And so your pin was given you, was it ?" "It was given me, sir, by my aunt, Mrs.Hoggarty of Castle Hoggarty," said I, raising my voice; for I was a little proud of Castle Hoggarty.
"She must be very rich to make such presents, Titmarsh ?" "Why, thank you, sir," says I, "she is pretty well off.

Four hundred a year jointure; a farm at Slopperton, sir; three houses at Squashtail; and three thousand two hundred loose cash at the banker's, as I happen to know, sir,--_that's all_." I did happen to know this, you see; because, while I was down in Somersetshire, Mr.MacManus, my aunt's agent in Ireland, wrote to say that a mortgage she had on Lord Brallaghan's property had just been paid off, and that the money was lodged at Coutts's.

Ireland was in a very disturbed state in those days; and my aunt wisely determined not to invest her money in that country any more, but to look out for some good security in England.

However, as she had always received six per cent.
in Ireland, she would not hear of a smaller interest; and had warned me, as I was a commercial man, on coming to town, to look out for some means by which she could invest her money at that rate at least.
"And how do you come to know Mrs.Hoggarty's property so accurately ?" said Mr.Brough; upon which I told him.
"Good heavens, sir! and do you mean that you, a clerk in the West Diddlesex Insurance Office, applied to by a respectable lady as to the manner in which she should invest property, never spoke to her about the Company which you have the honour to serve?
Do you mean, sir, that you, knowing there was a bonus of five per cent.

for yourself upon shares taken, did not press Mrs.Hoggarty to join us ?" "Sir," says I, "I'm an honest man, and would not take a bonus from my own relation." "Honest I know you are, my boy--give me your hand! So am I honest--so is every man in this Company honest; but we must be prudent as well.