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Bleak House 754
Chapter 39
Attorney And Client
he name of Mr Vholes； preceded by the legend Ground
Floor； is inscribed upon a door…post in Symond’s Inn；
T
Chancery Lane： a little； pale； wall…eyed； woebegone inn；
like a large dust…binn of two compartments and a sifter。 It looks as
if Symond were a sparing man in his day； and constructed his inn
of old building materials； which took kindly to the dry rot and to
dirt and all things decaying and dismal； and perpetuated
Symond’s memory with congenial shabbiness。 Quartered in this
dingy hatchment commemorative of Symond； are the legal
bearings of Mr Vholes。
Mr Vholes’s office； in disposition retiring and in situation
retired； is squeezed up in a corner； and blinks at a dead wall。
Three feet of knotty floored dark passage bring the client to Mr
Vholes’s jet black door； in an angle profoundly dark on the
brightest midsummer morning； and incumbered by a black
bulkhead of cellarage staircase； against which belated civilians
generally strike their brows。 Mr Vholes’s chambers are on so small
a scale that one clerk can open the door without getting off his
stool； while the other who elbows him at the same desk has equal
faculties for poking the fire。 A smell as of unwholesome sheep；
blending with the smell of must and dust； is referable to the
nightly （and often daily） consumption of mutton fat in candles； and
to the fretting of parchment forms and skins in greasy drawers。
The atmosphere is otherwise stale and close。 The place was last
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painted or whitewashed beyond the memory of man； and the two
chimneys smoke； and there is a loose outer surface of soot
everywhere； and the dull cracked windows in their heavy frames
have but one piece of character in them； which is a determination
to be always dirty； and always shut； unless coerced。 This accounts
for the phenomenon of the weaker of the two usually having a
bundle of firewood thrust between its jaws in hot weather。
Mr Vholes is a very respectable man。 He has not a large
business； but he is a very respectable man。 He is allowed by the
greater attorneys who have made good fortunes； or are making
them； to be a most respectable man。 He never misses a chance in
his practice； which is a mark of respectability。 He never takes any
pleasure； which is another mark of respectability。 He is reserved
and serious； which is another mark of respectability。 His digestion
is impaired； which is highly respectable。 And he is making hay of
the grass which is flesh； for his three daughters。 And his father is
dependent on him in the Vale of Taunton。
The one great principle of the English law is； to make business
for itself。 There is no other principle distinctly； certainly； and
consistently maintained through all its narrow turnings。 Viewed
by this light it becomes a coherent scheme； and not the monstrous
maze the laity are apt to think it。 Let them but once clearly
perceive that its grand principle is to make business for itself at
their expense； and surely they will cease to grumble。
But； not perceiving this quite plainly—only seeing it by halves
in a confused way—the laity sometimes suffer in peace and pocket；
with a bad grace； and do grumble very much。 Then this
respectability of Mr Vholes is brought into powerful play against
them。 “Repeal this statute； my good sir？” says Mr Kenge； to a
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smarting client； “repeal it； my dear sir？ Never； with my consent。
Alter this law； sir； and what will be the effect of your rash
proceeding on a class of practitioners very worthily represented；
allow me to say to you； by the opposite attorney in the case； Mr
Vholes？ Sir； that class of practitioners would be swept from the
face of the earth。 Now you cannot afford—I would say； the social
system cannot afford—to lose an order of men like Mr Vholes。
Diligent； persevering； steady； acute in business。 My dear sir； I
understand your present feelings against the existing state of
things； which I grant to be a little hard in your case； but I can
never raise my voice for the demolition of a class of men like Mr
Vholes。” The respectability of Mr Vholes has even been cited with
crushing effect before Parliamentary committees； as in the
following blue minutes of a distinguished attorney’s evidence。
“Question （number five hundred and seventeen thousand eight
hundred and sixty…nine）。 If I understand you； these forms of
practice indisputably occasion delay？ Answer。 Yes； some delay。
Question。 And great expense？ Answer。 Most assuredly they cannot
be gone through for nothing。 Question。 And unspeakable
vexation？ Answer。 I am not prepared to say that。 They have never
given me any vexation； quite the contrary。 Question。 But you think
that their abolition would damage a class of practitioners？
Answer。 I have no doubt of it。 Question。 Can you instance any type
of that class？ Answer。 Yes。 I would unhesitatingly mention Mr
Vholes。 He would be ruined。 Question。 Mr Vholes is considered； in
the profession； a respectable man？ Answer”—which proved fatal
to the inquiry for ten years—“Mr Vholes is considered； in the
profession； a most respectable man。”
So in familiar conversation； private authorities no less
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disinterested will remark that they don’t know what this age is
coming to； that we are plunging down precipices； that now here is
something else gone； that these changes are death to people like
Vholes： a man of undoubted respectability； with a father in the
Vale of Taunton； and three daughters at home。 Take a few steps
more in this direction； say they； and what is to become of Vholes’s
father？ Is he to perish？ And of Vholes’s daughters？ Are they to be
shirt…makers； or governesses？ As though Mr Vholes and his
relations being minor cannibal chiefs； and it being proposed to
abolish cannibalism； indignant champions were to put the case
thus： Make man…eating unlawful； and you starve the Vholeses！
In a word； Mr Vh