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Chapter 13. The Progress of an Epidemic

           WhenthefirstlettercamefromlittleDorrit,nobodywasmoreinterestedinhearingofherthanMrPancks.Thesecondletter,atthatmomentinClennam’sbreast-pocket,particularlyrememberedhimbyname.ThoughhehadneverbeforemadeanyprofessionorprotestationtoClennam,andthoughwhathehadjustsaidwaslittleenoughastothewordsinwhichitwasexpressed,ClennamhadlonghadagrowingbeliefthatMrPancks,inhisownoddway,wasbecomingattachedtohim.AllthesestringsintertwiningmadePancksaverycableofanchoragethatnight.

           ‘Iamquitealone,’Arthurexplainedastheywalkedon.‘Mypartnerisaway,busilyengagedatadistanceonhisbranchofourbusiness,andyoushalldojustasyoulike.’

           ‘Thankyou.Youdidn’ttakeparticularnoticeoflittleAltrojustnow;didyou?’saidPancks.

           ‘No.Why?’

           ‘He’sabrightfellow,andIlikehim,’saidPancks.‘Somethinghasgoneamisswithhimto-day.Haveyouanyideaofanycausethatcanhaveoversethim?’

           ‘Yousurpriseme!Nonewhatever.’

           MrPancksgavehisreasonsfortheinquiry.Arthurwasquiteunpreparedforthem,andquiteunabletosuggestanexplanationofthem.

           ‘Perhapsyou’llaskhim,’saidPancks,‘ashe’sastranger?’

           ‘Askhimwhat?’returnedClennam.

           ‘Whathehasonhismind.’

           ‘Ioughtfirsttoseeformyselfthathehassomethingonhismind,Ithink,’saidClennam.‘Ihavefoundhimineverywaysodiligent,sograteful(forlittleenough),andsotrustworthy,thatitmightlooklikesuspectinghim.Andthatwouldbeveryunjust.’

           ‘True,’saidPancks.

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