CHAPTER LXV
In which Mrs. Clive comes into her Fortune
Speaking of the affairs of B. B. C., Sir Barnes Newcome always took care
to maintain his candid surprise relating to the proceedings of that
Company. He set about evil reports against it! He endeavour to do it a
wrong--absurd! If a friend were to ask him (and it was quite curious what
a number did manage to ask him) whether he thought the Company was an
advantageous investment, of course he would give an answer. He could not
say conscientiously he thought so--never once had said so--in the time of
their connexion, which had been formed solely with a view of obliging his
amiable uncle. It was a quarrelsome Company; a dragoon Company; a Company
of gentlemen accustomed to gunpowder, and fed on mulligatawny. He,
forsooth, be hostile to it! There were some Companies that required no
enemies at all, and would be pretty sure to go to the deuce their own
way.
Thus, and with this amiable candour, spake Barnes, about a commercial
speculation, the merits of which he had a right to canvass as well as any
other citizen.
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