The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 7 — page 137: what you’re looking at

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

ee Vet Ware ~se en seen ere mH oe este ain ee ae 6 te, neem © J 126 ee tee inns should have become a matter of deep importance to himeclf£ And then tyo the counsel he had re- | ceived from Mr. Redcliffe was continuously upper- most in his mind—ty keep a watch en all the Duko’s proceedings, and to report cserything to the said Clement Redcliffe. He had the highest confidencd in this gentleman's sagacity and good intentions; and without ot all foresecing the means which Mr. Rercliffy might recommend for contravening the diabolical plot that was now in full progress against the bonour and well-being of the Duchess, Christian felt ussurcd that the more facts he could glean in respect to the Duke’s pro- ceedings, the greater would become the resources and the easicr the plane by which Mr. Redcliffe would accomplish the salvation of the Duchess and the discomfiture of her foes. All these consider- ations decided Christian to listen to what was about to take place botwcen Marchmont and Mr. Armytage. “ Your Grace will excuse me for intruding thus carly upon your privacy,” said Armytage, as he wae ushered into the library: “but when I explain myself-——”” “ You don’t mean to say,” interrupted the Duke, “that you have any fresh favour to ask at my hands—any new demand to make upon me?” “Indeed, my lori,” replied Armytagé, “I come to you for that purpose.” “And what is it?” asked the Duke. “Why it ie but six or seven months ago since I did al you required me in a certain matter”—thus signi- ficantly alluding to the impulse which he had given to the courtship of Octavian Meredith in respect to the beautiful Zoe. “T am pertectly sensible, my lord,” responded Armytage, “of all your great kindness on that occaston; aud J can assure you that nothing but the sternest neceasity would bring me luther us n suppliant for an additional proof of your geuerosity aud friendghip.” “On my soul, this language of your's, Army- trge,” said the Duko curtly, “3s foreboding of @ demand of no ordinary magnitude.” “Tt ia an affair of magnitude to moaoclf” re- joived Zoe's futher,—"“ but of very triliug con- sideration ta your Grace.” ° ‘ “Well, hastey and come to ‘the point,” aad the Duke: “fur I bave business to atlend to else. where.” e “This, then, is the point, my lord,” resumed Armytage; “I> am in immediate need of fifty thousand pounds.” “Vifty thousand pounds?” echoed Marchmont: and his voice, to Chrictian’s ears, soucded as af at were expressive of a perfect consternation. “Nothing more nor less, ny lord,” responded Armytage, with a decisivencas which was fur more astonishing to young Aglitan. “But this is mdiculous!” oried -thy Duke. “ You—a rich man---—” “ Have the kindness to hear me, my lord,” in- terrupted the speculator. “Some three months back—or nearly so—a certain person in whom | ‘ad the utmost faith, decumped suddenly, leaving his own affairs in such @ frightful condition that a Jat of bankruptey was js-.ued against him. He has not surrendered to tbat fiat: indeed he has pever since been heard of: auc eu completely rwned was he—or elar 30 cilectually did he THE MYSTERIES OF THE QOURT. oe 7” ! realise his available funds, and thereby defraud Ce eel his ereditora—that there is not a shilling in thé pound to divide amongst them. But this is not all, He committed forgeries to the amount of thirty thousand pounds; end unfortunately all those forged bills have passed through my handé, My name is upon them: they will be due to- morrow—and the holdérs will look to me for the liquidation thereof. But in addition to those forged bills, I am a sufferer to the extent of aft additional twenty thousand pounds by this Mr | { L Preston “ Preston — Preston?” said thé Duke, in s 9? musing tone. ‘ What—ho who lived “ Not far from me, in the Regent’s Park.” ‘“‘ Ah, to be eure. The Ashtons . "1 know it, my lord,” said Armytage. “That young lady who is staying with my daughter— | and ber brother, who is in your lordship’s huuse- | hold—suffered in some way or another by that man’s flight.” ° And is it possible that you are really hatn- pered P” demanded the Duke im a tone of voice which showed how little agreeable to him was Armytage’s request for a loan. “T have told your Grace precisely how | am situated,” replied Mr. Armytage: “and every moment that we expend in conversation, 18 s0 much time unnecessarily thrown away.” ; «But fifty thousand puunds!” said the Duke: “i¢ isan onurmous sum. I dv not exceed my in- como—but I live close up to it—and positively I cannot Jay my hands at o moment’s warning on a quarter of that amount. Indecd [ question Whether I] have ten thousand at my banker’s at this present instant.” “The Duke of Marchmoent’s name is good at his bankers’ fur one hundred thousand, if that were all,” responded Armytage, with the tone of a man who was by no means inclined to take a refusal, nor to hear difficulties started without overruhuy them. “Yes: but one dues not always lke to borrow of one’s banker,” continued the Duke. © Theo 1 will introduce your Grace to a person in the City-——” “What! a money-lender ?” ejaculated March- wont, as if in deep indignation and disgust “fT do not think,” responded Armytage, “ thaé it would be the first time your lordship had come in contact with usurers. When simply Lord Claudon sd | ,° Euough, Travers—enough!” exclaimed the > Duke, sternly and curtly. | “Ab, uty lord!” quickly interjected Armytage: | “you have let slip a name which 1 hav long | | | a eee eee ee eee ee -— = ceased tu bear.” “Did IP—-I noticed it not,” salg the Duke. |; “But really, my dear Armytage, you must raise 33 ® this money in some other way “Impvasible, my lord! f cannot do it with my | own resources. If X went to a money-lender to ask for a loan on my own accoutit, it would be | whispered abroad, and I should be ruined. But if your Grace will not borrow of your banker, and if you also have an insuperdbld objection arainst applying to a usufsr, you may give me your bill or your bond: and with such a security 1 cin at once obtain the funds I requite.” “And about the repayment P” asked the Duke NOG (C SR Gt VARs a SS