Andthere，withhisnoblefriendandrelativeLordDecimus，wasWilliamBarnacle，whohadmadetheever-famouscoalitionwithTudorStiltstalking，andwhoalwayskeptreadyhisownparticularrecipeforHownottodoit；sometimestappingtheSpeaker，anddrawingitfreshoutofhim，witha’First，Iwillbegyou，sir，toinformtheHousewhatPrecedentwehaveforthecourseintowhichthehonourablegentlemanwouldprecipitateus；’sometimesaskingthehonourablegentlemantofavourhimwithhisownversionofthePrecedent；sometimestellingthehonourablegentlemanthatheWilliamBarnaclewouldsearchforaPrecedent；andoftentimescrushingthehonourablegentlemanflatonthespotbytellinghimtherewasnoPrecedent。ButPrecedentandPrecipitatewere，underallcircumstances，thewell-matchedpairofbattle-horsesofthisableCircumlocutionist。Nomatterthattheunhappyhonourablegentlemanhadbeentryinginvain，fortwenty-fiveyears，toprecipitateWilliamBarnacleintothis——WilliamBarnaclestillputittotheHouse，andatsecond-handorsotothecountry，whetherhewastobeprecipitatedintothis。NomatterthatitwasutterlyirreconcilablewiththenatureofthingsandcourseofeventsthatthewretchedhonourablegentlemancouldpossiblyproduceaPrecedentforthis——WilliamBarnaclewouldneverthelessthankthehonourablegentlemanforthatironicalcheer，andwouldclosewithhimuponthatissue，andwouldtellhimtohisteeththatthereWasNOPrecedentforthis。ItmightperhapshavebeenobjectedthattheWilliamBarnaclewisdomwasnothighwisdomortheearthitbamboozledwouldneverhavebeenmade，or，ifmadeinarashmistake，wouldhaveremainedblankmud。ButPrecedentandPrecipitatetogetherfrightenedallobjectionoutofmostpeople。
　　Andthere，too，wasanotherBarnacle，alivelyone，whohadleapedthroughtwentyplacesinquicksuccession，andwasalwaysintwoorthreeatonce，andwhowasthemuch-respectedinventorofanartwhichhepractisedwithgreatsuccessandadmirationinallBarnacleGovernments。Thiswas，whenhewasaskedaParliamentaryquestiononanyonetopic，toreturnanansweronanyother。Ithaddoneimmenseservice，andbroughthimintohighesteemwiththeCircumlocutionOffice。
　　Andthere，too，wasasprinklingoflessdistinguishedParliamentaryBarnacles，whohadnotasyetgotanythingsnug，andweregoingthroughtheirprobationtoprovetheirworthiness。
　　TheseBarnaclespercheduponstaircasesandhidinpassages，waitingtheirorderstomakehousesornottomakehouses；andtheydidalltheirhearing，andohing，andcheering，andbarking，underdirectionsfromtheheadsofthefamily；andtheyputdummymotionsonthepaperinthewayofothermen’smotions；andtheystalleddisagreeablesubjectsoffuntillateinthenightandlateinthesession，andthenwithvirtuouspatriotismcriedoutthatitwastoolate；andtheywentdownintothecountry，whenevertheyweresent，andsworethatLordDecimushadrevivedtradefromaswoon，andcommercefromafit，andhaddoubledtheharvestofcorn，quadrupledtheharvestofhay，andpreventednoendofgoldfromflyingoutoftheBank。AlsotheseBarnaclesweredealt，bytheheadsofthefamily，likesomanycardsbelowthecourt-cards，topublicmeetingsanddinners；wheretheyboretestimonytoallsortsofservicesonthepartoftheirnobleandhonourablerelatives，andbutteredtheBarnaclesonallsortsoftoasts。Andtheystood，undersimilarorders，atallsortsofelections；andtheyturnedoutoftheirownseats，ontheshortestnoticeandthemostunreasonableterms，toletinothermen；andtheyfetchedandcarried，andtoadiedandjobbed，andcorrupted，andateheapsofdirt，andwereindefatigableinthepublicservice。Andtherewasnotalist，inalltheCircumlocutionOffice，ofplacesthatmightfallvacantanywherewithinhalfacentury，fromalordoftheTreasurytoaChineseconsul，andupagaintoagovernor-generalofIndia，butasapplicantsforsuchplaces，thenamesofsomeorofeveryoneofthesehungryandadhesiveBarnaclesweredown。
　　ItwasnecessarilybutasprinklingofanyclassofBarnaclesthatattendedthemarriage，fortherewerenottwoscoreinall，andwhatisthatsubtractedfromLegion!ButthesprinklingwasaswarmintheTwickenhamcottage，andfilledit。ABarnacleassistedbyaBarnaclemarriedthehappypair，anditbehovedLordDecimusTiteBarnaclehimselftoconductMrsMeaglestobreakfast。
　　Theentertainmentwasnotasagreeableandnaturalasitmighthavebeen。MrMeagles，hovedownbyhisgoodcompanywhilehehighlyappreciatedit，wasnothimself。MrsGowanwasherself，andthatdidnotimprovehim。ThefictionthatitwasnotMrMeagleswhohadstoodintheway，butthatitwastheFamilygreatness，andthattheFamilygreatnesshadmadeaconcession，andtherewasnowasoothingunanimity，pervadedtheaffair，thoughitwasneveropenlyexpressed。ThentheBarnaclesfeltthattheyfortheirpartswouldhavedonewiththeMeagleseswhenthepresentpatronisingoccasionwasover；andtheMeaglesesfeltthesamefortheirparts。ThenGowanassertinghisrightsasadisappointedmanwhohadhisgrudgeagainstthefamily，andwho，perhaps，hadallowedhismothertohavethemthere，asmuchinthehopeitmightgivethemsomeannoyanceaswithanyotherbenevolentobject，airedhispencilandhispovertyostentatiouslybeforethem，andtoldthemhehopedintimetosettleacrustofbreadandcheeseonhiswife，andthathebeggedsuchofthemasmorefortunatethanhimselfcameinforanygoodthing，andcouldbuyapicture，topleasetorememberthepoorpainter。ThenLordDecimus，whowasawonderonhisownParliamentarypedestal，turnedouttobethewindiestcreaturehere：proposinghappinesstothebrideandbridegroominaseriesofplatitudesthatwouldhavemadethehairofanysincerediscipleandbelieverstandonend；andtrotting，withthecomplacencyofanidioticelephant，amonghowlinglabyrinthsofsentenceswhichheseemedtotakeforhighroads，andneversomuchaswantedtogetoutof。ThenMrTiteBarnaclecouldnotbutfeelthattherewasapersonincompany，whowouldhavedisturbedhislife-longsittingtoSirThomasLawrenceinfullofficialcharacter，ifsuchdisturbancehadbeenpossible：whileBarnaclejuniordid，withindignation，communicatetotwovapidgentlemen，hisrelatives，thattherewasafellerhere，lookhere，whohadcometoourDepartmentwithoutanappointmentandsaidhewantedtoknow，youknow；andthat，lookhere，ifhewastobreakoutnow，ashemightyouknowforyounevercouldtellwhatanungentlemanlyRadicalofthatsortwouldbeuptonext，andwastosay，lookhere，thathewantedtoknowthismoment，youknow，thatwouldbejolly；wouldn’tit？
　　Thepleasantestpartoftheoccasionbyfar，toClennam，wasthepainfullest。WhenMrandMrsMeaglesatlasthungaboutPetintheroomwiththetwopictureswherethecompanywerenot，beforegoingwithhertothethresholdwhichshecouldneverrecrosstobetheoldPetandtheolddelight，nothingcouldbemorenaturalandsimplethanthethreewere。Gowanhimselfwastouched，andansweredMrMeagles’s’OGowan，takecareofher，takecareofher!’withanearnest’Don’tbesobroken-hearted，sir。ByHeavenIwill!’
　　Andso，withthelastsobsandlastlovingwords，andalastlooktoClennamofconfidenceinhispromise，Petfellbackinthecarriage，andherhusbandwavedhishand，andtheywereawayforDover；thoughnotuntilthefaithfulMrsTickit，inhersilkgownandjetblackcurls，hadrushedoutfromsomehiding-place，andthrownbothhershoesafterthecarriage：anapparitionwhichoccasionedgreatsurprisetothedistinguishedcompanyatthewindows。
　　Thesaidcompanybeingnowrelievedfromfurtherattendance，andthechiefBarnaclesbeingratherhurriedfortheyhaditinhandjustthentosendamailortwowhichwasindangerofgoingstraighttoitsdestination，beatingabouttheseasliketheFlyingDutchman，andtoarrangewithcomplexityforthestoppageofagooddealofimportantbusinessotherwiseinperilofbeingdone，wenttheirseveralways；withallaffabilityconveyingtoMrandMrsMeaglesthatgeneralassurancethatwhattheyhadbeendoingthere，theyhadbeendoingatasacrificeforMrandMrsMeagles’sgood，whichtheyalwaysconveyedtoMrJohnBullintheirofficialcondescensiontothatmostunfortunatecreature。
　　AmiserableblankremainedinthehouseandintheheartsofthefatherandmotherandClennam。MrMeaglescalledonlyoneremembrancetohisaid，thatreallydidhimgood。
　　’It’sverygratifying，Arthur，’hesaid，’afterall，tolookbackupon。’
　　’Thepast？’saidClennam。
　　’Yes——butImeanthecompany。’
　　Ithadmadehimmuchmorelowandunhappyatthetime，butnowitreallydidhimgood。’It’sverygratifying，’hesaid，oftenrepeatingtheremarkinthecourseoftheevening。’Suchhighcompany!’
　　WhatwasbehindMrPancksonLittleDorrit’sHandItwasatthistimethatMrPancks，indischargeofhiscompactwithClennam，revealedtohimthewholeofhisgipsystory，andtoldhimLittleDorrit’sfortune。Herfatherwasheir-at-lawtoagreatestatethathadlonglainunknownof，unclaimed，andaccumulating。Hisrightwasnowclear，nothinginterposedinhisway，theMarshalseagatesstoodopen，theMarshalseawallsweredown，afewflourishesofhispen，andhewasextremelyrich。
　　Inhistrackingoutoftheclaimtoitscompleteestablishment，MrPanckshadshownasagacitythatnothingcouldbaffle，andapatienceandsecrecythatnothingcouldtire。’Ilittlethought，sir，’saidPancks，’whenyouandIcrossedSmithfieldthatnight，andItoldyouwhatsortofaCollectorIwas，thatthiswouldcomeofit。Ilittlethought，sir，whenItoldyouyouwerenotoftheClennamsofCornwall，thatIwasevergoingtotellyouwhowereoftheDorritsofDorsetshire。’Hethenwentontodetail。How，havingthatnamerecordedinhisnote-book，hewasfirstattractedbythenamealone。How，havingoftenfoundtwoexactlysimilarnames，evenbelongingtothesameplace，toinvolvenotraceableconsanguinity，nearordistant，hedidnotatfirstgivemuchheedtothis，exceptinthewayofspeculationastowhatasurprisingchangewouldbemadeintheconditionofalittleseamstress，ifshecouldbeshowntohaveanyinterestinsolargeaproperty。
　　Howherathersupposedhimselftohavepursuedtheideaintoitsnextdegree，becausetherewassomethinguncommoninthequietlittleseamstress，whichpleasedhimandprovokedhiscuriosity。
　　Howhehadfelthiswayinchbyinch，and’Moleditout，sir’thatwasMrPancks’sexpression，grainbygrain。How，inthebeginningofthelabourdescribedbythisnewverb，andtorenderwhichthemoreexpressiveMrPancksshuthiseyesinpronouncingitandshookhishairoverthem，hehadalternatedfromsuddenlightsandhopestosuddendarknessandnohopes，andbackagain，andbackagain。
　　HowhehadmadeacquaintancesinthePrison，expresslythathemightcomeandgothereasallothercomersandgoersdid；andhowhisfirstrayoflightwasunconsciouslygivenhimbyMrDorrithimselfandbyhisson；tobothofwhomheeasilybecameknown；
　　withbothofwhomhetalkedmuch，casually’butalwaysMoleingyou’llobserve，’saidMrPancks：andfromwhomhederived，withoutbeingatallsuspected，twoorthreelittlepointsoffamilyhistorywhich，ashebegantoholdcluesofhisown，suggestedothers。HowithadatlengthbecomeplaintoMrPancksthathehadmadearealdiscoveryoftheheir-at-lawtoagreatfortune，andthathisdiscoveryhadbuttoberipenedtolegalfulnessandperfection。Howhehad，thereupon，swornhislandlord，MrRugg，tosecrecyinasolemnmanner，andtakenhimintoMoleingpartnership。
　　HowtheyhademployedJohnChiveryastheirsoleclerkandagent，seeingtowhomhewasdevoted。Andhow，untilthepresenthour，whenauthoritiesmightyintheBankandlearnedinthelawdeclaredtheirsuccessfullaboursended，theyhadconfidedinnootherhumanbeing。
　　’Soifthewholethinghadbrokendown，sir，’concludedPancks，’attheverylast，saythedaybeforetheotherdaywhenIshowedyouourpapersinthePrisonyard，orsaythatveryday，nobodybutourselveswouldhavebeencruellydisappointed，orapennytheworse。’
　　Clennam，whohadbeenalmostincessantlyshakinghandswithhimthroughoutthenarrative，wasremindedbythistosay，inanamazementwhicheventhepreparationhehadhadforthemaindisclosuresmootheddown，’MydearMrPancks，thismusthavecostyouagreatsumofmoney。’
　　’Prettywell，sir，’saidthetriumphantPancks。’Notrifle，thoughwediditascheapasitcouldbedone。Andtheoutlaywasadifficulty，letmetellyou。’
　　’Adifficulty!’repeatedClennam。’Butthedifficultiesyouhavesowonderfullyconqueredinthewholebusiness!’shakinghishandagain。
　　’I’lltellyouhowIdidit，’saidthedelightedPancks，puttinghishairintoaconditionaselevatedashimself。’First，IspentallIhadofmyown。Thatwasn’tmuch。’
　　’Iamsorryforit，’saidClennam：’notthatitmattersnow，though。Then，whatdidyoudo？’
　　’Then，’answeredPancks，’Iborrowedasumofmyproprietor。’
　　’OfMrCasby？’saidClennam。’He’safineoldfellow。’
　　’Nobleoldboy；an’the？’saidMrPancks，enteringonaseriesofthedryestsnorts。’Generousoldbuck。Confidingoldboy。
　　Philanthropicoldbuck。Benevolentoldboy!Twentypercent。I
　　engagedtopayhim，sir。Butweneverdobusinessforlessatourshop。’
　　Arthurfeltanawkwardconsciousnessofhaving，inhisexultantcondition，beenalittlepremature。
　　’Isaidtothatboiling-overoldChristian，’MrPanckspursued，appearinggreatlytorelishthisdescriptiveepithet，’thatIhadgotalittleprojectonhand；ahopefulone；Itoldhimahopefulone；whichwantedacertainsmallcapital。Iproposedtohimtolendmethemoneyonmynote。Whichhedid，attwenty；stickingthetwentyoninabusiness-likeway，andputtingitintothenote，tolooklikeapartoftheprincipal。IfIhadbrokendownafterthat，Ishouldhavebeenhisgrubberforthenextsevenyearsathalfwagesanddoublegrind。Buthe’saperfectPatriarch；anditwoulddoamangoodtoservehimonsuchterms——onanyterms。’