MrMerdle’sComplaintUponthatestablishmentofstate，theMerdleestablishmentinHarleyStreet，CavendishSquare，therewastheshadowofnomorecommonwallthanthefrontsofotherestablishmentsofstateontheoppositesideofthestreet。LikeunexceptionableSociety，theopposingrowsofhousesinHarleyStreetwereverygrimwithoneanother。Indeed，themansionsandtheirinhabitantsweresomuchalikeinthatrespect，thatthepeoplewereoftentobefounddrawnuponoppositesidesofdinner-tables，intheshadeoftheirownloftiness，staringattheothersideofthewaywiththedullnessofthehouses。
Everybodyknowshowlikethestreetthetwodinner-rowsofpeoplewhotaketheirstandbythestreetwillbe。Theexpressionlessuniformtwentyhouses，alltobeknockedatandrungatinthesameform，allapproachablebythesamedullsteps，allfendedoffbythesamepatternofrailing，allwiththesameimpracticablefire-
escapes，thesameinconvenientfixturesintheirheads，andeverythingwithoutexceptiontobetakenatahighvaluation——whohasnotdinedwiththese？Thehousesodrearilyoutofrepair，theoccasionalbow-window，thestuccoedhouse，thenewly-frontedhouse，thecornerhousewithnothingbutangularrooms，thehousewiththeblindsalwaysdown，thehousewiththehatchmentalwaysup，thehousewherethecollectorhascalledforonequarterofanIdea，andfoundnobodyathome——whohasnotdinedwiththese？Thehousethatnobodywilltake，andistobehadabargain——whodoesnotknowher？Theshowyhousethatwastakenforlifebythedisappointedgentleman，andwhichdoesnotsuithimatall——whoisunacquaintedwiththathauntedhabitation？
HarleyStreet，CavendishSquare，wasmorethanawareofMrandMrsMerdle。IntruderstherewereinHarleyStreet，ofwhomitwasnotaware；butMrandMrsMerdleitdelightedtohonour。SocietywasawareofMrandMrsMerdle。Societyhadsaid’Letuslicensethem；
letusknowthem。’
MrMerdlewasimmenselyrich；amanofprodigiousenterprise；aMidaswithouttheears，whoturnedallhetouchedtogold。Hewasineverythinggood，frombankingtobuilding。HewasinParliament，ofcourse。HewasintheCity，necessarily。HewasChairmanofthis，Trusteeofthat，Presidentoftheother。Theweightiestofmenhadsaidtoprojectors，’Now，whatnamehaveyougot？HaveyougotMerdle？’And，thereplybeinginthenegative，hadsaid，’ThenIwon’tlookatyou。’
Thisgreatandfortunatemanhadprovidedthatextensivebosomwhichrequiredsomuchroomtobeunfeelingenoughin，withanestofcrimsonandgoldsomefifteenyearsbefore。Itwasnotabosomtoreposeupon，butitwasacapitalbosomtohangjewelsupon。MrMerdlewantedsomethingtohangjewelsupon，andheboughtitforthepurpose。StorrandMortimermighthavemarriedonthesamespeculation。
Likeallhisotherspeculations，itwassoundandsuccessful。Thejewelsshowedtotherichestadvantage。ThebosommovinginSocietywiththejewelsdisplayeduponit，attractedgeneraladmiration。Societyapproving，MrMerdlewassatisfied。Hewasthemostdisinterestedofmen，——dideverythingforSociety，andgotaslittleforhimselfoutofallhisgainandcare，asamanmight。
Thatistosay，itmaybesupposedthathegotallhewanted，otherwisewithunlimitedwealthhewouldhavegotit。ButhisdesirewastotheutmosttosatisfySocietywhateverthatwas，andtakeupallitsdraftsuponhimfortribute。Hedidnotshineincompany；hehadnotverymuchtosayforhimself；hewasareservedman，withabroad，overhanging，watchfulhead，thatparticularkindofdullredcolourinhischeekswhichisratherstalethanfresh，andasomewhatuneasyexpressionabouthiscoat-
cuffs，asiftheywereinhisconfidence，andhadreasonsforbeinganxioustohidehishands。Inthelittlehesaid，hewasapleasantmanenough；plain，emphaticaboutpublicandprivateconfidence，andtenaciousoftheutmostdeferencebeingshownbyeveryone，inallthings，toSociety。InthissameSocietyifthatwereitwhichcametohisdinners，andtoMrsMerdle’sreceptionsandconcerts，hehardlyseemedtoenjoyhimselfmuch，andwasmostlytobefoundagainstwallsandbehinddoors。Alsowhenhewentouttoit，insteadofitscominghometohim，heseemedalittlefatigued，anduponthewholerathermoredisposedforbed；buthewasalwayscultivatingitnevertheless，andalwaysmovinginit——andalwayslayingoutmoneyonitwiththegreatestliberality。
MrsMerdle’sfirsthusbandhadbeenacolonel，underwhoseauspicesthebosomhadenteredintocompetitionwiththesnowsofNorthAmerica，andhadcomeoffatlittledisadvantageinpointofwhiteness，andatnoneinpointofcoldness。Thecolonel’ssonwasMrsMerdle’sonlychild。Hewasofachuckle-headed，high-
shoulderedmake，withageneralappearanceofbeing，notsomuchayoungmanasaswelledboy。Hehadgivensofewsignsofreason，thataby-wordwentamonghiscompanionsthathisbrainhadbeenfrozenupinamightyfrostwhichprevailedatStjohn’s，NewBrunswick，attheperiodofhisbirththere，andhadneverthawedfromthathour。Anotherby-wordrepresentedhimashavinginhisinfancy，throughthenegligenceofanurse，fallenoutofahighwindowonhishead，whichhadbeenheardbyresponsiblewitnessestocrack。Itisprobablethatboththeserepresentationswereofexpostfactoorigin；theyounggentlemanwhoseexpressivenamewasSparklerbeingmonomaniacalinofferingmarriagetoallmannerofundesirableyoungladies，andinremarkingofeverysuccessiveyoungladytowhomhetenderedamatrimonialproposalthatshewas’adoosedfinegal——welleducatedtoo——withnobiggoddnonsenseabouther。’
Ason-in-lawwiththeselimitedtalents，mighthavebeenacloguponanotherman；butMrMerdledidnotwantason-in-lawforhimself；hewantedason-in-lawforSociety。MrSparklerhavingbeenintheGuards，andbeinginthehabitoffrequentingalltheraces，andallthelounges，andalltheparties，andbeingwellknown，Societywassatisfiedwithitsson-in-law。ThishappyresultMrMerdlewouldhaveconsideredwellattained，thoughMrSparklerhadbeenamoreexpensivearticle。AndhedidnotgetMrSparklerbyanymeanscheapforSociety，evenasitwas。
TherewasadinnergivingintheHarleyStreetestablishment，whileLittleDorritwasstitchingatherfather’snewshirtsbyhissidethatnight；andthereweremagnatesfromtheCourtandmagnatesfromtheCity，magnatesfromtheCommonsandmagnatesfromtheLords，magnatesfromthebenchandmagnatesfromthebar，Bishopmagnates，Treasurymagnates，HorseGuardmagnates，Admiraltymagnates，——allthemagnatesthatkeepusgoing，andsometimestripusup。
’Iamtold，’saidBishopmagnatetoHorseGuards，’thatMrMerdlehasmadeanotherenormoushit。Theysayahundredthousandpounds。’
HorseGuardshadheardtwo。
Treasuryhadheardthree。
Bar，handlinghispersuasivedoubleeye-glass，wasbynomeansclearbutthatitmightbefour。Itwasoneofthosehappystrokesofcalculationandcombination，theresultofwhichitwasdifficulttoestimate。Itwasoneofthoseinstancesofacomprehensivegrasp，associatedwithhabitualluckandcharacteristicboldness，ofwhichanagepresentedusbutfew。ButherewasBrotherBellows，whohadbeeninthegreatBankcase，andwhocouldprobablytellusmore。WhatdidBrotherBellowsputthisnewsuccessat？
BrotherBellowswasonhiswaytomakehisbowtothebosom，andcouldonlytelltheminpassingthathehadhearditstated，withgreatappearanceoftruth，asbeingworth，fromfirsttolast，half-a-millionofmoney。
AdmiraltysaidMrMerdlewasawonderfulman，Treasurysaidhewasanewpowerinthecountry，andwouldbeabletobuyupthewholeHouseofCommons。BishopsaidhewasgladtothinkthatthiswealthflowedintothecoffersofagentlemanwhowasalwaysdisposedtomaintainthebestinterestsofSociety。
MrMerdlehimselfwasusuallylateontheseoccasions，asamanstilldetainedintheclutchofgiantenterpriseswhenothermenhadshakenofftheirdwarfsfortheday。Onthisoccasion，hewasthelastarrival。TreasurysaidMerdle’sworkpunishedhimalittle。Bishopsaidhewasgladtothinkthatthiswealthflowedintothecoffersofagentlemanwhoaccepteditwithmeekness。
Powder!TherewassomuchPowderinwaiting，thatitflavouredthedinner。Pulverousparticlesgotintothedishes，andSociety’smeatshadaseasoningoffirst-ratefootmen。MrMerdletookdownacountesswhowassecludedsomewhereinthecoreofanimmensedress，towhichshewasintheproportionofthehearttotheovergrowncabbage。Ifsolowasimilemaybeadmitted，thedresswentdownthestaircaselikearichlybrocadedJackintheGreen，andnobodyknewwhatsortofsmallpersoncarriedit。
Societyhadeverythingitcouldwant，andcouldnotwant，fordinner。Ithadeverythingtolookat，andeverythingtoeat，andeverythingtodrink。Itistobehopeditenjoyeditself；forMrMerdle’sownshareoftherepastmighthavebeenpaidforwitheighteenpence。MrsMerdlewasmagnificent。Thechiefbutlerwasthenextmagnificentinstitutionoftheday。Hewasthestateliestmaninthecompany。Hedidnothing，buthelookedonasfewothermencouldhavedone。HewasMrMerdle’slastgifttoSociety。MrMerdledidn’twanthim，andwasputoutofcountenancewhenthegreatcreaturelookedathim；butinappeasableSocietywouldhavehim——andhadgothim。
TheinvisiblecountesscarriedouttheGreenattheusualstageoftheentertainment，andthefileofbeautywasclosedupbythebosom。Treasurysaid，Juno。Bishopsaid，Judith。
BarfellintodiscussionwithHorseGuardsconcerningcourts-
martial。BrothersBellowsandBenchstruckin。Othermagnatespairedoff。MrMerdlesatsilent，andlookedatthetable-cloth。
Sometimesamagnateaddressedhim，toturnthestreamofhisownparticulardiscussiontowardshim；butMrMerdleseldomgavemuchattentiontoit，ordidmorethanrousehimselffromhiscalculationsandpassthewine。
Whentheyrose，somanyofthemagnateshadsomethingtosaytoMrMerdleindividuallythatheheldlittleleveesbythesideboard，andcheckedthemoffastheywentoutatthedoor。
TreasuryhopedhemightventuretocongratulateoneofEngland’sworld-famedcapitalistsandmerchant-princeshehadturnedthatoriginalsentimentinthehouseafewtimes，anditcameeasytohimonanewachievement。Toextendthetriumphsofsuchmenwastoextendthetriumphsandresourcesofthenation；andTreasuryfelt——hegaveMrMerdletounderstand——patrioticonthesubject。
’Thankyou，mylord，’saidMrMerdle；’thankyou。Iacceptyourcongratulationswithpride，andIamgladyouapprove。’
’Why，Idon’tunreservedlyapprove，mydearMrMerdle。Because，’
smilingTreasuryturnedhimbythearmtowardsthesideboardandspokebanteringly，’itnevercanbeworthyourwhiletocomeamongusandhelpus。’
MrMerdlefelthonouredbythe——
’No，no，’saidTreasury，’thatisnotthelightinwhichonesodistinguishedforpracticalknowledgeandgreatforesight，canbeexpectedtoregardit。Ifweshouldeverbehappilyenabled，byaccidentallypossessingthecontrolovercircumstances，toproposetoonesoeminentto——tocomeamongus，andgiveustheweightofhisinfluence，knowledge，andcharacter，wecouldonlyproposeittohimasaduty。Infact，asadutythatheowedtoSociety。’
MrMerdleintimatedthatSocietywastheappleofhiseye，andthatitsclaimswereparamounttoeveryotherconsideration。Treasurymovedon，andBarcameup。
Bar，withhislittleinsinuatingjurydroop，andfingeringhispersuasivedoubleeye-glass，hopedhemightbeexcusedifhementionedtooneofthegreatestconvertersoftherootofallevilintotherootofallgood，whohadforalongtimereflectedashininglustreontheannalsevenofourcommercialcountry——ifhementioned，disinterestedly，andas，whatwelawyerscalledinourpedanticway，amicuscuriae，afactthathadcomebyaccidentwithinhisknowledge。Hehadbeenrequiredtolookoverthetitleofaveryconsiderableestateinoneoftheeasterncounties——
lying，infact，forMrMerdleknewwelawyerslovedtobeparticular，onthebordersoftwooftheeasterncounties。Now，thetitlewasperfectlysound，andtheestatewastobepurchasedbyonewhohadthecommandof——Moneyjurydroopandpersuasiveeye-glass，onremarkablyadvantageousterms。ThishadcometoBar’sknowledgeonlythatday，andithadoccurredtohim，’IshallhavethehonourofdiningwithmyesteemedfriendMrMerdlethisevening，and，strictlybetweenourselves，Iwillmentiontheopportunity。’Suchapurchasewouldinvolvenotonlyagreatlegitimatepoliticalinfluence，butsomehalf-dozenchurchpresentationsofconsiderableannualvalue。Now，thatMrMerdlewasalreadyatnolosstodiscovermeansofoccupyingevenhiscapital，andoffullyemployingevenhisactiveandvigorousintellect，Barwellknew：buthewouldventuretosuggestthatthequestionaroseinhismind，whetheronewhohaddeservedlygainedsohighapositionandsoEuropeanareputationdidnotoweit——wewouldnotsaytohimself，butwewouldsaytoSociety，topossesshimselfofsuchinfluencesasthese；andtoexercisethem——wewouldnotsayforhisown，orforhisparty’s，butwewouldsayforSociety’s——benefit。
MrMerdleagainexpressedhimselfaswhollydevotedtothatobjectofhisconstantconsideration，andBartookhispersuasiveeye-
glassupthegrandstaircase。Bishopthencameundesignedlysidlinginthedirectionofthesideboard。