the great hoggarty diamond(大钻石)-第3节
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premium of four or five hundred pounds with each young gent； whom he
made to slave for ten hours a day； and to whom in compensation he taught
all the mysteries of the Turkish business。 He was a great man on 'Change；
too； and our young chaps used to hear from the stockbrokers' clerks （we
commonly dined together at the 〃Cock and Woolpack；〃 a respectable
house； where you get a capital cut of meat； bread； vegetables； cheese； half
a pint of porter； and a penny to the waiter； for a shilling）the young
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stockbrokers used to tell us of immense bargains in Spanish； Greek； and
Columbians； that Brough made。 Hoff had nothing to do with them； but
stopped at home minding exclusively the business of the house。 He was
a young chap； very quiet and steady； of the Quaker persuasion； and had
been taken into partnership by Brough for a matter of thirty thousand
pounds： and a very good bargain too。 I was told in the strictest
confidence that the house one year with another divided a good seven
thousand pounds： of which Brough had half； Hoff two…sixths； and the
other sixth went to old Tudlow； who had been Mr。 Brough's clerk before
the new partnership began。 Tudlow always went about very shabby； and
we thought him an old miser。 One of our gents； Bob Swinney by name；
used to say that Tudlow's share was all nonsense； and that Brough had it
all； but Bob was always too knowing by half； used to wear a green
cutaway coat； and had his free admission to Covent Garden Theatre。 He
was always talking down at the shop； as we called it （it wasn't a shop； but
as splendid an office as any in Cornhill）he was always talking about
Vestris and Miss Tree； and singing
〃The bramble； the bramble； The jolly jolly bramble！〃
one of Charles Kemble's famous songs in 〃Maid Marian；〃 a play that
was all the rage then； taken from a famous story…book by one Peacock； a
clerk in the India House； and a precious good place he has too。
When Brough heard how Master Swinney abused him； and had his
admission to the theatre； he came one day down to the office where we all
were； four…and…twenty of us； and made one of the most beautiful speeches
I ever heard in my life。 He said that for slander he did not care；
contumely was the lot of every public man who had austere principles of
his own； and acted by them austerely； but what he DID care for was the
character of every single gentleman forming a part of the Independent
West Diddlesex Association。 The welfare of thousands was in their
keeping； millions of money were daily passing through their hands； the
City… …the country looked upon them for order； honesty； and good example。
And if he found amongst those whom he considered as his children those
whom he loved as his own flesh and bloodthat that order was departed
from； that that regularity was not maintained； that that good example was
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not kept up （Mr。 B。 always spoke in this emphatic way）if he found his
children departing from the wholesome rules of morality； religion； and
decorumif he found in high or lowin the head clerk at six hundred a
year down to the porter who cleaned the stepsif he found the slightest
taint of dissipation； he would cast the offender from himyea； though he
were his own son； he would cast him from him！
As he spoke this； Mr。 Brough burst into tears； and we who didn't know
what was coming； looked at each other as pale as parsnips： all except
Swinney； who was twelfth clerk； and made believe to whistle。 When Mr。
B。 had wiped his eyes and recovered himself； he turned round； and oh；
how my heart thumped as he looked me full in the face！ How it was
relieved； though； when he shouted out in a thundering voice …
〃MR。 ROBERT SWINNEY！〃
〃Sir to you；〃 says Swinney； as cool as possible； and some of the chaps
began to titter。
〃Mr。 SWINNEY！〃 roared Brough； in a voice still bigger than before；
〃when you came into this officethis family； sir； for such it is； as I am
proud to sayyou found three…and…twenty as pious and well… regulated
young men as ever laboured togetheras ever had confided to them the
wealth of this mighty capital and famous empire。 You found； sir； sobriety；
regularity； and decorum； no profane songs were uttered in this place sacred
toto business； no slanders were whispered against the heads of the
establishmentbut over them I pass： I can afford； sir； to pass them by
no worldly conversation or foul jesting disturbed the attention of these
gentlemen； or desecrated the peaceful scene of their labours。 You found
Christians and gentlemen； sir！〃
〃I paid for my place like the rest；〃 said Swinney。 〃Didn't my
governor take sha…？〃
〃Silence； sir！ Your worthy father did take shares in this establishment；
which will yield him one day an immense profit。 He DID take shares； sir；
or you never would have been here。 I glory in saying that every one of
my young friends around me has a father； a brother； a dear relative or
friend； who is connected in a similar way with our glorious enterprise； and
that not one of them is there but has an interest in procuring； at a liberal
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commission； other persons to join the ranks of our Association。 BUT； sir；
I am its chief。 You will find； sir； your appointment signed by me； and in
like manner； I； John Brough； annul it。 Go from us； sir！leave usquit a
family that can no longer receive you in its bosom！ Mr。 Swinney； I have
weptI have prayed； sir； before I came to this determination； I have taken
counsel； sir； and am resolved。 DEPART FROM OUT OF US！
〃Not without three months' salary； though； Mr。 B。： that cock won't
fight！〃
〃They shall be paid to your father； sir。〃
〃My father be hanged！ I tell you what； Brough； I'm of age； and if you
don't pay me my salary； I'll arrest you；by Jingo； I will！ I'll have you in
quod； or my name's not Bob Swinney！〃
〃Make out a cheque； Mr。 Roundhand； for the three months' salary of
this perverted young man。〃
〃Twenty…one pun' five； Roundhand； and nothing for the stamp！〃 cried
out that audacious Swinney。 〃There it is； sir； RE…ceipted。 You needn't
cross it to my banker's。 And if any of you gents like a glass of punch this
evening at eight o'clock； Bob Swinney's your man； and nothing to pay。 If
Mr。 Brough WOULD do me the honour to come in and take a whack？
Come； don't say no； if you'd rather not！〃
We couldn't stand this impudence； and all burst out laughing like mad。
〃Leave the room！〃 yelled Mr。 Brough； whose face had turned quite
blue； and so Bob took his white hat off the peg； and strolled away with his
〃tile；〃 as he called it； very much on one side。 When he was gone； Mr。
Brough gave us another lecture； by which we all determined to profit； and
going up to Roundhand's desk put his arm round his neck； and looked over
the ledger。
〃What money has been paid in to…day； Roundhand？〃 he said； in a very
kind way。
〃The widow； sir； came with her money； nine hundred and four ten and
sixsay 904L。 10S。 6D。 Captain Sparr； sir； paid his shares up； grumbles；
though； and says he's no more： fifty shares； two instalmentsthree fifties；
sir。〃
〃He's always grumbling！〃
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〃He says he has not a shilling to bless himself with until our dividend
day。〃
〃Any more？〃
Mr。 Roundhand went through the book； and made it up nineteen
hundred pounds in all。 We were doing a fa
