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to be an innocent citizen； and bees a culprit。
He is treated from that instant as a man who has done some infernal
action。 He is a man to be shirked； put off； brow…beaten； sneered at；
handed over by this highly…connected young or old gentleman； to that
highly…connected young or old gentleman； and dodged back again； he is a
man with no rights in his own time； or his own property； a mere outlaw；
whom it is justifiable to get rid of anyhow； a man to be worn out by all
possible means。'
It was not so difficult to believe； after the morning's experience； as
Mr Meagles supposed。
'Don't stand there； Doyce； turning your spectacle…case over and over；'
cried Mr Meagles； 'but tell Mr Clennam what you confessed to me。'
'I undoubtedly was made to feel；' said the inventor； 'as if I had
mitted an offence。 In dancing attendance at the various offices； I
was always treated； more or less； as if it was a very bad offence。 I
have frequently found it necessary to reflect； for my own self…support；
that I really had not done anything to bring myself into the Newgate
Calendar； but only wanted to effect a great saving and a great
improvement。'
'There！' said Mr Meagles。 'Judge whether I exaggerate。 Now you'll be
able to believe me when I tell you the rest of the case。'
With this prelude； Mr Meagles went through the narrative； the
established narrative； which has bee tiresome； the matter…of…course
narrative which we all know by heart。 How； after interminable attendance
and correspondence； after infinite impertinences； ignorances； and
insults； my lords made a Minute； number three thousand four hundred
and seventy…two； allowing the culprit to make certain trials of his
invention at his own expense。
How the trials were made in the presence of a board of six； of whom two
ancient members were too blind to see it； two other ancient members were
too deaf to hear it； one other ancient member was too lame to get near
it； and the final ancient member was too pig…headed to look at it。 How
there were more years； more impertinences； ignorances； and insults。 How
my lords then made a Minute； number five thousand one hundred and three；
whereby they resigned the business to the Circumlocution Office。 How the
Circumlocution Office； in course of time； took up the business as if
it were a bran new thing of yesterday； which had never been heard of
before； muddled the business； addled the business； tossed the business
in a wet blanket。 How the impertinences； ignorances； and insults went
through the multiplication table。 How there was a reference of the
invention to three Barnacles and a Stiltstalking； who knew nothing about
it； into whose heads nothing could be hammered about it； who got bored
about it； and reported physical impossibilities about it。 How the
Circumlocution Office； in a Minute； number eight thousand seven hundred
and forty； 'saw no reason to reverse the decision at which my lords had
arrived。' How the Circumlocution Office； being reminded that my lords
had arrived at no decision； shelved the business。 How there had been
a final interview with the head of the Circumlocution Office that very
morning； and how the Brazen Head had spoken； and had been； upon the
whole； and under all the circumstances； and looking at it from the
various points of view； of opinion that one of two courses was to be
pursued in respect of the business： that was to say； either to leave it
alone for evermore； or to begin it all over again。
'Upon which；' said Mr Meagles； 'as a practical man； I then and there； in
that presence； took Doyce by the collar； and told him it was plain to
me that he was an infamous rascal and treasonable disturber of the
government peace； and took him away。 I brought him out of the office
door by the collar； that the very porter might know I was a practical
man who appreciated the official estimate of such characters； and here
we are！'
If that airy young Barnacle had been there； he would have frankly told
them perhaps that the Circumlocution Office had achieved its function。
That what the Barnacles had to do； was to stick on to the national ship
as long as they could。 That to trim the ship； lighten the ship； clean
the ship； would be to knock them off； that they could but be knocked off
once； and that if the ship went down with them yet sticking to it； that
was the ship's look out； and not theirs。
'There！' said Mr Meagles； 'now you know all about Doyce。 Except； which I
own does not improve my state of mind； that even now you don't hear him
plain。'
'You must have great patience；' said Arthur Clennam； looking at him with
some wonder； 'great forbearance。'
'No；' he returned； 'I don't know that I have more than another man。'
'By the Lord； you have more than I have； though！' cried Mr Meagles。
Doyce smiled； as he said to Clennam； 'You see； my experience of these
things does not begin with myself。 It has been in my way to know a
little about them from time to time。 Mine is not a particular case。 I am
not worse used than a hundred others who have put themselves in the same
position……than all the others； I was going to say。'
'I don't know that I should find that a consolation； if it were my case；
but I am very glad that you do。'
'Understand me！ I don't say；' he replied in his steady； planning
way； and looking into the distance before him as if his grey eye were
measuring it； 'that it's repense for a man's toil and hope； but it's
a certain sort of relief to know that I might have counted on this。'
He spoke in that quiet deliberate manner； and in that undertone； which
is often observable in mechanics who consider and adjust with great
nicety。 It belonged to him like his suppleness of thumb； or his peculiar
way of tilting up his hat at the back every now and then； as if he were
contemplating some half…finished work of his hand and thinking about it。
'Disappointed？' he went on； as he walked between them under the trees。
'Yes。 No doubt I am disappointed。 Hurt？ Yes。 No doubt I am hurt。 That's
only natural。 But what I mean when I say that people who put themselves
in the same position are mostly used in the same way……'
'In England；' said Mr Meagles。