him a satire upon others selves on personal graces。
He seriously protested that the bow of Blandois was perfect； that the
address of Blandois was irresistible； and that the picturesque ease
of Blandois would be cheaply purchased （if it were not a gift； and
unpurchasable） for a hundred thousand francs。 That exaggeration in the
manner of the man which has been noticed as appertaining to him and to
every such man； whatever his original breeding； as certainly as the sun
belongs to this system； was acceptable to Gowan as a caricature； which
he found it a humorous resource to have at hand for the ridiculing of
numbers of people who necessarily did more or less of what Blandois
overdid。 Thus he had taken up with him； and thus； negligently
strengthening these inclinations with habit； and idly deriving some
amusement from his talk； he had glided into a way of having him for
a panion。 This； though he supposed him to live by his wits at
play…tables and the like； though he suspected him to be a coward； while
he himself was daring and courageous； though he thoroughly knew him to
be disliked by Minnie； and though he cared so little for him； after all；
that if he had given her any tangible personal cause to regard him with
aversion； he would have had no punction whatever in flinging him out
of the highest window in Venice into the deepest water of the city。
Little Dorrit would have been glad to make her visit to Mrs Gowan；
alone； but as Fanny； who had not yet recovered from her Uncle's protest；
though it was four…and…twenty hours of age； pressingly offered her
pany； the two sisters stepped together into one of the gondolas under
Mr Dorrit's window； and； with the courier in attendance； were taken in
high state to Mrs Gowan's lodging。 In truth； their state was rather too
high for the lodging； which was； as Fanny plained； 'fearfully out of
the way；' and which took them through a plexity of narrow streets of
water； which the same lady disparaged as 'mere ditches。'
The house； on a little desert island； looked as if it had broken
away from somewhere else； and had floated by chance into its present
anchorage in pany with a vine almost as much in want of training as
the poor wretches who were lying under its leaves。 The features of the
surrounding picture were； a church with hoarding and scaffolding about
it； which had been under suppositious repair so long that the means of
repair looked a hundred years old； and had themselves fallen into decay；
a quantity of washed linen； spread to dry in the sun； a number of houses
at odds with one another and grotesquely out of the perpendicular； like
rotten pre…Adamite cheeses cut into fantastic shapes and full of mites；
and a feverish bewilderment of windows； with their lattice…blinds all
hanging askew； and something draggled and dirty dangling out of most of
them。
On the first…floor of the house was a Bank……a surprising experience for
any gentleman of mercial pursuits bringing laws for all mankind from
a British city……where two spare clerks； like dried dragoons； in green
velvet caps adorned with golden tassels； stood； bearded； behind a small
counter in a small room； containing no other visible objects than an
empty iron…safe with the door open； a jug of water； and a papering of
garland of roses； but erely dipping
their hands out of sight； could produce exhaustless mounds of five…franc
pieces。 Below the Bank was a suite of three or four rooms with barred
windows； which had the appearance of a jail for criminal rats。 Above the
Bank was Mrs Gowan's residence。
Notwithstanding that its walls were blotched； as if missionary maps were
bursting out of them to impart geographical knowledge； notwithstanding
that its weird furniture was forlornly faded and musty； and that the
prevailing Veian odour of bilge water and an ebb tide on a weedy
shore was very strong； the place was better within； than it promised。
The door was opened by a smiling man like a reformed assassin……a
temporary servant……who ushered them into the room where Mrs Gowan sat；
with the announcement that two beautiful English ladies were e to see
the mistress。
Mrs Gowan； who was engaged in needlework； put her work aside in a
covered basket； and rose； a little hurriedly。 Miss Fanny was excessively
courteous to her； and said the usual nothings with the skill of a
veteran。
'Papa was extremely sorry；' proceeded Fanny； 'to be engaged to…day （he
is so much engaged here； our acquaintance being so wretchedly large！）；
and particularly requested me to bring his card for Mr Gowan。 That I may
be sure to acquit myself of a mission which he impressed upon me at
least a dozen times； allow me to relieve my conscience by placing it on
the table at once。'
Which she did with veteran ease。
'We have been；' said Fanny； 'charmed to understand that you know the
Merdles。 We hope it may be another means of bringing us together。'
'They are friends；' said Mrs Gowan； 'of Mr Gowan's family。 I have not
yet had the pleasure of a personal introduction to Mrs Merdle； but I
suppose I shall be presented to her at Rome。'
'Indeed？' returned Fanny； with an appearance of amiably quenching her
own superiority。 'I think you'll like her。'
'You know her very well？'
'Why； you see；' said Fanny； with a frank action of her pretty shoulders；
'in London one knows every one。 We met her on our way here； and； to say
the truth； papa was at first rather cross with her for taking one of the
rooms that our people had ordered for us。
However； of course； that soon blew over； and we were all good friends
again。'
Although the visit had as yet given Little Dorrit no opportunity of
conversing with Mrs Gowan； there was a silent understanding between
them； which did as well。 She looked at Mrs Gowan with keen and unabated
interest； the sound of her voice was thrilling to her； nothing that was
near her； or about her； or at all concerned her； escaped Little Dorrit。
She was quicker to perceive the slightest matter here； than in any other
case……but one。
'You have been quite well；' she now said； 'since that night？'
'Quite； my dear。 And you？' 'Oh！ I am always well；' said Little Dorrit；
timidly。 'I……yes； thank you。'
There was no reason for her faltering and breaking off； other than that
Mrs Gowan had touched her hand in speaking to her； and their looks had
met。 Something thoughtfully apprehensive in the large； soft eyes； had
checked Little Dorrit in an instant。
'You don't know that you are a favourite of my husband's； and that I am
almost bound to be jealous of you？' said Mrs Gowan。
Little Dorrit； blushing； shook her head。
'He will tell you； if he tells you what he tells me； that you are
quieter and quicker of resource than any one he ever saw。'
'He speaks far too well of me；' said Little Dorrit。
'I doubt that； but I don't at all doubt that I must tell him you
are here。 I should never be forgiven； if I were to let you……and Miss
Dorrit……go； without doing so。 May I？ You can excuse the disorder and
disfort of a painter's studio？'
The inquiries were addressed to Miss Fanny； who graciously replied that
she would be beyond anything interested and enchanted。 Mrs Gowan went to
a door； looked in beyond it； and came back。 'Do Henry the favour to e
in；' said she； 'I knew he would be pleased！'
The first object that confronted Little Dorrit； entering first； was
Blandois of Paris in a great cloak and a furtive slouched hat； standing
on a throne platform in a corner； as he had stood on the Great Saint
Bernard； when the warning arms seemed to be all pointing up at him。 She
recoiled from this figure； as it smiled at her。
'Don't be alarmed；' said Gowan； ing from his easel behind the door。
'It's only Blandois。 He is doing duty as a model to…day。 I am making
a study of him。 It saves me money to turn him to some use。 We poor
painters have none to spare。'
Blandois of Paris pulled off his slouched hat； and saluted the ladies
without ing out of his corner。
'A thousand pardons！' said he。 'But the Professore here is so inexorable
with me； that I am afraid to stir。'
'Don't stir； then；' said Gowan coolly； as the sisters approached the
easel。 'Let the ladies at least see the original of the daub； that they
may know what it's meant for。 There he stands； you see。 A bravo waiting
for his prey； a distinguished noble waiting to save his country； the
mon enemy waiting to do somebody a bad turn； an angelic messenger
waiting to do somebody a good turn……whatever you think he looks most
like！' 'Say； Professore Mio； a poor gentleman waiting to do homage to
elegance and beauty；' remarked Blandois。
'Or say； Cattivo Soggetto Mio；' returned Gowan； touching the painted
face with his brush in the part where the real face had moved； 'a
murderer after the fact。 Show that white hand of yours； Blandois。 Put it
outside the cloak。 Keep it still。'
Blandois' hand was unsteady； but he laughed； and that would naturally
shake it。
'He was formerly in some scuffle with another murderer； or with a
victim； you observe；' said Gowan； putting in the markings of the hand
patient； unskilful touch； 'and these are the tokens of
it。 Outside the cloak； man！……Corpo di San Marco； what are you thinking
of？'
Blandois of Paris shook with a laugh again； so that his hand shook more；
now he raised it to twist his moustache； which had a damp appearance；
and now he stood in the required position； with a little new swagger。
His face was so directed in reference to the spot where Little Dorrit
stood by the easel； that throughout he looked at her。 Once attracted by
his peculiar eyes； she could not remove her own； and they had looked
at each other all the time。 She trembled now； Gowan； feeling it； and
supposing her to be alarmed by the large dog beside him； whose head she
caressed in her hand； and who had just uttered a low growl； glanced at
her to say； 'He won't hurt you； Miss Dorrit。'
'I am not afraid of him；' she returned in the same breath； 'but will you
look at him？'
In a moment Gowan had thrown down his brush； and seized the dog with
both hands by the collar。
'Blandois！ How can you be such a fool as to provoke him！ By Heaven； and
the other place too； he'll tear you to bits！ Lie down！
L