The Great Hoggarty Diamond | Page 7

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 blood--that
that order was departed from, that that regularity was not maintained,
that that good example was 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 decorum--if he found in high or low--in
the head clerk at six hundred a year down to the porter who cleaned the
steps--if he found the slightest taint of dissipation, he would cast the
offender from him--yea, 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 office--this family, sir, for such it is, as I am
proud to say--you found three-and-twenty as pious and well- regulated
young men as ever laboured together--as 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 to--to business; no slanders were whispered against the
heads of the establishment--but 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 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 us--quit a family that can no longer receive you
in its bosom! Mr. Swinney, I have wept--I 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