|
but jobling was far too knowing to connect himself with the company in any closer ties than as a paid
(and well paid) functionary, or to allow his connection to be misunderstood abroad, if he could help it. i am the medical
officer, in consideration of a certain monthly payment. |
| therefore i am bound, so far as my own
knowledge goes, to speak well of the establishment.) 'if you put any question to me, my dear
friend,' says the doctor, 'touching the responsibility or capital of the
company, there i am at fault; for i have no head for figures, and not
being a shareholder, am delicate of showing any curiosity whatever
on the subject. delicacy -- your amiable lady will agree with me i
am sure -- should be one of the first characteristics of a medical
man. |
| a
remarkably handsome man, and quite the gentleman in every
respect. house and everything
belonging to him, beautiful. costly furniture on the most elegant
and lavish scale. and pictures, which, even in an anatomical point
of view, are per-fection. in case you should ever think of doing
anything with the company, i'll pass you, you may depend upon it.
i can conscientiously report you a healthy subject. if i understand
any man's constitution, it is yours; and this little indisposition has
done him more good, ma'am,' says the doctor, turning to the
patient's wife, 'than if he had swallowed the contents of half the
nonsensical bottles in my surgery. whether i would repose confidence in this
company myself, if i had not been paying money elsewhere for many years -- that's quite another question. 'the honour of his
company is not requested if he is. |
he was honourably
connected with that very occasion though. 'we will not say
that in the present case, for this gentleman is very far from it. 'so much the more adaptable to the anglo-bengalee. bullamy, clear the table and take the things
out by the other door.
'i shall be eternally delighted,' answered tigg, kissing his hand and
smiling sweetly.
the doctor disappeared into the outer office, and immediately
returned with jonas chuzzlewit. now do you know,' he added
checking himself with infinite policy, and looking round with a smile; 'that's a very singular instance of the force of example. |
| it
really is a very remarkable instance of the force of example. why do i say our chairman? because he is not my
chairman, you know. i have no connection with the company,
farther than giving them, for a certain fee and reward, my poor
opinion as a medical man, precisely as i may give it any day to jack
noakes or tom styles. then why do i say our chairman? simply
because i hear the phrase constantly repeated about me. such is the involuntary operation of the mental faculty in the imitative
biped man. mr crimple, i believe you never take snuff?
injudicious. it is too common with all of us, but it is especially in the nature of a mean mind, to be overawed
by fine clothes and fine furniture. |
they had a very decided
influence on jonas.
'now you two gentlemen have business to discuss, i know,' said the
doctor, 'and your time is precious. having had the happiness to introduce you to each other, i may go about my business. but allow me, mr montague, before i go, to say this of my
friend who sits beside you: that gentleman has done more, sir,'
rapping his snuff-box solemnly, 'to reconcile me to human nature,
than any man alive or dead.
mr crimple also departed on the business of the morning; and jonas
chuzzlewit and tigg were left alone. if he took it into his head that i was
coming here for such or such a purpose, why, that's his lookout. |
if men like you and i speak openly at first, all possible misunderstanding is avoided. why should i
disguise what you know so well, but what the crowd never dream
of? we companies are all birds of prey; mere birds of prey. the
only question is, whether in serving our own turn, we can serve
yours too; whether in double-lining our own nest, we can put a single living into yours. we'll make a merit of dealing plainly with you, when we
know we can't help it. |
| if mr tigg had preferred any claim
to high and honourable dealing, jonas would have suspected him
though he had been a very model of probity; but when he gave
utterance to jonas's own thoughts of everything and everybody,
jonas began to feel that he was a pleasant fellow, and one to be talked to freely. they started objections they had no right to start, and
put questions they had no right to put, and carried things much too
high for my taste. perhaps it is, especially as she's
young. but one never knows what may happen to these women, so
i'm thinking of insuring her life. it is but fair, you know, that a man should secure some consolation in case of meeting with such a loss. |
| but i want to know what sort of security there is for the company's going on. the chairman fell back a little, to give him the
better opportunity.
that gentleman perceived it, and tapping him familiarly on the
sleeve, beckoned him to the window. |
| from this moment, mr
montague's jocularity and flow of spirits were remarkable.
mr montague pointed down into the street, where bailey and the
cab were in attendance.
'is that a crowded street?' asked montague, calling his attention to the multitude without.
'there are printed calculations,' said his companion, 'which will tell
you pretty nearly how many people will pass up and down that thoroughfare in the course of a day. i can tell you how many of em
will come in here, merely because they find this office here;
knowing no more about it than they do of the pyramids.
'i can tell you,' said tigg in his ear, 'how many of em will buy
annuities, effect insurances, bring us their money in a hundred
shapes and ways, force it upon us, trust us as if we were the mint;
yet know no more about us than you do of crossing-sweeper at the corner. |
| take these papers with
and look 'em over. see,' he said, snatching some printed forms from
the table. say fifty or pound; perhaps more; no
matter. b proposes self and two securities. b assures his own life for the
amount, and brings two friends' lives also -- just to the
office. 'and hard it is the part of law that should be confoundedly down upon us
unfortunate victims; when it takes such good interest for from all its clients. but begins at , and justice
begins next door. it was quite in
peculiar vein of .
'then,' said tigg montague, 'we grant annuities on very lowest
and most advantageous terms known in money market; and the
old ladies and gentlemen down in country buy 'em.. .. |