The Mysteries of the Court of London Vol. 7 — page 201: what you’re looking at

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

“and I never forget any 188 and the brothers-in-law to be left alone together. Fur some little while Viscount Rushbrook went on drinking, not merely with the air of one who was much attached to wine, but hkewise with that of a person who was priming himsef, so tu speak, in order to enter upon the subject which, despite his natural eelf-sufficiency, he had some little diffi- dence in approaching. He was moreover casting about for an opportunity to enter upon it; and this opportunity Sir Frederick Latham did not appear inclined spontaneously to furnish, nor to assist in dovoloping. Indeed, the great merchant seemed as if he had forgotten that part of the Viscount’s lettcr which had alluded to impor- tant*iusiness: he went on talking on general topics, as 1f there were no special one to be brought upon the tapis;~—and to the young nobleman it was with a most provoking indifference that Sir Frederick told bim how long this particular wine had been in bottle, and by what a lucky chance he had got possession of that other sort—aad how he intended to make such-and-such improvements io his grounds—and how much his firm hoped to gain from the great foreign loan which they had just contracted for and taken, = « “ Confound this fellow !” thought the Viscount within himself: “ho is only doing this to humiliate me. He won't help me to come to the point: he means me to open the subject deliberately and methodically, without letting me gradually glide into it! This is the cursed pride uf purse, which humbles our patrician pride of birth! By heaven, how I hate him !” As he mentally made this last ejaculation, Vis- count Rushbrook held up a bumper of port to- wards the brilliant chandelier suspended over-head, as if it were to examine its colour: but he was really the while eyeing the merchant askance, and studying his countenance to ascertain whether its expression afforded a hofe that the favour he was presently to solicit would be granted. But how in- scrutable was that countenance,—with its calmness, half cold, half eelf-sufficient—and with a certain gloss of dignity over all! Sir Frederick kdfew that the Viscount was lookifg at him—but af- fected not to have the slightest idea of it. He could read, too, all that was passing in Robert's mind : but he afforded not the faintest indication that such was the case. At leugth Anastatia’s brother fancied himself sufficiently primed—which indeed he must have been, if a coupleof bottles of wine could accomplish such priming: but still he was very far from being intoxicated. “Ah! by the bye, Sir Frederick,” he said, “ did you happen to notice that little sentence in my letter where I intimated that I had a matter of importance to submit to you ?” “TI did note it,” answer ‘business-like precision. “ I the merchant, with ver fail to observe uncement which ap- pears to be stamped witlf"a se:fous meaning.” “ Ab, well— that’s all right!” exclaimed the Viscount. “TI was afraid you had lost sight of the thing.” ° Sir Frederick Latham poured a small quantity of wine into his own gliss—for he was habitually temperate : but ha said not another syllable in re- nse. “The fact is,” continued the Viscount, first sip- ping his wine, and then playing with his silver THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. fruit-knife, “Iamin a little trouble at this mo. ment I don’t mean trouble exactly, becauso I know that’s a term which frightens you City gen- tlemen: but what I mean is that such o thing as a couple of thousand pounds would be of the very greatest service to me. I should know how to use it——”” . “No doubt, my lord,” said the merchant: “everybody knows how ‘to malfe use of a couple of thousand pounds — especially in theso times when no one ought to més-use money.” “Just so,” said the Viscount: “ precisely my idea !"—and again he filled his glass—again he fidgeted with the silver fruit-knife—while in the depths of his heart he thought to himself, “ Per- dition take the cold-blooded fellow ! he ew#éZ7 make me put the question point blank to him, eo that he may have the prideful satisfaction of giving a point-blank yes, or the malignant satisfaction of giving asedirect a no.” There was a pause, during which Sir Frederick Latham sipped his wine with the most provoking composure; and Viscount Bushbrook grew more and mofe embarrassed, confused, and annoyed. “Well, about this little business of mine,” he said, at length mustering up his courage anew. “It’s only a couple of thousand pounds—I don’t exactly know when I can repay it—but of course I would give my bond———and if you, my dear Sir Frederick, would put me in the way of raising it amongst any of your friends-——” “‘ My lord,” interrupted the merchané, with an almost chilling dignity, “I have no money-lenders amongst my friends nor scquaintances——for I never borrow.” “To be sure not!” ejaculated the Viscount, affecting to laugh: “that would be too ridiculous! —a firm that can lend millions to a foreign Go- vernment to borrow at home! No, no!—I didn’t mean that! But I was only thinking that per- haps you could put me in the way of raising this cursed little aum—for I cannot think of,asking you for such a favour, after all that you have at different times«ione for me’——” “ Now listen, Lord Rushbrook,” interrupted Sir Frederick Latham, settling himself in a business- like manner in his chair, and speaking with a dig- nified sententiousness, “ You want two thousand pounds: and what is more—you want me to give you that money P” “Give? Ob, no, no!” ejaculated the Viscount. “JT mean lend——” Give, I repeat,” continued the merchant, with aslight emphasis on the word: for it was rather his look than his voice which rendered that word impressive when thus reiterated. “ Well, my lord, you bhall have this eamount——”" “ My dear Sir Frederick | ‘pon my soul, I hardly know how to express myself! You're a true brother-in-law——-” * And you likewise,” added Sir Frederick. “I' told your sister so just now in the drawing-room. But I beg that you will listen to me; for it is ab- solutely necessary we should have some serious conversation ———" “To be sure! This wine's excellent,” exclaimed the Viscount: “I could sit and talk over it all night |” . “You will not think it amiss,” resumed the merchant, whose lips for a moment expressed e eo es sarees ——— a, en ECOMRniclacae SS (CO)