Chapter 16 - Page 2

he might wait upon Mr Dorrit
immediately after breakfast.
Bright the carriage looked, sleek the horses looked, gleaming the
harness looked, luscious and lasting the liveries looked. A rich,
responsible turn-out. An equipage for a Merdle. Early people
looked after it as it rattled along the streets, and said, with awe
in their breath, 'There he goes!'

There he went, until Brook Street stopped him. Then, forth from
its magnificent case came the jewel; not lustrous in itself, but
quite the contrary.

Commotion in the office of the hotel. Merdle! The landlord,
though a gentleman of a haughty spirit who had just driven a pair
of thorough-bred horses into town, turned out to show him up-
stairs. The clerks and servants cut him off by back-passages, and
were found accidentally hovering in doorways and angles, that they
might look upon him. Merdle! O ye sun, moon, and stars, the great
man! The rich man, who had in a manner revised the New Testament,
and already entered into the kingdom of Heaven. The man who could
have any one he chose to dine with him, and who had made the money!

As he went up the stairs, people were already posted on the lower
stairs, that his shadow might fall upon them when he came down. So
were the sick brought out and laid in the track of the Apostle--who
had NOT got into the good society, and had NOT made the money.

Mr Dorrit, dressing-gowned and newspapered, was at his breakfast.
The Courier, with agitation in his voice, announced 'Miss
Mairdale!' Mr Dorrit's overwrought heart bounded as he leaped up.

'Mr Merdle, this is--ha--indeed an honour. Permit me to express
the--hum--sense, the high sense, I entertain of this--ha hum--
highly gratifying act of attention. I am well aware, sir, of the
many demands upon your time, and its--ha--enormous value,' Mr
Dorrit could not say enormous roundly enough for his own
satisfaction. 'That you should--ha--at this early hour, bestow any
of your priceless time upon me, is--ha--a compliment that I
acknowledge with the greatest esteem.' Mr Dorrit positively
trembled in addressing the great man.

Mr Merdle uttered, in his subdued, inward, hesitating voice, a few
sounds that were to no purpose whatever; and finally said, 'I am
glad to see you, sir.'

'You are very kind,' said Mr Dorrit. 'Truly kind.' By this time
the visitor was seated, and was passing his great hand over his
exhausted forehead. 'You are well, I hope, Mr Merdle?'

'I am as well as I--yes, I am as well as I usually am,' said Mr
Merdle.

'Your occupations must be immense.'

'Tolerably so. But--Oh dear no, there's not much the matter with
me,' said Mr Merdle, looking round the room.

'A little dyspeptic?' Mr Dorrit