“She never knew on which side her bread was buttered,” said Mr. Smithers.  “You should have taken the lady when she was in the humour, sir, and have borrowed the money elsewhere.  Why, sir, I had almost reconciled her to her loss in that cursed Company.  I showed her how I had saved out of Brough’s claws the whole of her remaining fortune; which he would have devoured in a day, the scoundrel!  And if you would have left the matter to me, Mr. Titmarsh, I would have had you reconciled completely to Mrs. Hoggarty; I would have removed all your difficulties; I would have lent you the pitiful sum of money myself.”

“Will you?” says Gus; “that’s a trump!” and he seized Smithers’s hand, and squeezed it so that the tears came into the attorney’s eyes.

“Generous fellow!” said I; “lend me money, when you know what a situation I am in, and not able to pay!”

“Ay, my good sir, there’s the rub!” says Mr. Smithers.  “I said I would have lent the money; and so to the acknowledged heir of Mrs. Hoggarty I would—­would at this moment; for nothing delights the heart of Bob Smithers more than to do a kindness.  I would have rejoiced in doing it; and a mere acknowledgment from that respected lady would have amply sufficed.  But now, sir, the case is altered,—­you have no security to offer, as you justly observe.”

“Not a whit, certainly.”

“And without security, sir, of course can expect no money—­of course not.  You are a man of the world, Mr. Titmarsh, and I see our notions exactly agree.”

“There’s his wife’s property,” says Gus.

“Wife’s property?  Bah!  Mrs. Sam Titmarsh is a minor, and can’t touch a shilling of it.  No, no, no meddling with minors for me!  But stop!—­your mother has a house and shop in our village.  Get me a mortgage of that—­”

“I’ll do no such thing, sir,” says I.  “My mother has suffered quite enough on my score already, and has my sisters to provide for; and I will thank you, Mr. Smithers, not to breathe a syllable to her regarding my present situation.”

“You speak like a man of honour, sir,” says Mr. Smithers, “and I will obey your injunctions to the letter.  I will do more, sir.  I will introduce you to a respectable firm here, my worthy friends, Messrs. Higgs, Biggs, and Blatherwick, who will do everything in their power to serve you.  And so, sir, I wish you a very good morning.”

And with this Mr. Smithers took his hat and left the room; and after a further consultation with my aunt, as I heard afterwards, quitted London that evening by the mail.

I sent my faithful Gus off once more to break the matter gently to my wife, fearing lest Mrs. Hoggarty should speak of it abruptly to her; as I knew in her anger she would do.  But he came in an hour panting back, to say that Mrs. H. had packed and locked her trunks, and had gone off in a hackney-coach.  So, knowing that my poor Mary was not to return till night, Hoskins remained with me till then; and, after a dismal day, left me once more at nine, to carry the dismal tidings to her.