The Mysteries of the Court of London Vol. 7 — page 40: what you’re looking at

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

Aa RERADEERRERRRIRRCERE RRRRRER- IRR meena areceenacaane er RR MYSTRRIRA OF tuB COURT. with the dread that exactions far greaser than thove previopsly wade —great though these already were—would be sooner or later sttempted in respect to his own purse. x “Yea—it ig but too true!” continyed Armytage, in a scarcely audible voice. “The rascality of that man Preston was an ominous date for me! Down to that period everything had gone well; whatgo- ever I tcuched seemed to turn into gold : but sivoe. then everything has gone wrong—the money, as you just now expresend it, has melted away ten thousand times faster than ever it was previopaly wade or got. Or perhaps I myself baye speculated more recklessly—more desperately! And yet how could it be otherwise? I sought to repeir the ter- rible losses I sustained——” “And your daughter’s money is all gone—ab- colutely gone ?” inguired Marchmont, still inere- dulous in respect to go colossal gn evil? ““ Yes—gone, gone!” responded Armytages and again he groaned in bitterness. “Now your Grace can understand why I acai so desponding at times, and wherefore I am haunted gjth such fearful apprehensions. If ruin pvertakes me, it will not be yuin for mysclf alone—but ruin for Zoe—ruin for her hushand——-fuig therefore for all three |” : “And do you realy anticipate that this lest gpeculation of your's may turn out wrongP” = “ Again I say, heaven forbid! But your Grace knows the terrible ungertainties of guch ventures. Look you, my lord!” exclaimed Armytage, with a sudden access of fervid, almost wild joy. “If J] .succeed, this day month will behold me in pos- session of two hundred and fifty thousand pounds! With that sum I restore Zoe’s fortune—I pay Coloman—I return your Grace the loan you so kindly advanced Oh, yes! fortune must favour me-——it is impossible it can be other- wise !”” And if it should happen to turn ot contrary to your expoctations,” said the Dyuke,—“ have yon a very hard men to deal with In this Mr. Cole- man P” , “To tell your Grace the truth, I can scarcely understand him,” replied Armytage. “I¢ was not I who originally sought him out: he ceme to seck me. Itgras very shortly after that first little em- berrassment of ming, which arose from Preston's failure, you know-@ard when your Grace sogepe- rously adyanced me fifty thougand pounds in Januery last—Mr. Ouleman one day called upon me. Apologising for having introduced himself, he said that be had a wealthy client who wished to lay out his money at good interest; and as he knew that { bad excellent opportunities of aecom- modating the mombers of the aristocracy and fashionable gentlemen with loens, he had taken the liberty of waiting upon me for the purpose of ascertaining if I would thus use any mopey he might place in my hands. Jt was thus our con- nection commeneed.” “And who is thiq wealthy client of Mr. Cole- man’s?” asked the Duke, thinking if probable that he might be the same who was feorgily urging the lawyer on to the prosepution of Madame Angelique. °=I do not know,” teplied Aymytage; “I never saw him—nevereeven heard hig name meat In fact, my lard, J du not Voliere thet here is diflonlty + be dosed | and ke Nonmpled gut a7 any auch client in the bagk-ground at all. The ere bone of these lawyere who lay out their owe money at interast, pretendiig ib is that oftheir cliente. They do it to save thelr respectabilit and avoid the reputation of usurers. But as | was just fow ee t Grape, I cannot exactly make out tie Mr, Soloman. He sseracd to force his monay upon me og it were in the flest instance; and sfterwards, when ho found me punctual ts with him, be oud. in my engagemen deply appeared to plage sysb. uptimited ponfidence in ma—gnd though I do verily beliere he wust have had @ suspicion, from one or wo little sige cumstances, that I was not go rich as J appeared to be, yes he unhesitatingly kepp bie word, ond let me have phat Jast sum of afty thousand” “Rest assured, Armytege,” interrupted the Dake of Marchmont, “he suspected nothing of what you fancy—or he wold not have heea quite ao willing to give you bis money. By the hyo, did you ever bear }:irg speak of being engaged ip & prosecution egripst a certain house of fashions ablo yegort—you understand whet I mean—e house of a certain description ——” “ No, never,” responded Armytage. “ When I have been at his office, we have conversed on noe thing except the business which took me thither. And now, my lord,-as { have Mached the house where I heve a call ta make to-night ——” “Te it mot rather lete fur e call, Armytayo P” inquired the Duke with a emile. “It ig @ young gentleman, named Softly, be- longing to the Guards, and who wil] be of ago in eight or ten monthe,” replied the financier. “ Hy wants to raise sume money—he has sent for me— and I must therefore keep the time which best pleases himself. And now I bid your Grave goud- night.” They separated acprdingly ; and as the Duke of Marchmont slowly took his way homeward; ho revolved in his mind a certain plan which be h vl formed, and in furthorance of which he intend: to enlist the aid of the Hon. Wilson Stanhope. CHAPTER LXIXXVIII. WADAME ANGELIQUE'S THERES BILLETS. Jumpnrarecy after bronkfast on the following myrpoing, Madame Angelique sate down at her writing-desk, and penoed three notes, which she despatched to es many different addresses. At about one in the afternuyo an old nobleman, having passed through M. Bortin’s housp snd entered that af the williner by the mirror- contrived doos, found his way to the elegantly ap- pointed boudpir, whero Madame Apgelique “3 whiting to receife hin. We was yerging towards his eightieth year: his form y completely bowed: the fow streggling beirs of his head werg of snowy whitenegs—his efes wore bleared—his face was one masse of paskerings 49a wrinkles —pp hag lost ed of teeth 408 the jue of hig pro- file sunpis @ Huinber OF eharp anylos. was eo infirm that he walked mais6 ounsidernh @ cuntinuqus hacking pough ; plaspmared to @ degree thas him dagcely intelligible. With the render] COLUM LOAO© SS (CO)