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Mr Dorrit was enraptured by these attentions. Do you stay long, sir? I have not at present the intention, said Mr Dorrit, of ha exceeding a fortnight. Thats a very short stay, after so long a journey, returned Mr Merdle. Hum. Yes, said Mr Dorrit. But the truth ishamy dear Mr Merdle, that I find a foreign life so well suited to my health and taste, that Ihumhave but two objects in my present visit to London. First, thehathe distinguished happiness andha privilege which I now enjoy and appreciate; secondly, the arrangementhumthe laying out, that is to say, in the best way, ofha, hummy money. Well, sir, said Mr Merdle, after turning his tongue again, if I can be of any use to you in that respect, you may command me. Mr Dorrits speech had had more hesitation in it than usual, as he approached the ticklish topic, for he was not perfectly clear how so exalted a potentate might take it. He had doubts whether reference to any individual capital, or fortune, might not seem a wretchedly retail affair to so wholesale a dealer. Greatly relieved by Mr Merdles affable offer of assistance, he caught at it directly, and heaped acknowledgments upon him. I scarcelyhadared, said Mr Dorrit, I assure you, to hope for sohumvast an advantage as your direct advice and assistance. Though of course I should, under any circumstances, like theha, humrest of the civilised world, have followed in Mr Merdles train. You know we may almost say we are related, sir, said Mr Merdle, curiously interested in the pattern of the carpet, and, therefore, you may consider me at your service. Ha. Very handsome, indeed! cried Mr Dorrit. Ha. Most handsome! it would not, said Mr Merdle, be at the present moment easy for what I may call a mere outsider to come into any of the good thingsof course I speak of my own good things Of course, of course! cried Mr Dorrit, in a tone implying that there were no other good things. Unless at a high price. At what we are accustomed to term a very long figure. Mr Dorrit laughed in the buoyancy of his spirit. Ha, ha, ha! Long figure. Good. Ha. Very expressive to be sure! However, said Mr Merdle, I do generally retain in my own hands the power of exercising some preferencepeople in general would be pleased to call it favouras a sort of compliment for my care and trouble. And public spirit and genius, Mr Dorrit suggested. Mr Merdle, with a dry, swallowing action, seemed to dispose of those qualities like a bolus; then added, As a sort of return for it. I will see, if you please, how I can exert this limited power (for people are jealous, and it is limited), to your advantage. You are very good, replied Mr Dorrit. You are very good. Of course, said Mr Merdle, there must be the strictest integrity and uprightness in these transactions; there must be the purest faith between man and man; there must be unimpeached and unimpeachable confidence; or business could not be carried on. Mr Dorrit hailed these generous sentiments with fervour. |
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