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Foreseeing then that the Pancks would shortly get under weigh, and that the Patriarch would go to sleep, he pleaded the necessity of visiting his mother, and asked Mr Pancks in which direction he was going? 'Citywards, sir, said Pancks. 'Shall we walk together? said Arthur. 'Quite agreeable, said Pancks.
'Already done it, sir. Mr Pancks took another long inhalation, another long exhalation, another long sagacious look at Clennam. 'I tell you, Mr Clennam, I've gone into it, said Pancks. 'He's a man of immense resources enormous capital government influence. They're the best schemes afloat. They're safe. They're certain.
Speaking of being his banker, is it not curious, Pancks, that the ventures which run just now in so many people's heads, should run even in little Cavalletto's? 'Ventures? retorted Pancks, with a snort. 'What ventures? 'These Merdle enterprises. 'Oh! Investments, said Pancks. 'Ay, ay!
Then and there, on that Marshalsea pavement, in the shades of evening, did Mr Pancks, of all mankind, fly over the head and shoulders of Mr Rugg of Pentonville, General Agent, Accountant, and Recoverer of Debts. Alighting on his feet, he took Clennam by the button-hole, led him behind the pump, and pantingly produced from his pocket a bundle of papers.
'To the foreigner from Italy who disappeared in the City as no doubt you have read in the papers equally with myself, said Flora, 'not referring to private sources by the name of Pancks from which one gathers what dreadfully ill-natured things some people are wicked enough to whisper most likely judging others by themselves and what the uneasiness and indignation of Arthur quite unable to overcome it Doyce and Clennam cannot fail to be.
The present is not a time or place, Mr Pancks pursued, with a longing glance into his hat, where he kept his calculations, 'for entering upon the figures; but the figures are not to be disputed. Mr Clennam ought to have been at this moment in his carriage and pair, and I ought to have been worth from three to five thousand pound.
Arthur started and said, 'Dear me, Pancks, don't say that! 'Understand me, said Pancks, extending five cropped coaly finger-nails on Arthur's arm; 'I don't mean, cut his throat. But by all that's precious, if he goes too far, I'll cut his hair!
Mr Plornish, after his usual manner, was a little obscure, but conscientiously emphatic. 'And what she come to our place for, he pursued, 'was to leave word that if Miss Dorrit would step up to that card which it's Mr Casby's house that is, and Pancks he has a office at the back, where he really does, beyond belief she would be glad for to engage her.
Mrs Plornish was proud of the title Padrona, which she regarded as signifying: not so much Mistress of the house, as Mistress of the Italian tongue. She immediately complied with Mr Baptist's request, and they all went into the cottage. 'E ope you no fright, said Mrs Plornish then, interpreting Mr Pancks in a new way with her usual fertility of resource. 'What appen? Peaka Padrona!
When dinner-time came, Flora drew the arm of her new charge through hers, and led her down-stairs, and presented her to the Patriarch and Mr Pancks, who were already in the dining-room waiting to begin.
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