OF THE WEST DIDDLESEX ASSOCIATION, AND OF THE EFFECT THE DIAMOND HAD THERE Well, the magic of the pin was not over yet.

Very soon after Mrs.
Brough's grand party, our director called me up to his room at the West Diddlesex, and after examining my accounts, and speaking awhile about business, said, "That's a very fine diamond-pin, Master Titmarsh" (he spoke in a grave patronising way), "and I called you on purpose to speak to you upon the subject.

I do not object to seeing the young men of this establishment well and handsomely dressed; but I know that their salaries cannot afford ornaments like those, and I grieve to see you with a thing of such value.

You have paid for it, sir,--I trust you have paid for it; for, of all things, my dear--dear young friend, beware of debt." I could not conceive why Brough was reading me this lecture about debt and my having bought the diamond-pin, as I knew that he had been asking about it already, and how I came by it--Abednego told me so.

"Why, sir," says I, "Mr.Abednego told me that he had told you that I had told him--" "Oh, ay-by-the-bye, now I recollect, Mr.Titmarsh--I do recollect--yes; though I suppose, sir, you will imagine that I have other more important things to remember." "Oh, sir, in course," says I.
"That one of the clerks _did_ say something about a pin--that one of the other gentlemen had it.