the great hoggarty diamond(大钻石)-第26节
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of the shoulder…knot assembled in the lobby！）where； I say； in the crush…
room； Mrs。 H。 rushed up to old Lady Drum； whom I pointed out to her；
and insisted upon claiming relationship with her Ladyship。 But my Lady
Drum had only a memory when she chose； as I may say； and had entirely
on this occasion thought fit to forget her connection with the Titmarshes
and Hoggarties。 Far from recognising us； indeed； she called Mrs。
Hoggarty an 〃ojus 'oman；〃 and screamed out as loud as possible for a
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police…officer。
This and other rebuffs made my aunt perceive the vanities of this
wicked world； as she said； and threw her more and more into really serious
society。 She formed several very valuable acquaintances； she said； at the
Independent Chapel； and among others； lighted upon her friend of the
Rookery； Mr。 Grimes Wapshot。 We did not know then the interview
which he had had with Mr。 Smithers； nor did Grimes think proper to
acquaint us with the particulars of it； but though I did acquaint Mrs。 H。
with the fact that her favourite preacher had been tried for forgery； SHE
replied that she considered the story an atrocious calumny； and HE
answered by saying that Mary and I were in lamentable darkness； and that
we should infallibly find the way to a certain bottomless pit； of which he
seemed to know a great deal。 Under the reverend gentleman's guidance
and advice； she； after a time； separated from St。 Pancras altogether〃SAT
UNDER HIM；〃 as the phrase is； regularly thrice a weekbegan to labour
in the conversion of the poor of Bloomsbury and St。 Giles's； and made a
deal of baby…linen for distribution among those benighted people。 She
did not make any； however； for Mrs。 Sam Titmarsh； who now showed
signs that such would be speedily necessary； but let Mary （and my mother
and sisters in Somersetshire） provide what was requisite for the coming
event。 I am not； indeed； sure that she did not say it was wrong on our
parts to make any such provision； and that we ought to let the morrow
provide for itself。 At any rate； the Reverend Grimes Wapshot drank a
deal of brandy…and…water at our house； and dined there even oftener than
poor Gus used to do。
But I had little leisure to attend to him and his doings； for I must
confess at this time I was growing very embarrassed in my circumstances；
and was much harassed both as a private and public character。
As regards the former； Mrs。 Hoggarty had given me 50L。； but out of
that 50L。 I had to pay a journey post from Somersetshire； all the carriage
of her goods from the country； the painting； papering； and carpeting of my
house； the brandy and strong liquors drunk by the Reverend Grimes and
his friends （for the reverend gent said that Rosolio did not agree with him）；
and finally； a thousand small bills and expenses incident to all
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housekeepers in the town of London。
Add to this； I received just at the time when I was most in want of cash；
Madame Mantalini's bill； Messrs。 Howell and James's ditto； the account
of Baron Von Stiltz； and the bill of Mr。 Polonius for the setting of the
diamond pin。 All these bills arrived in a week； as they have a knack of
doing； and fancy my astonishment in presenting them to Mrs。 Hoggarty；
when she said； 〃Well； my dear； you are in the receipt of a very fine income。
If you choose to order dresses and jewels from first…rate shops； you must
pay for them； and don't expect that I am to abet your extravagance； or give
you a shilling more than the munificent sum I pay you for board and
lodging！〃
How could I tell Mary of this behaviour of Mrs。 Hoggarty； and Mary
in such a delicate condition？ And bad as matters were at home； I am
sorry to say at the office they began to look still worse。
Not only did Roundhand leave； but Highmore went away。 Abednego
became head clerk： and one day old Abednego came to the place and
was shown into the directors' private room； when he left it； he came
trembling； chattering； and cursing downstairs； and had begun；
〃Shentlemen〃 a speech to the very clerks in the office； when Mr。 Brough；
with an imploring look； and crying out； 〃Stop till Saturday！〃 at length got
him into the street。
On Saturday Abednego junior left the office for ever； and I became
head clerk with 400L。 a year salary。 It was a fatal week for the office； too。
On Monday； when I arrived and took my seat at the head desk； and my
first read of the newspaper； as was my right； the first thing I read was；
〃Frightful fire in Houndsditch！ Total destruction of Mr。 Meshach's
sealing…wax manufactory and of Mr。 Shadrach's clothing depot； adjoining。
In the former was 20；000L。 worth of the finest Dutch wax； which the
voracious element attacked and devoured in a twinkling。 The latter
estimable gentleman had just completed forty thousand suits of clothes for
the cavalry of H。H。 the Cacique of Poyais。〃
Both of these Jewish gents； who were connections of Mr。 Abednego；
were insured in our office to the full amount of their loss。 The calamity
was attributed to the drunkenness of a scoundrelly Irish watchman； who
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was employed on the premises； and who upset a bottle of whisky in the
warehouse of Messrs。 Shadrach； and incautiously looked for the liquor
with a lighted candle。 The man was brought to our office by his
employers； and certainly； as we all could testify； was EVEN THEN in a
state of frightful intoxication。
As if this were not sufficient； in the obituary was announced the
demise of Alderman PashAlderman Cally…Pash we used to call him in
our lighter hours； knowing his propensity to green fat： but such a
moment as this was no time for joking！ He was insured by our house for
5；000L。 And now I saw very well the truth of a remark of Gus'sviz。；
that life…assurance companies go on excellently for a year or two after
their establishment； but that it is much more difficult to make them
profitable when the assured parties begin to die。
The Jewish fires were the heaviest blows we had had； for though the
Waddingley Cotton…mills had been burnt in 1822； at a loss to the Company
of 80；000L。； and though the Patent Erostratus Match Manufactory had
exploded in the same year at a charge of 14；000L。； there were those who
said that the loss had not been near so heavy as was supposednay； that
the Company had burnt the above…named establishments as advertisements
for themselves。 Of these facts I can't be positive； having never seen the
early accounts of the concern。
Contrary to the expectation of all us gents； who were ourselves as
dismal as mutes； Mr。 Brough came to the office in his coach…and… four；
laughing and joking with a friend as he stepped out at the door。
〃Gentlemen！〃 said he； 〃you have read the papers； they announce an
event which I most deeply deplore。 I mean the demise of the excellent
Alderman Pash； one of our constituents。 But if anything can console me
for the loss of that worthy man； it is to think that his children and widow
will receive； at eleven o'clock next Saturday； 5；000L。 from my friend Mr。
Titmarsh； who is now head clerk here。 As for the accident which has
happened to Messrs。 Shadrach and Meshach；in THAT； at least； there is
nothing that can occasion any person sorrow。 On Saturday next； or as
soon as the particulars of their loss can be satisfactorily ascertained； my
friend Mr。 Titmarsh will pay to them across the
