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'However；' said Mr Merdle； 'I do generally retain in my own hands the
power of exercising some preference……people in general would be pleased
to call it favour……as a sort of pliment for my care and trouble。'
'And public spirit and genius；' Mr Dorrit suggested。
Mr Merdle； with a dry； swallowing action； seemed to dispose of those
qualities like a bolus； then added； 'As a sort of return for it。 I will
see； if you please； how I can exert this limited power （for people are
jealous； and it is limited）； to your advantage。' 'You are very good；'
replied Mr Dorrit。 'You are very good。'
'Of course；' said Mr Merdle； 'there must be the strictest integrity
and uprightness in these transactions； there must be the purest faith
between man and man； there must be unimpeached and unimpeachable
confidence； or business could not be carried on。'
Mr Dorrit hailed these generous sentiments with fervour。
'Therefore；' said Mr Merdle； 'I can only give you a preference to a
certain extent。'
'I perceive。 To a defined extent；' observed Mr Dorrit。
'Defined extent。 And perfectly above…board。 As to my advice； however；'
said Mr Merdle； 'that is another matter。 That； such as it is……'
Oh！ Such as it was！ （Mr Dorrit could not bear the faintest appearance of
its being depreciated； even by Mr Merdle himself。）
'……That； there is nothing in the bonds of spotless honour between myself
and my fellow…man to prevent my parting with； if I choose。 And that；'
said Mr Merdle； now deeply intent upon a dust…cart that was passing the
windows； 'shall be at your mand whenever you think proper。'
New acknowledgments from Mr Dorrit。 New passages of Mr Merdle's hand
over his forehead。 Calm and silence。 Contemplation of Mr Dorrit's
waistcoat buttons by Mr Merdle。
'My time being rather precious；' said Mr Merdle； suddenly getting up；
as if he had been waiting in the interval for his legs and they had just
e； 'I must be moving towards the City。 Can I take you anywhere； sir？
I shall be happy to set you down； or send you on。 My carriage is at your
disposal。'
Mr Dorrit bethought himself that he had business at his banker's。 His
banker's was in the City。 That was fortunate； Mr Merdle would take
him into the City。 But； surely； he might not detain Mr Merdle while he
assumed his coat？ Yes； he might and must； Mr Merdle insisted on it。 So
Mr Dorrit； retiring into the next room； put himself under the hands of
his valet； and in five minutes came back glorious。
Then said Mr Merdle； 'Allow me； sir。 Take my arm！' Then leaning on
Mr Merdle's arm； did Mr Dorrit descend the staircase； seeing the
worshippers on the steps； and feeling that the light of Mr Merdle shone
by reflection in himself。 Then the carriage； and the ride into the
City； and the people who looked at them； and the hats that flew off grey
heads； and the general bowing and crouching before this wonderful mortal
the like of which prostration of spirit was not to be seen……no； by
high Heaven； no！ It may be worth thinking of by Fawners of all
denominations……in Westminster Abbey and Saint Paul's Cathedral put
together； on any Sunday in the year。 It was a rapturous dream to Mr
Dorrit to find himself set aloft in this public car of triumph； making a
magnificent progress to that befitting destination； the golden Street of
the Lombards。
There Mr Merdle insisted on alighting and going his way a…foot； and
leaving his poor equipage at Mr Dorrit's disposition。 So the dream
increased in rapture when Mr Dorrit came out of the bank alone； and
people looked at him in default of Mr Merdle； and when； with the ears of
his mind； he heard the frequent exclamation as he rolled glibly along；
'A wonderful man to be Mr Merdle's friend！'
At dinner that day； although the occasion was not foreseen and provided
for； a brilliant pany of such as are not made of the dust of the
earth； but of some superior article for the present unknown； shed
their lustrous benediction upon Mr Dorrit's daughter's marriage。 And Mr
Dorrit's daughter that day began； in earnest； her petition with that
woman not present； and began it so well that Mr Dorrit could all but
have taken his affidavit； if required； that Mrs Sparkler had all her
life been lying at full length in the lap of luxury； and had never heard
of such a rough word in the English tongue as Marshalsea。
Next day； and the day after； and every day； all graced by more dinner
pany； cards descended on Mr Dorrit like theatrical snow。 As the
friend and relative by marriage of the illustrious Merdle； Bar； Bishop；
Treasury； Chorus； Everybody； wanted to make or improve Mr Dorrit's
acquaintance。 In Mr Merdle's heap of offices in the City； when Mr Dorrit
appeared at any of them on his business taking him Eastward （which it
frequently did； for it throve amazingly）； the name of Dorrit was always
a passport to the great presence of Merdle。 So the dream increased in
rapture every hour； as Mr Dorrit felt increasingly sensible that this
connection had brought him forward indeed。
Only one thing sat otherwise than auriferously； and at the same time
lightly； on Mr Dorrit's mind。 It was the Chief Butler。 That stupendous
character looked at him； in the course of his official looking at the
dinners； in a manner that Mr Dorrit considered questionable。 He looked
at him； as he passed through the hall and up the staircase； going to
dinner； with a glazed fixedness that Mr Dorrit did not like。 Seated
at table in the act of drinking； Mr Dorrit still saw him through his
wine…glass； regarding him with a cold and ghostly eye。 It misgave him
that the Chief Butler must have known a Collegian； and must have seen
him in the College……perhaps had been presented to him。 He looked as
closely at the Chief Butler as such a man could be looked at； and yet
he did not recall that he had ever seen him elsewhere。 Ultimately he was
inclined to think that there was no reverence in the man； no sentiment
in the great creature。 But he was not relieved by that； for； let him
think what he would； the Chief Butler had him in his supercilious eye；
even when that eye was on the plate and other table…garniture； and he
never let him out of it。 To hint to him that this confinement in his eye
was disagreeable； or to ask him what he meant； was an act too daring to
venture upon； his severity with his employers and their visitors being
terrific； and he never permitting himself to be approached with the
slightest liberty。
CHAPTER 17。 Missing
The term of Mr Dorrit's visit was within two days of being out； and he
was about to dress for another inspection by the Chief Butler （whose
victims were always dressed expressly for him）； when one of the servants
of the hotel presented himself bearing a card。 Mr Dorrit； taking it；
read：
'Mrs Finching。'
The servant waited in speechless deference。
'Man； man；' said Mr Dorrit； turning upon him with grievous indignation；
'explain your motive in bringing me this ridiculous name。 I am wholly
unacquainted with it。 Finching； sir？' said Mr Dorrit； perhaps avenging
himself on the Chief Butler by Substitute。
'Ha！ What do you mean by Finching？'
The man； man； seemed to mean Flinching as much as anything else； for
he backed away from Mr Dorrit's severe regard； as he replied； 'A lady；
sir。'
'I know no such lady； sir；' said Mr Dorrit。 'Take this card away。 I know
no Finching of either sex。'
'Ask your pardon； sir。 The lady said she was aware she might be unknown
by name。 But she begged me to say； sir； that she had formerly the honour
of being acquainted with Miss Dorrit。 The lady said； sir； the youngest
Miss Dorrit。'
Mr Dorrit knitted his brows and rejoined； after a moment or two； 'Inform
Mrs Finching； sir；' emphasising the name as if the innocent man were
solely responsible for it； 'that she can e up。'
He had reflected； in his momentary pause； that unless she were admitted
she might leave some message； or might say something below； having
a disgraceful reference to that former state of existence。 Hence the
concession； and hence the appearance of Flora； piloted in by the man；
man。
'I have not the pleasure；' said Mr Dorrit； standing with the card in his
hand； and with an air which imported tha