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By this time Mr Henry Gowan had made up his mind that it would be
agreeable to him not to know the Meagleses。 He was so considerate as to
lay no injunctions on his wife in that particular； but he mentioned
to Mr Meagles that personally they did not appear to him to get on
together； and that he thought it would be a good thing if……politely； and
without any scene； or anything of that sort……they agreed that they were
the best fellows in the world； but were best apart。 Poor Mr Meagles； who
was already sensible that he did not advance his daughter's happiness by
being constantly slighted in her presence； said 'Good； Henry！ You are
my Pet's husband； you have displaced me； in the course of nature； if
you wish it； good！' This arrangement involved the contingent advantage；
which perhaps Henry Gowan had not foreseen； that both Mr and Mrs
Meagles were more liberal than before to their daughter； when their
munication was only with her and her young child： and that his high
spirit found itself better provided with money； without being under the
degrading necessity of knowing whence it came。
Mr Meagles； at such a period； naturally seized an occupation with great
ardour。 He knew from his daughter the various towns which Rigaud had
been haunting； and the various hotels at which he had been living for
some time back。 The occupation he set himself was to visit these with
all discretion and speed； and； in the event of finding anywhere that he
had left a bill unpaid； and a box or parcel behind； to pay such bill；
and bring away such box or parcel。
With no other attendant than Mother； Mr Meagles went upon his
pilgrimage； and encountered a number of adventures。 Not the least of his
difficulties was； that he never knew what was said to him； and that he
pursued his inquiries among people who never knew what he said to them。
Still； with an unshaken confidence that the English tongue was somehow
the mother tongue of the whole world； only the people were too stupid
to know it； Mr Meagles harangued innkeepers in the most voluble manner；
entered into loud explanations of the most plicated sort； and utterly
renounced replies in the native language of the respondents； on the
ground that they were 'all bosh。' Sometimes interpreters were called
in； whom Mr Meagles addressed in such idiomatic terms of speech； as
instantly to extinguish and shut up……which made the matter worse。 On a
balance of the account； however； it may be doubted whether he lost much；
for； although he found no property； he found so many debts and various
associations of discredit with the proper name； which was the only word
he made intelligible； that he was almost everywhere overwhelmed with
injurious accusations。 On no fewer than four occasions the police
were called in to receive denunciations of Mr Meagles as a Knight of
Industry； a good…for…nothing； and a thief； all of which opprobrious
language he bore with the best temper （having no idea what it meant）；
and was in the most ignominious manner escorted to steam…boats and
public carriages； to be got rid of； talking all the while； like a
cheerful and fluent Briton as he was； with Mother under his arm。
But； in his own tongue； and in his own head； Mr Meagles was a clear；
shrewd； persevering man。 When he had 'worked round；' as he called it； to
Paris in his pilgrimage； and had wholly failed in it so far； he was not
disheartened。 'The nearer to England I follow him； you see； Mother；'
argued Mr Meagles； 'the nearer I am likely to e to the papers；
whether they turn up or no。 Because it is only reasonable to conclude
that he would deposit them somewhere where they would be safe from
people over in England； and where they would yet be accessible to
himself； don't you see？'
At Paris Mr Meagles found a letter from Little Dorrit； lying waiting for
him； in which she mentioned that she had been able to talk for a minute
or two with Mr Clennam about this man who was no more； and that when she
told Mr Clennam that his friend Mr Meagles； who was on his way to see
him； had an interest in ascertaining something about the man if he
could； he had asked her to tell Mr Meagles that he had been known
to Miss Wade； then living in such a street at Calais。 'Oho！' said Mr
Meagles。
As soon afterwards as might be in those Diligence days； Mr Meagles
rang the cracked bell at the cracked gate； and it jarred open； and the
peasant…woman stood in the dark doorway； saying； 'Ice…say！ Seer！ Who？'
In acknowledgment of whose address； Mr Meagles murmured to himself that
there was some sense about these Calais people； who really did know
something of what you and themselves were up to； and returned； 'Miss
Wade； my dear。' He was then shown into the presence of Miss Wade。
'It's some time since we met；' said Mr Meagles； clearing his throat； 'I
hope you have been pretty well； Miss Wade？'
Without hoping that he or anybody else had been pretty well； Miss Wade
asked him to what she was indebted for the honour of seeing him again？
Mr Meagles； in the meanwhile； glanced all round the room without
observing anything in the shape of a box。
'Why； the truth is； Miss Wade；' said Mr Meagles； in a fortable；
managing； not to say coaxing voice； 'it is possible that you may be able
to throw a light upon a little something that is at present dark。 Any
unpleasant bygones between us are bygones； I hope。 Can't be helped now。
You recollect my daughter？ Time changes so！ A mother！'
In his innocence； Mr Meagles could not have struck a worse key…note。 He
paused for any expression of interest； but paused in vain。
'That is not the subject you wished to enter on？' she said； after a cold
silence。
'No； no；' returned Mr Meagles。 'No。 I thought your good nature might……'
'I thought you knew；' she interrupted； with a smile； 'that my good
nature is not to be calculated upon？'
'Don't say so；' said Mr Meagles； 'you do yourself an injustice。 However；
to e to the point。' For he was sensible of having gained nothing
by approaching it in a roundabout way。 'I have heard from my friend
Clennam； who； you will be sorry to hear； has been and still is very
ill……'
He paused again； and again she was silent。
'……that you had some knowledge of one Blandois； lately killed in London
by a violent accident。 Now； don't mistake me！ I know it was a slight
knowledge；' said Mr Meagles； dexterously forestalling an angry
interruption which he saw about to break。 'I am fully aware of that。 It
was a slight knowledge； I knoeagles's voice
here became fortable again； 'did he； on his way to England last time；
leave a box of papers； or a bundle of papers； or some papers or other in
some receptacle or other……any papers……with you： begging you to allow him
to leave them here for a short time； until he wanted them？'
'The question is？' she repeated。 'Whose question is？'
'Mine；' said Mr Meagles。 'And not only mine but Clennam's question； and
other people's question。 Now； I am sure；' continued Mr Meagles； whose
heart was overflowing with Pet； 'that you can't have any unkind feeling
towards my daughter； it's impossible。 Well！ It's her question； too；
being one in which a particular friend of hers is nearly interested。
So here I am； frankly to say that is the question； and to ask； Now； did
he？'
'Upon my word；' she returned； 'I seem to be a mark for everybody who
knew anything of a man I once in my life hired； and paid； and dismissed；
to aim their questions at！'
'Now； don't；' remonstrated Mr Meagles； 'don't！ Don't take offence；
because it's the plainest question in the world； and might be asked
of any one。 The documents I refer to were not his own； were wrongfully
obtained； might at some time or other be troublesome to an innocent
person to have in keeping； and are sought by the people to whom they
really belong。 He passed through Calais going to London； and there were
reasons why he should not take them with him then； why he should wish
to be able to put his hand upon them readily； and why he should distrust
leaving them with people of his own sort。 Did he leave them here？ I
declare if I knew how to avoid giving you offence； I would take any
pains to do it。 I put the question personally； but there's nothing
personal in it。 I might put it to any one； I have put it already to many
people。 Did he leave them here？ Did he leave anything here？'
'No。'
'Then unfortunately； Miss Wade； you know nothing about them？'
'I know nothing about them。 I have now answered your unaccountable
question。 He did not leave them here； and I know nothing about them。'
'There！' said Mr Meagles rising。 'I am sorry for it； that's over； and I
hope there is not much harm done。……Tattycoram well； Miss Wade？'
'Harriet well？ O yes！'
'I have put my foot in it again；' said Mr Meagles； thus corrected。 'I
can't keep my foot out of it here； it seems。 Perhaps； if I had thought
twice about it； I might never have given her the jingling name。 But；
when one means to be good…natured and sportive with young people； one
doesn't think twice。 Her old friend leaves a kind word for her； Miss
Wade； if you should think proper to deliver it。'
She said nothing as to that； and Mr Meagles； taking his honest face out
of the dull room； where it s