The Mysteries of the Court of London Vol. 4 — page 228: what you’re looking at

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

a i ee ER OS Se SN eli ER, a ed - —=_— -_— + — -—— — —_ - a ee ees ee ee... _ ee oe — ae ee eee ee ee ee eee Oe Ge. ow ee ee os _——= _appreciuto the fo a eee acquaintance and form an intimacy with a olerk at your bankers’——” “Ah !'é ejaculated Mmmerson, with a sudden start; for his guilty conscionceinatantaneonely suggested to him that Theodore had most pro- hably become acquainted with*tho fact of the bill so near due, “And frofh that clerk,’? continued Varian, without appearing to take the slightest notico of either Emmeorszon’s ojasalation, or of his inereased perturbation of manner,—* from that clerk I learnt the exact state of your account, and I told him enough to induce him to put his employers on their guard towards yon. Ab! I knew full well at_the time that the bankers wrote you a berotiiptory letter, desiring that your wuccount should be placed on a more satis. inctory footing; and I alao knew that you ap- plied to several capitalists for an advance of funds. There also was I secretly at work: and I took good care that tho evil runwurs I spread concerning your financial position shonld reach their ears. Hence the mortifying refusals which you received one after the other, and which struck yon blow upon blow—every one of which became duly known to me! r was [ idle in other ways to do you a mischief. [ sought excuses for calling upon those well-to-do tradesmen who occasionally did business with you; and I-told them whero they might obtain pecuniary accommodation on chegper tcorms than at your office—so that even your very business rapidly fell off. Theu, day by day, as I beheld the catastrophe comiug, and ruin ad- vancing upon you with*’riant strides, I paid frequent visits to the neighbourhood of Clap- ham,,and circulated reports relative to your embarrassed condition. In the City, tov, I bLirred up al} your tradesmen against you, and scerctly advised yeur orcditors to press for the prompt settlement of their claims. How well I sueceeded m all theso engines of dostructiou which 1 brought to bear upon yon, you best know; and when at last the crisis enme—aye, and IT knew fall well when it did come—I was not Lind to the fact that you intended to col- lect. fozother as much money ns possible, where- with to decamp from the country. But in order tu lull you into temporary security, so that the final blow might fall all the more terribly, I did my best to get torether as innch money as I possibly could for you. ‘hen dd 1 observe the joy which you cowd seareely von- ceal: and you thought yourself scenree | watched you—I dogged your movements. Hav- ing already come to a scoret nhderstandline with your principal creditor, in respect to tbe course to be adopted, I sent to le him know that the time had come to act; and the sheriff's officer was speedily in attendance. You know the rest; and in your present position may you liy—t o utter folly, as well as the transcending iniquity, of ull your former conduct towards me !” “Yea, yes—I have indeed been dreadfully punished !—aye, and Iam dreadfully punished now!” exclaimed Emmerson, “But you have rclonted—you are satisfied with your ‘¢en- gcance-——”’ “ Listen !” interposed Varian, stiJl in that cold passionless style, which lefi Emmerson in the suspense of such torturing doubt ua to what the young man’s ultimate intentions were, —“T have a few more words to ray—but only a very few. You have just learnt from my lips how steadily, continuously, yet determinedly I bave pursued my vengeance against you: but THE MYSTERIAS OF THE COURT. 215 you have yet to Jearn that it was I who gave information to the Karl of Curzon relative 1o your intrigue with his wife. Yea—-and that very amount ef five thousand guineas which you despatched to the Countess in the brown paper parcel fell into the Earl’s hand, through my intervention. Ah! would you not hke to have that money now ?-—wonld it not enablo you to emancipate yourself from all your pre- sent difficnities Pp’ * But—but—-do you not think,” asked Em-- merson,—"‘ 1s 1t not possible—in a word, do you —do you mean to prosecute this implacable fecting to the very last? Have you, thon, nou mercy?” Had anu any mercy for me?” demanded Varian, his manner now undergoing a slightly perceptible change. and the lght of a deeply concentrated hatred gleaming in his eyes. But did I not take you back again into my service f’’ asked Jummorson, trembling all over in the agony of suspense: * Yes, but through no favour for me,’ replied hd rian at once, with an increased bitterness of ne. “At all events,” said Emmorson, “ you have had your revenge. By your own admission, you have ruined me.’’ “And did you not ruin me?—did you not plunge me into Nowgate, and compel me to pass through the ordeal of shame and infamy?’ cried Theodore, now rising from his seat. and fixing his looks with unmistakable hatred upon the wretched Emmerson. ‘“ What though I obtained a pardon ? it was a mere release from the danger of punishment; it could not efface that branding mark of infamy which you fixed npon me! Besides, did you not seek the ruin of my sister?—did you not endeayour to make me, her brother, the pander to your infamous designs upon her?’ Mr. Emmerson, your guilt has been damuing—your conduct towards me atrocious and infernal! Can you wonder, then, that I seck the dendliest vengeance? By heaven! | were a cowsrd--a traitor to the very name of man—did I tamely submit to all the wrongs Chauve received fygmeyou. Yes, I fave accomplished your rain, and I glory in it. Anil now Jot me tell vou, im conclusion, that your detaining ureditor wil? not take one shil- line less than the whole amount: becanse TI hayvé privalely assured him that, to my certain knowiedve, he will get every farthing, if he only holda out. In a word, J have persnatled hin that you have thousands in your pusses- sian, but tuat vour aim is to cheat your eredi- tors, andio kee og much as yon porsibly can fur yourself,”’ “ But what son havo said is false!’ cried Emmerson, now furious with intense hatred and rope. wy know it,’’ said Varian. coolly; “but you cannot persuade your creditor to think other. wise than what I have told him.” “We shall vee,” rejoined Emmerson, dog- edly. ‘Now, then, our interview neod last no onger.”’ . “Ah! you think that yon will be enabled to escape from the web wherein I have enmeshed our” oried Varian; “but you are mistaken. n three days moro that bill which yon dis- counted at your banker's will fall duo; aud. when presented for ‘payment, we shal! sce whether it is a forgery or not!" Gasping for broath—with hideous workings of his countenanoe, and with trembling limbs-- the wretched Emmerson fell back annihilated : ) | e--= EL LT EA I I-A eC I enh gaan pace ee ame a oo _— =e ~fee € a 2 6ee es ewe ce ee ee en eee ee eee ee eee eee ee ee Sees — ee Cd ECOMNIE OG cS) CO