the great hoggarty diamond(大钻石)-第22部分
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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
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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
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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 and twisted over and over； all her old
gowns； flounces； caps； and fallals； and kept my poor Mary from morning
till night altering them to the present mode。 Mrs。 Hoggarty； moreover；
appeared in a new wig； and； I am sorry to say； turned out with such a pair
of red cheeks as Nature never gave her； and as made all the people in
Bernard Street stare； where they are not as yet used to such fashions。
Moreover； she insisted upon our establishing a servant in livery； a
boy； that is； of about sixteen；who was dressed in one of the old liveries
that she had brought with her from Somersetshire； decorated with new
cuffs and collars； and new buttons： on the latter were represented the
united crests of the Titmarshes and Hoggartys； viz。； a tomtit rampant and a
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hog in armour。 I thought this livery and crest…button rather absurd； I
must confess； though my family is very ancient。 And heavens！ what a
roar of laughter was raised in the office one day； when the little servant in
the big livery； with the immense cane； walked in and brought me a
message from Mrs。 Hoggarty of Castle Hoggarty！ Furthermore； all
letters were delivered on a silver tray。 If we had had a baby； I believe
Aunt would have had it down on the tray： but there was as yet no
foundation for Mr。 Smithers's insinuation upon that score； any more than
for his other cowardly fabrication before narrated。 Aunt and Mary used to
walk gravely up and down the New Road； with the boy following with his
great gold…headed stick； but though there was all this ceremony and parade；
and Aunt still talked of her acquaintances； we did not see a single person
from week's end to week's end； and a more dismal house than ours could
hardly be found in London town。
On Sundays； Mrs。 Hoggarty used to go to St。 Pancras Church； then just
built； and as handsome as Covent Garden Theatre； and of evenings； to a
meeting…house of the Anabaptists： and that day； at least； Mary and I had
to ourselves；for we chose to have seats at the Foundling； and heard the
charming music there； and my wife used to look wistfully in the pretty
children's faces；and so； for the matter of that； did I。 It was not； however；
till a year after our marriage that she spoke in a way which shall be here
passed over； but which filled both her and me with inexpressible joy。
I remember she had the news to give me on the very day when the
Muff and Tippet Company shut up； after swallowing a capital of 300；000L。
as some said； and nothing to show for it except a treaty with some Indians；
who had afterwards tomahawked the agent of the Company。 Some
people said there were no Indians； and no agent to be tomahawked at all；
but that the whole had been invented in a house in Crutched Friars。 Well；
I pitied poor Tidd； whose 20；000L。 were thus gone in a year； and whom I
met in the City that day with a most ghastly face。 He had 1；000L。 of
debts； he said； and talked of shooting himself； but he was only arrested；
and passed a long time in the Fleet。 Mary's delightful news； however；
soon put Tidd and the Muff and Tippet Company out of my head； as you
may fancy。
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Other circumstances now occurred in the City of London which
