'No, no,' said Treasury, 'that is not the light in which one so

distinguished for practical knowledge and great foresight, can be

expected to regard it. If we should ever be happily enabled, by

accidentally possessing the control over circumstances, to propose

to one so eminent to--to come among us, and give us the weight of his

influence, knowledge, and character, we could only propose it to him as

a duty. In fact, as a duty that he owed to Society.'

Mr Merdle intimated that Society was the apple of his eye, and that its

claims were paramount to every other consideration. Treasury moved

on, and Bar came up. Bar, with his little insinuating jury droop, and

fingering his persuasive double eye-glass, hoped he might be excused if

he mentioned to one of the greatest converters of the root of all evil

into the root of all good, who had for a long time reflected a shining

lustre on the annals even of our commercial country--if he mentioned,

disinterestedly, and as, what we lawyers called in our pedantic way,

amicus curiae, a fact that had come by accident within his knowledge. He

had been required to look over the title of a very considerable estate

in one of the eastern counties--lying, in fact, for Mr Merdle knew we

lawyers loved to be particular, on the borders of two of the eastern

counties.

Now, the title was perfectly sound, and the estate was to

be purchased by one who had the command of--Money (jury droop and

persuasive eye-glass), on remarkably advantageous terms. This had come

to Bar's knowledge only that day, and it had occurred to him, 'I

shall have the honour of dining with my esteemed friend Mr Merdle

this evening, and, strictly between ourselves, I will mention the

opportunity.'

Such a purchase would involve not only a great legitimate

political influence, but some half-dozen church presentations of

considerable annual value. Now, that Mr Merdle was already at no loss

to discover means of occupying even his capital, and of fully employing

even his active and vigorous intellect, Bar well knew: but he would

venture to suggest that the question arose in his mind, whether one who

had deservedly gained so high a position and so European a reputation

did not owe it--we would not say to himself, but we would say to

Society, to possess himself of such influences as these; and to exercise

them--we would not say for his own, or for his party's, but we would say

for Society's--benefit. Mr Merdle again expressed himself as wholly devoted to that object of

his constant consideration, and Bar took his persuasive eye-glass up the

grand staircase.




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