in the pound; and that was the largest dividend paid by any of them.
As for ours--ah! there was a pretty scene as I was brought from the Fleet to the Bankruptcy Court, to give my testimony as late head clerk and accountant of the West Diddlesex Association.
My poor wife, then very near her time, insisted upon accompanying me to Basinghall Street; and so did my friend Gus Hoskins, that true and honest fellow.

If you had seen the crowd that was assembled, and the hubbub that was made as I was brought up! "Mr.Titmarsh," says the Commissioner as I came to the table, with a peculiar sarcastic accent on the Tit--"Mr.Titmarsh, you were the confidant of Mr.Brough, the principal clerk of Mr.Brough, and a considerable shareholder in the Company ?" "Only a nominal one, sir," said I.
"Of course, only nominal," continued the Commissioner, turning to his colleague with a sneer; "and a great comfort it must be to you, sir, to think that you had a share in all the plun--the profits of the speculation, and now can free yourself from the losses, by saying you are only a nominal shareholder." "The infernal villain!" shouted out a voice from the crowd.

It was that of the furious half-pay captain and late shareholder, Captain Sparr.
"Silence in the court there!" the Commissioner continued: and all this while Mary was anxiously looking in his face, and then in mine, as pale as death; while Gus, on the contrary, was as red as vermilion.

"Mr.
Titmarsh, I have had the good fortune to see a list of your debts from the Insolvent Court, and find that you are indebted to Mr.Stiltz, the great tailor, in a handsome sum; to Mr.Polonius, the celebrated jeweller, likewise; to fashionable milliners and dressmakers, moreover;--and all this upon a salary of 200_l_.

per annum.