hark ye, Titmarsh my boy,” said he, “leave your diamond pin upstairs:  our friends to-day don’t like such gewgaws; and though for my part I am no enemy to harmless ornaments, yet I would not shock the feelings of those who have sterner opinions.  You will see that my wife and Miss Brough consult my wishes in this respect.”  And so they did,—­for they both came down to dinner in black gowns and tippets; whereas Miss B. had commonly her dress half off her shoulders.

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 endeavours to fasten upon all whom he comes near.  I, for instance, have just been appointed over the heads of our gents, to a much better place than I held.  I am asked down here, and entertained royally:  and why?  Because my aunt has three thousand pounds which Mr. Brough wants her to invest with us.”