To what a world of toil and trouble had he, Bold, given rise by his indiscreet attack upon the hospital! "You see," said Towers, "that this affair has been much talked of, and the public are with you.

I am sorry you should give the matter up.
Have you seen the first number of 'The Almshouse' ?" No; Bold had not seen "The Almshouse." He had seen advertisements of Mr Popular Sentiment's new novel of that name, but had in no way connected it with Barchester Hospital, and had never thought a moment on the subject.
"It's a direct attack on the whole system," said Towers.

"It'll go a long way to put down Rochester, and Barchester, and Dulwich, and St Cross, and all such hotbeds of peculation.

It's very clear that Sentiment has been down to Barchester, and got up the whole story there; indeed, I thought he must have had it all from you; it's very well done, as you'll see: his first numbers always are." Bold declared that Mr Sentiment had got nothing from him, and that he was deeply grieved to find that the case had become so notorious.
"The fire has gone too far to be quenched," said Towers; "the building must go now; and as the timbers are all rotten, why, I should be inclined to say, the sooner the better.

I expected to see you get some _eclat_ in the matter." This was all wormwood to Bold.