his hat where his note…book was； and into Clennam's face。
'Mr Pancks； not to trespass on your grounds of mystery； I will be as
plain with you as I can。 Let me ask two questions。 First……'
'All right！' said Pancks； holding up his dirty forefinger with his
broken nail。 'I see！ 〃What's your motive？〃'
'Exactly。'
'Motive；' said Pancks； 'good。 Nothing to do with my proprietor； not
stateable at present； ridiculous to state at present； but good。
Desiring to serve young person； name of Dorrit；' said Pancks； with his
forefinger still up as a caution。 'Better admit motive to be good。'
'Secondly； and lastly； what do you want to know？'
Mr Pancks fished up his note…book before the question was put； and
buttoning it with care in an inner breast…pocket； and looking straight
at Clennam all the time； replied with a pause and a puff； 'I want
supplementary information of any sort。'
Clennam could not withhold a smile； as the panting little steam…tug； so
useful to that unwieldy ship； the Casby； waited on and watched him as if
it were seeking an opportunity of running in and rifling him of all he
wanted before he could resist its manoeuvres； though there was that in
Mr Pancks's eagerness； too； which awakened many wondering speculations
in his mind。 After a little consideration； he resolved to supply Mr
Pancks with such leading information as it was in his power to impart
him； well knowing that Mr Pancks； if he failed in his present research；
was pretty sure to find other means of getting it。
He； therefore； first requesting Mr Pancks to remember his voluntary
declaration that his proprietor had no part in the disclosure； and that
his own intentions were good （two declarations which that coaly little
gentleman with the greatest ardour repeated）； openly told him that as to
the Dorrit lineage or former place of habitation； he had no information
to municate； and that his knowledge of the family did not extend
beyond the fact that it appeared to be now reduced to five members；
namely； to two brothers； of whom one was single； and one a widower with
three children。 The ages of the whole family he made known to Mr Pancks；
as nearly as he could guess at them； and finally he described to him
the position of the Father of the Marshalsea； and the course of time and
events through which he had bee invested with that character。 To
all this； Mr Pancks； snorting and blowing in a more and more portentous
manner as he became more interested； listened with great attention；
appearing to derive the most agreeable sensations from the painfullest
parts of the narrative； and particularly to be quite charmed by the
account of William Dorrit's long imprisonment。
'In conclusion； Mr Pancks；' said Arthur； 'I have but to say this。 I have
reasons beyond a personal regard for speaking as little as I can of the
Dorrit family； particularly at my mother's house' （Mr Pancks nodded）；
'and for knowing as much as I can。 So devoted a man of business as you
are……eh？'
For Mr Pancks had suddenly made that blowing effort with unusual force。
'It's nothing；' said Pancks。
'So devoted a man of business as yourself has a perfect understanding of
a fair bargain。 I wish to make a fair bargain with you； that you shall
enlighten me concerning the Dorrit family when you have it in your
power； as I have enlightened you。 It may not give you a very flattering
idea of my business habits； that I failed to make my terms beforehand；'
continued Clennam； 'but I prefer to make them a point of honour。 I have
seen so much business done on sharp principles that； to tell you the
truth； Mr Pancks； I am tired of them。'
Mr Pancks laughed。 'It's a bargain； sir；' said he。 'You shall find me
stick to it。'
After that； he stood a little while looking at Clennam； and biting his
ten nails all round； evidently while he fixed in his mind what he had
been told； and went over it carefully； before the means of supplying a
gap in his memory should be no longer at hand。 'It's all right；' he said
at last； 'and now I'll wish you good day； as it's collecting day in the
Yard。 By…the…bye； though。 A lame foreigner with a stick。'
'Ay； ay。 You do take a reference sometimes； I see？' said Clennam。
'When he can pay； sir；' replied Pancks。 'Take all you can get； and
keep back all you can't be forced to give up。 That's business。 The lame
foreigner with the stick wants a top room down the Yard。 Is he good for
it？'
'I am；' said Clennam； 'and I will answer for him。'
'That's enough。 What I must have of Bleeding Heart Yard；' said Pancks；
making a note of the case in his book； 'is my bond。 I want my bond； you
see。 Pay up； or produce your property！ That's the watchword down the
Yard。 The lame foreigner with the stick represented that you sent him；
but he could represent （as far as that goes） that the Great Mogul sent
him。 He has been in the hospital； I believe？'
'Yes。 Through having met with an accident。 He is only just now
discharged。'
'It's pauperising a man； sir； I have been shown； to let him into a
hospital？' said Pancks。 And again blew off that remarkable sound。
'I have been shown so too；' said Clennam； coldly。
Mr Pancks； being by that time quite ready for a start； got under steam
in a moment； and； without any other signal or ceremony； was snorting
down the step…ladder and working into Bleeding Heart Yard； before he
seemed to be well out of the counting…house。
Throughout the remainder of the day； Bleeding Heart Yard was in
consternation； as the grim Pancks cruised in it； haranguing the
inhabitants on their backslidings in respect of payment； demanding his
bond； breathing notices to quit and executions； running down defaulters；
sending a swell of terror on before him； and leaving it in his wake。
Knots of people； impelled by a fatal attraction； lurked outside any
house in which he was known to be； listening for fragments of his
discourses to the inmates； and； when he was rumoured to be ing down
the stairs； often could not disperse so quickly but that he would be
prematurely in among them； demanding their own arrears； and rooting them
to the spot。 Throughout the remainder of the day； Mr Pancks's What were
they up to？ and What did they mean by it？ sounded all over the Yard。 Mr
Pancks wouldn't hear of excuses； wouldn't hear of plaints； wouldn't
hear of repairs； wouldn't hear of anything but unconditional money down。
Perspiring and puffing and darting about in eccentric directions； and
being hotter and dingier every moment； he lashed the tide of the yard
into a most agitated and turbid state。 It had not settled down into calm
water again full two hours after he had been seen fuming away on the
horizon at the top of the steps。
There were several small assemblages of the Bleeding Hearts at the
popular points of meeting in the Yard that night； among whom it was
universally agreed that Mr Pancks was a hard man to have to do with； and
that it was much to be regretted； so it was； that a gentleman like Mr
Casby should put his rents in his hands； and never know him in his true
light。 For （said the Bleeding Hearts）； if a gentleman with that head of
hair and them eyes took his rents into his own hands； ma'am； there
would be none of this worriting and wearing； and things would be very
different。
At which identical evening hour and minute； the Patriarch……who had
floated serenely through the Yard in the forenoon before the harrying
began； with the express design of getting up this trustfulness in his
shining bumps and silken locks……at which identical hour and minute；
that first…rate humbug of a thousand guns was heavily floundering in the
little Dock of his exhausted Tug at home； and was saying； as he turned
his thumbs：
'A very bad day's work； Pancks； very bad day's work。 It seems to me；
sir； and I must insist on making this observation forcibly in justice to
myself； that you ought to have got much more money； much more money。'
CHAPTER 24。 Fortune…Telling
Little Dorrit received a call that same evening from Mr Plornish； who；
having intimated that he wished to speak to her privately； in a series
of coughs so very noticeable as to favour the idea that her father； as
regarded her seamstress occupation； was an illustration of the axiom
that there are no such stone…blind men as those who will not see；
obtained an audience with her on the mon staircase outside the door。
'There's been a lady at our place to…day； Miss Dorrit；' Plornish
growled； 'and another one along with her as is a old wixen if ever I met
with such。 The way she snapped a person's head off； dear me！'
The mild Plornish was at first quite unable to get his mind away from Mr
F。's Aunt。 'For；' said he； to excuse himself； 'she is； I do assure you；
the winegariest party。'
At length； by a great effort； he detached himself from the subject
sufficiently to observe：
'But she's neither here nor there just at present。 The other lady； she's
Mr Casby's daughter； and if Mr Casby an't well off； none better； it an't
through any fault of Pancks。 For； as to Pancks； he does； he really does；
he does indeed！'
Mr Plornish； after his usual manner； was a little obscure； but
conscientiously emphatic。
'And what she e to our place for；' he pursued； 'was to leave word
that if Miss Dorrit would step up to that card……which it's Mr Casby's
house that is； and Pancks he has a office at the back； where he really
does； beyond belief……she would be glad for to engage her。 She was a old
and a dear friend； she said particular； of Mr Clennam； and hoped for to
prove herself a useful friend to his friend。 Them was her words。 Wishing
to know whether Miss Dorrit could e to…morrow morning； I said I would
see you； Miss； and inquire； and look round there to…night； to say yes；
or； if you was engaged to…morrow； when？'
'I can go to…morrow； thank you；' said Little Dorrit。 'This is very kind
of you； but you are always kind。'
Mr Plornish； with a modest disavowal of his merits； opened the room door
for her readmission； and followed her in with such an exceedingly bald
pretence of not having been out at all； that her father might
have observed it without being very suspicious。 In his affable
unconsciousness； however； he took no heed。 Plornish； after a little
conversation； in which he blended his former duty as a Collegian with
his present privilege as a humble outside friend； qualified again by his
low estate as a plasterer； took his leave； making the tour of the prison
before he left； and looking on at a game of skittles with the mixed
feelings of an old inhabitant who had his private reasons for believing
that it might be his destiny to e back again。
Early in the morning； Little Dorrit； leaving Maggy in high domestic
trust； set off for the Patriarchal tent。 She went by the Iron Bridge；
though it cost her a penny； and walked more slowly in that part of her
journey than in any other。 At five minutes before eight her hand was on
the Patriarchal knocker； which was quite as high as she could reach。
She gave Mrs Finching's card to the young woman who opened the door； and
the young woman told her that 'Miss Flora'……Flora having； on her return
to the parental roof； reinvested herself with the title under which she
had lived there……was not yet out of her bedroom； but she was to please
to walk up into Miss Flora's sitting…room。 She walked up into
Miss Flora's sitting…room； as in duty bound； and there found a
breakfast…table fortably laid for two； with a supplementary tray
upon it laid for one。 The young woman； disappearing for a few moments；
returned to say that she was to please to tak