one of his rooms.
    The Innkeeper, hat in hand in the yard, swore to the courier that he was
blighted, that he was desolated, that he was profoundly afflicted, that he was
the most miserable and unfortunate of beasts, that he had the head of a wooden
pig. He ought never to have made the concession, he said, but the very genteel
lady had so passionately prayed him for the accommodation of that room to dine
in, only for a little half-hour, that he had been vanquished. The little
half-hour was expired, the lady and gentleman were taking their little dessert
and half-cup of coffee, the note was paid, the horses were ordered, they would
depart immediately; but, owing to an unhappy destiny and the curse of Heaven,
they were not yet gone.
    Nothing could exceed Mr. Dorrit's indignation, as he turned at the foot of
the staircase on hearing these apologies. He felt that the family dignity was
struck at, by an assassin's hand. He had a sense of his dignity, which was of
the most exquisite nature. He could detect a design upon it when nobody else had
any perception of the fact. His life was made an agony by the number of fine
scalpels that he felt to be incessantly engaged in dissecting his dignity.
    »Is it possible, sir,« said Mr. Dorrit, reddening excessively, »that you
have - ha - had the audacity to place one of my rooms at the disposition of any
other person?«
    Thousands of pardons! It was the host's profound misfortune to have been
overcome by that too genteel lady. He besought Monseigneur not to enrage
himself. He threw himself on Monseigneur for clemency. If Monseigneur would have
the distinguished goodness to occupy the other salon especially reserved for
him, for but five minutes, all would go well.
    »No, sir,« said Mr. Dorrit. »I will not occupy any salon. I will leave your
house without eating or drinking, or setting foot in it. How do you dare to act
like this? Who am I that you - ha - separate me from other gentlemen?«
    Alas! The host called all the universe to witness that Monseigneur was the
most amiable of the whole body of nobility, the most important, the most
estimable, the most honoured. If he separated Monseigneur from others, it was
only because he was more distinguished, more cherished, more generous, more
renowned.
    »Don't tell me so, sir,« returned Mr. Dorrit, in