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148
The Diary of a Nobody
·
George Grossmith Weedon Grossmith
86
JANUARY
21.—
I
am
very
much
concerned
at
Lupin
having
started
a
pony-trap.
I
said:
“Lupin,
are
you
justified
in
this
outrageous
extravagance?”
Lupin
replied:
“Well,
one
must
get
to
the
City
somehow.
I’ve
only
hired
it,
and
can
give
it
up
any
time
I
like.”
I
repeated
my
question:
“Are
you
justified
in
this
extravagance?”
He
replied:
“Look
here,
Guv.,
excuse
me
saying
so,
but
you’re
a
bit
out
of
date.
It
does
not
pay
nowadays,
fiddling
about
over
small
things.
I
don’t
mean
anything
personal,
Guv’nor.
My
boss
says
if
I
take
his
tip,
and
stick
to
big
things,
I
can
make
big
money!”
I
said
I
thought
the
very
idea
of
speculation
most
horrifying.
Lupin
said
“It
is
not
speculation,
it’s
a
dead
cert.”
I
advised
him,
at
all
events,
not
to
continue
the
pony
and
cart;
but
he
replied:
“I
made
£200
in
one
day;
now
suppose
I
only
make
£200
in
a
month,
or
put
it
at
£100
a
month,
which
is
ridiculously
low—
why,
that
is
£1,250
a
year.
What’s
a
few
pounds
a
week
for
a
trap?”
I
did
not
pursue
the
subject
further,
beyond
saying
that
I
should
feel
glad
when
the
autumn
came,
and
Lupin
would
be
of
age
and
responsible
for
his
own
debts.
He
answered:
“My
dear
Guv.,
I
promise
you
faithfully
that
I
will
never
speculate
with
what
I
have
not
got.
I
shall
only
go
on
Job
Cleanands’
tips,
and
as
he
is
in
the
‘know’
it
is
pretty
safe
sailing.”
I
felt
somewhat
relieved.
Gowing
called
in
the
evening
and,
to
my
surprise,
informed
me
that,
as
he
had
made
£10
by
one
of
Lupin’s
tips,
he
intended
asking
us
and
the
Cummings
round
next
Saturday.
Carrie
and
I
said
we
should
be
delighted.
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