The analyses of a text #3

The narrator recalls his adolescence.
He is now a famous writer.
He visited Mr. Chillip, who delivered the narrator's mother of him, when he was reading a newpaper.
He thinks Mr. Chillip to be very timid.

Chapter 59 RETURN

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'Well, sir,' observed Mr. Chillip, 'I hope you'll excuse me, if I am compelled to ask the favour of your name?'
On my telling him my name, he was really moved. He quite shook hands with me - which was a violent proceeding for him, his usual course being to slide a tepid little fish-slice, an inch or two in advance of his hip, and evince the greatest discomposure when anybody grappled with it. Even now, he put his hand in his coat-pocket as soon as he could disengage it, and seemed relieved when he had got it safe back.
'Dear me, sir!' said Mr. Chillip, surveying me with his head on one side. 'And it's Mr. Copperfield, is it? Well, sir, I think I should have known you, if I had taken the liberty of looking more closely at you. There's a strong resemblance between you and your poor father, sir.'
'I never had the happiness of seeing my father,' I observed.
'Very true, sir,' said Mr. Chillip, in a soothing tone. 'And very much to be deplored it was, on all accounts! We are not ignorant, sir,' said Mr. Chillip, slowly shaking his little head again, 'down in our part of the country, of your fame. There must be great excitement here, sir,' said Mr. Chillip, tapping himself on the forehead with his forefinger. 'You must find it a trying occupation, sir!'
[David Copperfield by Charles Dickens]
1. I'd like to know if "a tepid little fish-slice" indicates Mr. Chillip's hand.
2. I'd like to know if "should have known" indicates the speaker's conviction of the past thing.
3. I think the blue clause is in the structure "someone be to do."
If so, I was wondering how "very much to be deplored" is fronted, with separated from to-infinitive.
4. I'd like to know if "of the country" modifies "down."
Thank you in advance for your help.