the great hoggarty diamond(大钻石)-第16节
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Rosolio。
I soon found out what Mr。 Tidd was； and what he was longing for。
〃Isn't she a glorious creature？〃 says he to me。
〃Who； sir？〃 says I。
〃Miss Belinda； to be sure！〃 cried Tidd。 〃Did mortal ever look upon
eyes like hers； or view a more sylph…like figure？〃
〃She might have a little more flesh； Mr。 Tidd；〃 says the Captain； 〃and a
little less eyebrow。 They look vicious； those scowling eyebrows； in a girl。
Qu'en dites…vous； Mr。 Titmarsh； as Miss Brough would say？〃
〃I think it remarkably good claret； sir；〃 says I。
〃Egad； you're the right sort of fellow！〃 says the Captain。 〃Volto
sciolto； eh？ You respect our sleeping host yonder？〃
〃That I do； sir； as the first man in the city of London； and my
managing director。〃
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〃And so do I；〃 says Tidd； 〃and this day fortnight； when I'm of age； I'll
prove my confidence too。〃
〃As how？〃 says I。
〃Why； sir； you must know that I come intoahema considerable
property； sir； on the 14th of July； which my father madein business。〃
〃Say at once he was a tailor； Tidd。〃
〃He WAS a tailor； sir；but what of that？ I've had a University
education； and have the feelings of a gentleman； as muchay； perhaps； and
more； than some members of an effete aristocracy。〃
〃Tidd； don't be severe！〃 says the Captain； drinking a tenth glass。
〃Well； Mr。 Titmarsh； when of age I come into a considerable property；
and Mr。 Brough has been so good as to say he can get me twelve hundred
a year for my twenty thousand pounds； and I have promised to invest
them。〃
〃In the West Diddlesex； sir？〃 says I〃in our office？〃
〃No； in another company； of which Mr。 Brough is director； and quite as
good a thing。 Mr。 Brough is a very old friend of my family； sir； and he
has taken a great liking to me； and he says that with my talents I ought to
get into Parliament； and thenand then！ after I have laid out my patrimony；
I may look to MATRIMONY； you see！〃
〃Oh； you designing dog！〃 said the Captain。 〃When I used to lick you
at school； who ever would have thought that I was thrashing a sucking
statesman？〃
〃Talk away； boys！〃 said Brough； waking out of his sleep； 〃I only sleep
with half an eye； and hear you all。 Yes； you shall get into Parliament；
Tidd my man； or my name's not Brough！ You shall have six per cent。 for
your money； or never believe me！ But as for my daughterask HER； and
not me。 You； or the Captain； or Titmarsh； may have her； if you can get her。
All I ask in a son…in…law is； that he should be； as every one of you is； an
honourable and high… minded man！〃
Tidd at this looked very knowing； and as our host sank off to sleep
again； pointed archly at his eyebrows； and wagged his head at the Captain。
〃Bah！〃 says the Captain。 〃I say what I think； and you may tell Miss
Brough if you like。〃 And so presently this conversation ended； and we
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were summoned in to coffee。 After which the Captain sang songs with
Miss Brough； Tidd looked at her and said nothing； I looked at prints； and
Mrs。 Brough sat knitting stockings for the poor。 The Captain was
sneering openly at Miss Brough and her affected ways and talk； but in
spite of his bullying contemptuous way I thought she seemed to have a
great regard for him； and to bear his scorn very meekly。
At twelve Captain Fizgig went off to his barracks at Knightsbridge；
and Tidd and I to our rooms。 Next day being Sunday； a great bell woke
us at eight； and at nine we all assembled in the breakfast… room； where Mr。
Brough read prayers； a chapter； and made an exhortation afterwards； to us
and all the members of the household； except the French cook； Monsieur
Nontong…paw； whom I could see； from my chair； walking about in the
shrubberies in his white night… cap； smoking a cigar。
Every morning on week…days； punctually at eight； Mr。 Brough went
through the same ceremony； and had his family to prayers； but though this
man was a hypocrite； as I found afterwards； I'm not going to laugh at the
family prayers； or say he was a hypocrite BECAUSE he had them。 There
are many bad and good men who don't go through the ceremony at all； but
I am sure the good men would be the better for it； and am not called upon
to settle the question with respect to the bad ones； and therefore I have
passed over a great deal of the religious part of Mr。 Brough's behaviour：
suffice it； that religion was always on his lips； that he went to church
thrice every Sunday； when he had not a party； and if he did not talk
religion with us when we were alone； had a great deal to say upon the
subject upon occasions； as I found one day when we had a Quaker and
Dissenter party to dine； and when his talk was as grave as that of any
minister present。 Tidd was not there that day；for nothing could make
him forsake his Byron riband or refrain from wearing his collars turned
down； so Tidd was sent with the buggy to Astley's。 〃And hark ye；
Titmarsh my boy；〃 said he； 〃leave your diamond pin upstairs： our friends
to…day don't like such gewgaws； and though for my part I am no enemy to
harmless ornaments； yet I would not shock the feelings of those who have
sterner opinions。 You will see that my wife and Miss Brough consult my
wishes in this respect。〃 And so they did；for they both came down to
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dinner in black gowns and tippets； whereas Miss B。 had commonly her
dress half off her shoulders。
The Captain rode over several times to see us； and Miss Brough
seemed always delighted to see HIM。 One day I met him as I was
walking out alone by the river； and we had a long talk together。
〃Mr。 Titmarsh；〃 says he； 〃from what little I have seen of you； you seem
to be an honest straight…minded young fellow； and I want some
information that you can give。 Tell me； in the first place； if you willand
upon my honour it shall go no fartherabout this Insurance Company of
yours？ You are in the City； and see how affairs are going on。 Is your
concern a stable one？〃
〃Sir；〃 said I； 〃frankly then； and upon my honour too； I believe it is。 It
has been set up only four years； it is true； but Mr。 Brough had a great name
when it was established； and a vast connection。 Every clerk in the office
has； to be sure； in a manner； paid for his place； either by taking shares
himself； or by his relations taking them。 I got mine because my mother；
who is very poor； devoted a small sum of money that came to us to the
purchase of an annuity for herself and a provision for me。 The matter
was debated by the family and our attorneys； Messrs。 Hodge and Smithers；
who are very well known in our part of the country； and it was agreed on
all hands that my mother could not do better with her money for all of us
than invest it in this way。 Brough alone is worth half a million of money；
and his name is a host in itself。 Nay； more： I wrote the other day to an
aunt of mine； who has a considerable sum of money in loose cash； and
who had consulted me as to the disposal of it； to invest it in our office。
Can I give you any better proof of my opinion of its solvency？〃
〃Did Brough persuade you in any way？〃
〃Yes； he certainly spoke to me： but he very honestly told me his
motives； and tells them to us all as honestly。 He says； 'Gentlemen； it is
my object to increase the connection of the office； as much as possible。 I
want to crush all the other offices in London。 Our terms are lower than
any office； and we can bear
