the great hoggarty diamond(大钻石)-第1节
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THE GREAT HOGGARTY DIAMOND
THE GREAT
HOGGARTY DIAMOND
By Thackeray
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THE GREAT HOGGARTY DIAMOND
CHAPTER I
GIVES AN ACCOUNT OF OUR VILLAGE AND THE FIRST
GLIMPSE OF THE DIAMOND
When I came up to town for my second year； my aunt Hoggarty made
me a present of a diamond…pin； that is to say； it was not a diamond… pin
then； but a large old…fashioned locket； of Dublin manufacture in the year
1795； which the late Mr。 Hoggarty used to sport at the Lord Lieutenant's
balls and elsewhere。 He wore it； he said； at the battle of Vinegar Hill；
when his club pigtail saved his head from being taken off；but that is
neither here nor there。
In the middle of the brooch was Hoggarty in the scarlet uniform of the
corps of Fencibles to which he belonged； around it were thirteen locks of
hair； belonging to a baker's dozen of sisters that the old gentleman had；
and； as all these little ringlets partook of the family hue of brilliant auburn；
Hoggarty's portrait seemed to the fanciful view like a great fat red round
of beef surrounded by thirteen carrots。 These were dished up on a plate
of blue enamel； and it was from the GREAT HOGGARTY DIAMOND （as
we called it in the family） that the collection of hairs in question seemed as
it were to spring。
My aunt； I need not say； is rich； and I thought I might be her heir as
well as another。 During my month's holiday； she was particularly pleased
with me； made me drink tea with her often （though there was a certain
person in the village with whom on those golden summer evenings I
should have liked to have taken a stroll in the hayfields）； promised every
time I drank her bohea to do something handsome for me when I went
back to town；nay； three or four times had me to dinner at three； and to
whist or cribbage afterwards。 I did not care for the cards； for though we
always played seven hours on a stretch； and I always lost； my losings were
never more than nineteenpence a night： but there was some infernal sour
black…currant wine； that the old lady always produced at dinner； and with
the tray at ten o'clock； and which I dared not refuse； though upon my word
and honour it made me very unwell。
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THE GREAT HOGGARTY DIAMOND
Well； I thought after all this obsequiousness on my part； and my aunt's
repeated promises； that the old lady would at least make me a present of a
score of guineas （of which she had a power in the drawer）； and so
convinced was I that some such present was intended for me； that a young
lady by the name of Miss Mary Smith； with whom I had conversed on the
subject； actually netted me a little green silk purse； which she gave me
（behind Hicks's hayrick； as you turn to the right up Churchyard Lane）
which she gave me； I say； wrapped up in a bit of silver paper。 There was
something in the purse； too； if the truth must be known。 First there was a
thick curl of the glossiest blackest hair you ever saw in your life； and next
there was threepence： that is to say； the half of a silver sixpence hanging
by a little necklace of blue riband。 Ah； but I knew where the other half of
the sixpence was； and envied that happy bit of silver！
The last day of my holiday I was obliged； of course； to devote to Mrs。
Hoggarty。 My aunt was excessively gracious； and by way of a treat
brought out a couple of bottles of the black currant； of which she made me
drink the greater part。 At night when all the ladies assembled at her party
had gone off with their pattens and their maids； Mrs。 Hoggarty； who had
made a signal to me to stay； first blew out three of the wax candles in the
drawing…room； and taking the fourth in her hand； went and unlocked her
escritoire。
I can tell you my heart beat； though I pretended to look quite
unconcerned。
〃Sam my dear；〃 said she； as she was fumbling with her keys； 〃take
another glass of Rosolio〃 （that was the name by which she baptised the
cursed beverage）： 〃it will do you good。〃 I took it； and you might have
seen my hand tremble as the bottle went clickclick against the glass。
By the time I had swallowed it； the old lady had finished her operations at
the bureau； and was coming towards me； the wax…candle bobbing in one
hand and a large parcel in the other。
〃Now's the time；〃 thought I。
〃Samuel； my dear nephew；〃 said she； 〃your first name you received
from your sainted uncle； my blessed husband； and of all my nephews and
nieces； you are the one whose conduct in life has most pleased me。〃
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THE GREAT HOGGARTY DIAMOND
When you consider that my aunt herself was one of seven married
sisters； that all the Hoggarties were married in Ireland and mothers of
numerous children； I must say that the compliment my aunt paid me was a
very handsome one。
〃Dear aunt；〃 says I； in a slow agitated voice； 〃I have often heard you
say there were seventy…three of us in all； and believe me I do think your
high opinion of me very complimentary indeed： I'm unworthy of it
indeed I am。〃
〃As for those odious Irish people；〃 says my aunt； rather sharply； 〃don't
speak of them； I hate them； and every one of their mothers〃 （the fact is；
there had been a lawsuit about Hoggarty's property）； 〃but of all my other
kindred； you； Samuel； have been the most dutiful and affectionate to me。
Your employers in London give the best accounts of your regularity and
good conduct。 Though you have had eighty pounds a year （a liberal
salary）； you have not spent a shilling more than your income； as other
young men would； and you have devoted your month's holidays to your
old aunt； who； I assure you； is grateful。〃
〃Oh； ma'am！〃 said I。 It was all that I could utter。
〃Samuel；〃 continued she； 〃I promised you a present； and here it is。 I
first thought of giving you money； but you are a regular lad； and don't
want it。 You are above money； dear Samuel。 I give you what I value
most in lifethe p；the po； the po…ortrait of my sainted Hoggarty〃 （tears）；
〃set in the locket which contains the valuable diamond that you have often
heard me speak of。 Wear it； dear Sam； for my sake； and think of that
angel in heaven； and of your dear Aunt Susy。〃
She put the machine into my hands： it was about the size of the lid of
a shaving…box： and I should as soon have thought of wearing it as of
wearing a cocked…hat and pigtail。 I was so disgusted and disappointed
that I really could not get out a single word。
When I recovered my presence of mind a little； I took the locket out of
the bit of paper （the locket indeed！ it was as big as a barndoor padlock）；
and slowly put it into my shirt。 〃Thank you； Aunt；〃 said I； with
admirable raillery。 〃I shall always value this present for the sake of you；
who gave it me； and it will recall to me my uncle； and my thirteen aunts in
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THE GREAT HOGGARTY DIAMOND
Ireland。〃
〃I don't want you to wear it in THAT way！〃 shrieked Mrs。 Hoggarty；
〃with the hair of those odious carroty women。 You must have their hair
removed。〃
〃Then the locket will be spoiled； Aunt。〃
〃Well； sir； never mind the locket； have it set afresh。〃
〃Or suppose；〃 said I； 〃I put aside the setting altogether： it is a little
too large for the present fashion； and have the portrait of my uncle framed
and placed over my chimney…piece； next to yours。 It's a sweet miniature。〃
〃That miniature；〃 said Mrs。 Hoggarty； solemnly； 〃was the great
Mulcahy's chef…d'oeuvre〃 （pronounced shy dewver； a favourite word of
my aunt's； being； with the words bongtong and ally mode de Parry；
