Крихітка Дорріт

Chapter 28. An Appearance in the Marshalsea

           

           ‘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.

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