for，lethimthinkwhathewould，theChiefButlerhadhiminhissuperciliouseye，evenwhenthateyewasontheplateandothertable-garniture；andheneverlethimoutofit。Tohinttohimthatthisconfinementinhiseyewasdisagreeable，ortoaskhimwhathemeant，wasanacttoodaringtoventureupon；hisseveritywithhisemployersandtheirvisitorsbeingterrific，andheneverpermittinghimselftobeapproachedwiththeslightestliberty。
　　MissingThetermofMrDorrit’svisitwaswithintwodaysofbeingout，andhewasabouttodressforanotherinspectionbytheChiefButlerwhosevictimswerealwaysdressedexpresslyforhim，whenoneoftheservantsofthehotelpresentedhimselfbearingacard。MrDorrit，takingit，read：
　　’MrsFinching。’
　　Theservantwaitedinspeechlessdeference。
　　’Man，man，’saidMrDorrit，turninguponhimwithgrievousindignation，’explainyourmotiveinbringingmethisridiculousname。Iamwhollyunacquaintedwithit。Finching，sir？’saidMrDorrit，perhapsavenginghimselfontheChiefButlerbySubstitute。
　　’ha!WhatdoyoumeanbyFinching？’
　　Theman，man，seemedtomeanFlinchingasmuchasanythingelse，forhebackedawayfromMrDorrit’ssevereregard，ashereplied，’Alady，sir。’
　　’Iknownosuchlady，sir，’saidMrDorrit。’Takethiscardaway。
　　IknownoFinchingofeithersex。’
　　’Askyourpardon，sir。Theladysaidshewasawareshemightbeunknownbyname。Butshebeggedmetosay，sir，thatshehadformerlythehonourofbeingacquaintedwithMissDorrit。Theladysaid，sir，theyoungestMissDorrit。’
　　MrDorritknittedhisbrowsandrejoined，afteramomentortwo，’InformMrsFinching，sir，’emphasisingthenameasiftheinnocentmanweresolelyresponsibleforit，’thatshecancomeup。’
　　Hehadreflected，inhismomentarypause，thatunlessshewereadmittedshemightleavesomemessage，ormightsaysomethingbelow，havingadisgracefulreferencetothatformerstateofexistence。Hencetheconcession，andhencetheappearanceofFlora，pilotedinbytheman，man。
　　’Ihavenotthepleasure，’saidMrDorrit，standingwiththecardinhishand，andwithanairwhichimportedthatitwouldscarcelyhavebeenafirst-classpleasureifhehadhadit，’ofknowingeitherthisname，oryourself，madam。Placeachair，sir。’Theresponsibleman，withastart，obeyed，andwentoutontiptoe。
　　Flora，puttingasideherveilwithabashfultremoruponher，proceededtointroduceherself。Atthesametimeasingularcombinationofperfumeswasdiffusedthroughtheroom，asifsomebrandyhadbeenputbymistakeinalavender-waterbottle，orasifsomelavender-waterhadbeenputbymistakeinabrandy-bottle。
　　’IbegMrDorrittoofferathousandapologiesandindeedtheywouldbefartoofewforsuchanintrusionwhichIknowmustappearextremelyboldinaladyandalonetoo，butIthoughtitbestuponthewholehoweverdifficultandevenapparentlyimproperthoughMrF。’sAuntwouldhavewillinglyaccompaniedmeandasacharacterofgreatforceandspiritwouldprobablyhavestruckonepossessedofsuchaknowledgeoflifeasnodoubtwithsomanychangesmusthavebeenacquired，forMrF。himselfsaidfrequentlythatalthoughwelleducatedintheneighbourhoodofBlackheathatashighaseightyguineaswhichisagooddealforparentsandtheplatekeptbacktooongoingawaybutthatismoreameannessthanitsvaluethathehadlearntmoreinhisfirstyearsasacommercialtravellerwithalargecommissiononthesaleofanarticlethatnobodywouldhearofmuchlessbuywhichprecededthewinetradealongtimethaninthewholesixyearsinthatacademyconductedbyacollegeBachelor，thoughwhyaBachelormorecleverthanamarriedmanIdonotseeandneverdidbutprayexcusemethatisnotthepoint。’
　　MrDorritstoodrootedtothecarpet，astatueofmystification。
　　’ImustopenlyadmitthatIhavenopretensions，’saidFlora，’buthavingknownthedearlittlethingwhichunderalteredcircumstancesappearsalibertybutisnotsointendedandGoodnessknowstherewasnofavourinhalf-a-crowna-daytosuchaneedleasherselfbutquitetheotherwayandastoanythingloweringinitfarfromitthelabourerisworthyofhishireandIamsureIonlywishhegotitoftenerandmoreanimalfoodandlessrheumatisminthebackandlegspoorsoul。’
　　’Madam，’saidMrDorrit，recoveringhisbreathbyagreateffort，astherelictofthelateMrFinchingstoppedtotakehers；
　　’madam，’saidMrDorrit，veryredintheface，’ifIunderstandyoutoreferto——ha——toanythingintheantecedentsof——hum——adaughterofmine，involving——hahum——dailycompensation，madam，Ibegtoobservethatthe——ha——fact，assumingit——ha——tobefact，neverwaswithinmyknowledge。Hum。Ishouldnothavepermittedit。Ha。
　　Never!Never!’
　　’Unnecessarytopursuethesubject，’returnedFlora，’andwouldnothavementioneditonanyaccountexceptassupposingitafavourableandonlyletterofintroductionbutastobeingfactnodoubtwhateverandyoumaysetyourmindatrestfortheverydressIhaveonnowcanproveitandsweetlymadethoughthereisnodenyingthatitwouldtellbetteronabetterfigureformyownismuchtoofatthoughhowtobringitdownIknownot，prayexcusemeIamrovingoffagain。’
　　MrDorritbackedtohischairinastonyway，andseatedhimself，asFloragavehimasofteninglookandplayedwithherparasol。
　　’Thedearlittlething，’saidFlora，’havinggoneoffperfectlylimpandwhiteandcoldinmyownhouseoratleastpapa’sforthoughnotafreeholdstillalongleaseatapeppercornonthemorningwhenArthur——foolishhabitofouryouthfuldaysandMrClennamfarmoreadaptedtoexistingcircumstancesparticularlyaddressingastrangerandthatstrangeragentlemaninanelevatedstation——communicatedthegladtidingsimpartedbyapersonofnameofPancksemboldensme。’
　　Atthementionofthesetwonames，MrDorritfrowned，stared，frownedagain，hesitatedwithhisfingersathislips，ashehadhesitatedlongago，andsaid，’Domethefavourto——ha——stateyourpleasure，madam。’
　　’MrDorrit，’saidFlora，’youareverykindingivingmepermissionandhighlynaturalitseemstomethatyoushouldbekindforthoughmorestatelyIperceivealikenessfilledoutofcoursebutalikenessstill，theobjectofmyintrudingismyownwithouttheslightestconsultationwithanyhumanbeingandmostdecidedlynotwithArthur——prayexcusemeDoyceandClennamIdon’tknowwhatI
　　amsayingMrClennamsolus——fortoputthatindividuallinkedbyagoldenchaintoapurpletimewhenallwasetherealoutofanyanxietywouldbeworthtometheransomofamonarchnotthatI
　　havetheleastideahowmuchthatwouldcometobutusingitasthetotalofallIhaveintheworldandmore。’
　　MrDorrit，withoutgreatlyregardingtheearnestnessoftheselatterwords，repeated，’Stateyourpleasure，madam。’
　　’It’snotlikelyIwellknow，’saidFlora，’butit’spossibleandbeingpossiblewhenIhadthegratificationofreadinginthepapersthatyouhadarrivedfromItalyandweregoingbackImadeupmymindtotryitforyoumightcomeacrosshimorhearsomethingofhimandifsowhatablessingandrelieftoall!’
　　’Allowmetoask，madam，’saidMrDorrit，withhisideasinwildconfusion，’towhom——ha——Towhom，’herepeateditwitharaisedvoiceinmeredesperation，’youatpresentallude？’
　　’TotheforeignerfromItalywhodisappearedintheCityasnodoubtyouhavereadinthepapersequallywithmyself，’saidFlora，’notreferringtoprivatesourcesbythenameofPancksfromwhichonegatherswhatdreadfullyill-naturedthingssomepeoplearewickedenoughtowhispermostlikelyjudgingothersbythemselvesandwhattheuneasinessandindignationofArthur——quiteunabletoovercomeitDoyceandClennam——cannotfailtobe。’
　　Ithappened，fortunatelyfortheelucidationofanyintelligibleresult，thatMrDorrithadheardorreadnothingaboutthematter。
　　ThiscausedMrsFinching，withmanyapologiesforbeingingreatpracticaldifficultiesastofindingthewaytoherpocketamongthestripesofherdressatlengthtoproduceapolicehandbill，settingforththataforeigngentlemanofthenameofBlandois，lastfromVenice，hadunaccountablydisappearedonsuchanightinsuchapartofthecityofLondon；thathewasknowntohaveenteredsuchahouse，atsuchanhour；thathewasstatedbytheinmatesofthathousetohaveleftit，aboutsomanyminutesbeforemidnight；andthathehadneverbeenbeheldsince。This，withexactparticularsoftimeandlocality，andwithagooddetaileddescriptionoftheforeigngentlemanwhohadsomysteriouslyvanished，MrDorritreadatlarge。
　　’Blandois!’saidMrDorrit。’Venice!Andthisdescription!I
　　knowthisgentleman。Hehasbeeninmyhouse。Heisintimatelyacquaintedwithagentlemanofgoodfamilybutinindifferentcircumstances，ofwhomIama——hum——patron。’
　　’Thenmyhumbleandpressingentreatyisthemore，’saidFlora，’thatintravellingbackyouwillhavethekindnesstolookforthisforeigngentlemanalongalltheroadsandupanddownalltheturningsandtomakeinquiriesforhimatallthehotelsandorange-treesandvineyardsandvolcanoesandplacesforhemustbesomewhereandwhydoesn’thecomeforwardandsayhe’sthereandclearallpartiesup？’
　　’Pray，madam，’saidMrDorrit，referringtothehandbillagain，’whoisClennamandCo。？Ha。Iseethenamementionedhere，inconnectionwiththeoccupationofthehousewhichMonsieurBlandoiswasseentoenter：whoisClennamandCo。？IsittheindividualofwhomIhadformerly——hum——some——ha——slighttransitoryknowledge，andtowhomIbelieveyouhavereferred？Isit——ha——thatperson？’
　　’It’saverydifferentpersonindeed，’repliedFlora，’withnolimbsandwheelsinsteadandthegrimmestofwomenthoughhismother。’
　　’ClennamandCo。a——hum——amother!’exclaimedMrDorrit。
　　’Andanoldmanbesides，’saidFlora。
　　MrDorritlookedasifhemustimmediatelybedrivenoutofhismindbythisaccount。NeitherwasitrenderedmorefavourabletosanitybyFlora’sdashingintoarapidanalysisofMrFlintwinch’scravat，anddescribinghim，withoutthelightestboundarylineofseparationbetweenhisidentityandMrsClennam’s，asarustyscrewingaiters。Whichcompoundofmanandwoman，nolimbs，wheels，rustyscrew，grimness，andgaiters，socompletelystupefiedMrDorrit，thathewasaspectacletobepitied。
　　’ButIwouldnotdetainyouonemomentlonger，’saidFlora，uponwhomhisconditionwroughtitseffect，thoughshewasquiteunconsciousofhavingproducedit，’ifyouwouldhavethegoodnesstogiveyourpromiseasagentlemanthatbothingoingbacktoItalyandinItalytooyouwouldlookforthisMrBlandoishighandlowandifyoufoundorheardofhimmakehimcomeforwardfortheclearingofallparties。’
　　BythattimeMrDorrithadsofarrecoveredfromhisbewilderment，astobeabletosay，inatolerablyconnectedmanner，thatheshouldconsiderthathisduty。Florawasdelightedwithhersuccess，androsetotakeherleave。