little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第167部分

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Don't　you　see？'

'I　do　not；'　said　Clennam。

'You　don't　regard　it　from　the　right　point　of　view。　It　is　the　point　of
view　that　is　the　essential　thing。　Regard　our　place　from　the　point　of
view　that　we　only　ask　you　to　leave　us　alone；　and　we　are　as　capital　a
Department　as　you'll　find　anywhere。'

'Is　your　place　there　to　be　left　alone？'　asked　Clennam。

'You　exactly　hit　it；'　returned　Ferdinand。　'It　is　there　with　the　express
intention　that　everything　shall　be　left　alone。　That　is　what　it　means。
That　is　what　it's　for。　No　doubt　there's　a　certain　form　to　be　kept　up
that　it's　for　something　else；　but　it's　only　a　form。　Why；　good　Heaven；
we　are　nothing　but　forms！　Think　what　a　lot　of　our　forms　you　have　gone
through。　And　you　have　never　got　any　nearer　to　an　end？'

'Never；'　said　Clennam。

'Look　at　it　from　the　right　point　of　view；　and　there　you　have
us……official　and　effectual。　It's　like　a　limited　game　of　cricket。　A　field
of　outsiders　are　always　going　in　to　bowl　at　the　Public　Service；　and　we
block　the　balls。'

Clennam　asked　what　became　of　the　bowlers？　The　airy　young　Barnacle
replied　that　they　grew　tired；　got　dead　beat；　got　lamed；　got　their　backs
broken；　died　off；　gave　it　up；　went　in　for　other　games。

'And　this　occasions　me　to　congratulate　myself　again；'　he　pursued；
'on　the　circumstance　that　our　place　has　had　nothing　to　do　with　your
temporary　retirement。　It　very　easily　might　have　had　a　hand　in　it；
because　it　is　undeniable　that　we　are　sometimes　a　most　unlucky　place；　in
our　effects　upon　people　who　will　not　leave　us　alone。　Mr　Clennam；　I　am
quite　unreserved　with　you。　As　between　yourself　and　myself；　I　know　I　may
be。　I　was　so；　when　I　first　saw　you　making　the　mistake　of　not　leaving　us
alone；　because　I　perceived　that　you　were　inexperienced　and　sanguine；　and
had……I　hope　you'll　not　object　to　my　saying……some　simplicity。'

'Not　at　all。'

'Some　simplicity。　Therefore　I　felt　what　a　pity　it　was；　and　I　went　out
of　my　way　to　hint　to　you　（which　really　was　not　official；　but　I　never　am
official　when　I　can　help　it）　something　to　the　effect　that　if　I　were　you；
I　wouldn't　bother　myself。　However；　you　did　bother　yourself；　and　you　have
since　bothered　yourself。　Now；　don't　do　it　any　more。'

'I　am　not　likely　to　have　the　opportunity；'　said　Clennam。

'Oh　yes；　you　are！　You'll　leave　here。　Everybody　leaves　here。　There　are　no
ends　of　ways　of　leaving　here。　Now；　don't　e　back　to　us。　That　entreaty
is　the　second　object　of　my　call。　Pray；　don't　e　back　to　us。　Upon　my
honour；'　said　Ferdinand　in　a　very　friendly　and　confiding　way；　'I　shall
be　greatly　vexed　if　you　don't　take　warning　by　the　past　and　keep　away
from　us。'

'And　the　invention？'　said　Clennam。

'My　good　fellow；'　returned　Ferdinand；　'if　you'll　excuse　the　freedom　of
that　form　of　address；　nobody　wants　to　know　of　the　invention；　and　nobody
cares　twopence…halfpenny　about　it。'

'Nobody　in　the　Office；　that　is　to　say？'

'Nor　out　of　it。　Everybody　is　ready　to　dislike　and　ridicule　any
invention。　You　have　no　idea　how　many　people　want　to　be　left　alone。

You　have　no　idea　how　the　Genius　of　the　country　（overlook　the
Parliamentary　nature　of　the　phrase；　and　don't　be　bored　by　it）　tends
to　being　left　alone。　Believe　me；　Mr　Clennam；'　said　the　sprightly　young
Barnacle　in　his　pleasantest　manner；　'our　place　is　not　a　wicked　Giant　to
be　charged　at　full　tilt；　but　only　a　windmill　showing　you；　as　it　grinds
immense　quantities　of　chaff；　which　way　the　country　wind　blows。'

'If　I　could　believe　that；'　said　Clennam；　'it　would　be　a　dismal　prospect
for　all　of　us。'

'Oh！　Don't　say　so！'　returned　Ferdinand。　'It's　all　right。　We　must　have
humbug；　we　all　like　humbug；　we　couldn't　get　on　without　humbug。

A　little　humbug；　and　a　groove；　and　everything　goes　on　admirably；　if　you
leave　it　alone。'

With　this　hopeful　confession　of　his　faith　as　the　head　of　the　rising
Barnacles　who　were　born　of　woman；　to　be　followed　under　a　variety　of
watchwords　which　they　utterly　repudiated　and　disbelieved；　Ferdinand
rose。　Nothing　could　be　more　agreeable　than　his　frank　and　courteous
bearing；　or　adapted　with　a　more　gentlemanly　instinct　to　the
circumstances　of　his　visit。

'Is　it　fair　to　ask；'　he　said；　as　Clennam　gave　him　his　hand　with　a　real
feeling　of　thankfulness　for　his　candour　and　good…humour；　'whether　it
is　true　that　our　late　lamented　Merdle　is　the　cause　of　this　passing
inconvenience？'

'I　am　one　of　the　many　he　has　ruined。　Yes。'

'He　must　have　been　an　exceedingly　clever　fellow；'　said　Ferdinand
Barnacle。

Arthur；　not　being　in　the　mood　to　extol　the　memory　of　the　deceased；　was
silent。

'A　consummate　rascal；　of　course；'　said　Ferdinand；　'but　remarkably
clever！　One　cannot　help　admiring　the　fellow。　Must　have　been　such　a
master　of　humbug。　Knew　people　so　well……got　over　them　so　pletely……did
so　much　with　them！'　In　his　easy　way；　he　was　really　moved　to　genuine
admiration。

'I　hope；'　said　Arthur；　'that　he　and　his　dupes　may　be　a　warning　to　people
not　to　have　so　much　done　with　them　again。'

'My　dear　Mr　Clennam；'　returned　Ferdinand；　laughing；　'have　you　really
such　a　verdant　hope？　The　next　man　who　has　as　large　a　capacity　and　as
genuine　a　taste　for　swindling；　will　succeed　as　well。　Pardon　me；　but
I　think　you　really　have　no　idea　how　the　human　bees　will　swarm　to　the
beating　of　any　old　tin　kettle；　in　that　fact　lies　the　plete　manual　of
governing　them。　When　they　can　be　got　to　believe　that　the　kettle　is　made
of　the　precious　metals；　in　that　fact　lies　the　whole　power　of　men　like
our　late　lamented。　No　doubt　there　are　here　and　there；'　said　Ferdinand
politely；　'exceptional　cases；　where　people　have　been　taken　in　for　what
appeared　to　them　to　be　much　better　reasons；　and　I　need　not　go　far　to
find　such　a　case；　but　they　don't　invalidate　the　rule。　Good　day！　I　hope
that　when　I　have　the　pleasure　of　seeing　you；　next；　this　passing　cloud
will　have　given　place　to　sunshine。　Don't　e　a　step　beyond　the　door。　I
know　the　way　out　perfectly。　Good　day！'

With　those　words；　the　best　and　brightest　of　the　Barnacles　went
down…stairs；　hummed　his　way　through　the　Lodge；　mounted　his　horse　in　the
front　court…yard；　and　rode　off　to　keep　an　appointment　with　his　noble
kinsman；　who　wanted　a　little　coaching　before　he　could　triumphantly
answer　certain　infidel　Snobs　who　were　going　to　question　the　Nobs　about
their　statesmanship。

He　must　have　passed　Mr　Rugg　on　his　way　out；　for；　a　minute　or　two
afterwards；　that　ruddy…headed　gentleman　shone　in　at　the　door；　like　an
elderly　Phoebus。

'How　do　you　do　to…day；　sir？'　said　Mr　Rugg。　'Is　there　any　little　thing　I
can　do　for　you　to…day；　sir？'

'No；　I　thank　you。'

Mr　Rugg's　enjoyment　of　embarrassed　affairs　was　like　a　housekeeper's
enjoyment　in　pickling　and　preserving；　or　a　washerwoman's　enjoyment　of　a
heavy　wash；　or　a　dustman's　enjoyment　of　an　overflowing　dust…bin；　or　any
other　professional　enjoyment　of　a　mess　in　the　way　of　business。

'I　still　look　round；　from　time　to　time；　sir；'　said　Mr　Rugg；　cheerfully；
'to　see　whether　any　lingering　Detainers　are　accumulating　at　the　gate。
They　have　fallen　in　pretty　thick；　sir；　as　thick　as　we　could　have
expected。'

He　remarked　upon　the　circumstance　as　if　it　were　matter　of
congratulation：　rubbing　his　hands　briskly；　and　rolling　his　head　a
little。

'As　thick；'　repeated　Mr　Rugg；　'as　we　could　reasonably　have　expected。
Quite　a　shower…bath　of　'em。　I　don't　often　intrude　upon　you　now；　when　I
look　round；　because　I　know　you　are　not　inclined　for　pany；　and　that　if
you　wished　to　see　me；　you　would　leave　word　in　the　Lodge。　But　I　am　here
pretty　well　every　day；　sir。　Would　this　be　an　unseasonable　time；　sir；'
asked　Mr　Rugg；　coaxingly；　'for　me　to　offer　an　observation？'

'As　seasonable　a　time　as　any　other。'

'Hum！　Public　opinion；　sir；'　said　Mr　Rugg；　'has　been　busy　with　you。'

'I　don't　doubt　it。'

'Might　it　not　be　advisable；　sir；'　said　Mr　Rugg；　more　coaxingly　yet；　'now
to　make；　at　last　and　after　all；　a　trifling　concession　to　public　opinion？
We　all　do　it　in　one　way　or　another。　The　fact　is；　we　must　do　it。'

'I　cannot　set　myself　right　with　it；　Mr　Rugg；　and　have　no　business　to
expect　that　I　ever　shall。'

'Don't　say　that；　sir；　don't　say　that。　The　cost　of　being　moved　to　the
Bench　is　almost　insignificant；　and　if　the　general　feeling　is　strong　that
you　ought　to　be　there；　why……really……'

'I　thought　you　had　settled；　Mr　Rugg；'　said　Arthur；　'that　my
determination　to　remain　here　was　a　matter　of　taste。'

'Well；　sir；　well！　But　is　it　good　taste；　is　it　good　taste？　That's　the
Question。'　Mr　Rugg　was　so　soothingly　persuasive　as　to　be　quite　pathetic。
'I　was　almost　going　to　say；　is　it　good　feeling？　This　is　an　extensive
affair　of　yours；　and　your　remaining　here　where　a　man　can　e　for　a
pound　or　two；　is　remarked　upon　as　not　in　keeping。　It　is　not　in　keeping。
I　can't　tell　you；　sir；　in　hoentioned。　I
heard　ments　made　upon　it　last　night　in　a　Parlour　frequented　by　what
I　should　call；　if　I　did　not　look　in　there　now　and　then　myself；　the　best
legal　pany……I　heard；　there；　ments　on　it　that　I　was　sorry　to　hear。
They　hurt　me　on　your　account。　Again；　only　this　morning　at　breakfast。　My
daughter　（but　a　woman；　you'll　say：　yet　still　with　a　feeling　for　these
things；　and　even　with　some　little　personal　experience；　as　the　plaintiff
in　Rugg　and　Bawkins）　was　expressing　her　great　surprise；　her　great
surprise。

Now　under　these　circumstances；　and　considering　that　none　of　us　can　quite
set　ourselves　above　public　opinion；　wouldn't　a　trifling　concession　to
that　opinion　be……e；　sir；'　said　Rugg；　'I　will　put　it　on　the　lowest
ground　of　argument；　and　say；　amiable？'

Arthur's　thoughts　had　once　more　wandered　away　to　Little　Dorrit；　and　the
question　remained　unanswered。

'As　to　myself；　sir；'　said　Mr　Rugg；　hoping　that　his　eloquence　had　reduced
him　to　a　state　of　indecision；　'it　is　a　principle　of　mine　not　to　consider
myself　when　a　client's　inclinations　are　in　the　scale。　But；　knowing　your
considerate　character　and　general　wish　to　oblige；　I　will　repeat　that　I
should　prefer　your　being　in　the　Bench。

Your　case　has　made　a　noise；　it　is　a　creditable　case　to　be　professionally
concerned　in；　I　should　feel　on　a　better　standing　with　my　connection；　if
you　went　to　the　Bench。　Don't　let　that　influence　you；　sir。　I　merely　state
the　fact。'

So　errant　had　the　prisoner's　attention　already　grown　in　solitude　and
dejection；　and