Inwhichstateofagitation，MrMerdle，evasivelyrollinghiseyesroundtheChiefButler’sshoeswithoutraisingthemtotheindexofthatstupendouscreature’sthoughts，hadsignifiedtohimhisintentionofgivingaspecialdinner：notaverylargedinner，butaveryspecialdinner。TheChiefButlerhadsignified，inreturn，thathehadnoobjectiontolookonatthemostexpensivethinginthatwaythatcouldbedone；andthedayofthedinnerwasnowcome。
MrMerdlestoodinoneofhisdrawing-rooms，withhisbacktothefire，waitingforthearrivalofhisimportantguests。Heseldomornevertookthelibertyofstandingwithhisbacktothefireunlesshewasquitealone。InthepresenceoftheChiefButler，hecouldnothavedonesuchadeed。Hewouldhaveclaspedhimselfbythewristsinthatconstabularymannerofhis，andhavepacedupanddownthehearthrug，orgonecreepingaboutamongtherichobjectsoffurniture，ifhisoppressiveretainerhadappearedintheroomatthatverymoment。Theslyshadowswhichseemedtodartoutofhidingwhenthefirerose，andtodartbackintoitwhenthefirefell，weresufficientwitnessesofhismakinghimselfsoeasy。
Theywereevenmorethansufficient，ifhisuncomfortableglancesatthemmightbetakentomeananything。
MrMerdle’srighthandwasfilledwiththeeveningpaper，andtheeveningpaperwasfullofMrMerdle。Hiswonderfulenterprise，hiswonderfulwealth，hiswonderfulBank，werethefatteningfoodoftheeveningpaperthatnight。ThewonderfulBank，ofwhichhewasthechiefprojector，establisher，andmanager，wasthelatestofthemanyMerdlewonders。SomodestwasMrMerdlewithal，inthemidstofthesesplendidachievements，thathelookedfarmorelikeamaninpossessionofhishouseunderadistraint，thanacommercialColossusbestridinghisownhearthrug，whilethelittleshipsweresailingintodinner。
Beholdthevesselscomingintoport!TheengagingyoungBarnaclewasthefirstarrival；butBarovertookhimonthestaircase。Bar，strengthenedasusualwithhisdoubleeye-glassandhislittlejurydroop，wasoverjoyedtoseetheengagingyoungBarnacle；andopinedthatweweregoingtositinBanco，aswelawyerscalledit，totakeaspecialargument？