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'Allow me to observe that I have been for some years in China； am quite
a stranger at home； and have no personal motive or interest in the
inquiry I am about to make。'
Mr Barnacle tapped his fingers on the table； and； as if he were now
sitting for his portrait to a new and strange artist； appeared to say
to his visitor； 'If you will be good enough to take me with my present
lofty expression； I shall feel obliged。'
'I have found a debtor in the Marshalsea Prison of the name of Dorrit；
who has been there many years。 I wish to investigate his confused
affairs so far as to ascertain whether it may not be possible； after
this lapse of time； to ameliorate his unhappy condition。 The name of
Mr Tite Barnacle has been mentioned to me as representing some highly
influential interest among his creditors。 Am I correctly informed？'
It being one of the principles of the Circumlocution Office never； on
any account whatever； to give a straightforward answer； Mr Barnacle
said； 'Possibly。'
'On behalf of the Crown； may I ask； or as private individual？'
'The Circumlocution Department； sir；' Mr Barnacle replied； 'may have
possibly remended……possibly……I cannot say……that some public claim
against the insolvent estate of a firm or copartnership to which this
person may have belonged； should be enforced。 The question may have
been； in the course of official business； referred to the Circumlocution
Department for its consideration。 The Department may have either
originated； or confirmed； a Minute making that remendation。'
'I assume this to be the case； then。'
'The Circumlocution Department；' said Mr Barnacle； 'is not responsible
for any gentleman's assumptions。'
'May I inquire how I can obtain official information as to the real
state of the case？'
'It is petent；' said Mr Barnacle； 'to any member of the……Public；'
mentioning that obscure body with reluctance； as his natural enemy；
'to memorialise the Circumlocution Department。 Such formalities as are
required to be observed in so doing； may be known on application to the
proper branch of that Department。'
'Which is the proper branch？'
'I must refer you；' returned Mr Barnacle； ringing the bell； 'to the
Department itself for a formal answer to that inquiry。'
'Excuse my mentioning……'
'The Department is accessible to the……Public；' Mr Barnacle was always
checked a little by that word of impertinent signification； 'if
the……Public approaches it according to the official forms； if
the……Public does not approach it according to the official forms；
the……Public has itself to blame。'
Mr Barnacle made him a severe bow； as a wounded man of family； a wounded
man of place； and a wounded man of a gentlemanly residence； all rolled
into one； and he made Mr Barnacle a bow； and was shut out into Mews
Street by the flabby footman。
Having got to this pass； he resolved as an exercise in perseverance；
to betake himself again to the Circumlocution Office； and try what
satisfaction he could get there。 So he went back to the Circumlocution
Office； and once more sent up his card to Barnacle junior by a messenger
who took it very ill indeed that he should e back again； and who was
eating mashed potatoes and gravy behind a partition by the hall fire。
He was readmitted to the presence of Barnacle junior； and found that
young gentleman singeing his knees now； and gaping his weary way on
to four o'clock。 'I say。 Look here。 You stick to us in a devil of a
manner；' Said Barnacle junior； looking over his shoulder。
'I want to know……'
'Look here。 Upon my soul you mustn't e into the place saying you
want to know； you know；' remonstrated Barnacle junior； turning about and
putting up the eye…glass。
'I want to know；' said Arthur Clennam； who had made up his mind to
persistence in one short form of words； 'the precise nature of the claim
of the Crown against a prisoner for debt； named Dorrit。'
'I say。 Look here。 You really are going it at a great pace； you know。
Egad； you haven't got an appointment；' said Barnacle junior； as if the
thing were growing serious。
'I want to know；' said Arthur； and repeated his case。
Barnacle junior stared at him until his eye…glass fell out； and then
put it in again and stared at him until it fell out again。 'You have
no right to e this sort of move；' he then observed with the greatest
weakness。 'Look here。 What do you mean？ You told me you didn't know
whether it was public business or not。'
'I have now ascertained that it is public business；' returned the
suitor； 'and I want to know'……and again repeated his monotonous inquiry。
Its effect upon young Barnacle was to make him repeat in a defenceless
way； 'Look here！ Upon my SOUL you mustn't e into the place saying you
want to know； you know！' The effect of that upon Arthur Clennam was
to make him repeat his inquiry in exactly the same words and tone
as before。 The effect of that upon young Barnacle was to make him a
wonderful spectacle of failure and helplessness。
'Well； I tell you what。 Look here。 You had better try the Secretarial
Department；' he said at last； sidling to the bell and ringing it。
'Jenkinson；' to the mashed potatoes messenger； 'Mr Wobbler！'
Arthur Clennam； who now felt that he had devoted himself to the storming
of the Circumlocution Office； and must go through with it； acpanied
the messenger to another floor of the building； where that functionary
pointed out Mr Wobbler's room。 He entered that apartment； and found two
gentlemen sitting face to face at a large and easy desk； one of whom was
polishing a gun…barrel on his pocket…handkerchief； while the other was
spreading marmalade on bread with a paper…knife。
'Mr Wobbler？' inquired the suitor。
Both gentlemen glanced at him； and seemed surprised at his assurance。
'So he went；' said the gentleman with the gun…barrel； who was an
extremely deliberate speaker； 'down to his cousin's place； and took the
Dog with him by rail。 Inestimable Dog。 Flew at the porter fellow when he
was put into the dog…box； and flew at the guard when he was taken out。
He got half…a…dozen fellows into a Barn； and a good supply of Rats； and
timed the Dog。 Finding the Dog able to do it immensely； made the match；
and heavily backed the Dog。 When the match came off； some devil of
a fellow was bought over； Sir； Dog was made drunk； Dog's master was
cleaned out。'
'Mr Wobbler？' inquired the suitor。
The gentleman who was spreading the marmalade returned； without looking
up from that occupation； 'What did he call the Dog？'
'Called him Lovely；' said the other gentleman。 'Said the Dog was the
perfect picture of the old aunt from whom he had expectations。 Found him
particularly like her when hocussed。'
'Mr Wobbler？' said the suitor。
Both gentlemen laughed for some time。 The gentleman with the gun…barrel；
considering it； on inspection； in a satisfactory state； referred it to
the other； receiving confirmation of his views； he fitted it into its
place in the case before him； and took out the stock and polished that；
softly whistling。
'Mr Wobbler？' said the suitor。
'What's the matter？' then said Mr Wobbler； with his mouth full。
'I want to know……' and Arthur Clennam again mechanically set forth what
he wanted to know。
'Can't inform you；' observed Mr Wobbler； apparently to his lunch。 'Never
heard of it。 Nothing at all to do with it。 Better try Mr Clive； second
door on the left in the next passage。'
'Perhaps he will give me the same answer。'
'Very likely。 Don't know anything about it；' said Mr Wobbler。
The suitor turned away and had left the room； when the gentleman with
the gun called out 'Mister！ Hallo！'
He looked in again。
'Shut the door after you。 You're letting in a devil of a draught here！'
A few steps brought him to the second door on the left in the next
passage。 In that room he found three gentlemen； number one doing nothing
particular； number two doing nothing particular； number three doing
nothing particular。 They seemed； however； to be more directly concerned
than the others had been in the effective execution of the great
principle of the office； as there was an awful inner apartment with a
double door； in which the Circumlocution Sages appeared to be assembled
in council； and out of which there was an imposing ing of papers；
and into which there was an imposing going of papers； almost constantly；
wherein another gentleman； number four； was the active instrument。
'I want to know；' said Arthur Clennam；……and again stated his case in the
same barrel…organ way。 As number one referred him to number two； and
as number two referred him to number three； he had occasion to state
it three times before they all referred him to number four； to whom he
stated it again。
Number four was a vivacious； well…looking； well…dressed； agreeable
young fellow……he was a Barnacle； but on the more sprightly side of
the family……and he said in an easy way； 'Oh！ you had better not bother
yourself about it； I think。'
'Not bother myself about it？'
'No！ I remend you not to bother yourself about it。'
This was such a new point of view that Arthur Clennam found himself at a
loss how to receive it。
'You can if you like。 I can give you plenty of for