“A deep file,” said Aminadab, winking and pointing me out to his friend Mr. Jehoshaphat.

“A good one,” says Jehoshaphat.

“In for three hundred thousand pound,” says Aminadab:  “Brough’s right-hand man, and only three-and-twenty.”

“Mr. Titmarsh, sir, your ’ealth, sir,” says Mr. Lock, in an ecstasy of admiration.  “Your very good ’earth, sir, and better luck to you next time.”

“Pooh, pooh! he’s all right,” says Aminadab; “let him alone.”

“In for what?” shouted I, quite amazed.  “Why, sir, you arrested me for 90_l_.”

“Yes, but you are in for half a million,—­you know you are. Them debts I don’t count—­them paltry tradesmen’s accounts.  I mean Brough’s business.  It’s an ugly one; but you’ll get through it.  We all know you; and I lay my life that when you come through the court, Mrs. Titmarsh has got a handsome thing laid by.”

“Mrs. Titmarsh has a small property,” says I.  “What then?”

The three gentlemen burst into a loud laugh, said I was a “rum chap”—­a “downy cove,” and made other remarks which I could not understand then; but the meaning of which I have since comprehended, for they took me to be a great rascal, I am sorry to say, and supposed that I had robbed the I. W. D. Association, and, in order to make my money secure, settled it on my wife.

It was in the midst of this conversation that, as I said, Gus came in; and whew! when he saw what was going on, he gave such a whistle!

“Herr von Joel, by Jove!” says Aminadab.  At which all laughed.

“Sit down,” says Mr. B.,—­“sit down, and wet your whistle, my piper!  I say, egad! you’re the piper that played before Moses!  Had you there, Dab.  Dab, get a fresh bottle of Burgundy for Mr. Hoskins.”  And before he knew where he was, there was Gus for the first time in his life drinking Clos-Vougeot.  Gus said he had never tasted Bergamy before, at which the bailiff sneered, and told him the name of the wine.

“Old Clo!  What?” says Gus; and we laughed:  but the Hebrew gents did not this time.

“Come, come, sir!” says Mr. Aminadab’s friend, “ve’re all shentlemen here, and shentlemen never makish reflexunsh upon other gentlemen’sh pershuashunsh.”

After this feast was concluded, Gus and I retired to my room to consult about my affairs.  With regard to the responsibility incurred as a shareholder in the West Diddlesex, I was not uneasy; for though the matter might cause me a little trouble at first, I knew I was not a shareholder; that the shares were scrip shares, making the dividend payable to the bearer; and my aunt had called back her shares, and consequently I was free.  But it was very unpleasant to me to consider that I was in debt nearly a hundred pounds to tradesmen, chiefly of Mrs. Hoggarty’s recommendation; and as she had promised to be answerable for their bills, I determined to send her a letter reminding her of her promise, and begging her at the same time to relieve me from Mr. Von Stiltz’s debt, for which I was arrested:  and which was incurred not certainly at her desire, but at Mr. Brough’s; and would never have been incurred by me but at the absolute demand of that gentleman.