Крошка Доррит

Chapter 10. Containing the whole Science of Government

           Whathashebeenguiltyof?Murder,manslaughter,arson,forgery,swindling,house-breaking,highwayrobbery,larceny,conspiracy,fraud?Whichshouldyousay,now?’

           ‘Ishouldsay,’returnedArthurClennam,observingafaintsmileinDanielDoyce’sface,‘notoneofthem.’

           ‘Youareright,’saidMrMeagles.‘Buthehasbeeningenious,andhehasbeentryingtoturnhisingenuitytohiscountry’sservice.Thatmakeshimapublicoffenderdirectly,sir.’

           Arthurlookedatthemanhimself,whoonlyshookhishead.

           ‘ThisDoyce,’saidMrMeagles,‘isasmithandengineer.Heisnotinalargeway,butheiswellknownasaveryingeniousman.Adozenyearsago,heperfectsaninvention(involvingaverycurioussecretprocess)ofgreatimportancetohiscountryandhisfellow-creatures.Iwon’tsayhowmuchmoneyitcosthim,orhowmanyyearsofhislifehehadbeenaboutit,buthebroughtittoperfectionadozenyearsago.Wasn’titadozen?’saidMrMeagles,addressingDoyce.‘Heisthemostexasperatingmanintheworld;henevercomplains!’

           ‘Yes.Ratherbetterthantwelveyearsago.’

           ‘Ratherbetter?’saidMrMeagles,‘youmeanratherworse.Well,MrClennam,headdresseshimselftotheGovernment.ThemomentheaddresseshimselftotheGovernment,hebecomesapublicoffender!Sir,’saidMrMeagles,indangerofmakinghimselfexcessivelyhotagain,‘heceasestobeaninnocentcitizen,andbecomesaculprit.Heistreatedfromthatinstantasamanwhohasdonesomeinfernalaction.

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