Chapter 28

THERE WERE MANY POWERFUL reasons for Jonas Chuzzlewit being strongly prepossessed in favour of the scheme which its great originator had so boldly laid open to him; but three among them stood prominently forward. Firstly, there was money to be made by it. Secondly, the money had the peculiar charm of being sagaciously obtained at other people's cost. Thirdly, it involved much outward show of homage and distinction: a board being an awful institution in its own sphere, and a director a mighty man. `To make a swingeing profit, have a lot of chaps to order about, and get into regular good society by one and the same means, and them so easy to one's hand, ain't such a bad look-out,' thought Jonas. The latter considerations were only second to his avarice; for, conscious that there was nothing in his person, conduct, character, or accomplishments, to command respect, he was greedy of power, and was, in his heart, as much a tyrant as any laurelled conqueror on record.

But he determined to proceed with cunning and caution, and to be very keen on his observation of the gentility of Mr. Montague's private establishment. For it no more occurred to this shallow knave that Montague wanted him to be so, or he wouldn't have invited him while his decision was yet in abeyance, than the possibility of that genius being able to overreach him in any way, pierced through his self-deceit by the inlet of a needle's point. He had said, in the outset, that Jonas was too sharp for him; and Jonas, who would have been sharp enough to believe him in nothing else, though he had solemnly sworn it, believed him in that, instantly.

`Mr. Montague at home?'

`I should hope he was at home, and waiting dinner, too,' said Bailey, with the ease of an old acquaintance. `Will you take your hat up along with you, or leave it here?'

Mr Jonas preferred leaving it there.

`The hold name, I suppose?' said Bailey, with a grin.

Mr Jonas stared at him in mute indignation.

`What, don't you remember hold mother Todgers's?' said Mr. Bailey, with his favourite action of the knees and boots. `Don't you remember my taking your name up to the young ladies, when you came a-courting there? A reg'lar scaly old shop, warn't it? Times is changed ain't they. I say how you've growed!'

Without pausing for any acknowledgement of this compliment, he ushered the visitor up-stairs, and having announced him, retired with a private wink.

The lower story of the house was occupied by a wealthy tradesman, but Mr. Montague had all the upper portion, and splendid lodging it was. The room in which he received Jonas was a spacious and elegant apartment, furnished with extreme magnificence: decorated with pictures, copies from the antique in alabaster and marble, china vases, lofty mirrors, crimson hangings of the richest silk, gilded carvings, luxurious couches, glistening cabinets inlaid with precious woods: costly toys of every sort in negligent abundance. The only guests besides Jonas were the doctor, the resident Director, and two other gentlemen, whom Montague presented in due form.

`My dear friend, I am delighted to see you. Jobling you know, I believe?'

`I think so,' said the doctor pleasantly, as he stepped out of the circle to shake hands. `I trust I have the honour. I hope so. My dear sir, I see you well. Quite well? That's well!'

`Mr Wolf,' said Montague, as soon as the doctor would allow him to introduce the two others, `Mr Chuzzlewit. Mr Pip, Mr. Chuzzlewit.'