the great hoggarty diamond(大钻石)-第34部分
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！
fallen into the hands of Mr。 Brough； and that he should lose the income he
made from the lawsuits with her tenants and from the management of her
landed property； he determined to rescue her from that villain Brough； and
came to town for the purpose。 He also；〃 added Mr。 Wapshot； 〃vented his
malignant slander against me； but Heaven was pleased to frustrate his base
schemes。 In the proceedings consequent on Brough's bankruptcy； Mr。
Smithers could not appear； for his own share in the transactions of the
Company would have been most certainly shown up。 During his absence
from London； I became the husbandthe happy husbandof your aunt。
But though； my dear sir； I have been the means of bringing her to grace； I
cannot disguise from you that Mrs。 W。 has faults which all my pastoral
care has not enabled me to eradicate。 She is close of her money； sirvery
close； nor can I make that charitable use of her property which； as a
clergyman； I ought to do； for she has tied up every shilling of it； and only
allows me half…a…crown a week for pocket…money。 In temper； too； she is
very violent。 During the first years of our union； I strove with her； yea； I
chastised her； but her perseverance； I must confess； got the better of me。
I make no more remonstrances； but am as a lamb in her hands； and she
leads me whithersoever she pleases。〃
Mr。 Wapshot concluded his tale by borrowing half…a…crown from me （it
was at the Somerset Coffee…house in the Strand； where he came； in the
year 1832； to wait upon me）； and I saw him go from thence into the gin…
shop opposite； and come out of the gin…shop half…an… hour afterwards；
128
… Page 129…
THE GREAT HOGGARTY DIAMOND
reeling across the streets； and perfectly intoxicated。
He died next year： when his widow； who called herself Mrs。
Hoggarty…Grimes…Wapshot； of Castle Hoggarty； said that over the grave of
her saint all earthly resentments were forgotten； and proposed to come and
live with us； paying us； of course； a handsome remuneration。 But this
offer my wife and I respectfully declined； and once more she altered her
will； which once more she had made in our favour； called us ungrateful
wretches and pampered menials； and left all her property to the Irish
Hoggarties。 But seeing my wife one day in a carriage with Lady Tiptoff；
and hearing that we had been at the great ball at Tiptoff Castle； and that I
had grown to be a rich man； she changed her mind again； sent for me on
her death…bed； and left me the farms of Slopperton and Squashtail； with all
her savings for fifteen years。 Peace be to her soul！ for certainly she left
me a very pretty property。
Though I am no literary man myself； my cousin Michael （who
generally； when he is short of coin； comes down and passes a few months
with us） says that my Memoirs may be of some use to the public （meaning；
I suspect； to himself）； and if so； I am glad to serve him and them； and
hereby take farewell： bidding all gents who peruse this； to be cautious of
their money； if they have it； to be still more cautious of their friends'
money； to remember that great profits imply great risks； and that the great
shrewd capitalists of this country would not be content with four per cent。
for their money； if they could securely get more： above all； I entreat
them never to embark in any speculation； of which the conduct is not
perfectly clear to them； and of which the agents are not perfectly open and
loyal。
129
