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indeed； to bring him out of his shell。 Nothing is heard of him；
nothing is seen of him。 What power of cannon might it take to
shake that rusty old man out of his immoveable composure？
For many years； the persistent Roman has been pointing with
no particular meaning from that ceiling。 It is not likely that he has
any new meaning in him tonight。 Once pointing； always pointing—
like any Roman； or even Briton； with a single idea。 There he is； no
doubt； in his impossible attitude； pointing； unavailingly； all night
long。 Moonlight； darkness； dawn； sunrise； day。 There he is still；
eagerly pointing； and no one minds him。
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Bleak House 913
But； a little after the coming of the day； come people to clean
the rooms； And either the Roman has some new meaning in him；
not expressed before； or the foremost of them goes wild； for；
looking up at his outstretched hand； and looking down at what is
below it； that person shrieks and flies。 The others； looking in as the
first one looked； shriek and fly too； and there is an alarm in the
street。
What does it mean？ No light is admitted into the darkened
chamber； and people unaccustomed to it； enter； and treading
softly； but heavily； carry a weight into the bedroom； and lay it
down。 There is whispering and wondering all day； strict search of
every corner； careful tracing of steps； and careful noting of the
disposition of every article of furniture。 All eyes look up at the
Roman； and all voices murmur； “If he could only tell what he
saw！”
He is pointing at a table； with a bottle （nearly full of wine） and a
glass upon it； and two candles that were blown out suddenly； soon
after being lighted。 He is pointing at an empty chair； and at a stain
upon the ground before it that might be almost covered with a
hand。 These objects lie directly within his range。 An excited
imagination might suppose that there was something in them so
terrific； as to drive the rest of the composition； not only the
attendant big…legged boys； but the clouds and flowers and pillars
too—in short； the very body and soul of Allegory； and all the
brains it has—stark mad。 It happens surely； that every one who
comes into the darkened room and looks at these things； looks up
at the Roman； and that he is invested in all eyes with mystery and
awe； as if he were a paralysed dumb witness。
So； it shall happen surely； through many years to come； that
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Bleak House 914
ghostly stories shall be told of the stain upon the floor； so easy to
be covered； so hard to be got out； and that the Roman； pointing
from the ceiling； shall point； so long as dust and damp and spiders
spare him； with far greater significance than he ever had in Mr
Tulkinghorn’s time； and with a deadly meaning。 For； Mr
Tulkinghorn’s time is over for evermore； and the Roman pointed
at the murderous hand uplifted against his life； and pointed
helplessly at him； from night to morning； lying face downward on
the floor； shot through the heart。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
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Bleak House 915
Chapter 49
Dutiful Friendship
great annual occasion has come round in the
Aestablishment of Mr Joseph Bagnet； otherwise Lignum
Vitae； ex…artilleryman and present bassoon…player。 An
occasion of feasting and festival。 The celebration of a birthday in
the family。
It is not Mr Bagnet’s birthday。 Mr Bagnet merely distinguishes
that epoch in the musical instrument business； by kissing the
children with an extra smack before breakfast； smoking an
additional pipe after dinner； and wondering towards evening what
his poor old mother is thinking about it；—a subject of infinite
speculation； and rendered so by his mother having departed this
life twenty years。 Some men rarely revert to their father； but seem；
in the bank…books of their remembrance； to have transferred all
the stock of filial affection into their mother’s name。 Mr Bagnet is
one of these。 Perhaps his excited appreciation of the merits of the
old girl； causes him usually to make the noun…substantive；
Goodness； of the feminine gender。
It is not the birthday of one of the three children。 Those
occasions are kept with some marks of distinction； but they rarely
overleap the bounds of happy returns and a pudding。 On young
Woolwich’s last birthday； Mr Bagnet certainly did； after observing
upon his growth and general advancement； proceed； in a moment
of profound reflection on the changes wrought by time； to examine
him in the catechism； accomplishing with extreme accuracy the
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Bleak House 916
questions number one and two； What is your name？ and who gave
you that name？ but there failing in the exact precision of his
memory； and substituting for number three； the question And how
do you like that name？ which he propounded with a sense of its
importance； in itself so edifying and improving； as to give it quite
an orthodox air。 This； however； was a specialty on that particular
birthday； and not a generic solemnity。
It is the old girl’s birthday； and that is the greatest holiday and
reddest…letter day in Mr Bagnet’s calendar。 The auspicious event
is always commemorated according to certain forms； settled and
prescribed by Mr Bagnet some years since。 Mr Bagnet being
deeply convinced that to have a pair of fowls for dinner is to attain
the highest pitch of imperial luxury； invariably goes forth himself
very early in the morning of this day to buy a pair； he is； as
invariably taken in by the vendor； and installed in the possession
of the oldest inhabitants of any coop in Europe。 Returning with
these triumphs of toughness tied up in a clean blue and white
cotton handkerchief （essential to the arrangements）； he in a casual
manner invites Mrs Bagnet to declare at breakfast what she would
like for dinner。 Mrs Bagnet； by a coincidence never known to fail；
replying Fowls； Mr Bagnet instantly produces his bundle from a
place of concealment； amidst general amazement and rejoicing。
He further requires that the old girl shall do nothing all day long；
but sit in her very best gown； and be served by himself and the
young people。 As he is not illustrious for his cookery；