the great hoggarty diamond(大钻石)-第18节
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the matter can't be mended。' So you see；〃 continued our Director； 〃that
you were indebted for your place； not to your aunt's money； but〃
〃But to MY AUNT'S DIAMOND PIN！〃
〃Lucky rascal！〃 said Brough； poking me in the side and going out of
the way。 And lucky； in faith； I thought I was。
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THE GREAT HOGGARTY DIAMOND
CHAPTER VIII
RELATES THE HAPPIEST DAY OF SAMUEL TITMARSH'S
LIFE
I don't know how it was that in the course of the next six months Mr。
Roundhand； the actuary； who had been such a profound admirer of Mr。
Brough and the West Diddlesex Association； suddenly quarrelled with
both； and taking his money out of the concern； he disposed of his 5；000L。
worth of shares to a pretty good profit； and went away； speaking
everything that was evil both of the Company and the Director。
Mr。 Highmore now became secretary and actuary； Mr。 Abednego was
first clerk； and your humble servant was second in the office at a salary of
250L。 a year。 How unfounded were Mr。 Roundhand's aspersions of the
West Diddlesex appeared quite clearly at our meeting in January； 1823；
when our Chief Director； in one of the most brilliant speeches ever heard；
declared that the half…yearly dividend was 4L。 per cent。； at the rate of 8L。
per cent。 per annum； and I sent to my aunt 120L。 sterling as the amount of
the interest of the stock in my name。
My excellent aunt； Mrs。 Hoggarty； delighted beyond measure； sent me
back 10L。 for my own pocket； and asked me if she had not better sell
Slopperton and Squashtail； and invest all her money in this admirable
concern。
On this point I could not surely do better than ask the opinion of Mr。
Brough。 Mr。 B。 told me that shares could not be had but at a premium；
but on my representing that I knew of 5；000L。 worth in the market at par；
he said〃Well； if so； he would like a fair price for his； and would not mind
disposing of 5；000L。 worth； as he had rather a glut of West Diddlesex
shares； and his other concerns wanted feeding with ready money。〃 At the
end of our conversation； of which I promised to report the purport to Mrs。
Hoggarty； the Director was so kind as to say that he had determined on
creating a place of private secretary to the Managing Director； and that I
should hold that office with an additional salary of 150L。
I had 250L。 a year； Miss Smith had 70L。 per annum to her fortune。
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THE GREAT HOGGARTY DIAMOND
What had I said should be my line of conduct whenever I could realise
300L。 a year？
Gus of course； and all the gents in our office through him； knew of my
engagement with Mary Smith。 Her father had been a commander in the
navy and a very distinguished officer； and though Mary； as I have said；
only brought me a fortune of 70L。 a year； and I； as everybody said； in my
present position in the office and the City of London； might have
reasonably looked out for a lady with much more money； yet my friends
agreed that the connection was very respectable； and I was content： as
who would not have been with such a darling as Mary？ I am sure； for
my part； I would not have taken the Lord Mayor's own daughter in place
of Mary； even with a plum to her fortune。
Mr。 Brough of course was made aware of my approaching marriage； as
of everything else relating to every clerk in the office； and I do believe
Abednego told him what we had for dinner every day。 Indeed； his
knowledge of our affairs was wonderful。
He asked me how Mary's money was invested。 It was in the three per
cent。 consols2；333L。 6S。 8D。
〃Remember；〃 says he； 〃my lad； Mrs。 Sam Titmarsh that is to be may
have seven per cent。 for her money at the very least； and on better security
than the Bank of England； for is not a Company of which John Brough is
the head better than any other company in England？〃 and to be sure I
thought he was not far wrong； and promised to speak to Mary's guardians
on the subject before our marriage。 Lieutenant Smith； her grandfather； had
been at the first very much averse to our union。 （I must confess that； one
day finding me alone with her； and kissing； I believe； the tips of her little
fingers； he had taken me by the collar and turned me out of doors。） But
Sam Titmarsh； with a salary of 250L。 a year； a promised fortune of 150L。
more； and the right…hand man of Mr。 John Brough of London； was a very
different man from Sam the poor clerk； and the poor clergyman's widow's
son； and the old gentleman wrote me a kind letter enough； and begged me
to get him six pairs of lamb's…wool stockings and four ditto waistcoats
from Romanis'； and accepted them too as a present from me when I went
down in Junein happy June of 1823to fetch my dear Mary away。
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THE GREAT HOGGARTY DIAMOND
Mr。 Brough was likewise kindly anxious about my aunt's Slopperton
and Squashtail property； which she had not as yet sold； as she talked of
doing； and； as Mr。 B。 represented； it was a sin and a shame that any person
in whom he took such interest； as he did in all the relatives of his dear
young friend； should only have three per cent。 for her money； when she
could have eight elsewhere。 He always called me Sam now； praised me
to the other young men （who brought the praises regularly to me）； said
there was a cover always laid for me at Fulham； and repeatedly took me
thither。 There was but little company when I went； and M'Whirter used
to say he only asked me on days when he had his vulgar acquaintances。
But I did not care for the great people； not being born in their sphere； and
indeed did not much care for going to the house at all。 Miss Belinda was
not at all to my liking。 After her engagement with Captain Fizgig； and
after Mr。 Tidd had paid his 20；000L。 and Fizgig's great relations had joined
in some of our Director's companies； Mr。 Brough declared he believed that
Captain Fizgig's views were mercenary； and put him to the proof at once；
by saying that he must take Miss Brough without a farthing； or not have
her at all。 Whereupon Captain Fizgig got an appointment in the colonies；
and Miss Brough became more ill…humoured than ever。 But I could not
help thinking she was rid of a bad bargain； and pitying poor Tidd； who
came back to the charge again more love…sick than ever； and was rebuffed
pitilessly by Miss Belinda。 Her father plainly told Tidd； too； that his
visits were disagreeable to Belinda； and though he must always love and
value him； he begged him to discontinue his calls at the Rookery。 Poor
fellow！ he had paid his 20；000L。 away for nothing！ for what was six per
cent。 to him compared to six per cent。 and the hand of Miss Belinda
Brough？
Well； Mr。 Brough pitied the poor love…sick swain； as he called me； so
much； and felt such a warm sympathy in my well…being； that he insisted
on my going down to Somersetshire with a couple of months' leave； and
away I went； as happy as a lark； with a couple of brand… new suits from
Von Stiltz's in my trunk （I had them made； looking forward to a certain
event）； and inside the trunk Lieutenant Smith's fleecy hosiery； wrapping
up a parcel of our prospectuses and two letters from John Brough； Esq。； to
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my mother our worthy annuitant； and to Mrs。 Hoggarty our excellent
shareholder。 Mr。 Brough said I was all that the fondest father could wish；
that he considered me as his own boy； and that he earnestly begged Mrs。
Hoggarty not to delay the sale of her little landed property； as land was
high now and MUST FALL； whereas the West Diddlesex Association
shares were （comparatively） low； and must inevitably； in the course of a
year or two； double； treble； quadruple their
