For so young a gentleman it must be confessed you have employed your time well." "Has this anything to do with the question, sir ?" says I.

"Am I here to give an account of my private debts, or to speak as to what I know regarding the affairs of the Company?
As for my share in it, I have a mother, sir, and many sisters--" "The d-d scoundrel!" shouts the Captain.
"Silence that there fellow!" shouts Gus, as bold as brass; at which the court burst out laughing, and this gave me courage to proceed.
"My mother, sir, four years since, having a legacy of 400_l_.

left to her, advised with her solicitor, Mr.Smithers, how she should dispose of this sum; and as the Independent West Diddlesex was just then established, the money was placed in an annuity in that office, where I procured a clerkship.

You may suppose me a very hardened criminal, because I have ordered clothes of Mr.Von Stiltz; but you will hardly fancy that I, a lad of nineteen, knew anything of the concerns of the Company into whose service I entered as twentieth clerk, my own mother's money paying, as it were, for my place.

Well, sir, the interest offered by the Company was so tempting, that a rich relative of mine was induced to purchase a number of shares." "Who induced your relative, if I may make so bold as to inquire ?" "I can't help owning, sir," says I, blushing, "that I wrote a letter myself.