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Bench is almost insignificant； and if the general feeling is strong that
you ought to be there； why……really……'
'I thought you had settled； Mr Rugg；' said Arthur； 'that my
determination to remain here was a matter of taste。'
'Well； sir； well！ But is it good taste； is it good taste？ That's the
Question。' Mr Rugg was so soothingly persuasive as to be quite pathetic。
'I was almost going to say； is it good feeling？ This is an extensive
affair of yours； and your remaining here where a man can e for a
pound or two； is remarked upon as not in keeping。 It is not in keeping。
I can't tell you； sir； in hoentioned。 I
heard ments made upon it last night in a Parlour frequented by what
I should call； if I did not look in there now and then myself； the best
legal pany……I heard； there； ments on it that I was sorry to hear。
They hurt me on your account。 Again； only this morning at breakfast。 My
daughter （but a woman； you'll say： yet still with a feeling for these
things； and even with some little personal experience； as the plaintiff
in Rugg and Bawkins） was expressing her great surprise； her great
surprise。
Now under these circumstances； and considering that none of us can quite
set ourselves above public opinion； wouldn't a trifling concession to
that opinion be……e； sir；' said Rugg； 'I will put it on the lowest
ground of argument； and say； amiable？'
Arthur's thoughts had once more wandered away to Little Dorrit； and the
question remained unanswered。
'As to myself； sir；' said Mr Rugg； hoping that his eloquence had reduced
him to a state of indecision； 'it is a principle of mine not to consider
myself when a client's inclinations are in the scale。 But； knowing your
considerate character and general wish to oblige； I will repeat that I
should prefer your being in the Bench。
Your case has made a noise； it is a creditable case to be professionally
concerned in； I should feel on a better standing with my connection； if
you went to the Bench。 Don't let that influence you； sir。 I merely state
the fact。'
So errant had the prisoner's attention already grown in solitude and
dejection； and so accustomed had it bee to mune with only one
silent figure within the ever…frowning walls； that Clennam had to shake
off a kind of stupor before he could look at Mr Rugg； recall the thread
of his talk； and hurriedly say； 'I am unchanged； and unchangeable； in my
decision。 Pray； let it be； let it be！' Mr Rugg； without concealing that
he was tled and mortified； replied：
'Oh！ Beyond a doubt； sir。 I have travelled out of the record； sir； I am
aware； in putting the point to you。 But really； when I herd it remarked
in several panies； and in very good pany； that however worthy of a
foreigner； it is not worthy of the spirit of an Englishman to remain in
the Marshalsea when the glorious liberties of his island home admit
of his removal to the Bench； I thought I would depart from the narrow
professional line marked out to me； and mention it。 Personally；' said Mr
Rugg； 'I have no opinion on the topic。'
'That's well；' returned Arthur。
'Oh！ None at all； sir！' said Mr Rugg。 'If I had； I should have been
unwilling； some minutes ago； to see a client of mine visited in this
place by a gentleman of a high family riding a saddle…horse。 But it was
not my business。 If I had； I might have wished to be now empowered to
mention to another gentleman； a gentleman of military exterior at
present waiting in the Lodge； that my client had never intended to
remain here； and was on the eve of removal to a superior abode。 But my
course as a professional machine is clear； I have nothing to do with it。
Is it your good pleasure to see the gentleman； sir？'
'Who is waiting to see me； did you say？'
'I did take that unprofessional liberty； sir。 Hearing that I was your
professional adviser； he declined to interpose before my very limited
function was performed。 Happily；' said Mr Rugg； with sarcasm； 'I did not
so far travel out of the record as to ask the gentleman for his name。'
'I suppose I have no resource but to see him；' sighed Clennam； wearily。
'Then it IS your good pleasure； sir？' retorted Rugg。 'Am I honoured by
your instructions to mention as much to the gentleman； as I pass out？ I
am？ Thank you； sir。 I take my leave。' His leave he took accordingly； in
dudgeon。
The gentleman of military exterior had so imperfectly awakened Clennam's
curiosity； in the existing state of his mind； that a half…forgetfulness
of such a visitor's having been referred to； was already creeping over
it as a part of the sombre veil which almost always dimmed it now； when
a heavy footstep on the stairs aroused him。 It appeared to ascend them；
not very promptly or spontaneously； yet with a display of stride and
clatter meant to be insulting。 As it paused for a moment on the
landing outside his door； he could not recall his association with the
peculiarity of its sound； though he thought he had one。 Only a moment
was given him for consideration。 His door was immediately swung open
by a thump； and in the doorway stood the missing Blandois； the cause of
many anxieties。
'Salve； fellow jail…bird！' said he。 'You want me； it seems。 Here I am！'
Before Arthur could speak to him in his indignant wonder； Cavalletto
followed him into the room。 Mr Pancks followed Cavalletto。 Neither of
the two had been there since its present occupant had had possession of
it。 Mr Pancks； breathing hard； sidled near the window； put his hat on
the ground； stirred his hair up with both hands； and folded his arms；
like a man who had e to a pause in a hard day's work。 Mr Baptist；
never taking his eyes from his dreaded chum of old； softly sat down on
the floor with his back against the door and one of his ankles in
each hand： resuming the attitude （except that it was now expressive of
unwinking watchfulness） in which he had sat before the same man in the
deeper shade of another prison； one hot morning at Marseilles。 'I have
it on the witnessing of these two madmen；' said Monsieur Blandois；
otherwise Lagnier； otherwise Rigaud； 'that you want me； brother…bird。
Here I am！' Glancing round contemptuously at the bedstead； which was
turned up by