Cavendish Square, was more than aware of Mr. and Mrs. Merdle.
Intruders there were in Harley Street, of whom it was not aware; but Mr. and
Mrs. Merdle it delighted to honour. Society was aware of Mr. and Mrs. Merdle.
Society had said »Let us license them; let us know them.«
    Mr. Merdle was immensely rich; a man of prodigious enterprise; a Midas
without the ears, who turned all he touched to gold. He was in everything good,
from banking to building. He was in Parliament, of course. He was in the City,
necessarily. He was Chairman of this, Trustee of that, President of the other.
The weightiest of men had said to projectors, »Now, what name have you got? Have
you got Merdle?« And, the reply being in the negative, had said »Then I won't
look at you.«
    This great and fortunate man had provided that extensive bosom, which
required so much room to be unfeeling enough in, with a nest of crimson and gold
some fifteen years before. It was not a bosom to repose upon, but it was a
capital bosom to hang jewels upon. Mr. Merdle wanted something to hang jewels
upon, and he bought it for the purpose. Storr and Mortimer might have married on
the same speculation.
    Like all his other speculations, it was sound and successful. The jewels
showed to the richest advantage. The bosom moving in Society with the jewels
displayed upon it, attracted general admiration. Society approving, Mr. Merdle
was satisfied. He was the most disinterested of men, - did everything for
Society, and got as little for himself out of all his gain and care, as a man
might.
    That is to say, it may be supposed that he got all he wanted, otherwise with
unlimited wealth he would have got it. But his desire was to the utmost to
satisfy Society (whatever that was), and take up all its drafts upon him for
tribute. He did not shine in company; he had not very much to say for himself;
he was a reserved man, with a broad, overhanging, watchful head, that particular
kind of dull red colour in his cheeks which is rather stale than fresh, and a
somewhat uneasy expression about his coat-cuffs, as if they were in his
confidence, and had reasons for being anxious to hide his hands. In the little
he said, he was a pleasant man enough; plain, emphatic about public and private
confidence, and tenacious of