Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 202: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

~ - porty is worth about ten thousand pounds. —_———— 194 don’t you suggest something? You may be very well assured that I am not telling you all these things in a mere chit-chat style—but that I havea special motive. And what motive could I pos- sibly have except that of seeking your advice and co-operation P” “ Pray might I ask, Sir John Dalhawm,” inguired Mr. Timperley, “how much ready money would remain to you in the world if the forthcoming judgment of the Court of Chancery were to transfer all your estates to Mr. Barrington P” The Baronet glanced around the room to assure himself that no one had entered during this col- loquy : ke then leant towards Timperley ; and in a ‘low mysterious voice he said, “I have got ten thousand pounds somewhere; and then you know there is this villa, which is my own frechold é * And what is it worth P” asked Timperley. “With the dozen acres of land, the whole pro- But if we throw in the furniture, the plate, and so forth —and all the property in my town-mansion, to- gether with my horses and carriages, my wites, et cetera—I dare say that I might run up the figure to fifteen thousand.” Very good,” said Timperley, taking a sheet of paper and making certain memoranda upon it. “You have ten thousand pounds in ready money ; and you could raise fifteen thousand more by the sale of this freehold and all your personal pro- perty. Is this so?” * That is how the matter stands, my dear Tim- porley,” rejoined the Baronet. “In plain terme, Sir Jobp, if judgment be given against you in the course of two or three days,” said the latwyer, “ you will be enabled to command twenty-five thousand pounds in one sense—but in another sense you will be utterly in- solvent, becauso you have liabilitics to that amount. Pray forgive me, Sir Jobn, if I put the case rather offensively ; but I am dealing with it as a lawyer—aud in this point of view it is worse than madness to attempt to blind one’s eyes to the veritable aspect of an affair.” “To be sure! to be sure, my dear Timperley ! Now, what should you recommend ?” asked the Baronet, again leaning forward and speaking in a confidential tone, as he looked earnestly into the lawyer’s face. ‘ Do you not think a little trip to the Continent would do me a great deal of good P” —and then he chuckled to a degree that brought on another fit of coughing, whereby it was a wonder that he was not carried straight off into the other world, Mr. Timperley reflected for a few minutes; and then he said, “‘ It would never do, Sir John! Your intention would get wind ; for remember thet you are not in a condition to take suddenly to your heels and decamp. You are an invalid—your re- moval might even prove fatal ? “ Ah! maledictioms upon it !” muttered the old man, with a deep concentrated bitterness : “ this is but too true!” “ Well then,” continued Timperley, “if your creditors heard of it, they would adopt means to prevent your solling your property—they would ley an embargo uponit. In short, Sir John, this idea of flight would not serve your purpose. It must be abandoned.” “Then what can I do? what can I do P” asked j rick, “ but not I hope ruined in honour ! a rae SO ee LE EI AGNES; O2, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. ——— eee the Baronet. “ I was thinking of a mortgage—a bond—or warrant of attorney—or whatever you call it if I could find some trustworthy per- son “ Somebody, in short,” interjected Timperley, “who would make a seizure of your property, Sir John, and then privately give it back to you? Well,” added Timperley, after a few moments of reflection, “ this scheme would succeed very well ig “Do you know any trustworthy person,” asked Sir John, “ who would enter into the business? Of course [ would reward him well. And then too, there is the sum of ten thousand pounds which must be secretly bought into the French Funds in my name fe “It isa sort of business,” observed Mr, Tim- perley, “ which I could not very well recommend to a client :)but it is something which for old friendship’s sake I can do myself. Now the truth is, Sir John, I have had a great deal of your money in ove way or another: I myself am rich euough to be enabled to afford to be grateful—and this assurance perhaps is ten thousand times better than any other kind of guarantee,” “‘ Well, my dear Timperley,” said the Baronet, again chuckling joyously, “if you will undertake this little business for me, it will prove an im- mense relief to my mind, as you may very well suppose o “No, father! no! you will never do this!” sud- denly exclaimed a voice emanating from the other side of the bed; and Roderick Dalham, who had crossed the threshold unperceived by his parent and the lawyer, stepped hastily forward. ‘* What!” cried the Baronet, half ashamed and half angry : “ you have been listening, Roderick ?” “Tt was not my intention to listen,” quickly ra- sponded the son: “you ought to know, father, that I am iacapable of doing anything so mean and paltry as that of playing the eavesdropper. I opened the door gently, thiaking that you might be asleep—in which caso I should have been sorry to disturb you. I could not help catching what was passing between yourself and this man at the moment—and then indced I was riveted to the spot _ ** And what have you heard, Roderick? what have you heard ?” demanded the old Baronet hastily. “But no matter!” he continued, with bitterness in his tone; ‘““you have at all events heard enough to prove to you that if I loso the lawsuit I am a ruined man!” “Ruined in purse, perhaps,” ejaculated Hode- No, nu, father! your debts must be paid!—yes, paid to the uttermost shilling !” “ What—and leave us beggars!” cried Sir John, “No, no! Quit the room, Roderick! I and Mr. Timperley will manage matters better: we have some discourse to engage us, whereat-we need not witnesses 4d “ Pardon mo, my dear father,” interrupted Ro- deriok, “but I would much rather remain with you, Indeed, I cannot think of leaving you alone with this person !” “ Mr, Dalham,” said Timperley, putting on an air of assurance, which indeed bordered upon de- fiance, “ you have two or three times spoken of me rudely and superciliously ——” Ghoo