a
Member of Parliament, and a man as well known as Mr. Rothschild in the
City of London. His private fortune, I know for a fact, amounts to
half a million; and the last dividends paid to the shareholders of the
I. W. D. Association amounted to 6.125 per cent. per annum."

[That I know was the dividend declared by us.]

"Although the shares in the market are at a very great premium, it is
the privilege of the four first clerks to dispose of a certain number,
5,000_l_. each at par; and if you, my dearest aunt, would wish for
2,500_l_. worth, I hope you will allow me to oblige you by offering
you so much of my new privileges.

"Let me hear from you immediately upon the subject, as I have already
an offer for the whole amount of my shares at market price."

"But I haven't, sir," says I.

"You have, sir. _I_ will take the shares; but I want _you_. I want as
many respectable persons in the Company as I can bring. I want you
because I like you, and I don't mind telling you that I have views of my
own as well; for I am an honest man and say openly what I mean, and I'll
tell you _why_ I want you. I can't, by the regulations of the Company,
have more than a certain number of votes, but if your aunt takes shares,
I expect--I don't mind owning it--that she will vote with me. _Now_ do
you understand me? My object is to be all in all with the Company; and
if I be, I will make it the most glorious enterprise that ever was
conducted in the City of London."

So I signed the letter and left it with Mr. B. to frank.

The next day I went and took my place at the third clerk's desk, being
led to it by Mr. B., who made a speech to the gents, much to the
annoyance of the other chaps, who grumbled about their services: though,
as for the matter of that, our services were very much alike: the Company
was only three years old, and the oldest clerk in it had not six months'
more standing in it than I. "Look out," said that envious M'Whirter to
me. "Have you got money, or have any of your relations money? or are any
of them going to put it into the concern?"

I did not think fit to answer him, but took a pinch out of his mull, and
was always kind to him; and he, to say the truth, was always most civil
to me. As for Gus Hoskins, he began to think I was a superior being; and
I must say that the rest of the chaps behaved very kindly in the matter,
and said that if one man were to be put over their h