the great hoggarty diamond(大钻石)-第27节
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friend Mr。 Titmarsh will pay to them across the counter a sum of forty；
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fifty； eighty； one hundred thousand poundsaccording to the amount of
their loss。 THEY； at least； will be remunerated； and though to our
proprietors the outlay will no doubt be considerable； yet we can afford it；
gentlemen。 John Brough can afford it himself； for the matter of that； and
not be very much embarrassed； and we must learn to bear ill…fortune as we
have hitherto borne good； and show ourselves to be men always！〃
Mr。 B。 concluded with some allusions； which I confess I don't like to
give here； for to speak of Heaven in connection with common worldly
matters； has always appeared to me irreverent； and to bring it to bear
witness to the lie in his mouth； as a religious hypocrite does； is such a
frightful crime； that one should be careful even in alluding to it。
Mr。 Brough's speech somehow found its way into the newspapers of
that very evening； nor can I think who gave a report of it； for none of our
gents left the office that day until the evening papers had appeared。 But
there was the speechay； and at the week's end； although Roundhand was
heard on 'Change that day declaring he would bet five to one that
Alderman Pash's money would never be paid；at the week's end the
money was paid by me to Mrs。 Pash's solicitor across the counter； and no
doubt Roundhand lost his money。
Shall I tell how the money was procured？ There can be no harm in
mentioning the matter now after twenty years' lapse of time； and moreover；
it is greatly to the credit of two individuals now dead。
As I was head clerk； I had occasion to be frequently in Brough's room；
and he now seemed once more disposed to take me into his confidence。
〃Titmarsh my boy；〃 said he one day to me； after looking me hard in the
face； 〃did you ever hear of the fate of the great Mr。 Silberschmidt of
London？〃 Of course I had。 Mr。 Silberschmidt； the Rothschild of his
day （indeed I have heard the latter famous gent was originally a clerk in
Silberschmidt's house）Silberschmidt； fancying he could not meet his
engagements； committed suicide； and had he lived till four o'clock that
day； would have known that he was worth 400；000L。 To tell you frankly
the truth；〃 says Mr。 B。； 〃I am in Silberschmidt's case。 My late partner；
Hoff； has given bills in the name of the firm to an enormous amount； and I
have been obliged to meet them。 I have been cast in fourteen actions；
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brought by creditors of that infernal Ginger Beer Company； and all the
debts are put upon my shoulders； on account of my known wealth。 Now；
unless I have time； I cannot pay； and the long and short of the matter is
that if I cannot procure 5；000L。 before Saturday； OUR CONCERN IS
RUINED！〃
〃What！ the West Diddlesex ruined？〃 says I； thinking of my poor
mother's annuity。 〃Impossible！ our business is splendid！〃
〃We must have 5；000L。 on Saturday； and we are saved； and if you will；
as you can； get it for me； I will give you 10；000L。 for the money！〃
B。 then showed me to a fraction the accounts of the concern； and his
own private account； proving beyond the possibility of a doubt； that with
the 5；000L。 our office must be set a…going； and without it； that the concern
must stop。 No matter how he proved the thing； but there is； you know； a
dictum of a statesman that； give him but leave to use figures； and he will
prove anything。
I promised to ask Mrs。 Hoggarty once more for the money； and she
seemed not to be disinclined。 I told him so； and that day he called upon
her； his wife called upon her； his daughter called upon her； and once more
the Brough carriage…and…four was seen at our house。
But Mrs。 Brough was a bad manager； and； instead of carrying matters
with a high hand； fairly burst into tears before Mrs。 Hoggarty； and went
down on her knees and besought her to save dear John。 This at once
aroused my aunt's suspicions； and instead of lending the money； she wrote
off to Mr。 Smithers instantly to come up to her； desired me to give her up
the 3；000L。 scrip shares that I possessed； called me an atrocious cheat and
heartless swindler； and vowed I had been the cause of her ruin。
How was Mr。 Brough to get the money？ I will tell you。 Being in
his room one day； old Gates the Fulham porter came and brought him from
Mr。 Balls； the pawnbroker； a sum of 1；200L。 Missus told him； he said； to
carry the plate to Mr。 Balls； and having paid the money； old Gates fumbled
a great deal in his pockets； and at last pulled out a 5L。 note； which he said
his daughter Jane had just sent him from service； and begged Mr。 B。 would
let him have another share in the Company。 〃He was mortal sure it
would go right yet。 And when he heard master crying and cursing as he
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and missus were walking in the shrubbery； and saying that for the want of
a few poundsa few shillingsthe finest fortune in Europe was to be
overthrown； why Gates and his woman thought that they should come
for'ard； to be sure； with all they could； to help the kindest master and
missus ever was。〃
This was the substance of Gates's speech； and Mr。 Brough shook his
hand andtook the 5L。 〃Gates；〃 said he； 〃that 5L。 note shall be the best
outlay you ever made in your life！〃 and I have no doubt it was；but it was
in heaven that poor old Gates was to get the interest of his little mite。
Nor was this the only instance。 Mrs。 Brough's sister； Miss Dough；
who had been on bad terms with the Director almost ever since he had
risen to be a great man； came to the office with a power of attorney； and
said； 〃John； Isabella has been with me this morning； and says you want
money； and I have brought you my 4；000L。； it is all I have； John； and pray
God it may do you goodyou and my dear sister； who was the best sister
in the world to metilltill a little time ago。〃
And she laid down the paper： I was called up to witness it； and
Brough； with tears in his eyes； told me her words； for he could trust me； he
said。 And thus it was that I came to be present at Gates's interview with
his master； which took place only an hour afterwards。 Brave Mrs。
Brough！ how she was working for her husband！ Good woman； and kind！
but YOU had a true heart； and merited a better fate！ Though wherefore
say so？ The woman； to this day； thinks her husband an angel； and loves
him a thousand times better for his misfortunes。
On Saturday； Alderman Pash's solicitor was paid by me across the
counter； as I said。 〃Never mind your aunt's money； Titmarsh my boy；〃
said Brough： 〃never mind her having resumed her shares。 You are a
true honest fellow； you have never abused me like that pack of curs
downstairs； and I'll make your fortune yet！〃
* * *
The next week； as I was sitting with my wife； with Mr。 Smithers； and
with Mrs。 Hoggarty； taking our tea comfortably； a knock was heard at the
door； and a gentleman desired to speak to me in the parlour。 It was Mr。
Aminadab of Chancery Lane； who arrested me as a shareholder of the
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Independent West Diddlesex Association； at the suit of Von Stiltz of
Clifford Street； tailor and draper。
I called down Smithers； and told him for Heaven's sake not to tell
Mary。
〃Where is Brough？〃 says Mr。 Smithers。
〃Why；〃 says Mr。 Aminadab； 〃he's once more of the firm of Brough and
Off； sirhe breakfasted at Calais this morning！〃
