samuel titmarsh and the great hoggarty diamond-第1部分

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The　History　of　Samuel　Titmarsh　and　The　Great　Hoggarty　Diamond

by　William　Makepeace　Thackeray





THE　GREAT　HOGGARTY　DIAMOND




CHAPTER　I



GIVES　AN　ACCOUNT　OF　OUR　VILLAGE　AND　THE　FIRST　GLIMPSE　OF　THE
DIAMOND

When　I　came　up　to　town　for　my　second　year；　my　aunt　Hoggarty　made　me
a　present　of　a　diamond…pin；　that　is　to　say；　it　was　not　a　diamond…
pin　then；　but　a　large　old…fashioned　locket；　of　Dublin　manufacture
in　the　year　1795；　which　the　late　Mr。　Hoggarty　used　to　sport　at　the
Lord　Lieutenant's　balls　and　elsewhere。　　He　wore　it；　he　said；　at　the
battle　of　Vinegar　Hill；　when　his　club　pigtail　saved　his　head　from
being　taken　off；but　that　is　neither　here　nor　there。

In　the　middle　of　the　brooch　was　Hoggarty　in　the　scarlet　uniform　of
the　corps　of　Fencibles　to　which　he　belonged；　around　it　were
thirteen　locks　of　hair；　belonging　to　a　baker's　dozen　of　sisters
that　the　old　gentleman　had；　and；　as　all　these　little　ringlets
partook　of　the　family　hue　of　brilliant　auburn；　Hoggarty's　portrait
seemed　to　the　fanciful　view　like　a　great　fat　red　round　of　beef
surrounded　by　thirteen　carrots。　　These　were　dished　up　on　a　plate　of
blue　enamel；　and　it　was　from　the　GREAT　HOGGARTY　DIAMOND　（as　we
called　it　in　the　family）　that　the　collection　of　hairs　in　question
seemed　as　it　were　to　spring。

My　aunt；　I　need　not　say；　is　rich；　and　I　thought　I　might　be　her　heir
as　well　as　another。　　During　my　month's　holiday；　she　was
particularly　pleased　with　me；　made　me　drink　tea　with　her　often
（though　there　was　a　certain　person　in　the　village　with　whom　on
those　golden　summer　evenings　I　should　have　liked　to　have　taken　a
stroll　in　the　hayfields）；　promised　every　time　I　drank　her　bohea　to
do　something　handsome　for　me　when　I　went　back　to　town；nay；　three
or　four　times　had　me　to　dinner　at　three；　and　to　whist　or　cribbage
afterwards。　　I　did　not　care　for　the　cards；　for　though　we　always
played　seven　hours　on　a　stretch；　and　I　always　lost；　my　losings　were
never　more　than　nineteenpence　a　night：　　but　there　was　some　infernal
sour　black…currant　wine；　that　the　old　lady　always　produced　at
dinner；　and　with　the　tray　at　ten　o'clock；　and　which　I　dared　not
refuse；　though　upon　my　word　and　honour　it　made　me　very　unwell。

Well；　I　thought　after　all　this　obsequiousness　on　my　part；　and　my
aunt's　repeated　promises；　that　the　old　lady　would　at　least　make　me
a　present　of　a　score　of　guineas　（of　which　she　had　a　power　in　the
drawer）；　and　so　convinced　was　I　that　some　such　present　was　intended
for　me；　that　a　young　lady　by　the　name　of　Miss　Mary　Smith；　with　whom
I　had　conversed　on　the　subject；　actually　netted　me　a　little　green
silk　purse；　which　she　gave　me　（behind　Hicks's　hayrick；　as　you　turn
to　the　right　up　Churchyard　Lane）which　she　gave　me；　I　say；　wrapped
up　in　a　bit　of　silver　paper。　　There　was　something　in　the　purse；
too；　if　the　truth　must　be　known。　　First　there　was　a　thick　curl　of
the　glossiest　blackest　hair　you　ever　saw　in　your　life；　and　next
there　was　threepence：　　that　is　to　say；　the　half　of　a　silver
sixpence　hanging　by　a　little　necklace　of　blue　riband。　　Ah；　but　I
knew　where　the　other　half　of　the　sixpence　was；　and　envied　that
happy　bit　of　silver！

The　last　day　of　my　holiday　I　was　obliged；　of　course；　to　devote　to
Mrs。　Hoggarty。　　My　aunt　was　excessively　gracious；　and　by　way　of　a
treat　brought　out　a　couple　of　bottles　of　the　black　currant；　of
which　she　made　me　drink　the　greater　part。　　At　night　when　all　the
ladies　assembled　at　her　party　had　gone　off　with　their　pattens　and
their　maids；　Mrs。　Hoggarty；　who　had　made　a　signal　to　me　to　stay；
first　blew　out　three　of　the　wax　candles　in　the　drawing…room；　and
taking　the　fourth　in　her　hand；　went　and　unlocked　her　escritoire。

I　can　tell　you　my　heart　beat；　though　I　pretended　to　look　quite
unconcerned。

〃Sam　my　dear；〃　said　she；　as　she　was　fumbling　with　her　keys；　〃take
another　glass　of　Rosolio〃　（that　was　the　name　by　which　she　baptised
the　cursed　beverage）：　　〃it　will　do　you　good。〃　　I　took　it；　and　you
might　have　seen　my　hand　tremble　as　the　bottle　went　clickclick
against　the　glass。　　By　the　time　I　had　swallowed　it；　the　old　lady
had　finished　her　operations　at　the　bureau；　and　was　coming　towards
me；　the　wax…candle　bobbing　in　one　hand　and　a　large　parcel　in　the
other。

〃Now's　the　time；〃　thought　I。

〃Samuel；　my　dear　nephew；〃　said　she；　〃your　first　name　you　received
from　your　sainted　uncle；　my　blessed　husband；　and　of　all　my　nephews
and　nieces；　you　are　the　one　whose　conduct　in　life　has　most　pleased
me。〃

When　you　consider　that　my　aunt　herself　was　one　of　seven　married
sisters；　that　all　the　Hoggarties　were　married　in　Ireland　and
mothers　of　numerous　children；　I　must　say　that　the　compliment　my
aunt　paid　me　was　a　very　handsome　one。

〃Dear　aunt；〃　says　I；　in　a　slow　agitated　voice；　〃I　have　often　heard
you　say　there　were　seventy…three　of　us　in　all；　and　believe　me　I　do
think　your　high　opinion　of　me　very　complimentary　indeed：　　I'm
unworthy　of　itindeed　I　am。〃

〃As　for　those　odious　Irish　people；〃　says　my　aunt；　rather　sharply；
〃don't　speak　of　them；　I　hate　them；　and　every　one　of　their　mothers〃
（the　fact　is；　there　had　been　a　lawsuit　about　Hoggarty's　property）；
〃but　of　all　my　other　kindred；　you；　Samuel；　have　been　the　most
dutiful　and　affectionate　to　me。　　Your　employers　in　London　give　the
best　accounts　of　your　regularity　and　good　conduct。　　Though　you　have
had　eighty　pounds　a　year　（a　liberal　salary）；　you　have　not　spent　a
shilling　more　than　your　income；　as　other　young　men　would；　and　you
have　devoted　your　month's　holidays　to　your　old　aunt；　who；　I　assure
you；　is　grateful。〃

〃Oh；　ma'am！〃　said　I。　　It　was　all　that　I　could　utter。

〃Samuel；〃　continued　she；　〃I　promised　you　a　present；　and　here　it　is。
I　first　thought　of　giving　you　money；　but　you　are　a　regular　lad；　and
don't　want　it。　　You　are　above　money；　dear　Samuel。　　I　give　you　what
I　value　most　in　lifethe　p；the　po；　the　po…ortrait　of　my　sainted
Hoggarty〃　（tears）；　〃set　in　the　locket　which　contains　the　valuable
diamond　that　you　have　often　heard　me　speak　of。　　Wear　it；　dear　Sam；
for　my　sake；　and　think　of　that　angel　in　heaven；　and　of　your　dear
Aunt　Susy。〃

She　put　the　machine　into　my　hands：　　it　was　about　the　size　of　the
lid　of　a　shaving…box：　　and　I　should　as　soon　have　thought　of　wearing
it　as　of　wearing　a　cocked…hat　and　pigtail。　　I　was　so　disgusted　and
disappointed　that　I　really　could　not　get　out　a　single　word。

When　I　recovered　my　presence　of　mind　a　little；　I　took　the　locket
out　of　the　bit　of　paper　（the　locket　indeed！　it　was　as　big　as　a
barndoor　padlock）；　and　slowly　put　it　into　my　shirt。　　〃Thank　you；
Aunt；〃　said　I；　with　admirable　raillery。　　〃I　shall　always　value　this
present　for　the　sake　of　you；　who　gave　it　me；　and　it　will　recall　to
me　my　uncle；　and　my　thirteen　aunts　in　Ireland。〃

〃I　don't　want　you　to　wear　it　in　THAT　way！〃　shrieked　Mrs。　Hoggarty；
〃with　the　hair　of　those　odious　carroty　women。　　You　must　have　their
hair　removed。〃

〃Then　the　locket　will　be　spoiled；　Aunt。〃

〃Well；　sir；　never　mind　the　locket；　have　it　set　afresh。〃

〃Or　suppose；〃　said　I；　〃I　put　aside　the　setting　altogether：　　it　is　a
little　too　large　for　the　present　fashion；　and　have　the　portrait　of
my　uncle　framed　and　placed　over　my　chimney…piece；　next　to　yours。
It's　a　sweet　miniature。〃

〃That　miniature；〃　said　Mrs。　Hoggarty；　solemnly；　〃was　the　great
Mulcahy's　chef…d'oeuvre〃　（pronounced　shy　dewver；　a　favourite　word
of　my　aunt's；　being；　with　the　words　bongtong　and　ally　mode　de
Parry；　the　extent　of　her　French　vocabulary）。　　〃You　know　the
dreadful　story　of　that　poor　poor　artist。　　When　he　had　finished　that
wonderful　likeness　for　the　late　Mrs。　Hoggarty　of　Castle　Hoggarty；
county　Mayo；　she　wore　it　in　her　bosom　at　the　Lord　Lieutenant's
ball；　where　she　played　a　game　of　piquet　with　the　Commander…in…
Chief。　　What　could　have　made　her　put　the　hair　of　her　vulgar
daughters　round　Mick's　portrait；　I　can't　think；　but　so　it　was；　as
you　see　it　this　day。　　'Madam；'　says　the　Commander…in…Chief；　'if
that　is　not　my　friend　Mick　Hoggarty；　I'm　a　Dutchman！'　　Those　were
his　Lordship's　very　words。　　Mrs。　Hoggarty　of　Castle　Hoggarty　took
off　the　brooch　and　showed　it　to　him。

〃'Who　is　the　artist？'　says　my　Lord。　　'It's　the　most　wonderful
likeness　I　ever　saw　in　my　life！'

〃'Mulcahy；'　says　she；　'of　Ormond's　Quay。'

〃'Begad；　I　patronise　him！'　says　my　Lord；　but　presently　his　face
darkened；　and　he　gave　back　the　picture　with　a　dissatisfied　air。
'There　is　one　fault　in　that　portrait；'　said　his　Lordship；　who　was　a
rigid　disciplinarian；　'and　I　wonder　that　my　friend　Mick；　as　a
military　man；　should　have　overlooked　it。'

〃'What's　that？'　says　Mrs。　Hoggarty　of　Castle　Hoggarty。

〃'Madam；　he　has　been　painted　WITHOUT　HIS　SWORD…BELT！'　　And　he　took
up　the　cards　again　in　a　passion；　and　finished　the　game　without
saying　a　single　word。

〃The　news　was　carried　to　Mr。　Mulcahy　the　next　day；　and　that
unfortunate　artist　WENT　MAD　IMMEDIATELY！　　He　had　set　his　whole
reputation　upon　this　miniature；　and　declared　that　it　should　be
faultless。　　Such　was　the　effect　of　the　announcement　upon　his
susceptible　heart！　　When　Mrs。　Hoggarty　died；　your　uncle　took　the
portrait　and　always　wore　it　himself。　　His　sisters　said　it　was　for
the　sake　of　the　diamond；　whereas；　ungrateful　things！　it　was　merely
on　account　of　their　hair；　and　his　love　for　the　fine　arts。　　As　for
the　poor　artist；　my　dear；　some　people　said　it　was　the　profuse　use
of　spirit　that　brought　on　delirium　tremens；　but　I　don't　believe　it。
Take　another　glass　of　Rosolio。〃

The　telling　of　this　story　always　put　my　aunt　into　great　good…
humour；　and　she　promised　at　the　end　of　it　to　pay　for　the　new
setting　of　the　diamond；　desiring　me　to　take　it　on　my　arrival　in
London　to　the　great　jeweller；　Mr。　Polonius；　and　send　her　the　bill。
〃The　fact　is；〃　said　she；　〃that　the　gold　in　which　the　thing　is　set
is　worth　five　guineas　at　the　very　least；　and　you　can　have　the
diamond　reset　for　two。　　However；　keep　the　remainder；　dear　Sam；　and
buy　yourself　what　you　please　with　it。〃

With　this　the　old　lady　bade　me　adieu。　　The　clock　was　striking
twelve　as　I　walked　down　the　village；　for　the　story　of　Mulcahy
always　took　an　hour　in　the　telling；　and　I　went　away　not　quite　so
downhearted　as　when　the　present　was　first　made　to　me。　　〃After　all；〃
thought　I；　〃a　diamond…pin　is　a　handsome　thing；　and