was not there； as he looked on at other dinners when the bosom was
there； and his eye was a basilisk to Mr Merdle。 He was a hard man； and
would never bate an ounce of plate or a bottle of wine。 He would not
allow a dinner to be given； unless it was up to his mark。 He set forth
the table for his own dignity。 If the guests chose to partake of what
was served； he saw no objection； but it was served for the maintenance
of his rank。 As he stood by the sideboard he seemed to announce； 'I have
accepted office to look at this which is now before me； and to look at
nothing less than this。' If he missed the presiding bosom； it was as a
part of his own state of which he was； from unavoidable circumstances；
temporarily deprived； just as he might have missed a centre…piece； or a
choice wine…cooler； which had been sent to the Banker's。
Mr Merdle issued invitations for a Barnacle dinner。 Lord Decimus was to
be there； Mr Tite Barnacle was to be there； the pleasant young Barnacle
was to be there； and the Chorus of Parliamentary Barnacles who went
about the provinces when the House was up； warbling the praises of their
Chief； were to be represented there。 It was understood to be a great
occasion。 Mr Merdle was going to take up the Barnacles。 Some delicate
little negotiations had occurred between him and the noble Decimus……the
young Barnacle of engaging manners acting as negotiator……and Mr Merdle
had decided to cast the weight of his great probity and great riches
into the Barnacle scale。 Jobbery was suspected by the malicious； perhaps
because it was indisputable that if the adherence of the immortal Enemy
of Mankind could have been secured by a job； the Barnacles would have
jobbed him……for the good of the country； for the good of the country。
Mrs Merdle had written to this magnificent spouse of hers； whom it was
heresy to regard as anything less than all the British Merchants since
the days of Whittington rolled into one； and gilded three feet deep all
over……had written to this spouse of hers； several letters from Rome； in
quick succession； urging upon him with importunity that now or never was
the time to provide for Edmund Sparkler。 Mrs Merdle had shown him that
the case of Edmund was urgent； and that infinite advantages might result
from his having some good thing directly。 In the grammar of Mrs
Merdle's verbs on this momentous subject； there was only one mood； the
Imperative； and that Mood had only one Tense； the Present。 Mrs Merdle's
verbs were so pressingly presented to Mr Merdle to conjugate； that his
sluggish blood and his long coat…cuffs became quite agitated。
In which state of agitation； Mr Merdle； evasively rolling his eyes
round the Chief Butler's shoes without raising them to the index of that
stupendous creature's thoughts； had signified to him his intention of
giving a special dinner： not a very large dinner； but a very special
dinner。 The Chief Butler had signified； in return； that he had no
objection to look on at the most expensive thing in that way that could
be done； and the day of the dinner was now e。
Mr Merdle stood in one of his drawing…rooms； with his back to the fire；
waiting for the arrival of his important guests。 He seldom or never took
the liberty of standing with his back to the fire unless he was quite
alone。 In the presence of the Chief Butler； he could not have done such
a deed。 He would have clasped himself by the wrists in that constabulary
manner of his； and have paced up and down the hearthrug； or gone
creeping about among the rich objects of furniture； if his oppressive
retainer had appeared in the room at that very moment。 The sly shadows
which seemed to dart out of hiding when the fire rose； and to dart back
into it when the fire fell； were sufficient witnesses of his making
himself so easy。
They were even more than sufficient； if his unfortable glances at
them might be taken to mean anything。
Mr Merdle's right hand was filled with the evening paper； and the
evening paper was full of Mr Merdle。 His wonderful enterprise； his
wonderful wealth； his wonderful Bank； were the fattening food of the
evening paper that night。 The wonderful Bank； of which he was the chief
projector； establisher； and manager； was the latest of the many Merdle
wonders。 So modest was Mr Merdle withal； in the midst of these splendid
achievements； that he looked far more like a man in possession of his
house under a distraint； than a mercial Colossus bestriding his own
hearthrug； while the little ships were sailing into dinner。
Behold the vessels ing into port！ The engaging young Barnacle was the
first arrival； but Bar overtook him on the staircase。 Bar； strengthened
as usual with his double eye…glass and his little jury droop； was
overjoyed to see the engaging young Barnacle； and opined that we were
going to sit in Banco； as we lawyers called it； to take a special
argument？
'Indeed；' said the sprightly young Barnacle； whose name was Ferdinand；
'how so？'
'Nay；' smiled Bar。 'If you don't know； how can I know？ You are in the
innermost sanctuary of the temple； I am one of the admiring concourse on
the plain without。'
Bar could be light in hand； or heavy in hand； according to the customer
he had to deal with。 With Ferdinand Barnacle he was gossamer。 Bar was
likewise always modest and self…depreciatory……in his way。 Bar was a man
of great variety； but one leading thread ran through the woof of all his
patterns。 Every man with whom he had to do was in his eyes a jury…man；
and he must get that jury…man over； if he could。
'Our illustrious host and friend；' said Bar； 'our shining mercantile
star；……going into politics？'
'Going？ He has been in Parliament some time； you know；' returned the
engaging young Barnacle。
'True；' said Bar； with his light…edy laugh for special jury…men；
which was a very different thing from his low…edy laugh for ic
tradesmen on mon juries： 'he has been in Parliament for some time。
Yet hitherto our star has been a vacillating and wavering star？ Humph？'
An average witness would have been seduced by the Humph？ into an
affirmative answer； But Ferdinand Barnacle looked knowingly at Bar as he
strolled up…stairs； and gave him no answer at all。
'Just so； just so；' said Bar； nodding his head； for he was not to be put
off in that way； 'and therefore I spoke of our sitting in Banco to take
a special argument……meaning this to be a high and solemn occasion； when；
as Captain Macheath says； 〃the judges are met： a terrible show！〃 We
lawyers are sufficiently liberal； you see； to quote the Captain； though
the Captain is severe upon us。 Nevertheless； I think I could put in
evidence an admission of the Captain's；' said Bar； with a little jocose
roll of his head； for； in his legal current of speech； he always assumed
the air of rallying himself with the best grace in the world； 'an
admission of the Captain's that Law； in the gross； is at least
intended to be impartial。 For what says the Captain； if I quote
him correctly……and if not；' with a light…edy touch of his double
eye…glass on his panion's shoulder； 'my learned friend will set me
right：
〃Since laws were made for every degree；
To curb vice in