The History of Samuel Titmarsh, and The Great Hoggarty Diamond

awhile about business, said, "That's a very fine diamond-pin, Master Titmarsh" (he spoke in a grave patronising way), "and I called you on purpose to speak to you upon the subject. I do not objec

ave paid for it; for, of all things, my

diamond-pin, as I knew that he had been asking about it already, and how I came by it-Abednego

recollect-yes; though I suppose, sir, you will imagin

in cours

out a pin-that one of the other gentlemen ha

ty of Castle Hoggarty," said I, raising my voi

rich to make such

nture; a farm at Slopperton, sir; three houses at Squashtail; and three thousan

was lodged at Coutts's. Ireland was in a very disturbed state in those days; and my aunt wisely determined not to invest her money in that country any more, but to look out for some good security in England. However, as she had al

ggarty's property so accurately?" sa

the manner in which she should invest property, never spoke to her about the Company which you have the honour to serve? Do you mea

t man, and would not take a

ish it! But do you suppose that it can be so, unless every man among us use his utmost exertions to forward the success of the enterprise? Never, sir,-never; and, for me, I say so everywhere. I glory in what I do. There is not a house in which I enter, but I leave a prospectus of the West Diddlesex. There is not a single tradesman I employ, but has shares in it to some amount. My servants, sir,-my very servants and grooms, are bound up with it. And the first question I ask of anyone who applies to me for a place is, Are you insur

out eight hundred and seventy-three

to see my example, and follow it: I wish-I pray that they may. Think of that example, sir. That porter of mine has a sick wife and nine young children: he is himself a sick man, and his tenure of life is feeble; he has earned money, sir, in my service-sixty pounds and more-it is all his children have to look to-all: but for that, in the event of his death, they would be houseless beggars in the street.

ir!" s

I place my friends' money, my family's money, my own money-my hopes, wishes, desires, ambitions-all upon this enterprise? You young men will not do so. You, whom I treat with love and confidence as my

burst into tears, and I confess I saw in its true

r of delicacy, rather than otherwise, which induced

ortune! Say indifference to me, say ingratitude, say folly,-but don't say delicacy-no,

ough," says I: "I see it all now; and

bitterly: "the stocks are at ninety, and Mrs.

-upon my word and h

in a trifle, Titmarsh. Send me up the letter when you have done, and I'll frank it-upo

ou may as well sit down here," says he, as he

nner possible. Then I paused a little, thinking what I should next say; for I have always found that difficulty about letters. The date and My dear So-and

is letter all day, my good fellow? Listen to me,

to tell you that I have so pleased the managing director of our Associatio

!" s

uits the clerk's desk and takes the title of secretary and actuary. Mr. Highmo

ounds per annum. This news will, I know, gratify my dear mot

your banker's hands. I have since lost no opportunity of gaining what information I could: and situated here as I am, in the ver

gs of delicacy prevented me from doing so. I did not wish that anyone

ociation offers the best security that you can expect for your capital

have it from the very best authori

ona fide capital is f

Member of Parliament, and a man as well known as Mr. Rothschild in the City of London. His private fortune, I know for a fact, amounts

s the dividend

clerks to dispose of a certain number, 5,000l. each at par; and if you, my dearest aunt, would wish

subject, as I have already an offer for the

ven't, si

for I am an honest man and say openly what I mean, and I'll tell you why I want you. I can't, by the regulations of the Company, have more than a certain number of votes, but if your aunt takes shares, I expect-I don't

tter and left it w

bout their services: though, as for the matter of that, our services were very much alike: the Company was only three years old, and the oldest clerk in it had not six months' more

r Gus Hoskins, he began to think I was a superior being; and I must say that the rest of the chaps behaved very kindly in the matter, and said that if one ma

u were a cousin of Preston's, the Lord of the Treasury, had venison from him and all that;

It was in vain I said I could do nothing with Mr. Preston. "Bah! bah!" says Mr. Brough, "don't tell me. People don't send haunches of venison to you for nothing;" and I'm convinced he thought I was a very cautious prudent fellow, for not bragging about my

to call me th

money, as I hoped she would! Had I not had the pin-had I even taken it to any other person but Mr. Polonius, Lady Drum would never hav

d. And why not? Miss S.'s own fortune was 70l. a year, mine was 150l., and when we had 300l., we always vowed we would marry. "Ah!" thought I, "if I could but go to Somersetshire now, I might boldly walk up to old Smith's door" (he was

d, as to the manner in which she should employ her three thousand pounds, but should take my offer

in the year 1830, when he and the West Diddlesex Assoc

at Slopperton?" says he

very well, for the fact is, before Mary Smith came to live in our parts, I was rather partial to Miss Hodge

re of what

t Tory; but Hodge and Smithers is a most respectable firm. I brought up a packet from them

id not talk any further on the subject, b

who has heard so much about you from her father (for I like you, my boy, I don't care to own it), that s

ou are very

t. But hark ye! I don't think, my dear fellow, you are quite

t and brass butto

h's party?" (It was rather high-waisted, being made in the country two years before

old, very short of money for this quarter, and can'

-and-four, to Mr. Von Stiltz, in Clifford Street, who took my measure, and sent me home two of the finest coats ever seen, a dress-coat and a frock, a velvet waist-coat, a silk ditto, and three pairs of pantaloons, of the most beautiful make. Br

ing letter had been sent d

ornhill, Lond

ar

*

he cases of Dixon v. Haggerstony, Snodgrass v. Ru

*

h we have the honour to be the solicitors in London. We wrote to you last year, requesting you to accept the Slopperton and Som

more than the usual commission to our agents of the legal profession. We shall be happy to give a premium of 6 per cent.

irs, for self

ost fai

l Jac

nothing of it in the year 1822, when, in my new suit of clothes, I went down