Agnes: A Tale of the Streets — page 253: what you’re looking at

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

AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PTLRASURR. ~ €TLet us not wander away from tho topic on which wo were discoursing,” interrupted Timper- ley. “TI tell you that your father has left no debts behind him. ‘They were all settied.” “Settled? Who settled them?” asked Sir Jiuderick, completely bewildered. “Who settled tham?’’ repeated Timperley, in a half-mocking tone. “Why, whe could settle them except meP You look incredulous. But I may as well satiafy you, Sir Roderick,” continued Timperley; “and it will doubtless save you a great deal of trouble in ruuning about to make inquiries of the creditors and ascertain what | really Las been done —---” | “I await the explanation,” said Sir Roderick, | but with a look and tone which was as tmuch aa, to imply that he was prepared to resent any sub- tertuge, mockery, or trickery that might be prac- tised towards him. “Since you overheard so much of what took place between your father and myself the other afternoon,” said Mr. Timperley, “ you perhaps learnt that amongst other liabilties he owed an immense sum to his Jawyers. Well, of course hia lawyers knew that the Chancery-suit was safe to be decided against him, and that he positively Lad not the ghost of a chance. J went to them— whispored in their ear that Sir Juhn would be utterly insulvent if judgmont were given against him: they were alarmed for their own costs—I offered to make @ certain bargain with them—in a word, I bought their debt—1 yavo them But no matter what I gave ” “It matters greatly,’ interrupted Sir Roderick Dalham. “But of this we will speak presently. I presdme, Mr. Timperley, that you dealt in the same way with regard to tho other ecroditors of my father ?” “Precisely so,” responded the lawyer coolly. “When [ proved to them that his own attorneys thought so badly of his case that thoy took a moderate per centage as a sottlement in full ” “Of course they were all willing, and indeed anxious to dv the same?” ejaculated Malham. “But remember, sir, that if you represented my father as being altogether insulvent, you practised a foul fraud; for he himself explained to you that his assets would cover all his debts by paying twenty shillings in the pound.” “Well, well, Sir Roderick, we will not discuss the subject any further,” said Mr. Timperley. “JT have given you as much explanation as you can possibly require, and more than you had any right to demand. It was a legitimate specula- tion on my part, with your deceased father’s creditors ” “It was a fraud and a villany on your part!” ejaculated Dalham passionately. ‘‘ Those ercditors should have been paid in full ere you touched a single shilling of the spoil yourself !” “That may bo your opinion, sir,” interjected Timperley; ‘but it is not mine. And now per- mit mo to obrerve that you are not bencath your own roof,” . “JT presume,” said Roderick sternly, “ that be- fore I am ejected hence, I may be permitted tu go and fling one last look upon the remains of my father P”? Mr. Tiaperley bowed; and Sir Roderick left the room. He ascended tothe chamber of death ; 23 and there he remained for some minutes. On issuing forth, he met three or fuur of the servants who purposely flung thomselves in his way that they might condole with him on the unfortunate position in which he was placed; for the fact of the disinheritance was no secret in the house. “J thank you for your kind sympathy,” he said, with much emotion; “and believe mo that I could cheerfully welcome poverty if I knew that my late fathor’s liabilities had been honourably liquidated. But the matter shall not rest here,” he continued, as he saw that the dining-room dovr had been put ajar, evidently to enable Mr. Timperley tu over- hear whatsuover way taking place. ‘‘Thoro shall be a thorough and completo investégation 1” “One word more with you, if you please, Sir Roderick !" exclaimed the lawyer, now issuing forth from the dining-room. “ Thero is something I had forgotten to say.” “T will hoar it,” answered Dalham ; and he re. entered the apartment, where he was now once more alono with Timperley. “ Look you, Sir Roderic.” said the man of business, assuming a pleasant and conciliatory air, —“ you seg sere well that Iam not afraid of you and that giaMhatWhiog for your threats. But J do not WY be hard upon you. You angered your fathCr—and ho of course had a right to dis- pose of his property as he thought fit: therefore you roust not blame me, nor yet the houspitals or charitable institutions a - “T do not wish toe arguo tho point, Mr, Tim- perley,” interrupted Dalham. “Perhaps it is only too easy tov understand how yo, who were for so many years the attorney of the deceased Mr. Barrington, could have merited such signal proofs of friendship on the part of Sir John Dal- ham. Yes'—tho iniquitous part which for long years you must have played, is now beyoud & doubt! To your vile machinations was poor Mr. Barrington the victim! It was you who kept him in prison!—you who by your conduct undermined his health!—you who have made him enduro so much, that, by heaven! when | think of it all, I can hardly keep my hands off you!” “Tf you address me in this style, Sir Roderick,” said Mr. Timperloy, who first became very pale, and then assumed a supercilious louk of contempt, “JT shall recall the bonevulent intention which was ubout to prompt me to offer you a cheque for a thousand guinvas, just tu see your way in the world.” “Villain! would you bribe me?” exclaimed Dalham, with a fierce indignation. “By heaven! you are a man who pullutes the very atmosphere itself and renders it sickly aud fetid to breathe in your presence !” “Ah! this insult!” ejaculated Timperloy in accents of rage. “ By heaven! I will find some means of punishing you !” “Wretch! I defy you! Talk of punishment indeed! Oh! it is upon your head that retribu- tion ought to fall!” ; Thus speaking, Roderick Dalham rushed out of theo house; and throwing himself into the oab which had brought him thithor, he ordered the driver to retrace bis way to Aldorsgato Street. IN@OOlKS CO