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of. A gentleman can bear a shock when it must come, boldly
and steadily. A gentleman can make up his mind to stand
up against almost any blow. Why, take yourself, Sir Leices-
ter Dedlock, Baronet. If there’s a blow to be inflicted on you,
you naturally think of your family. You ask yourself, how
would all them ancestors of yours, away to Julius Caesar—
not to go beyond him at present—have borne that blow; you
remember scores of them that would have borne it well; and
you bear it well on their accounts, and to maintain the fam-
ily credit. That’s the way you argue, and that’s the way you
act, Sir Leicester Dedlock, Baronet.’
Sir Leicester, leaning back in his chair and grasping the
elbows, sits looking at him with a stony face.
‘Now, Sir Leicester Dedlock,’ proceeds Mr. Bucket, ‘thus
preparing you, let me beg of you not to trouble your mind
for a moment as to anything having come to MY knowl-
edge. I know so much about so many characters, high and
low, that a piece of information more or less don’t signify
a straw. I don’t suppose there’s a move on the board that
would surprise ME, and as to this or that move having tak-
en place, why my knowing it is no odds at all, any possible
move whatever (provided it’s in a wrong direction) being a
probable move according to my experience. Therefore, what
I say to you, Sir Leicester Dedlock, Baronet, is, don’t you go
and let yourself be put out of the way because of my know-
ing anything of your family affairs.’
‘I thank you for your preparation,’ returns Sir Leicester
after a silence, without moving hand, foot, or feature, ‘which
I hope is not necessary; though I give it credit for being well

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