’Isyourplacetheretobeleftalone？’askedClennam。
’Youexactlyhitit，’returnedFerdinand。’Itistherewiththeexpressintentionthateverythingshallbeleftalone。Thatiswhatitmeans。Thatiswhatit’sfor。Nodoubtthere’sacertainformtobekeptupthatit’sforsomethingelse，butit’sonlyaform。Why，goodHeaven，wearenothingbutforms!Thinkwhatalotofourformsyouhavegonethrough。Andyouhavenevergotanynearertoanend？’
’Never，’saidClennam。
’Lookatitfromtherightpointofview，andthereyouhaveus——
officialandeffectual。It’slikealimitedgameofcricket。A
fieldofoutsidersarealwaysgoingintobowlatthePublicService，andweblocktheballs。’
Clennamaskedwhatbecameofthebowlers？TheairyyoungBarnaclerepliedthattheygrewtired，gotdeadbeat，gotlamed，gottheirbacksbroken，diedoff，gaveitup，wentinforothergames。
’Andthisoccasionsmetocongratulatemyselfagain，’hepursued，’onthecircumstancethatourplacehashadnothingtodowithyourtemporaryretirement。Itveryeasilymighthavehadahandinit；
becauseitisundeniablethatwearesometimesamostunluckyplace，inoureffectsuponpeoplewhowillnotleaveusalone。MrClennam，Iamquiteunreservedwithyou。Asbetweenyourselfandmyself，IknowImaybe。Iwasso，whenIfirstsawyoumakingthemistakeofnotleavingusalone；becauseIperceivedthatyouwereinexperiencedandsanguine，andhad——Ihopeyou’llnotobjecttomysaying——somesimplicity。’
’Notatall。’
’Somesimplicity。ThereforeIfeltwhatapityitwas，andIwentoutofmywaytohinttoyouwhichreallywasnotofficial，butI
neveramofficialwhenIcanhelpitsomethingtotheeffectthatifIwereyou，Iwouldn’tbothermyself。However，youdidbotheryourself，andyouhavesincebotheredyourself。Now，don’tdoitanymore。’
’Iamnotlikelytohavetheopportunity，’saidClennam。
’Ohyes，youare!You’llleavehere。Everybodyleaveshere。
Therearenoendsofwaysofleavinghere。Now，don’tcomebacktous。Thatentreatyisthesecondobjectofmycall。Pray，don’tcomebacktous。Uponmyhonour，’saidFerdinandinaveryfriendlyandconfidingway，’Ishallbegreatlyvexedifyoudon’ttakewarningbythepastandkeepawayfromus。’
’Andtheinvention？’saidClennam。
’Mygoodfellow，’returnedFerdinand，’ifyou’llexcusethefreedomofthatformofaddress，nobodywantstoknowoftheinvention，andnobodycarestwopence-halfpennyaboutit。’
’NobodyintheOffice，thatistosay？’
’Noroutofit。Everybodyisreadytodislikeandridiculeanyinvention。Youhavenoideahowmanypeoplewanttobeleftalone。
YouhavenoideahowtheGeniusofthecountryoverlooktheParliamentarynatureofthephrase，anddon’tbeboredbyittendstobeingleftalone。Believeme，MrClennam，’saidthesprightlyyoungBarnacleinhispleasantestmanner，’ourplaceisnotawickedGianttobechargedatfulltilt；butonlyawindmillshowingyou，asitgrindsimmensequantitiesofchaff，whichwaythecountrywindblows。’
’IfIcouldbelievethat，’saidClennam，’itwouldbeadismalprospectforallofus。’
’Oh!Don’tsayso!’returnedFerdinand。’It’sallright。Wemusthavehumbug，wealllikehumbug，wecouldn’tgetonwithouthumbug。
Alittlehumbug，andagroove，andeverythinggoesonadmirably，ifyouleaveitalone。’
WiththishopefulconfessionofhisfaithastheheadoftherisingBarnacleswhowerebornofwoman，tobefollowedunderavarietyofwatchwordswhichtheyutterlyrepudiatedanddisbelieved，Ferdinandrose。Nothingcouldbemoreagreeablethanhisfrankandcourteousbearing，oradaptedwithamoregentlemanlyinstincttothecircumstancesofhisvisit。
’Isitfairtoask，’hesaid，asClennamgavehimhishandwitharealfeelingofthankfulnessforhiscandourandgood-humour，’whetheritistruethatourlatelamentedMerdleisthecauseofthispassinginconvenience？’
’Iamoneofthemanyhehasruined。Yes。’
’Hemusthavebeenanexceedinglycleverfellow，’saidFerdinandBarnacle。
Arthur，notbeinginthemoodtoextolthememoryofthedeceased，wassilent。
’Aconsummaterascal，ofcourse，’saidFerdinand，’butremarkablyclever!Onecannothelpadmiringthefellow。Musthavebeensuchamasterofhumbug。Knewpeoplesowell——gotoverthemsocompletely——didsomuchwiththem!’Inhiseasyway，hewasreallymovedtogenuineadmiration。
’Ihope，’saidArthur，’thatheandhisdupesmaybeawarningtopeoplenottohavesomuchdonewiththemagain。’
’MydearMrClennam，’returnedFerdinand，laughing，’haveyoureallysuchaverdanthope？Thenextmanwhohasaslargeacapacityandasgenuineatasteforswindling，willsucceedaswell。Pardonme，butIthinkyoureallyhavenoideahowthehumanbeeswillswarmtothebeatingofanyoldtinkettle；inthatfactliesthecompletemanualofgoverningthem。Whentheycanbegottobelievethatthekettleismadeofthepreciousmetals，inthatfactliesthewholepowerofmenlikeourlatelamented。Nodoubttherearehereandthere，’saidFerdinandpolitely，’exceptionalcases，wherepeoplehavebeentakeninforwhatappearedtothemtobemuchbetterreasons；andIneednotgofartofindsuchacase；
buttheydon’tinvalidatetherule。Goodday!IhopethatwhenI
havethepleasureofseeingyou，next，thispassingcloudwillhavegivenplacetosunshine。Don’tcomeastepbeyondthedoor。I
knowthewayoutperfectly。Goodday!’
Withthosewords，thebestandbrightestoftheBarnacleswentdown-stairs，hummedhiswaythroughtheLodge，mountedhishorseinthefrontcourt-yard，androdeofftokeepanappointmentwithhisnoblekinsman，whowantedalittlecoachingbeforehecouldtriumphantlyanswercertaininfidelSnobswhoweregoingtoquestiontheNobsabouttheirstatesmanship。
HemusthavepassedMrRuggonhiswayout，for，aminuteortwoafterwards，thatruddy-headedgentlemanshoneinatthedoor，likeanelderlyPhoebus。
’Howdoyoudoto-day，sir？’saidMrRugg。’IsthereanylittlethingIcandoforyouto-day，sir？’
’No，Ithankyou。’
MrRugg’senjoymentofembarrassedaffairswaslikeahousekeeper’senjoymentinpicklingandpreserving，orawasherwoman’senjoymentofaheavywash，oradustman’senjoymentofanoverflowingdust-
bin，oranyotherprofessionalenjoymentofamessinthewayofbusiness。
’Istilllookround，fromtimetotime，sir，’saidMrRugg，cheerfully，’toseewhetheranylingeringDetainersareaccumulatingatthegate。Theyhavefalleninprettythick，sir；
asthickaswecouldhaveexpected。’
Heremarkeduponthecircumstanceasifitwerematterofcongratulation：rubbinghishandsbriskly，androllinghisheadalittle。
’Asthick，’repeatedMrRugg，’aswecouldreasonablyhaveexpected。Quiteashower-bathof’em。Idon’toftenintrudeuponyounow，whenIlookround，becauseIknowyouarenotinclinedforcompany，andthatifyouwishedtoseeme，youwouldleavewordintheLodge。ButIamhereprettywelleveryday，sir。Wouldthisbeanunseasonabletime，sir，’askedMrRugg，coaxingly，’formetoofferanobservation？’
’Asseasonableatimeasanyother。’
’Hum!Publicopinion，sir，’saidMrRugg，’hasbeenbusywithyou。’
’Idon’tdoubtit。’
’Mightitnotbeadvisable，sir，’saidMrRugg，morecoaxinglyyet，’nowtomake，atlastandafterall，atriflingconcessiontopublicopinion？Wealldoitinonewayoranother。Thefactis，wemustdoit。’
’Icannotsetmyselfrightwithit，MrRugg，andhavenobusinesstoexpectthatIevershall。’
’Don’tsaythat，sir，don’tsaythat。ThecostofbeingmovedtotheBenchisalmostinsignificant，andifthegeneralfeelingisstrongthatyououghttobethere，why——really——’
’Ithoughtyouhadsettled，MrRugg，’saidArthur，’thatmydeterminationtoremainherewasamatteroftaste。’
’Well，sir，well!Butisitgoodtaste，isitgoodtaste？That’stheQuestion。’MrRuggwassosoothinglypersuasiveastobequitepathetic。’Iwasalmostgoingtosay，isitgoodfeeling？Thisisanextensiveaffairofyours；andyourremainingherewhereamancancomeforapoundortwo，isremarkeduponasnotinkeeping。
Itisnotinkeeping。Ican’ttellyou，sir，inhowmanyquartersIhearditmentioned。IheardcommentsmadeuponitlastnightinaParlourfrequentedbywhatIshouldcall，ifIdidnotlookintherenowandthenmyself，thebestlegalcompany——Iheard，there，commentsonitthatIwassorrytohear。Theyhurtmeonyouraccount。Again，onlythismorningatbreakfast。Mydaughterbutawoman，you’llsay：yetstillwithafeelingforthesethings，andevenwithsomelittlepersonalexperience，astheplaintiffinRuggandBawkinswasexpressinghergreatsurprise；hergreatsurprise。
Nowunderthesecircumstances，andconsideringthatnoneofuscanquitesetourselvesabovepublicopinion，wouldn’tatriflingconcessiontothatopinionbe——Come，sir，’saidRugg，’Iwillputitonthelowestgroundofargument，andsay，amiable？’
Arthur’sthoughtshadoncemorewanderedawaytoLittleDorrit，andthequestionremainedunanswered。
’Astomyself，sir，’saidMrRugg，hopingthathiseloquencehadreducedhimtoastateofindecision，’itisaprincipleofminenottoconsidermyselfwhenaclient’sinclinationsareinthescale。But，knowingyourconsideratecharacterandgeneralwishtooblige，IwillrepeatthatIshouldpreferyourbeingintheBench。
Yourcasehasmadeanoise；itisacreditablecasetobeprofessionallyconcernedin；Ishouldfeelonabetterstandingwithmyconnection，ifyouwenttotheBench。Don’tletthatinfluenceyou，sir。Imerelystatethefact。’
Soerranthadtheprisoner’sattentionalreadygrowninsolitudeanddejection，andsoaccustomedhaditbecometocommunewithonlyonesilentfigurewithintheever-frowningwalls，thatClennamhadtoshakeoffakindofstuporbeforehecouldlookatMrRugg，recallthethreadofhistalk，andhurriedlysay，’Iamunchanged，andunchangeable，inmydecision。Pray，letitbe；letitbe!’MrRugg，withoutconcealingthathewasnettledandmortified，replied：
’Oh!Beyondadoubt，sir。Ihavetravelledoutoftherecord，sir，Iamaware，inputtingthepointtoyou。Butreally，whenI
herditremarkedinseveralcompanies，andinverygoodcompany，thathoweverworthyofaforeigner，itisnotworthyofthespiritofanEnglishmantoremainintheMarshalseawhenthegloriouslibertiesofhisislandhomeadmitofhisremovaltotheBench，I
thoughtIwoulddepartfromthenarrowprofessionallinemarkedouttome，andmentionit。Personally，’saidMrRugg，’Ihavenoopiniononthetopic。’
’That’swell，’returnedArthur。
’Oh!Noneatall，sir!’saidMrRugg。’IfIhad，Ishouldhavebeenunwilling，someminutesago，toseeaclientofminevisitedinthisplacebyagentlemanofahighfamilyridingasaddle-horse。
Butitwasnotmybusiness。IfIhad，Imighthavewishedtobenowempoweredtomentiontoanothergentleman，agentlemanofmilitaryexterioratpresentwaitingintheLodge，thatmyclienthadneverintendedtoremainhere，andwasontheeveofremovaltoasuperiorabode。Butmycourseasaprofessionalmachineisclear；
Ihavenothingtodowithit。Isityourgoodpleasuretoseethegentleman，sir？’
’Whoiswaitingtoseeme，didyousay？’
’Ididtakethatunprofessionalliberty，sir。HearingthatIwasyourprofessionaladviser，hedeclinedtointerposebeforemyverylimitedfunctionwasperformed。Happily，’saidMrRugg，withsarcasm，’Ididnotsofartraveloutoftherecordastoaskthegentlemanforhisname。’
’IsupposeIhavenoresourcebuttoseehim，’sighedClennam，wearily。
’ThenitISyourgoodpleasure，sir？’retortedRugg。’AmI
honouredbyyourinstructionstomentionasmuchtothegentleman，asIpassout？Iam？Thankyou，sir。Itakemyleave。’Hisleavehetookaccordingly，indudgeon。
ThegentlemanofmilitaryexteriorhadsoimperfectlyawakenedClennam’scuriosity，intheexistingstateofhismind，thatahalf-forgetfulnessofsuchavisitor’shavingbeenreferredto，wasalreadycreepingoveritasapartofthesombreveilwhichalmostalwaysdimmeditnow，whenaheavyfootsteponthestairsarousedhim。Itappearedtoascendthem，notverypromptlyorspontaneously，yetwithadisplayofstrideandclattermeanttobeinsulting。Asitpausedforamomentonthelandingoutsidehisdoor，hecouldnotrecallhisassociationwiththepeculiarityofitssound，thoughhethoughthehadone。Onlyamomentwasgivenhimforconsideration。Hisdoorwasimmediatelyswungopenbyathump，andinthedoorwaystoodthemissingBlandois，thecauseofmanyanxieties。
’Salve，fellowjail-bird!’saidhe。’Youwantme，itseems。HereIam!’
BeforeArthurcouldspeaktohiminhisindignantwonder，Cavallettofollowedhimintotheroom。MrPancksfollowedCavalletto。Neitherofthetwohadbeentheresinceitspresentoccupanthadhadpossessionofit。MrPancks，breathinghard，sidlednearthewindow，puthishatontheground，stirredhishairupwithbothhands，andfoldedhisarms，likeamanwhohadcometoapauseinahardday’swork。MrBaptist，nevertakinghiseyesfromhisdreadedchumofold，softlysatdownonthefloorwithhisbackagainstthedoorandoneofhisanklesineachhand：resumingtheattitudeexceptthatitwasnowexpressiveofunwinkingwatchfulnessinwhichhehadsatbeforethesamemaninthedeepershadeofanotherprison，onehotmorningatMarseilles。
’Ihaveitonthewitnessingofthesetwomadmen，’saidMonsieurBlandois，otherwiseLagnier，otherwiseRigaud，’thatyouwantme，brother-bird。HereIam!’
Glancingroundcontemptuouslyatthebedstead，whichwasturnedupbyday，heleanedhisbackagainstitasaresting-place，withoutremovinghishatfromhishead，andstooddefiantlyloungingwithhishandsinhispockets。
’Youvillainofill-omen!’saidArthur。’Youhavepurposelycastadreadfulsuspicionuponmymother’shouse。Whyhaveyoudoneit？
Whatpromptedyoutothedevilishinvention？’
MonsieurRigaud，afterfrowningathimforamoment，laughed。
’Hearthisnoblegentleman!Listen，alltheworld，tothiscreatureofVirtue!Buttakecare，takecare。Itispossible，myfriend，thatyourardourisalittlecompromising。HolyBlue!Itispossible。’
’Signore!’interposedCavalletto，alsoaddressingArthur：’fortocommence，hearme!Ireceivedyourinstructionstofindhim，Rigaud；isitnot？’
’Itisthetruth。’