Крошка Доррит

Chapter 21. Mr Merdle’s Complaint

           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.

Настройки
Фон страницы
Размер шрифта
Межстрочный интервал
Фразовые глаголы
Показать / Скрыть меню
Шрифт
Roboto Lora
Уведомления
Страница 377 из 1266