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loss how to receive it。
'You can if you like。 I can give you plenty of forms to fill up。 Lots of
'em here。 You can have a dozen if you like。 But you'll never go on with
it；' said number four。
'Would it be such hopeless work？ Excuse me； I am a stranger in England。'
'I don't say it would be hopeless；' returned number four； with a frank
smile。 'I don't express an opinion about that； I only express an opinion
about you。 I don't think you'd go on with it。 However； of course； you
can do as you like。 I suppose there was a failure in the performance of
a contract； or something of that kind； was there？'
'I really don't know。'
'Well！ That you can find out。 Then you'll find out what Department the
contract was in； and then you'll find out all about it there。'
'I beg your pardon。 How shall I find out？'
'Why； you'll……you'll ask till they tell you。 Then you'll memorialise
that Department （according to regular forms which you'll find out） for
leave to memorialise this Department。 If you get it （which you may after
a time）； that memorial must be entered in that Department； sent to
be registered in this Department； sent back to be signed by that
Department； sent back to be countersigned by this Department； and then
it will begin to be regularly before that Department。 You'll find out
when the business passes through each of these stages by asking at both
Departments till they tell you。'
'But surely this is not the way to do the business；' Arthur Clennam
could not help saying。
This airy young Barnacle was quite entertained by his simplicity in
supposing for a moment that it was。 This light in hand young Barnacle
knew perfectly that it was not。 This touch and go young Barnacle had
'got up' the Department in a private secretaryship； that he might
be ready for any little bit of fat that came to hand； and he fully
understood the Department to be a politico…diplomatic hocus pocus piece
of machinery for the assistance of the nobs in keeping off the
snobs。 This dashing young Barnacle； in a word； was likely to bee a
statesman； and to make a figure。
'When the business is regularly before that Department； whatever it is；'
pursued this bright young Barnacle； 'then you can watch it from time
to time through that Department。 When it es regularly before this
Department； then you must watch it from time to time through this
Department。 We shall have to refer it right and left； and when we refer
it anywhere； then you'll have to look it up。 When it es back to us
at any time； then you had better look US up。 When it sticks anywhere；
you'll have to try to give it a jog。 When you write to another
Department about it； and then to this Department about it； and don't
hear anything satisfactory about it； why then you had better……keep on
writing。'
Arthur Clennam looked very doubtful indeed。 'But I am obliged to you at
any rate；' said he； 'for your politeness。'
'Not at all；' replied this engaging young Barnacle。 'Try the thing； and
see how you like it。 It will be in your power to give it up at any time；
if you don't like it。 You had better take a lot of forms away with you。
Give him a lot of forms！' With which instruction to number two； this
sparkling young Barnacle took a fresh handful of papers from numbers one
and three； and carried them into the sanctuary to offer to the presiding
Idol of the Circumlocution Office。
Arthur Clennam put his forms in his pocket gloomily enough； and went
his way down the long stone passage and the long stone staircase。 He had
e to the swing doors leading into the street； and was waiting； not
over patiently； for two people who were between him and them to pass out
and let him follow； when the voice of one of them struck familiarly on
his ear。 He looked at the speaker and recognised Mr Meagles。 Mr Meagles
was very red in the face……redder than travel could have made him……and
collaring a short man who was with him； said； 'e out； you rascal；
e Out！'
It was such an unexpected hearing； and it was also such an unexpected
sight to see Mr Meagles burst the swing doors open； and emerge into the
street with the short man； who was of an unoffending appearance； that
Clennam stood still for the moment exchanging looks of surprise with the
porter。 He folloeagles going down
the street with his enemy at his side。 He soon came up with his old
travelling panion； and touched him on the back。 The choleric face
which Mr Meagles turned upon him smoothed when he saw who it was； and he
put out his friendly hand。
'How are you？' said Mr Meagles。 'How d'ye do？ I have only just e over
from abroad。 I am glad to see you。'
'And I am rejoiced to see you。'
'Thank'ee。 Thank'ee！'
'Mrs Meagles and your daughter……？'
'Are as well as possible；' said Mr Meagles。 'I only wish you had e
upon me in a more prepossessing condition as to coolness。'
Though it was anything but a hot day； Mr Meagles was in a heated state
that attracted the attention of the passersby； more particularly as
he leaned his back against a railing； took off his hat and cravat； and
heartily rubbed his steaming head and face； and his reddened ears and
neck； without the least regard for public opinion。
'Whew！' said Mr Meagles； dressing again。 'That's fortable。 Now I am
cooler。'
'You have been ruffled； Mr Meagles。 What is the matter？'
'Wait a bit； and I'll tell you。 Have you leisure for a turn in the
Park？'
'As much as you please。'
'e along then。 Ah！ you may well look at him。' He happened to have
turned his eyes towards the offender whom Mr Meagles had so angrily
collared。 'He's something to look at； that fellow is。'
He was not much to look at； either in point of size or in point of
dress； being merely a short； square； practical looking man； whose hair
had turned grey； and in whose face and forehead there were deep lines of
cogitation； which looked as though they were carved in hard wood。 He
was dressed in decent black； a little rusty； and had the appearance of
a sagacious master in some handicraft。 He had a spectacle…case in his
hand； which he turned over and over while he was thus in question；
with a certain free use of the thumb that is never seen but in a hand
accustomed to tools。
'You keep with us；' said Mr Meagles； in a threatening kind of Way； 'and
I'll introduce you presently。 Now then！'
Clennam wondered within himself； as they took the nearest way to the
Park； what this unknown （who plied in the gentlest manner） could have
been doing。 His appearance did not at all justify the suspicion that he
had been detected in designs on Mr Meagles's pocket…handkerchief； nor
had he any appearance of being quarrelsome or violent。 He was a quiet；
plain； steady man； made no attempt to escape； and seemed a little
depressed； but neither ashamed nor repentant。 If he were a criminal
offender； he must surely be an incorrigible hypocrite； and if he were no
offender； why should Mr Meagles have collared him in the Circumlocution
Office？ He perceived that the man was not a difficulty in his own
mind alone； but in Mr Meagles's too； for such conversation as they had
together on the short way to the Park was by no means well sustained；
and Mr Meagles's eye always wandered back to the man； even when he spoke
of something very different。
At length they being among the trees； Mr Meagles stopped short； and
said：
'Mr Clennam； will you do me the favour to look at this man？ His name
is Doyce； Daniel Doyce。 You wouldn't suppose this man to be a notorious
rascal； would you？'
'I certainly should not。' It was really a disconcerting question； with
the man there。
'No。 You would not。 I know you would not。 You wouldn't suppose him to be
a public offender； would you？'
'No。'
'No。 But he is。 He is a public offender。 What has he been guilty of？
Murder； manslaughter； arson； forgery； swindling； house…breaking； highway
robbery； larceny； conspiracy； fraud？ Which should you say； now？'
'I should say；' returned Arthur Clennam； observing a faint smile in
Daniel Doyce's face； 'not one of them。'
'You are right；' said Mr Meagles。 'But he has been ingenious； and he has
been trying to turn his ingenuity to his country's service。 That makes
him a public offender directly； sir。'
Arthur looked at the man himself； who only shook his head。
'This Doyce；' said Mr Meagles； 'is a smith and engineer。 He is not in a
large way； but he is well known as a very ingenious man。 A dozen years
ago； he perfects an invention （involving a very curious secret process）
of great importance to his country and his fellow…creatures。 I won't say
how much money it cost him； or how many years of his life he had been
about it； but he brought it to perfection a dozen years ago。 Wasn't it a
dozen？' said Mr Meagles； addressing Doyce。 'He is the most exasperating
man in the world； he never plains！'
'Yes。 Rather better than twelve years ago。'
'Rather better？' said Mr Meagles； 'you mean rather worse。 Well； Mr
Clennam； he addresses himself to the Government。 The moment he addresses
himself to the Government； he bees a public offender！ Sir；' said Mr
Meagles； in danger of making himself excessively hot again； 'he ceases
to be an innocent citizen； and bees a culprit。
He is treated from that i