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acknowledgments； the relict of the late Mr F。 meanwhile protesting； with
a gesture； against his use of that respectable name； 'that she hopes
occasionally to employ the young needlewoman you remended to my
mother。 For which I have been thanking her。'
The Patriarch turning his head in a lumbering way towards Pancks； that
assistant put up the note…book in which he had been absorbed； and took
him in tow。
'You didn't remend her； you know；' said Pancks； 'how could you？ You
knew nothing about her； you didn't。 The name was mentioned to you； and
you passed it on。 That's what YOU did。'
'Well！' said Clennam。 'As she justifies any remendation； it is much
the same thing。'
'You are glad she turns out well；' said Pancks； 'but it wouldn't have
been your fault if she had turned out ill。 The credit's not yours as it
is； and the blame wouldn't have been yours as it might have been。 You
gave no guarantee。 You knew nothing about her。' 'You are not acquainted；
then；' said Arthur； hazarding a random question； 'with any of her
family？'
'Acquainted with any of her family？' returned Pancks。 'How should you be
acquainted with any of her family？ You never heard of 'em。 You can't
be acquainted with people you never heard of； can you？ You should think
not！'
All this time the Patriarch sat serenely smiling； nodding or shaking his
head benevolently； as the case required。
'As to being a reference；' said Pancks； 'you know； in a general way；
what being a reference means。 It's all your eye； that is！ Look at your
tenants down the Yard here。 They'd all be references for one another；
if you'd let 'em。 What would be the good of letting 'em？ It's no
satisfaction to be done by two men instead of one。 One's enough。 A
person who can't pay； gets another person who can't pay； to guarantee
that he can pay。 Like a person with two wooden legs getting another
person with two wooden legs； to guarantee that he has got two natural
legs。 It don't make either of them able to do a walking match。 And four
wooden legs are more troublesome to you than two； when you don't want
any。' Mr Pancks concluded by blowing off that steam of his。
A momentary silence that ensued was broken by Mr F。's Aunt； who had been
sitting upright in a cataleptic state since her last public remark。 She
now underwent a violent twitch； calculated to produce a startling effect
on the nerves of the uninitiated； and with the deadliest animosity
observed：
'You can't make a head and brains out of a brass knob with nothing in
it。 You couldn't do it when your Uncle George was living； much less when
he's dead。'
Mr Pancks was not slow to reply； with his usual calmness； 'Indeed；
ma'am！ Bless my soul！ I'm surprised to hear it。' Despite his presence of
mind； however； the speech of Mr F。's Aunt produced a depressing effect
on the little assembly； firstly； because it was impossible to disguise
that Clennam's unoffending head was the particular temple of reason
depreciated； and secondly； because nobody ever knew on these occasions
whose Uncle George was referred to； or what spectral presence might be
invoked under that appellation。
Therefore Flora said； though still not without a certain boastfulness
and triumph in her legacy； that Mr F。's Aunt was 'very lively to…day；
and she thought they had better go。' But Mr F。's Aunt proved so lively
as to take the suggestion in unexpected dudgeon and declare that she
would not go； adding； with several injurious expressions； that if
'He'……too evidently meaning Clennam……wanted to get rid of her； 'let
him chuck her out of winder；' and urgently expressing her desire to see
'Him' perform that ceremony。
In this dilemma； Mr Pancks； whose resources appeared equal to any
emergency in the Patriarchal waters； slipped on his hat； slipped out at
the counting…house door； and slipped in again a moment afterwards with
an artificial freshness upon him； as if he had been in the country for
some weeks。 'Why； bless my heart； ma'am！' said Mr Pancks； rubbing up his
hair in great astonishment； 'is that you？
How do you do； ma'am？ You are looking charming to…day！ I am delighted
to see you。 Favour me with your arm； ma'am； we'll have a little walk
together； you and me； if you'll honour me with your pany。' And so
escorted Mr F。's Aunt down the private staircase of the counting…house
with great gallantry and success。 The patriarchal Mr Casby then rose
with the air of having done it himself； and blandly followed： leaving
his daughter； as she followed in her turn； to remark to her former lover
in a distracted whisper （which she very much enjoyed）； that they had
drained the cup of life to the dregs； and further to hint mysteriously
that the late Mr F。 was at the bottom of it。
Alone again； Clennam became a prey to his old doubts in reference to his
mother and Little Dorrit； and revolved the old thoughts and suspicions。
They were all in his mind； blending themselves with the duties he was
mechanically discharging； when a shadow on his papers caused him to look
up for the cause。 The cause was Mr Pancks。 With his hat thrown back upon
his ears as if his wiry prongs of hair had darted up like springs and
cast it off； with his jet…black beads of eyes inquisitively sharp； with
the fingers of his right hand in his mouth that he might bite the nails；
and with the fingers of his left hand in reserve in his pocket for
another course； Mr Pancks cast his shadow through the glass upon the
books and papers。
Mr Pancks asked； with a little inquiring twist of his head； if he
might e in again？ Clennam replied with a nod of his head in the
affirmative。 Mr Pancks worked his way in； came alongside the desk； made
himself fast by leaning his arms upon it； and started conversation with
a puff and a snort。
'Mr F。's Aunt is appeased； I hope？' said Clennam。
'All right； sir；' said Pancks。
'I am so unfortunate as to have awakened a strong animosity in the
breast of that lady；' said Clennam。 'Do you know why？'
'Does SHE know why？' said Pancks。
'I suppose not。'
'_I_ suppose not；' said Pancks。
He took out his note…book； opened it； shut it； dropped it into his hat；
which was beside him on the desk； and looked in at it as it lay at the
bottom of the hat： all with a great appearance of consideration。
'Mr Clennam；' he then began； 'I am in want of information； sir。'
'Connected with this firm？' asked Clennam。
'No；' said Pancks。
'With what then； Mr Pancks？ That is to say； assuming that you want it of
me。'
'Yes； sir； yes； I want it of you；' said Pancks； 'if I can persuade you
to furnish it。 A； B； C； D。 DA； DE； DI； DO。 Dictionary order。
Dorrit。 That's the name； sir？'
Mr Pancks blew off his peculiar noise again； and fell to at his
right…hand nails。 Arthur looked searchingly at him； he returned the
look。
'I don't understand you； Mr Pancks。'
'That's the name that I want to know about。'
'And what do you want to know？'
'Whatever you can and will tell me。' This prehensive summary of his
desires was not discharged without some heavy labouring on the part of
Mr Pancks's machinery。
'This is a singular visit； Mr Pancks。 It strikes me as rather
extraordinary that you should e； with such an object； to me。'
'It may be all extraordinary together；' returned Pancks。 'It may be out
of the ordinary course； and yet be business。 In short； it is business。 I
am a man of business。 What business have I in this present world； except
to stick to business？ No business。'
With his former doubt whether this dry hard personage were quite in
earnest； Clennam again turned his eyes attentively upon his face。 It
was as scrubby and dingy as ever； and as eager and quick as ever； and he
could see nothing lurking in it that was at all expressive of a latent
mockery that had seemed to strike upon his ear in the voice。
'Now；' said Pancks； 'to put this business on its own footing； it's not
my proprietor's。'
'Do you refer to Mr Casby as your proprietor？'
Pancks nodded。 'My proprietor。 Put a case。 Say； at my proprietor's I
hear name……name of young person Mr Clennam wants to serve。 Say； name
first mentioned to my proprietor by Plornish in the Yard。 Say； I go to
Plornish。 Say； I ask Plornish as a matter