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would have their whole future desolated by the hand of this mighty
scoundrel。 Every partaker of his magnificent feasts would be seen to
have been a sharer in the plunder of innumerable homes； every servile
worshipper of riches who had helped to set him on his pedestal； would
have done better to worship the Devil point…blank。 So； the talk； lashed
louder and higher by confirmation on confirmation； and by edition after
edition of the evening papers； swelled into such a roar when night came；
as might have brought one to believe that a solitary watcher on the
gallery above the Dome of St Paul's would have perceived the night air
to be laden with a heavy muttering of the name of Merdle； coupled with
every form of execration。
For by that time it was known that the late Mr Merdle's plaint
had been simply Forgery and Robbery。 He； the uncouth object of such
wide…spread adulation； the sitter at great men's feasts； the roc's egg
of great ladies' assemblies； the subduer of exclusiveness； the leveller
of pride； the patron of patrons； the bargain…driver with a Minister
for Lordships of the Circumlocution Office； the recipient of more
acknowledgment within some ten or fifteen years； at most； than had been
bestowed in England upon all peaceful public benefactors； and upon
all the leaders of all the Arts and Sciences； with all their works to
testify for them； during two centuries at least……he； the shining wonder；
the new constellation to be followed by the wise men bringing gifts；
until it stopped over a certain carrion at the bottom of a bath and
disappeared……was simply the greatest Forger and the greatest Thief that
ever cheated the gallows。
CHAPTER 26。 Reaping the Whirlwind
With a precursory sound of hurried breath and hurried feet； Mr Pancks
rushed into Arthur Clennam's Counting…house。 The Inquest was over； the
letter was public； the Bank was broken； the other model structures of
straw had taken fire and were turned to smoke。 The admired piratical
ship had blown up； in the midst of a vast fleet of ships of all rates；
and boats of all sizes； and on the deep was nothing but ruin； nothing
but burning hulls； bursting magazines； great guns self…exploded tearing
friends and neighbours to pieces； drowning men clinging to unseaworthy
spars and going down every minute； spent swimmers floating dead； and
sharks。
The usual diligence and order of the Counting…house at the Works were
overthrown。 Unopened letters and unsorted papers lay strewn about the
desk。 In the midst of these tokens of prostrated energy and dismissed
hope； the master of the Counting…house stood idle in his usual place；
with his arms crossed on the desk； and his head bowed down upon them。
Mr Pancks rushed in and saw him； and stood still。 In another minute； Mr
Pancks's arms were on the desk； and Mr Pancks's head was bowed down
upon them； and for some time they remained in these attitudes； idle and
silent； with the width of the little room between them。 Mr Pancks was
the first to lift up his head and speak。
'I persuaded you to it； Mr Clennam。 I know it。 Say what you will。
You can't say more to me than I say to myself。 You can't say more than I
deserve。'
'O； Pancks； Pancks！' returned Clennam； 'don't speak of deserving。 What
do I myself deserve！'
'Better luck；' said Pancks。
'I；' pursued Clennam； without attending to him； 'who have ruined my
partner！ Pancks； Pancks； I have ruined Doyce！ The honest； self…helpful；
indefatigable old man who has worked his way all through his life；
the man who has contended against so much disappointment； and who has
brought out of it such a good and hopeful nature； the man I have felt
so much for； and meant to be so true and useful to； I have ruined
him……brought him to shame and disgrace……ruined him； ruined him！'
The agony into which the reflection wrought his mind was so distressing
to see； that Mr Pancks took hold of himself by the hair of his head； and
tore it in desperation at the spectacle。
'Reproach me！' cried Pancks。 'Reproach me； sir； or I'll do myself an
injury。 Say；……You fool； you villain。 Say；……Ass； how could you do it；
Beast； what did you mean by it！ Catch hold of me somewhere。
Say something abusive to me！' All the time； Mr Pancks was tearing at his
tough hair in a most pitiless and cruel manner。
'If you had never yielded to this fatal mania； Pancks；' said Clennam；
more in miseration than retaliation； 'it would have been how much
better for you； and how much better for me！'
'At me again； sir！' cried Pancks； grinding his teeth in remorse。 'At
me again！' 'If you had never gone into those accursed calculations；
and brought out your results with such abominable clearness；' groaned
Clennam； 'it would have been how much better for you； Pancks； and how
much better for me！'
'At me again； sir！' exclaimed Pancks； loosening his hold of his hair；
'at me again； and again！'
Clennam； however； finding him already beginning to be pacified； had said
all he wanted to say； and more。 He wrung his hand； only adding； 'Blind
leaders of the blind； Pancks！ Blind leaders of the blind！ But Doyce；
Doyce； Doyce； my injured partner！' That brought his head down on the
desk once more。
Their former attitudes and their former silence were once more first
encroached upon by Pancks。
'Not been to bed； sir； since it began to get about。 Been high and low；
on the chance of finding some hope of saving any cinders from the fire。
All in vain。 All gone。 All vanished。'
'I know it；' returned Clennam； 'too well。'
Mr Pancks filled up a pause with a groan that came out of the very
depths of his soul。
'Only yesterday； Pancks；' said Arthur； 'only yesterday； Monday； I had
the fixed intention of selling； realising； and making an end of it。'
'I can't say as much for myself； sir；' returned Pancks。 'Though it's
wonderful how many people I've heard of； who were going to realise
yesterday； of all days in the three hundred and sixty…five； if it hadn't
been too late！'
His steam…like breathings； usually droll in their effect； were more
tragic than so many groans： while from head to foot； he was in that
begrimed； besmeared； neglected state； that he might have been an
authentic portrait of Misfortune which could scarcely be discerned
through its want of cleaning。
'Mr Clennam； had you laid out……everything？' He got over the break before
the last word； and also brought out the last word itself with great
difficulty。
'Everything。'
Mr Pancks took hold of his tough hair again； and gave it such a wrench
that he pulled out several prongs of it。 After looking at these with an
eye of wild hatred； he put them in his pocket。
'My course；' said Clennam； brushing away some tears that had been
silently dropping down his face； 'must be taken at once。 What wretched
amends I can make must be made。 I must clear my unfortunate partner's
reputation。 I must retain nothing for myself。 I must resign to our
creditors the power of management I have so much abused； and I must work
out as much of my fault……or crime……as is susceptible of being worked out
in the rest of my days。'
'Is it impossible； sir； to tide over the present？'
'Out of the question。 Nothing can be tided over now； Pancks。 The sooner
the business can pass out of my hands； the better for it。 There are
engagements to be met； this week； which would bring the catastrophe
before many days were over； even if I would postpone it for a single day
by going on for that space； secretly knowing what I know。 All last night
I thought of what I would do； what remains is to do it。'
'Not entirely of yourself？' said Pancks； whose face was as damp as if
his steam were turning into water as fast as he dismally blew it off。
'Have some legal help。'
'Perhaps I had better。'
'Have Rugg。'
'There is not much to do。 He will do it as well as another。'
'Shall I fetch Rugg； Mr Clennam？'
'If you could spare the time； I should be much obliged to you。'
Mr Pancks put on his hat that moment； and steamed away to Pentonville。
While he was gone Arthur never raised his head from the desk； but
remained in that one position。
Mr Pancks brought his friend and professional adviser； Mr Rugg； back
with him。 Mr Rugg had had such ample experience； on the road； of Mr
Pancks's being at that present in an irrational state of mind； that he
opened his professional mediation by requesting that gentleman to take
himself out of the way。 Mr Pancks； crushed and submissive； obeyed。
'He is not unlike what my daughter was； sir； when we began the Breach of
Promise action of Rugg and Bawkins； in which she was Plaintiff；' said
Mr Rugg。 'He takes too strong and direct an interest in the case。 His
feelings are worked upon。 There is no getting on； in our profession；
with feelings worked upon； sir。'
As he pulled off his gloves and put them in his hat； he saw； in a side
glance or two； that a great change had e over his client。
'I am sorry to perceive； sir；' said Mr Rugg； 'that you have been
allowing your own feelings to be worked upon。 Now； pray don't； pray
don't。 These losses are much to be deplored； sir； but we must look 'em
in the face。' 'If the money I have sacrificed had been all my own； Mr
Rugg；' sighed Mr Clennam