Крошка Доррит

Chapter 13. The Progress of an Epidemic

           

           ‘Well!’returnedClennam,lookingfirstathimgravelyandthenatthefiregravely.‘Yousurpriseme!’

           ‘Bah!’Pancksretorted.‘Don’tsaythat,sir.It’swhatyououghttodoyourself!Whydon’tyoudoasIdo?’

           OfwhomMrPanckshadtakentheprevalentdisease,hecouldnomorehavetoldthanifhehadunconsciouslytakenafever.Bredatfirst,asmanyphysicaldiseasesare,inthewickednessofmen,andthendisseminatedintheirignorance,theseepidemics,afteraperiod,getcommunicatedtomanysuffererswhoareneitherignorantnorwicked.MrPancksmight,ormightnot,havecaughttheillnesshimselffromasubjectofthisclass;butinthiscategoryheappearedbeforeClennam,andtheinfectionhethrewoffwasallthemorevirulent.

           ‘Andyouhavereallyinvested,’Clennamhadalreadypassedtothatword,‘yourthousandpounds,Pancks?’

           ‘Tobesure,sir!’repliedPancksboldly,withapuffofsmoke.‘Andonlywishitten!’

           Now,Clennamhadtwosubjectslyingheavyonhislonelymindthatnight;theone,hispartner’slong-deferredhope;theother,whathehadseenandheardathismother’s.Inthereliefofhavingthiscompanion,andoffeelingthathecouldtrusthim,hepassedontoboth,andbothbroughthimroundagain,withanincreaseandaccelerationofforce,tohispointofdeparture.

           Itcameaboutinthesimplestmanner.Quittingtheinvestmentsubject,afteranintervalofsilentlookingatthefirethroughthesmokeofhispipe,hetoldPanckshowandwhyhewasoccupiedwiththegreatNationalDepartment.

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