the great hoggarty diamond(大钻石)-第24节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Mrs。 Samuel Titmarsh； and she was perfectly certain it would do her good。
〃With very great unwillingness I was obliged now to bring my last
reserve into the field； and may tell you what that was； Sam my boy； now
that the matter is so long passed。 'Madam；' said I； 'there's a matter about
which I must speak； though indeed I scarcely dare。 I dined with your
nephew yesterday； and met at his table a young man… …a young man of low
manners； but evidently one who has blinded your nephew； and I too much
fear has succeeded in making an impression upon your niece。 His name
is Hoskins； madam； and when I state that he who was never in the house
during your presence there； has dined with your too confiding nephew
sixteen times in three weeks； I may leave you to imagine what I dare not
dare not imagine myself。'
〃The shot told。 Your aunt bounced up at once； and in ten minutes
more was in my carriage； on our way back to London。 There； sir； was
not that generalship？〃
〃And you played this pretty trick off at my wife's expense； Mr。
Smithers；〃 said I。
〃At your wife's expense； certainly； but for the benefit of both of you。〃
〃It's lucky； sir； that you are an old man；〃 I replied； 〃and that the affair
happened ten years ago； or； by the Lord； Mr。 Smithers； I would have given
you such a horsewhipping as you never heard of！〃
But this was the way in which Mrs。 Hoggarty was brought back to her
relatives； and this was the reason why we took that house in Bernard
Street； the doings at which must now he described。
82
… Page 83…
THE GREAT HOGGARTY DIAMOND
CHAPTER X
OF SAM'S PRIVATE AFFAIRS AND OF THE FIRM OF
BROUGH AND HOFF
We took a genteel house in Bernard Street； Russell Square； and my
aunt sent for all her furniture from the country； which would have filled
two such houses； but which came pretty cheap to us young housekeepers；
as we had only to pay the carriage of the goods from Bristol。
When I brought Mrs。 H。 her third half…year's dividend； having not for
four months touched a shilling of her money； I must say she gave me 50L。
of the 80L。； and told me that was ample pay for the board and lodging of a
poor old woman like her； who did not eat more than a sparrow。
I have myself； in the country； seen her eat nine sparrows in a pudding；
but she was rich and I could not complain。 If she saved 600L。 a year； at
the least； by living with us； why； all the savings would one day come to me；
and so Mary and I consoled ourselves； and tried to manage matters as well
as we might。 It was no easy task to keep a mansion in Bernard Street and
save money out of 470L。 a year； which was my income。 But what a
lucky fellow I was to have such an income！
As Mrs。 Hoggarty left the Rookery in Smithers's carriage； Mr。 Brough；
with his four greys； was entering the lodge…gate； and I should like to have
seen the looks of these two gentlemen； as the one was carrying the other's
prey off； out of his own very den； under his very nose。
He came to see her the next day； and protested that he would not leave
the house until she left it with him： that he had heard of his daughter's
infamous conduct； and had seen her in tears〃in tears； madam； and on her
knees； imploring Heaven to pardon her！〃 But Mr。 B。 was obliged to leave
the house without my aunt； who had a causa major for staying； and hardly
allowed poor Mary out of her sight；opening every one of the letters that
came into the house directed to my wife； and suspecting hers to everybody。
Mary never told me of all this pain for many many years afterwards； but
had always a smiling face for her husband when he came home from his
work。 As for poor Gus； my aunt had so frightened him； that he never
83
… Page 84…
THE GREAT HOGGARTY DIAMOND
once showed his nose in the place all the time we lived there； but used to
be content with news of Mary； of whom he was as fond as he was of me。
Mr。 Brough； when my aunt left him； was in a furious ill…humour with
me。 He found fault with me ten times a day； and openly； before the gents
of the office； but I let him one day know pretty smartly that I was not only
a servant； but a considerable shareholder in the company； that I defied him
to find fault with my work or my regularity； and that I was not minded to
receive any insolent language from him or any man。 He said it was
always so： that he had never cherished a young man in his bosom； but
the ingrate had turned on him； that he was accustomed to wrong and
undutifulness from his children； and that he would pray that the sin might
be forgiven me。 A moment before he had been cursing and swearing at
me； and speaking to me as if I had been his shoeblack。 But； look you； I
was not going to put up with any more of Madam Brough's airs； or of his。
With me they might act as they thought fit； but I did not choose that my
wife should be passed over by them； as she had been in the matter of the
visit to Fulham。
Brough ended by warning me of Hodge and Smithers。 〃Beware of
these men；〃 said he； 〃but for my honesty； your aunt's landed property
would have been sacrificed by these cormorants： and when； for her
benefitwhich you； obstinate young man； will not perceiveI wished to
dispose of her land； her attorneys actually had the audacitythe
unchristian avarice I may sayto ask ten per cent。 commission on the
sale。〃
There might be some truth in this； I thought： at any rate； when
rogues fall out； honest men come by their own： and now I began to
suspect； I am sorry to say； that both the attorney and the Director had a
little of the rogue in their composition。 It was especially about my wife's
fortune that Mr。 B。 showed HIS cloven foot： for proposing； as usual； that
I should purchase shares with it in our Company； I told him that my wife
was a minor； and as such her little fortune was vested out of my control
altogether。 He flung away in a rage at this； and I soon saw that he did not
care for me any more； by Abednego's manner to me。 No more holidays；
no more advances of money； had I： on the contrary； the private clerkship
84
… Page 85…
THE GREAT HOGGARTY DIAMOND
at 150L。 was abolished； and I found myself on my 250L。 a year again。
Well； what then？ it was always a good income； and I did my duty； and
laughed at the Director。
About this time； in the beginning of 1824； the Jamaica Ginger Beer
Company shut up shopexploded； as Gus said； with a bang！ The Patent
Pump shares were down to 15L。 upon a paid…up capital of 65L。 Still ours
were at a high premium； and the Independent West Diddlesex held its head
up as proudly as any office in London。 Roundhand's abuse had had some
influence against the Director； certainly； for he hinted at malversation of
shares： but the Company still stood as united as the Hand…in…Hand； and
as firm as the Rock。
To return to the state of affairs in Bernard Street； Russell Square： my
aunt's old furniture crammed our little rooms； and my aunt's enormous old
jingling grand piano； with crooked legs and half the strings broken；
occupied three…fourths of the little drawing…room。 Here used Mrs。 H。 to
sit； and play us； for hours； sonatas that were in fashion in Lord
Charleville's time； and sung with a cracked voice； till it was all that we
could do to refrain from laughing。
And it was queer to remark the change that had taken place in Mrs。
Hoggarty's character now： for whereas she was in the country among the
topping persons of the village； and quite content with a tea… party at six
and a game of twopenny whist afterwards；in London she would never
dine till seven； would have a fly from the mews to drive in the Park twice
a week； cut and uncut； and ripped up
