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with the announcement that two beautiful English ladies were e to see
the mistress。
Mrs Gowan； who was engaged in needlework； put her work aside in a
covered basket； and rose； a little hurriedly。 Miss Fanny was excessively
courteous to her； and said the usual nothings with the skill of a
veteran。
'Papa was extremely sorry；' proceeded Fanny； 'to be engaged to…day （he
is so much engaged here； our acquaintance being so wretchedly large！）；
and particularly requested me to bring his card for Mr Gowan。 That I may
be sure to acquit myself of a mission which he impressed upon me at
least a dozen times； allow me to relieve my conscience by placing it on
the table at once。'
Which she did with veteran ease。
'We have been；' said Fanny； 'charmed to understand that you know the
Merdles。 We hope it may be another means of bringing us together。'
'They are friends；' said Mrs Gowan； 'of Mr Gowan's family。 I have not
yet had the pleasure of a personal introduction to Mrs Merdle； but I
suppose I shall be presented to her at Rome。'
'Indeed？' returned Fanny； with an appearance of amiably quenching her
own superiority。 'I think you'll like her。'
'You know her very well？'
'Why； you see；' said Fanny； with a frank action of her pretty shoulders；
'in London one knows every one。 We met her on our way here； and； to say
the truth； papa was at first rather cross with her for taking one of the
rooms that our people had ordered for us。
However； of course； that soon blew over； and we were all good friends
again。'
Although the visit had as yet given Little Dorrit no opportunity of
conversing with Mrs Gowan； there was a silent understanding between
them； which did as well。 She looked at Mrs Gowan with keen and unabated
interest； the sound of her voice was thrilling to her； nothing that was
near her； or about her； or at all concerned her； escaped Little Dorrit。
She was quicker to perceive the slightest matter here； than in any other
case……but one。
'You have been quite well；' she now said； 'since that night？'
'Quite； my dear。 And you？' 'Oh！ I am always well；' said Little Dorrit；
timidly。 'I……yes； thank you。'
There was no reason for her faltering and breaking off； other than that
Mrs Gowan had touched her hand in speaking to her； and their looks had
met。 Something thoughtfully apprehensive in the large； soft eyes； had
checked Little Dorrit in an instant。
'You don't know that you are a favourite of my husband's； and that I am
almost bound to be jealous of you？' said Mrs Gowan。
Little Dorrit； blushing； shook her head。
'He will tell you； if he tells you what he tells me； that you are
quieter and quicker of resource than any one he ever saw。'
'He speaks far too well of me；' said Little Dorrit。
'I doubt that； but I don't at all doubt that I must tell him you
are here。 I should never be forgiven； if I were to let you……and Miss
Dorrit……go； without doing so。 May I？ You can excuse the disorder and
disfort of a painter's studio？'
The inquiries were addressed to Miss Fanny； who graciously replied that
she would be beyond anything interested and enchanted。 Mrs Gowan went to
a door； looked in beyond it； and came back。 'Do Henry the favour to e
in；' said she； 'I knew he would be pleased！'
The first object that confronted Little Dorrit； entering first； was
Blandois of Paris in a great cloak and a furtive slouched hat； standing
on a throne platform in a corner； as he had stood on the Great Saint
Bernard； when the warning arms seemed to be all pointing up at him。 She
recoiled from this figure； as it smiled at her。
'Don't be alarmed；' said Gowan； ing from his easel behind the door。
'It's only Blandois。 He is doing duty as a model to…day。 I am making
a study of him。 It saves me money to turn him to some use。 We poor
painters have none to spare。'
Blandois of Paris pulled off his slouched hat； and saluted the ladies
without ing out of his corner。
'A thousand pardons！' said he。 'But the Professore here is so inexorable
with me； that I am afraid to stir。'
'Don't stir； then；' said Gowan coolly； as the sisters approached the
easel。 'Let the ladies at least see the original of the daub； that they
may know what it's meant for。 There he stands； you see。 A bravo waiting
for his prey； a distinguished noble waiting to save his country； the
mon enemy waiting to do somebody a bad turn； an angelic messenger
waiting to do somebody a good turn……whatever you think he looks most
like！' 'Say； Professore Mio； a poor gentleman waiting to do homage to
elegance and beauty；' remarked Blandois。
'Or say； Cattivo Soggetto Mio；' returned Gowan； touching the painted
face with his brush in the part where the real face had moved； 'a
murderer after the fact。 Show that white hand of yours； Blandois。 Put it
outside the cloak。 Keep it still。'
Blandois' hand was unsteady； but he laughed； and that would naturally
shake it。
'He was formerly in some scuffle with another murderer； or with a
victim； you observe；' said Gowan； putting in the markings of the hand
patient； unskilful touch； 'and these are the tokens of
it。 Outside the cloak； man！……Corpo di San Marco； what are you thinking
of？'
Blandois of Paris shook with a laugh again； so that his hand shook more；
now he raised it to twist his moustache； which had a damp appearance；
and now he stood in the required position； with a little new swagger。
His face was so directed in reference to the spot where Little Dorrit
stood by the easel； that throughout he looked at her。 Once attracted by
his peculiar eyes； she could not remove her own； and they had looked
at each other all the time。 She trembled now； Gowan； feeling it； and
supposing her to be alarmed by the large dog beside him； whose head she
caressed in her hand； and who had just uttered a low growl； glanced at
her to say； 'He won't hurt you； Miss Dorrit。'
'I am not afraid of him；' she returned in the same breath； 'but will you
look at him？'
In a moment Gowan had thrown down his brush； and seized the dog with
both hands by the collar。
'Blandois！ How can you be such a fool as to provoke him！ By Heaven； and
the other place too； he'll tear you to bits！ Lie down！
Lion！ Do you hear my voice； you rebel！
'The great dog； regardless of being half…choked by his collar； was
obdurately pulling with his dead weight against his master； resolved to
get across the room。 He had been crouching for a spring at the moment
when his master caught him。
'Lion！ Lion！' He was up on his hind legs； and it was a wrestle between
master and dog。 'Get back！ Down； Lion！ Get out of his sight； Blandois！
What devil have you conjured into the dog？'
'I have done nothing to him。'
'Get out of his sight or I can't hold the wild beast！ Get out of the
room！ By my soul； he'll kill you！'
The dog； with a ferocious bark； made one other struggle as Blandois
vanished； then； in the moment of the dog's submission； the master；
little less angry than the dog； felled him with a blow on the head； and
standing over him； struck him many times severely with the heel of his
boot； so that his mouth was presently bloody。
'Now get you into that corner and lie down；' said Gowan； 'or I'll take
you out and shoot you。'
Lion did as he was ordered； and lay down licking his mouth and chest。
Lion's master stopped for a moment to take breath； and then； recovering
his usual coolness of manner； turned to speak to his frightened wife
and her visitors。 Probably the whole occurrence had not occupied two
minutes。
'e； e； Minnie！ You know he is always good…humoured and tractable。
Blandois must have irritated him；……made faces at him。 The dog has his
likings and dislikings； and Blandois is no great favourite of his； but
I am sure you will give him a character； Minnie； for never having been
like this before。'
Minnie was too much disturbed to say anything connected in reply； Little
Dorrit was already occupied in soothing her； Fanny； who had cried out
twice or thrice； held Gowan's arm for protection； Lion； deeply ashamed
of having caused them this alarm； came trailing himself along the ground
to the feet of his mistress。
'You furious brute；' said Gowan； striking him with his foot again。 'You
s