the great hoggarty diamond(大钻石)-第28节
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〃Why；〃 says Mr。 Aminadab； 〃he's once more of the firm of Brough and
Off； sirhe breakfasted at Calais this morning！〃
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THE GREAT HOGGARTY DIAMOND
CHAPTER XI
IN WHICH IT APPEARS THAT A MAN MAY POSSESS A
DIAMOND AND YET BE VERY HARD PRESSED FOR A DINNER
On that fatal Saturday evening； in a hackney…coach； fetched from the
Foundling； was I taken from my comfortable house and my dear little wife；
whom Mr。 Smithers was left to console as he might。 He said that I was
compelled to take a journey upon business connected with the office； and
my poor Mary made up a little portmanteau of clothes； and tied a
comforter round my neck； and bade my companion particularly to keep the
coach windows shut： which injunction the grinning wretch promised to
obey。 Our journey was not long： it was only a shilling fare to Cursitor
Street； Chancery Lane； and there I was set down。
The house before which the coach stopped seemed to be only one of
half…a…dozen in that street which were used for the same purpose。 No man；
be he ever so rich； can pass by those dismal houses； I think； without a
shudder。 The front windows are barred； and on the dingy pillar of the
door was a shining brass…plate； setting forth that 〃Aminadab； Officer to the
Sheriff of Middlesex；〃 lived therein。 A little red…haired Israelite opened
the first door as our coach drove up； and received me and my baggage。
As soon as we entered the door； he barred it； and I found myself in the
face of another huge door； which was strongly locked； and； at last； passing
through that； we entered the lobby of the house。
There is no need to describe it。 It is very like ten thousand other
houses in our dark City of London。 There was a dirty passage and a dirty
stair； and from the passage two dirty doors let into two filthy rooms； which
had strong bars at the windows； and yet withal an air of horrible finery that
makes me uncomfortable to think of even yet。 On the walls hung all
sorts of trumpery pictures in tawdry frames （how different from those
capital performances of my cousin Michael Angelo！）； on the mantelpiece
huge French clocks； vases； and candlesticks； on the sideboards； enormous
trays of Birmingham plated ware： for Mr。 Aminadab not only arrested
those who could not pay money； but lent it to those who could； and had
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THE GREAT HOGGARTY DIAMOND
already； in the way of trade； sold and bought these articles many times
over。
I agreed to take the back…parlour for the night； and while a Hebrew
damsel was arranging a little dusky sofa…bedstead （woe betide him who
has to sleep on it！） I was invited into the front parlour； where Mr。
Aminadab； bidding me take heart； told me I should have a dinner for
nothing with a party who had just arrived。 I did not want for dinner； but I
was glad not to be alonenot alone； even till Gus came； for whom I
despatched a messenger to his lodgings hard by。 I found there； in the
front parlour； at eight o'clock in the evening； four gentlemen； just about to
sit down to dinner。 Surprising！ there was Mr。 B。； a gentleman of fashion；
who had only within half…an…hour arrived in a post…chaise with his
companion； Mr。 Lock； an officer of Horsham gaol。 Mr。 B。 was arrested
in this wise：… He was a careless good…humoured gentleman； and had
indorsed bills to a large amount for a friend； who； a man of high family
and unquestionable honour； had pledged the latter； along with a number of
the most solemn oaths； for the payment of the bills in question。 Having
indorsed the notes； young Mr。 B。； with a proper thoughtlessness； forgot all
about them； and so； by some chance； did the friend whom he obliged； for；
instead of being in London with the money for the payment of his
obligations； this latter gentleman was travelling abroad； and never hinted
one word to Mr。 B。 that the notes would fall upon him。 The young
gentleman was at Brighton lying sick of a fever； was taken from his bed
by a bailiff； and carried； on a rainy day； to Horsham gaol； had a relapse of
his complaint； and when sufficiently recovered； was brought up to London
to the house of Mr。 Aminadab； where I found hima pale； thin； good…
humoured； LOST young man： he was lying on a sofa； and had given
orders for the dinner to which I was invited。 The lad's face gave one pain
to look at； it was impossible not to see that his hours were numbered。
Now Mr。 B。 has not anything to do with my humble story； but I can't
help mentioning him； as I saw him。 He sent for his lawyer and his doctor；
the former settled speedily his accounts with the bailiff； and the latter
arranged all his earthly accounts： for after he went from the spunging…
house he never recovered from the shock of the arrest； and in a few weeks
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THE GREAT HOGGARTY DIAMOND
he DIED。 And though this circumstance took place many years ago； I
can't forget it to my dying day； and often see the author of Mr。 B。's death；
a prosperous gentleman； riding a fine horse in the Park； lounging at the
window of a club； with many friends； no doubt； and a good reputation。 I
wonder whether the man sleeps easily and eats with a good appetite？ I
wonder whether he has paid Mr。 B。's heirs the sum which that gentleman
paid； and DIED FOR？
If Mr。 B。's history has nothing to do with mine； and is only inserted
here for the sake of a moral； what business have I to mention particulars of
the dinner to which I was treated by that gentleman； in the spunging…house
in Cursitor Street？ Why； for the moral too； and therefore the public must
be told of what really and truly that dinner consisted。
There were five guests； and three silver tureens of soup： viz。； mock…
turtle soup； ox…tail soup； and giblet soup。 Next came a great piece of
salmon； likewise on a silver dish； a roast goose； a roast saddle of mutton；
roast game； and all sorts of adjuncts。 In this way can a gentleman live in
a spunging…house if he be inclined； and over this repast （which； in truth； I
could not touch； for； let alone having dined； my heart was full of care）
over this meal my friend Gus Hoskins found me； when he received the
letter that I had despatched to him。
Gus； who had never been in a prison before； and whose heart failed
him as the red…headed young Moses opened and shut for him the
numerous iron outer doors； was struck dumb to see me behind a bottle of
claret； in a room blazing with gilt lamps； the curtains were down too； and
you could not see the bars at the windows； and Mr。 B。； Mr。 Lock the
Brighton officer； Mr。 Aminadab； and another rich gentleman of his trade
and religious persuasion； were chirping as merrily； and looked as
respectably； as any noblemen in the land。
〃Have him in；〃 said Mr。 B。； 〃if he's a friend of Mr。 Titmarsh's； for； cuss
me； I like to see a rogue： and run me through； Titmarsh； but I think you
are one of the best in London。 You beat Brough； you do； by Jove！ for he
looks like a rogueanybody would swear to him； but you！ by Jove； you
look the very picture of honesty！〃
〃A deep file；〃 said Aminadab； winking and pointing me out to his
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THE GREAT HOGGARTY DIAMOND
friend Mr。 Jehoshaphat。
〃A good one；〃 says Jehoshaphat。
〃In for three hundred thousand pound；〃 says Aminadab： 〃Brough's
right…hand man； and only three…and…twenty。〃
〃Mr。 Titmarsh； sir； your 'ealth； sir；〃 says Mr。 Lock； in an ecstasy of
admiration。 〃Your very good 'earth； sir； and better luck to you nex
