Well, I declare to goodness it does illuminate the old place!" says Gus;
but the fact was, that there was a gas-lamp opposite our window, and I
believe that was the reason why we could see pretty well. At least in my
bedroom, to which I was obliged to go without a candle, and of which the
window looked out on a dead wall, I could not see a wink, in spite of the
Hoggarty diamond, and was obliged to grope about in the dark for a
pincushion which Somebody gave me (I don't mind owning it was Mary
Smith), and in which I stuck it for the night. But, somehow, I did not
sleep much for thinking of it, and woke very early in the morning; and,
if the truth must be told, stuck it in my night-gown, like a fool, and
admired myself very much in the glass.

Gus admired it as much as I did; for since my return, and especially
since my venison dinner and drive with Lady Drum, he thought I was the
finest fellow in the world, and boasted about his "West End friend"
everywhere.

As we were going to dine at Roundhand's, and I had no black satin stock
to set it off, I was obliged to place it in the frill of my best shirt,
which tore the muslin sadly, by the way. However, the diamond had its
effect on my entertainers, as we have seen; rather too much perhaps on
one of them; and next day I wore it down at the office, as Gus would make
me do; though it did not look near so well in the second day's shirt as
on the first day, when the linen was quite clear and bright with
Somersetshire washing.

The chaps at the West Diddlesex all admired it hugely, except that
snarling Scotchman M'Whirter, fourth clerk,--out of envy because I did
not think much of a great yellow stone, named a carum-gorum, or some such
thing, which he had in a snuff-mull, as he called it,--all except
M'Whirter, I say, were delighted with it; and Abednego himself, who ought
to know, as his father was in the line, told me the jewel was worth at
least ten poundsh, and that his governor would give me as much for it.

"That's a proof," says Roundhand, "that Tit's diamond is worth at least
thirty." And we all laughed, and agreed it was.

Now I must confess that all these praises, and the respect that wag paid
me, turned my head a little; and as all the chaps said I _must_ have a
black satin stock to set the stone off, was fool enough to buy a stock
that cost me five-and-twenty shillings, at Ludlam's in Piccadilly: for
Gus said I must go to the best place, to be sure, and have n