 Mr. Merdle acquiesced; »but I want one; and
I know you have got several little wedding keepsakes about, with scissors and
tweezers and such things in them. You shall have it back to-morrow.«
    »Edmund,« said Mrs. Sparkler, »open (now, very carefully, I beg and beseech,
for you are so very awkward) the mother of pearl box on my little table there,
and give Mr. Merdle the mother of pearl penknife.«
    »Thank you,« said Mr. Merdle; »but if you have got one with a darker handle,
I think I should prefer one with a darker handle.«
    »Tortoise-shell?«
    »Thank you,« said Mr. Merdle; »yes. I think I should prefer tortoise-shell.«
    Edmund accordingly received instructions to open the tortoise-shell box, and
give Mr. Merdle the tortoise-shell knife. On his doing so, his wife said to the
master-spirit graciously:
    »I will forgive you, if you ink it.«
    »I'll undertake not to ink it,« said Mr. Merdle.
    The illustrious visitor then put out his coat-cuff, and for a moment
entombed Mrs. Sparkler's hand: wrist, bracelet, and all. Where his own hand
shrunk to, was not made manifest, but it was as remote from Mrs. Sparkler's
sense of touch as if he had been a highly meritorious Chelsea Veteran or
Greenwich Pensioner.
    Thoroughly convinced, as he went out of the room, that it was the longest
day that ever did come to an end at last, and that there never was a woman, not
wholly devoid of personal attractions, so worn out by idiotic and lumpish
people, Fanny passed into the balcony for a breath of air. Waters of vexation
filled her eyes; and they had the effect of making the famous Mr. Merdle, in
going down the street, appear to leap, and waltz, and gyrate, as if he were
possessed by several Devils.
 

                                  Chapter XXV

                 The Chief Butler Resigns the Seals of Office.

The dinner-party was at the great Physician's. Bar was there, and in full force.
Ferdinand Barnacle was there, and in his most engaging state. Few ways of life
were hidden from Physician, and he was oftener in its darkest places than even
Bishop. There were brilliant ladies about London who perfectly doted on him, my
dear, as the most charming creature and the most delightful person, who would
have been shocked to find themselves
