The Mysteries of the Court of London Vol. 7 — page 223: what you’re looking at

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

_ a uot 210 nel ce ees Be SS DP Eon. GP nae cto of eed a while—nond the prea, meren ont had sought his study to look ever his letters, it) not Lemg his purpose to visit. the City on this: particular day. Not another svilublo had becn ppoken by Sir Frederick Letharo relative to that in- cident of the ballet whieh had led him to entrust the key of tho rafo to his wifo; and she on her own tide had felt no inelination to revive tho topie. The merchant fancied that Annstatia dad been extiavagant In rome respect, and had therefore contracted a debt Whreh she cho e not to mention to him: he congratulated himself on the policy he had pursued: mafend of chiding and reproaching, he had acted with muagnavimity; and he -- tarally con tuded that the effect of such conduct weld be more salutery and would ba wll the betler appreciated, than of ho hal da-plaved aocer and irritation, On the other hand Anestatia=- thoueh having been seaudl- onaly plundmed by Mradamo Angelique, and thorefore really Innocent of any extravacance involving bee in debl—woa filly een ea 3 that sho Inbourcd under ® weer een —— = TF =e see VW opposite character; and she was compelled® to bear the impulation of extravagance be- eanso she darod nob enler upon expliuincions which would revenl the whole treth. She was not happy in her mind; she deeply felt tho generosily of Sir lrederiek'’s conduct; avd more than once since the oceurrenes of theo meidont had sho said to horself, On, that | could tell him every thing !”’ Sir Frederick, ws wo huve vatd, hid retired to his own private room; and there fora while did ho busy himselt wath the letters that had reached him that morning. Some he answered , on the backs of othera he had made vienieranda for refcrence to the account-books at the cinee in the City; and ofhers he placed aside that they might be submitted to his partners when in consultation with them, Presently tho door opened, and a fociian entered to stato that the architect who hag built ‘Tudor Jlouse, roquesicd an aunterview with Sir Frederick, Tho morehaunt desired that the architect should be wdmitted; and in a few minutes this individual was condneted into the study. Presenting a pape) to tir Mrederick, he mit?. matel Chat he had enlled to reecive the balance of his aveount. “Which mieht have boen ««'4led lim ago, Mr Mtyle-* sand the omereant, , drs him “. up with a eet cold goo iness-t ce pomposty, “af you had chosen to send 1b +E “Tam perfectly awere of that, fe Fis Te- rick,’ responded the architeet: “but 2 dad not want the muney- -T hnew tt was sa’e - ard moreover I really had not time to go into the different detail 4.” The merchant opened the doecnment which had ocen presented to bim; and spreading it on lis doek, he proceeded to exanune the ttems of the account. ‘taking downa file, he refered to former accounts: then he comutlted the eash-book, which he took frog a drewer ; and baving thus satisfied hinself that all (he tems were cutreet, ho proveeded to verify the ad- dition of the pounds, shillines, ond peneo columns. All this he did in ow precise und methodical insznner, with coolness and delibe- ration, and yet witha certain perceptible bu- sincss-pride, so to speak, which in itself was aamugh av to say. “Took how carelully I conduct wll my business—and profit by tho examplo !”’ hh SD aa ey TWN MV 'TERITS OF THE Courwt, slowly bent Ina cold eyes upon the architect-- and said gravely, if not sternly, “Mr. Style., might I ask whether you have frequently tho nusfortune of making mistakes in adding up your aceownls 2” Krrorn will ocenr, Sir Frederick,” was the = = eee serene ee © oe oe ote See Qasing added up tho columns, Sir Frederick | answer: “but T flatter myself that I make | them as seldom as most people.” “ Errors nover ocetr in ‘my office, sir obverved tho merchant, drawing himsclt up “A clerk of mino who should have the mis- fortune to mako such an addition ns this, would never have the chauce of making another willun the walis of my establishment. Lvooh, Kir. Styles! You have set down o total of even huudred and thirteen pounds, cleven shillings, and eleven penco-half-penny ; wherens T met.e if eleven hundred and thirtcen pownds, twelvo shillings and three pence _half- penny.” Lhe archifeot felt inflnifely relieved when he tound® that the discrepancy was of so tri- fliuga character: anid as his time was precions, he wished to selile the businoss atonce. But Bir Frederick appeared to take a sort of cold- blonded fnward deheht in delaying him as a punishment. for having made a inistake in his necount to the extent of a few pence. Ile thereforo senientiour!ly expatiated on tho necessily of bemg acenrate in even the mi- nifesG matters: and tian he slowly and «>. liverately eaat up all the eolumus, with tie architect loohine over his shoulder. ‘And now, Mr. Stylos,” horuid, “if you will receipt this account, 1b shall bo paid.” Ki.sing from his chair, the creat, merchant advanced towards tne safe, wlich he opened; nnd he took forth the ecash-box. Meanwhile the architesé had receeipted the account , and sir i'rederivk looked at the mode in which tho reecaapt was written, to assure himeclf that 1%) was consisicnt with the proper formally. lie thon opened the cash-box; ho looked in one eminpartrucnt, whera the notes ought tot be— ij was omply! Sir Frederick was astounded : but not for nn instant did he suffer his fAtuies fo betray the feeling that had thus seized upon Jim. He opened the other compartment, where cold ought tobe: nota single eoin was thero! Stil Sir Fredetieck was outwardly as calm, as unriffled, and as imperturbabie aa ever: and he eoldaly suid, as he elosed the cash. box, ‘* After all, [had better give you a cheque tor the amount,” Just as you please, Sir Frederick,”’ replied {he Architect, making way for the merchant to piv down at his desk again, Sir Froderick wrote out the cheqne: Mr, Styles recetycd 1f—bowed--and took his de- parture. When ho was gone, Sir Frodcrick ogain rose from his seat, and looked into the safe—but heheld none of the notes nor rolden coins there. He consigned the ensh- box back tots pluee—locked up the snic— wud pul. the key in his pocket. “'Thero must have been upwords of two thousand two hundred pounds yn tliat eash- box tho nicht before last,’’ he said to himu«clf ; “and Ann&tasia took it all!” The merchant naturally concluded that his wife hint been dreadtully cxtravagant in varions wavs; but he was bowildered or to what particular debt could lnve amour! od toso lavuo nw sum. Ho know that Anan atia did not gamble at the card-toble, for the best of all possible rensuns that she never played ded ea @ = oF PEs. weep 2 a aS 47am BS We — - ———— ee ee ee a ee ee eee eee eee eee ee wee eee ee Se ee ee ae ee _ ANICLOOO©