he laid down the paper: I was called up to witness it, and Brough,
with tears in his eyes, told me her words; for he could trust me, he
said. And thus it was that I came to be present at Gates's interview
with his master, which took place only an hour afterwards. Brave Mrs.
Brough! how she was working for her husband! Good woman, and kind! but
_you_ had a true heart, and merited a better fate! Though wherefore say
so? The woman, to this day, thinks her husband an angel, and loves him a
thousand times better for his misfortunes.

On Saturday, Alderman Pash's solicitor was paid by me across the counter,
as I said. "Never mind your aunt's money, Titmarsh my boy," said Brough:
"never mind her having resumed her shares. You are a true honest fellow;
you have never abused me like that pack of curs downstairs, and I'll make
your fortune yet!"

* * * * *

The next week, as I was sitting with my wife, with Mr. Smithers, and with
Mrs. Hoggarty, taking our tea comfortably, a knock was heard at the door,
and a gentleman desired to speak to me in the parlour. It was Mr.
Aminadab of Chancery Lane, who arrested me as a shareholder of the
Independent West Diddlesex Association, at the suit of Von Stiltz of
Clifford Street, tailor and draper.

I called down Smithers, and told him for Heaven's sake not to tell Mary.

"Where is Brough?" says Mr. Smithers.

"Why," says Mr. Aminadab, "he's once more of the firm of Brough and Off,
sir--he breakfasted at Calais this morning!"

CHAPTER XI

IN WHICH IT APPEARS THAT A MAN MAY POSSESS A DIAMOND AND YET BE VERY HARD
PRESSED FOR A DINNER

On that fatal Saturday evening, in a hackney-coach, fetched from the
Foundling, was I taken from my comfortable house and my dear little wife;
whom Mr. Smithers was left to console as he might. He said that I was
compelled to take a journey upon business connected with the office; and
my poor Mary made up a little portmanteau of clothes, and tied a
comforter round my neck, and bade my companion particularly to keep the
coach windows shut: which injunction the grinning wretch promised to
obey. Our journey was not long: it was only a shilling fare to Cursitor
Street, Chancery Lane, and there I was set down.

The house before which the coach stopped seemed to be only one of half-a-
dozen in that street which were used for the same purpose. No man, be he
ever so rich, can pass by those dismal houses, I think, without a
shudder. The fron