Крошка Доррит

           ’

           ‘DoyourefertoMrCasbyasyourproprietor?’

           Pancksnodded.‘Myproprietor.Putacase.Say,atmyproprietor’sIhearname—nameofyoungpersonMrClennamwantstoserve.Say,namefirstmentionedtomyproprietorbyPlornishintheYard.Say,IgotoPlornish.Say,IaskPlornishasamatterofbusinessforinformation.Say,Plornish,thoughsixweeksinarreartomyproprietor,declines.Say,MrsPlornishdeclines.Say,bothrefertoMrClennam.Putthecase.’

           ‘Well?’

           ‘Well,sir,’returnedPancks,‘say,Icometohim.Say,hereIam.’

           Withthoseprongsofhairstickingupalloverhishead,andhisbreathcomingandgoingveryhardandshort,thebusyPancksfellbackastep(inTugmetaphor,tookhalfaturnastern)asiftoshowhisdingyhullcomplete,thenforgeda-headagain,anddirectedhisquickglancebyturnsintohishatwherehisnote-bookwas,andintoClennam’sface.

           ‘MrPancks,nottotrespassonyourgroundsofmystery,IwillbeasplainwithyouasIcan.Letmeasktwoquestions.First—’

           ‘Allright!’saidPancks,holdinguphisdirtyforefingerwithhisbrokennail.‘Isee!“What’syourmotive?”’

           ‘Exactly.’

           ‘Motive,’saidPancks,‘good.Nothingtodowithmyproprietor;notstateableatpresent,ridiculoustostateatpresent;butgood.Desiringtoserveyoungperson,nameofDorrit,’saidPancks,withhisforefingerstillupasacaution.‘Betteradmitmotivetobegood.