. But look you, sir,
if you had not been so eager after gain, I think you would not have
allowed yourself to be deceived, and would have kept your relative's
money, and inherited it, according to your story, one day or other.
Directly people expect to make a large interest, their judgment seems to
desert them; and because they wish for profit, they think they are sure
of it, and disregard all warnings and all prudence. Besides the hundreds
of honest families who have been ruined by merely placing confidence in
this Association of yours, and who deserve the heartiest pity, there are
hundreds more who have embarked in it, like yourself, not for investment,
but for speculation; and these, upon my word, deserve the fate they have
met with. As long as dividends are paid, no questions are asked; and Mr.
Brough might have taken the money for his shareholders on the high-road,
and they would have pocketed it, and not been too curious. But what's
the use of talking?" says Mr. Commissioner, in a passion: "here is one
rogue detected, and a thousand dupes made; and if another swindler starts
to-morrow, there will be a thousand more of his victims round this table
a year hence; and so, I suppose, to the end. And now let's go to
business, gentlemen, and excuse this sermon."

After giving an account of all I knew, which was very little, other gents
who were employed in the concern were examined; and I went back to
prison, with my poor little wife on my arm. We had to pass through the
crowd in the rooms, and my heart bled as I saw, amongst a score of
others, poor Gates, Brough's porter, who had advanced every shilling to
his master, and was now, with ten children, houseless and penniless in
his old age. Captain Sparr was in this neighbourhood, but by no means so
friendly disposed; for while Gates touched his hat, as if I had been a
lord, the little Captain came forward threatening with his bamboo-cane
and swearing with great oaths that I was an accomplice of Brough. "Curse
you for a smooth-faced scoundrel!" says he. "What business have you to
ruin an English gentleman, as you have me?" And again he advanced with
his stick. But this time, officer as he was, Gus took him by the collar,
and shoved him back, and said, "Look at the lady, you brute, and hold
your tongue!" And when he looked at my wife's situation, Captain Sparr
became redder for shame than he had before been for anger. "I'm sorry
she's married to such a good-for-