the great hoggarty diamond(大钻石)-第31节
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Brough had gone off with a million of money。 Even it was hinted that
poor I had sent a hundred thousand pounds to America； and only waited to
pass through the court in order to be a rich man for the rest of my days。
This opinion had some supporters in the prison； where； strange to say； it
procured me consideration… …of which； as may be supposed； I was little
inclined to avail myself。 Mr。 Aminadab； however； in his frequent visits
to the Fleet； persisted in saying that I was a poor…spirited creature； a mere
tool in Brough's hands； and had not saved a shilling。 Opinions； however；
differed； and I believe it was considered by the turnkeys that I was a
fellow of exquisite dissimulation； who had put on the appearance of
poverty in order more effectually to mislead the public。
Messrs。 Abednego and Son were similarly held up to public odium：
and； in fact； what were the exact dealings of these gentlemen with Mr。
Brough I have never been able to learn。 It was proved by the books that
large sums of money had been paid to Mr。 Abednego by the Company； but
he produced documents signed by Mr。 Brough； which made the latter and
the West Diddlesex Association his debtors to a still further amount。 On
the day I went to the Bankruptcy Court to be examined； Mr。 Abednego and
the two gentlemen from Houndsditch were present to swear to their debts；
and made a sad noise； and uttered a vast number of oaths in attestation of
their claim。 But Messrs。 Jackson and Paxton produced against them that
very Irish porter who was said to have been the cause of the fire； and； I am
told； hinted that they had matter for hanging the Jewish gents if they
persisted in their demand。 On this they disappeared altogether； and no
more was ever heard of their losses。 I am inclined to believe that our
Director had had money from Abednego had given him shares as bonus
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and securityhad been suddenly obliged to redeem these shares with ready
money； and so had precipitated the ruin of himself and the concern。 It is
needless to say here in what a multiplicity of companies Brough was
engaged。 That in which poor Mr。 Tidd invested his money did not pay 2D。
in the pound； and that was the largest dividend paid by any of them。
As for oursah！ there was a pretty scene as I was brought from the
Fleet to the Bankruptcy Court； to give my testimony as late head clerk and
accountant of the West Diddlesex Association。
My poor wife； then very near her time； insisted upon accompanying
me to Basinghall Street； and so did my friend Gus Hoskins； that true and
honest fellow。 If you had seen the crowd that was assembled； and the
hubbub that was made as I was brought up！
〃Mr。 Titmarsh；〃 says the Commissioner as I came to the table； with a
peculiar sarcastic accent on the Tit〃Mr。 Titmarsh； you were the confidant
of Mr。 Brough； the principal clerk of Mr。 Brough； and a considerable
shareholder in the Company？〃
〃Only a nominal one； sir；〃 said I。
〃Of course； only nominal；〃 continued the Commissioner； turning to his
colleague with a sneer； 〃and a great comfort it must be to you； sir； to think
that you had a share in all the plunthe profits of the speculation； and now
can free yourself from the losses； by saying you are only a nominal
shareholder。〃
〃The infernal villain！〃 shouted out a voice from the crowd。 It was
that of the furious half…pay captain and late shareholder； Captain Sparr。
〃Silence in the court there！〃 the Commissioner continued： and all
this while Mary was anxiously looking in his face； and then in mine； as
pale as death； while Gus； on the contrary； was as red as vermilion。 〃Mr。
Titmarsh； I have had the good fortune to see a list of your debts from the
Insolvent Court； and find that you are indebted to Mr。 Stiltz； the great
tailor； in a handsome sum； to Mr。 Polonius； the celebrated jeweller；
likewise； to fashionable milliners and dressmakers； moreover；and all this
upon a salary of 200L。 per annum。 For so young a gentleman it must be
confessed you have employed your time well。〃
〃Has this anything to do with the question； sir？〃 says I。 〃Am I here to
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give an account of my private debts； or to speak as to what I know
regarding the affairs of the Company？ As for my share in it； I have a
mother； sir； and many sisters〃
〃The d…d scoundrel！〃 shouts the Captain。
〃Silence that there fellow！〃 shouts Gus； as bold as brass； at which the
court burst out laughing； and this gave me courage to proceed。
〃My mother； sir； four years since； having a legacy of 400L。 left to her；
advised with her solicitor； Mr。 Smithers； how she should dispose of this
sum； and as the Independent West Diddlesex was just then established； the
money was placed in an annuity in that office； where I procured a
clerkship。 You may suppose me a very hardened criminal； because I
have ordered clothes of Mr。 Von Stiltz； but you will hardly fancy that I； a
lad of nineteen； knew anything of the concerns of the Company into
whose service I entered as twentieth clerk； my own mother's money
paying； as it were； for my place。 Well； sir； the interest offered by the
Company was so tempting； that a rich relative of mine was induced to
purchase a number of shares。〃
〃Who induced your relative； if I may make so bold as to inquire？〃
〃I can't help owning； sir；〃 says I； blushing； 〃that I wrote a letter myself。
But consider； my relative was sixty years old； and I was twenty…one。 My
relative took several months to consider； and had the advice of her lawyers
before she acceded to my request。 And I made it at the instigation of Mr。
Brough； who dictated the letter which I wrote； and who I really thought
then was as rich as Mr。 Rothschild himself。〃
〃Your friend placed her money in your name； and you； if I mistake not；
Mr。 Titmarsh； were suddenly placed over the heads of twelve of your
fellow…clerks as a reward for your service in obtaining it？〃
〃It is very true； sir；〃and； as I confessed it； poor Mary began to wipe
her eyes； and Gus's ears （I could not see his face） looked like two red…hot
muffins〃it's quite true； sir； and； as matters have turned out； I am heartily
sorry for what I did。 But at the time I thought I could serve my aunt as
well as myself； and you must remember； then； how high our shares were。〃
〃Well； sir； having procured this sum of money； you were straightway
taken into Mr。 Brough's confidence。 You were received into his house；
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and from third clerk speedily became head clerk； in which post you were
found at the disappearance of your worthy patron！〃
〃Sir； you have no right to question me； to be sure； but here are a
hundred of our shareholders； and I'm not unwilling to make a clean breast
of it；〃 said I； pressing Mary's hand。 〃I certainly was the head clerk。
And why？ Because the other gents left the office。 I certainly was
received into Mr。 Brough's house。 And why？ Because； sir； my aunt
HAD MORE MONEY TO LAY OUT。 I see it all clearly now； though I
could not understand it then； and the proof that Mr。 Brough wanted my
aunt's money； and not me； is that； when she came to town； our Director
carried her by force out of my house to Fulham； and never so much as
thought of asking me or my wife thither。 Ay； sir； and he would have had
her remaining money； had not her lawyer from the country prevented her
disposing of it。 Before the concern finally broke； and as soon as she heard
there was doubt concerning it； she took back her sharesscrip shares t
