rs.

The Captain rode over several times to see us; and Miss Brough seemed
always delighted to see _him_. One day I met him as I was walking out
alone by the river, and we had a long talk together.

"Mr. Titmarsh," says he, "from what little I have seen of you, you seem
to be an honest straight-minded young fellow; and I want some information
that you can give. Tell me, in the first place, if you will--and upon my
honour it shall go no farther--about this Insurance Company of yours? You
are in the City, and see how affairs are going on. Is your concern a
stable one?"

"Sir," said I, "frankly then, and upon my honour too, I believe it is. It
has been set up only four years, it is true; but Mr. Brough had a great
name when it was established, and a vast connection. Every clerk in the
office has, to be sure, in a manner, paid for his place, either by taking
shares himself, or by his relations taking them. I got mine because my
mother, who is very poor, devoted a small sum of money that came to us to
the purchase of an annuity for herself and a provision for me. The
matter was debated by the family and our attorneys, Messrs. Hodge and
Smithers, who are very well known in our part of the country; and it was
agreed on all hands that my mother could not do better with her money for
all of us than invest it in this way. Brough alone is worth half a
million of money, and his name is a host in itself. Nay, more: I wrote
the other day to an aunt of mine, who has a considerable sum of money in
loose cash, and who had consulted me as to the disposal of it, to invest
it in our office. Can I give you any better proof of my opinion of its
solvency?"

"Did Brough persuade you in any way?"

"Yes, he certainly spoke to me: but he very honestly told me his motives,
and tells them to us all as honestly. He says, 'Gentlemen, it is my
object to increase the connection of the office, as much as possible. I
want to crush all the other offices in London. Our terms are lower than
any office, and we can bear to have them lower, and a great business will
come to us that way. But we must work ourselves as well. Every single
shareholder and officer of the establishment must exert himself, and
bring us customers,--no matter for how little they are engaged--engage
them: that is the great point.' And accordingly our Director makes all
his friends and servants shareholders: his very lodge-porter yonder is a
shareholder; and he thus