the great hoggarty diamond(大钻石)-第4节
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Mr。 Roundhand went through the book； and made it up nineteen
hundred pounds in all。 We were doing a famous business now； though
when I came into the office； we used to sit； and laugh； and joke； and read
the newspapers all day； bustling into our seats whenever a stray customer
came。 Brough never cared about our laughing and singing THEN； and
was hand and glove with Bob Swinney； but that was in early times； before
we were well in harness。
〃Nineteen hundred pounds； and a thousand pounds in shares。 Bravo；
Roundhandbravo； gentlemen！ Remember； every share you bring in
brings you five per cent。 down on the nail！ Look to your friends stick
to your desksbe regularI hope none of you forget church。 Who takes
Mr。 Swinney's place？〃
〃Mr。 Samuel Titmarsh； sir。〃
〃Mr。 Titmarsh； I congratulate you。 Give me your hand； sir： you are
now twelfth clerk of this Association； and your salary is consequently
increased five pounds a year。 How is your worthy mother； siryour dear
and excellent parent？ In good health I trust？ And longlong； I
fervently pray； may this office continue to pay her annuity！ Remember；
if she has more money to lay out； there is higher interest than the last for
her； for she is a year older； and five per cent。 for you； my boy！ Why not
you as well as another？ Young men will be young men； and a ten…pound
note does no harm。 Does it； Mr。 Abednego？〃
〃Oh； no！〃 says Abednego； who was third clerk； and who was the chap
that informed against Swinney； and he began to laugh； as indeed we all did
whenever Mr。 Brough made anything like a joke： not that they WERE
jokes； only we used to know it by his face。
〃Oh； by…the…bye； Roundhand；〃 says he； 〃a word with you on business。
Mrs。 Brough wants to know why the deuce you never come down to
Fulham。〃
〃Law； that's very polite！〃 said Mr。 Roundhand； quite pleased。
〃Name your day； my boy！ Say Saturday； and bring your night…cap
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THE GREAT HOGGARTY DIAMOND
with you。〃
〃You're very polite； I'm sure。 I should be delighted beyond anything；
but〃
〃Butno buts； my boy！ Hark ye！ the Chancellor of the Exchequer
does me the honour to dine with us； and I want you to see him； for the
truth is； I have bragged about you to his Lordship as the best actuary in the
three kingdoms。〃
Roundhand could not refuse such an invitation as THAT； though he
had told us how Mrs。 R。 and he were going to pass Saturday and Sunday at
Putney； and we who knew what a life the poor fellow led； were sure that
the head clerk would be prettily scolded by his lady when she heard what
was going on。 She disliked Mrs。 Brough very much； that was the fact；
because Mrs。 B。 kept a carriage； and said she didn't know where
Pentonville was； and couldn't call on Mrs。 Roundhand。 Though； to be
sure； her coachman might have found out the way。
〃And oh； Roundhand！〃 continued our governor； 〃draw a cheque for
seven hundred； will you！ Come； don't stare； man； I'm not going to run
away！ That's right；seven hundredand ninety； say； while you're about it！
Our board meets on Saturday； and never fear I'll account for it to them
before I drive you down。 We shall take up the Chancellor at Whitehall。〃
So saying； Mr。 Brough folded up the cheque； and shaking hands with
Mr。 Roundhand very cordially； got into his carriage…and…four （he always
drove four horses even in the City； where it's so difficult）； which was
waiting at the office…door for him。
Bob Swinney used to say that he charged two of the horses to the
Company； but there was never believing half of what that Bob said； he
used to laugh and joke so。 I don't know how it was； but I and a gent by
the name of Hoskins （eleventh clerk）； who lived together with me in
Salisbury Square； Fleet Streetwhere we occupied a very genteel two…
pairfound our flute duet rather tiresome that evening； and as it was a very
fine night； strolled out for a walk West End way。 When we arrived
opposite Covent Garden Theatre we found ourselves close to the 〃Globe
Tavern；〃 and recollected Bob Swinney's hospitable invitation。 We never
fancied that he had meant the invitation in earnest； but thought we might
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THE GREAT HOGGARTY DIAMOND
as well look in： at any rate there could be no harm in doing so。
There； to be sure； in the back drawing…room； where he said he would
be； we found Bob at the head of a table； and in the midst of a great smoke
of cigars； and eighteen of our gents rattling and banging away at the table
with the bottoms of their glasses。
What a shout they made as we came in！ 〃Hurray！〃 says Bob； 〃here's
two more！ Two more chairs； Mary； two more tumblers； two more hot
waters； and two more goes of gin！ Who would have thought of seeing
Tit； in the name of goodness？〃
〃Why；〃 said I； 〃we only came in by the merest chance。〃
At this word there was another tremendous roar： and it is a positive
fact； that every man of the eighteen had said he came by chance！
However； chance gave us a very jovial night； and that hospitable Bob
Swinney paid every shilling of the score。
〃Gentlemen！〃 says he； as he paid the bill； 〃I'll give you the health of
John Brough； Esquire； and thanks to him for the present of 21L。 5s。 which
he made me this morning。 What do I say21L。 5S。？ That and a
month's salary that I should have had to pay forfeitdown on the nail； by
Jingo！ for leaving the shop； as I intended to do to…morrow morning。 I've
got a placea tip…top place； I tell you。 Five guineas a week； six journeys
a year； my own horse and gig； and to travel in the West of England in oil
and spermaceti。 Here's confusion to gas； and the health of Messrs。 Gann
and Co。； of Thames Street； in the City of London！〃
I have been thus particular in my account of the West Diddlesex
Insurance Office； and of Mr。 Brough； the managing director （though the
real names are neither given to the office nor to the chairman； as you may
be sure）； because the fate of me and my diamond pin was mysteriously
bound up with both： as I am about to show。
You must know that I was rather respected among our gents at the
West Diddlesex； because I came of a better family than most of them； had
received a classical education； and especially because I had a rich aunt；
Mrs。 Hoggarty； about whom； as must be confessed； I used to boast a good
deal。 There is no harm in being respected in this world； as I have found
out； and if you don't brag a little for yourself； depend on it there is no
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THE GREAT HOGGARTY DIAMOND
person of your acquaintance who will tell the world of your merits； and
take the trouble off your hands。
So that when I came back to the office after my visit at home； and took
my seat at the old day…book opposite the dingy window that looks into
Birchin Lane； I pretty soon let the fellows know that Mrs。 Hoggarty；
though she had not given me a large sum of money； as I expectedindeed；
I had promised a dozen of them a treat down the river； should the
promised riches have come to meI let them know； I say； that though my
aunt had not given me any money； she had given me a splendid diamond；
worth at least thirty guineas； and that some day I would sport it at the
shop。
〃Oh； let's see it！〃 says Abednego； whose father was a mock…jewel and
gold…lace merchant in Hanway Yard； and I promised that he should have a
sight of it as soon as it was set。 As my pocket… money was run out too
（by coach…hire to and from home； five shillings to our maid at home； ten to
my aunt's maid and man； five… and…twen
