the great hoggarty diamond(大钻石)-第2节
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my aunt's； being； with the words bongtong and ally mode de Parry； the
extent of her French vocabulary）。 〃You know the dreadful story of that
poor poor artist。 When he had finished that wonderful likeness for the
late Mrs。 Hoggarty of Castle Hoggarty； county Mayo； she wore it in her
bosom at the Lord Lieutenant's ball； where she played a game of piquet
with the Commander…in… Chief。 What could have made her put the hair
of her vulgar daughters round Mick's portrait； I can't think； but so it was；
as you see it this day。 'Madam；' says the Commander…in…Chief； 'if that is
not my friend Mick Hoggarty； I'm a Dutchman！' Those were his
Lordship's very words。 Mrs。 Hoggarty of Castle Hoggarty took off the
brooch and showed it to him。
〃'Who is the artist？' says my Lord。 'It's the most wonderful likeness I
ever saw in my life！'
〃'Mulcahy；' says she； 'of Ormond's Quay。'
〃'Begad； I patronise him！' says my Lord； but presently his face
darkened； and he gave back the picture with a dissatisfied air。 'There is one
fault in that portrait；' said his Lordship； who was a rigid disciplinarian；
'and I wonder that my friend Mick； as a military man； should have
overlooked it。'
〃'What's that？' says Mrs。 Hoggarty of Castle Hoggarty。
〃'Madam； he has been painted WITHOUT HIS SWORD…BELT！'
And he took up the cards again in a passion； and finished the game
without saying a single word。
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THE GREAT HOGGARTY DIAMOND
〃The news was carried to Mr。 Mulcahy the next day； and that
unfortunate artist WENT MAD IMMEDIATELY！ He had set his whole
reputation upon this miniature； and declared that it should be faultless。
Such was the effect of the announcement upon his susceptible heart！
When Mrs。 Hoggarty died； your uncle took the portrait and always wore it
himself。 His sisters said it was for the sake of the diamond； whereas；
ungrateful things！ it was merely on account of their hair； and his love for
the fine arts。 As for the poor artist； my dear； some people said it was the
profuse use of spirit that brought on delirium tremens； but I don't believe it。
Take another glass of Rosolio。〃
The telling of this story always put my aunt into great good… humour；
and she promised at the end of it to pay for the new setting of the diamond；
desiring me to take it on my arrival in London to the great jeweller； Mr。
Polonius； and send her the bill。 〃The fact is；〃 said she； 〃that the gold in
which the thing is set is worth five guineas at the very least； and you can
have the diamond reset for two。 However； keep the remainder； dear Sam；
and buy yourself what you please with it。〃
With this the old lady bade me adieu。 The clock was striking twelve
as I walked down the village； for the story of Mulcahy always took an
hour in the telling； and I went away not quite so downhearted as when the
present was first made to me。 〃After all；〃 thought I； 〃a diamond…pin is a
handsome thing； and will give me a distingue air； though my clothes be
never so shabby〃and shabby they were without any doubt。 〃Well；〃 I
said； 〃three guineas； which I shall have over； will buy me a couple of pairs
of what…d'ye…call… 'ems；〃 of which； entre nous； I was in great want； having
just then done growing； whereas my pantaloons were made a good
eighteen months before。
Well； I walked down the village； my hands in my breeches pockets； I
had poor Mary's purse there； having removed the little things which she
gave me the day before； and placed themnever mind where： but look
you； in those days I had a heart； and a warm one too。 I had Mary's purse
ready for my aunt's donation； which never came； and with my own little
stock of money besides； that Mrs。 Hoggarty's card parties had lessened by
a good five…and…twenty shillings； I calculated that； after paying my fare； I
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THE GREAT HOGGARTY DIAMOND
should get to town with a couple of seven…shilling pieces in my pocket。
I walked down the village at a deuce of a pace； so quick that； if the
thing had been possible； I should have overtaken ten o'clock that had
passed by me two hours ago； when I was listening to Mrs。 H。's long stories
over her terrible Rosolio。 The truth is； at ten I had an appointment under
a certain person's window； who was to have been looking at the moon at
that hour； with her pretty quilled nightcap on； and her blessed hair in
papers。
There was the window shut； and not so much as a candle in it； and
though I hemmed and hawed； and whistled over the garden paling； and
sang a song of which Somebody was very fond； and even threw a pebble
at the window； which hit it exactly at the opening of the lattice；I woke no
one except a great brute of a house…dog； that yelled； and howled； and
bounced so at me over the rails； that I thought every moment he would
have had my nose between his teeth。
So I was obliged to go off as quickly as might be； and the next
morning Mamma and my sisters made breakfast for me at four； and at five
came the 〃True Blue〃 light six…inside post…coach to London； and I got up
on the roof without having seen Mary Smith。
As we passed the house； it DID seem as if the window curtain in her
room was drawn aside just a little bit。 Certainly the window was open；
and it had been shut the night before： but away went the coach； and the
village； cottage； and the churchyard； and Hicks's hayricks were soon out of
sight。
* * *
〃My hi； what a pin！〃 said a stable…boy； who was smoking a cigar； to
the guard； looking at me and putting his finger to his nose。
The fact is； that I had never undressed since my aunt's party； and being
uneasy in mind and having all my clothes to pack up； and thinking of
something else； had quite forgotten Mrs。 Hoggarty's brooch； which I had
stuck into my shirt…frill the night before。
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THE GREAT HOGGARTY DIAMOND
CHAPTER II
TELLS HOW THE DIAMOND IS BROUGHT UP TO LONDON；
AND PRODUCES WONDERFUL EFFECTS BOTH IN THE CITY
AND AT THE WEST END
The circumstances recorded in this story took place some score of
years ago； when； as the reader may remember； there was a great mania in
the City of London for establishing companies of all sorts； by which many
people made pretty fortunes。
I was at this period； as the truth must be known； thirteenth clerk of
twenty…four young gents who did the immense business of the
Independent West Diddlesex Fire and Life Insurance Company； at their
splendid stone mansion in Cornhill。 Mamma had sunk a sum of four
hundred pounds in the purchase of an annuity at this office； which paid her
no less than six…and…thirty pounds a year； when no other company in
London would give her more than twenty…four。 The chairman of the
directors was the great Mr。 Brough； of the house of Brough and Hoff；
Crutched Friars； Turkey Merchants。 It was a new house； but did a
tremendous business in the fig and sponge way； and more in the Zante
currant line than any other firm in the City。
Brough was a great man among the Dissenting connection； and you
saw his name for hundreds at the head of every charitable society
patronised by those good people。 He had nine clerks residing at his
office in Crutched Friars； he would not take one without a certificate from
the schoolmaster and clergyman of his native place； strongly vouching for
his morals and doctrine； and the places were so run after； that he got a
premium of four or five hundred pounds with each young gent； whom he
