the great hoggarty diamond(大钻石)-第13节
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that example； sir。 That porter of mine has a sick wife and nine young
children： he is himself a sick man； and his tenure of life is feeble； he has
earned money； sir； in my servicesixty pounds and moreit is all his
children have to look toall： but for that； in the event of his death； they
would be houseless beggars in the street。 And what have I done for that
family； sir？ I have put that money out of the reach of Robert Gates； and
placed it so that it shall be a blessing to his family at his death。 Every
farthing is invested in shares in this office； and Robert Gates； my lodge…
porter； is a holder of three shares in the West Diddlesex Association； and；
in that capacity； your master and mine。 Do you think I want to CHEAT
Gates？〃
〃Oh； sir！〃 says I。
〃To cheat that poor helpless man； and those tender innocent children！
you can't think so； sir； I should be a disgrace to human nature if I did。
But what boots all my energy and perseverance？ What though I place my
friends' money； my family's money； my own moneymy hopes； wishes；
desires； ambitionsall upon this enterprise？ You young men will not do
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THE GREAT HOGGARTY DIAMOND
so。 You； whom I treat with love and confidence as my children； make no
return to me。 When I toil； you remain still； when I struggle； you look on。
Say the word at once；you doubt me！ O heavens； that this should be the
reward of all my care and love for you！〃
Here Mr。 Brough was so affected that he actually burst into tears； and I
confess I saw in its true light the negligence of which I had been guilty。
〃Sir；〃 says I； 〃I am veryvery sorry： it was a matter of delicacy；
rather than otherwise； which induced me not to speak to my aunt about the
West Diddlesex。〃
〃Delicacy； my dear dear boyas if there can be any delicacy about
making your aunt's fortune！ Say indifference to me； say ingratitude； say
folly；but don't say delicacyno； no； not delicacy。 Be honest； my boy；
and call things by their right names… …always do。〃
〃It WAS folly and ingratitude； Mr。 Brough；〃 says I： 〃I see it all now；
and I'll write to my aunt this very post。〃
〃You had better do no such thing；〃 says Brough； bitterly： 〃the stocks
are at ninety； and Mrs。 Hoggarty can get three per cent。 for her money。〃
〃I WILL write； sir；upon my word and honour； I will write。〃
〃Well； as your honour is passed； you must； I suppose； for never break
your wordno； not in a trifle； Titmarsh。 Send me up the letter when you
have done； and I'll frank itupon my word and honour I will；〃 says Mr。
Brough； laughing； and holding out his hand to me。
I took it； and he pressed mine very kindly〃You may as well sit down
here；〃 says he； as he kept hold of it； 〃there is plenty of paper。〃
And so I sat down and mended a beautiful pen； and began and wrote；
〃Independent West Diddlesex Association； June 1822；〃 and 〃My dear
Aunt；〃 in the best manner possible。 Then I paused a little； thinking what
I should next say； for I have always found that difficulty about letters。
The date and My dear So…and…so one writes off immediatelyit is the next
part which is hard； and I put my pen in my mouth； flung myself back in
my chair； and began to think about it。
〃Bah！〃 said Brough； 〃are you going to be about this letter all day； my
good fellow？ Listen to me； and I'll dictate to you in a moment。〃 So he
began：…
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THE GREAT HOGGARTY DIAMOND
〃My Dear Aunt；Since my return from Somersetshire； I am very
happy indeed to tell you that I have so pleased the managing director of
our Association and the Board； that they have been good enough to
appoint me third clerk〃
〃Sir！〃 says I。
〃Write what I say。 Mr。 Roundhand； as has been agreed by the board
yesterday； quits the clerk's desk and takes the title of secretary and actuary。
Mr。 Highmore takes his place； Mr。 Abednego follows him； and I place you
as third clerkas
〃third clerk （write）； with a salary of a hundred and fifty pounds per
annum。 This news will； I know； gratify my dear mother and you； who
have been a second mother to me all my life。
〃When I was last at home； I remember you consulted me as to the best
mode of laying out a sum of money which was lying useless in your
banker's hands。 I have since lost no opportunity of gaining what
information I could： and situated here as I am； in the very midst of
affairs； I believe； although very young； I am as good a person to apply to
as many others of greater age and standing。
〃I frequently thought of mentioning to you our Association； but
feelings of delicacy prevented me from doing so。 I did not wish that
anyone should suppose that a shadow of self…interest could move me in
any way。
〃But I believe； without any sort of doubt； that the West Diddlesex
Association offers the best security that you can expect for your capital；
and； at the same time； the highest interest you can anywhere procure。
〃The situation of the Company； as I have it from THE VERY BEST
AUTHORITY （underline that）； is as follows：…
〃The subscribed and bona fide capital is FIVE MILLIONS
STERLING。
〃The body of directors you know。 Suffice it to say that the managing
director is John Brough； Esq。； of the firm of Brough and Hoff； a Member
of Parliament； and a man as well known as Mr。 Rothschild in the City of
London。 His private fortune； I know for a fact； amounts to half a million；
and the last dividends paid to the shareholders of the I。 W。 D。 Association
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THE GREAT HOGGARTY DIAMOND
amounted to 6。125 per cent。 per annum。〃
＇That I know was the dividend declared by us。＇
〃Although the shares in the market are at a very great premium； it is
the privilege of the four first clerks to dispose of a certain number； 5；000L。
each at par； and if you； my dearest aunt； would wish for 2；500L。 worth； I
hope you will allow me to oblige you by offering you so much of my new
privileges。
〃Let me hear from you immediately upon the subject； as I have already
an offer for the whole amount of my shares at market price。〃
〃But I haven't； sir；〃 says I。
〃You have； sir。 I will take the shares； but I want YOU。 I want as
many respectable persons in the Company as I can bring。 I want you
because I like you； and I don't mind telling you that I have views of my
own as well； for I am an honest man and say openly what I mean； and I'll
tell you WHY I want you。 I can't； by the regulations of the Company；
have more than a certain number of votes； but if your aunt takes shares； I
expectI don't mind owning itthat she will vote with me。 NOW do you
understand me？ My object is to be all in all with the Company； and if I
be； I will make it the most glorious enterprise that ever was conducted in
the City of London。〃
So I signed the letter and left it with Mr。 B。 to frank。
The next day I went and took my place at the third clerk's desk； being
led to it by Mr。 B。； who made a speech to the gents； much to the
annoyance of the other chaps； who grumbled about their services：
though； as for the matter of that； our services were very much alike： the
Company was only three years old； and the oldest clerk in it had not six
months' more standing in it than I。 〃Look out；〃 said that envious
M'Whirter to me。 〃Have you got money； or have any of your relations
money？ or are any of them going to put it into the concern？〃
I did not think fit to answer him； but took a pinch out of his mull； and
was always kind to him； and he； to say the truth； was always most civil to
me。 As for Gus Hoskins； he began to think I was a superior being； and I
must say that the rest of the chaps behaved very kindly in the matter； and
said that if one man were to be put over their heads befo
