the great hoggarty diamond(大钻石)-第33节
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I did not go near what is called the poor side of the prisonI DARED
not； that was the fact。 But our little stock of money was running low； and
my heart sickened to think what might be my dear wife's fate； and on what
sort of a couch our child might be born。 But Heaven spared me that pang；…
…Heaven； and my dear good friend； Gus Hoskins。
The attorneys to whom Mr。 Smithers recommended me； told me that I
could get leave to live in the rules of the Fleet； could I procure sureties to
the marshal of the prison for the amount of the detainer lodged against me；
but though I looked Mr。 Blatherwick hard in the face； he never offered to
give the bail for me； and I knew no housekeeper in London who would
procure it。 There was； however； one whom I did not know；and that was
old Mr。 Hoskins； the leatherseller of Skinner Street； a kind fat gentleman；
who brought his fat wife to see Mrs。 Titmarsh； and though the lady gave
herself rather patronising airs （her husband being free of the Skinners'
Company； and bidding fair to be Alderman； nay； Lord Mayor of the first
city in the world）； she seemed heartily to sympathise with us； and her
husband stirred and bustled about until the requisite leave was obtained；
and I was allowed comparative liberty。
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As for lodgings； they were soon had。 My old landlady； Mrs。 Stokes；
sent her Jemima to say that her first floor was at our service； and when we
had taken possession of it； and I offered at the end of the week to pay her
bill； the good soul； with tears in her eyes； told me that she did not want for
money now； and that she knew I had enough to do with what I had。 I did
not refuse her kindness； for； indeed； I had but five guineas left； and ought
not by rights to have thought of such expensive apartments as hers； but my
wife's time was very near； and I could not bear to think that she should
want for any comfort in her lying…in。
The admirable woman； with whom the Misses Hoskins came every
day to keep companyand very nice； kind ladies they arerecovered her
health a good deal； now she was out of the odious prison and was enabled
to take exercise。 How gaily did we pace up and down Bridge Street and
Chatham Place； to be sure！ and yet； in truth； I was a beggar； and felt
sometimes ashamed of being so happy。
With regard to the liabilities of the Company my mind was now made
quite easy； for the creditors could only come upon our directors； and these
it was rather difficult to find。 Mr。 Brough was across the water； and I
must say； to the credit of that gentleman； that while everybody thought he
had run away with hundreds of thousands of pounds； he was in a garret at
Boulogne； with scarce a shilling in his pocket； and his fortune to make
afresh。 Mrs。 Brough； like a good brave woman； remained faithful to him；
and only left Fulham with the gown on her back； and Miss Belinda；
though grumbling and sadly out of temper； was no better off。 For the
other directors； when they came to inquire at Edinburgh for Mr。 Mull； W。
S。； it appeared there WAS a gentleman of that name； who had practised in
Edinburgh with good reputation until 1800； since when he had retired to
the Isle of Skye； and on being applied to； knew no more of the West
Diddlesex Association than Queen Anne did。 General Sir Dionysius
O'Halloran had abruptly quitted Dublin； and returned to the republic of
Guatemala。 Mr。 Shirk went into the Gazette。 Mr。 Macraw； M。P。 and
King's Counsel； had not a single guinea in the world but what he received
for attending our board； and the only man seizable was Mr。 Manstraw； a
wealthy navy contractor； as we understood； at Chatham。 He turned out to
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THE GREAT HOGGARTY DIAMOND
be a small dealer in marine stores； and his whole stock in trade was not
worth 10L。 Mr。 Abednego was the other director； and we have already
seen what became of HIM。
〃Why； as there is no danger from the West Diddlesex；〃 suggested Mr。
Hoskins； senior； 〃should you not now endeavour to make an arrangement
with your creditors； and who can make a better bargain with them than
pretty Mrs。 Titmarsh here； whose sweet eyes would soften the hardest…
hearted tailor or milliner that ever lived？〃
Accordingly my dear girl； one bright day in February； shook me by the
hand； and bidding me be of good cheer； set forth with Gus in a coach； to
pay a visit to those persons。 Little did I think a year before； that the
daughter of the gallant Smith should ever be compelled to be a suppliant
to tailors and haberdashers； but SHE； Heaven bless her！ felt none of the
shame which oppressed meor SAID she felt noneand went away；
nothing doubting； on her errand。
In the evening she came back； and my heart thumped to know the
news。 I saw it was bad by her face。 For some time she did not speak；
but looked as pale as death； and wept as she kissed me。 〃YOU speak； Mr。
Augustus；〃 at last said she； sobbing； and so Gus told me the circumstances
of that dismal day。
〃What do you think； Sam？〃 says he； 〃that infernal aunt of yours； at
whose command you had the things； has written to the tradesmen to say
that you are a swindler and impostor； that you give out that SHE ordered
the goods； that she is ready to drop down dead； and to take her bible…oath
she never did any such thing； and that they must look to you alone for
payment。 Not one of them would hear of letting you out； and as for
Mantalini； the scoundrel was so insolent that I gave him a box on the ear；
and would have half… killed him； only poor MaryMrs。 Titmarsh I mean
screamed and fainted： and I brought her away； and here she is； as ill as
can be。〃
That night； the indefatigable Gus was obliged to run post…haste for
Doctor Salts； and next morning a little boy was born。 I did not know
whether to be sad or happy； as they showed me the little weakly thing； but
Mary was the happiest woman； she declared； in the world； and forgot all
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her sorrows in nursing the poor baby； she went bravely through her time；
and vowed that it was the loveliest child in the world； and that though
Lady Tiptoff； whose confinement we read of as having taken place the
same day； might have a silk bed and a fine house in Grosvenor Square； she
never never could have such a beautiful child as our dear little Gus： for
after whom should we have named the boy； if not after our good kind
friend？ We had a little party at the christening； and I assure you were very
merry over our tea。
The mother； thank Heaven！ was very well； and it did one's heart good
to see her in that attitude in which I think every woman； be she ever so
plain； looks beautifulwith her baby at her bosom。 The child was sickly；
but she did not see it； we were very poor； but what cared she？ She had
no leisure to be sorrowful as I was： I had my last guinea now in my pocket；
and when THAT was goneah！ my heart sickened to think of what was to
come； and I prayed for strength and guidance； and in the midst of my
perplexities felt yet thankful that the danger of the confinement was over；
and that for the worst fortune which was to befall us； my dear wife was at
least prepared； and strong in health。
I told Mrs。 Stokes that she must let us have a cheaper rooma garret
that should cost but a few shillings； and though the good woman bade me
remain in the apartments we occupied； yet； now that my wife was well； I
felt it would be a crime to deprive my kind landlady of her chief means of
livelihood； and at length she promised to get me a garret as I wanted； and
to make it as comfortable as might be； and little Jemima declared that she
would be glad beyond measure to wait on the mother and the child。
The room； then； was made ready； and though I took some pains not to
speak of t
