 else. It's my business to see it. Therefore I say,« urged Pancks,
»Go in and win!«
    »But what of Go in and lose?« said Arthur.
    »Can't be done, sir,« returned Pancks. »I have looked into it. Name up,
everywhere - immense resources - enormous capital - great position - high
connection - government influence. Can't be done!«
    Gradually, after this closing exposition, Mr. Pancks subsided; allowed his
hair to droop as much as it ever would droop on the utmost persuasion; reclaimed
the pipe from the fire-irons, filled it anew, and smoked it out. They said
little more; but were company to one another in silently pursuing the same
subjects, and did not part until midnight. On taking his leave, Mr. Pancks, when
he had shaken hands with Clennam, worked completely round him before he steamed
out at the door. This, Arthur received as an assurance that he might implicitly
rely on Pancks, if he ever should come to need assistance; either in any of the
matters of which they had spoken that night, or any other subject that could in
any way affect himself.
    At intervals all next day, and even while his attention was fixed on other
things, he thought of Mr. Pancks's investment of his thousand pounds, and of his
having looked into it. He thought of Mr. Pancks's being so sanguine in this
matter, and of his not being usually of a sanguine character. He thought of the
great National Department, and of the delight it would be to him to see Doyce
better off. He thought of the darkly threatening place that went by the name of
Home in his remembrance, and of the gathering shadows which made it yet more
darkly threatening than of old. He observed anew that wherever he went, he saw,
or heard, or touched, the celebrated name of Merdle; he found it difficult even
to remain at his desk a couple of hours, without having it presented to one of
his bodily senses through some agency or other. He began to think it was curious
too that it should be everywhere, and that nobody but he should seem to have any
mistrust of it. Though indeed he began to remember, when he got to this, even he
did not mistrust it; he had only happened to keep aloof from it.
    Such symptoms, when a disease of the kind is rife, are usually the signs of
sickening.
 

                                  Chapter XIV

                                 Taking Advice.

When it became known to
