The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 7 — page 59: what you’re looking at

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

_ ee, = qa eat ore tee 48 «THB MLETERTES OF THE COURT. ~sn SSanRISRERRInnDnrtnomnensemmmmeemmncee ene etee or came une teeteeon menemna ene ea aaa “I recollect that she plays and sings admirably,” ; reflect seriously thereon. If the dttention of tom said the Duke. “ But now, pray come to the pur- | young noblemen to whom we are alluding, be onze ” settled on that particular point———" __ “I will explain myself in as few words as pos-| “Your aim will be soon accomplished, yuu sible,” continued Mr. Armytage. “Your Grace is| think P’ added the Duke. “Well, it may be #0. aware that my poor wife, Zoe’s mother, died when | But do you reflect, Armytage, that these young she was young; and it therefore devolved upon me | noblemen are for the most part younger sons— ‘o superintend my daughter's training and rearing. | without much means of their own?” [am therefore proud of her, not merely as the; ‘What matters their means,” ejaculated Army- personification of feminine beauty and accomplish- | tage, “when I possess ample? I would sooner ments—but likowise as a specimon of my own: bestow my daughter on a nobleman tithout a good taste: I mean that the developments of her ' shilling, than on the richest commoner in all intellect do credit to the presiding influence——” | England.” > “Really, Armytage, you might leave others to' “Really, if this be your game,” observed the sing your praises,” interrupted the Duke, some-. Duke of Marchmont, “I do not think it can be what impatiently. “What in the devil's name'a very difficult one to be carried owt saccess- | is the use of your talking all this nonsense to me P , fully.” Let it be taken for granted that your daughter; “Certainly not—if your Grace will only suc- is all you represent; and now tell me what ser-| cour me to the extent I have been explaining,” vice I can render you—for it 4a a service, I see | said Mr. Armytage. “ May I rely———” plainly enough, that you have come to ask.” “Yes—certainly,” responded the Duke. “T “My lord, I am aolicitous for the welfare of | will take the very earliest opportunity of giving my beloved and only child,” returned Armytage. | the hint which you have suggested. But what “To apeak the truth with frankness, I have given | will Miss Zoe herself say if some fine morning the most brilliant parties ever sitice she came out, | you bid her receive the attentions of one whom in the hope of procuring for her a suitable alli-| she does not love ?” ance. Several young noblemen are happy enough| “Zoe, my lord—as a dutiful, an affectionate, and to foast themselves at my teble and to flirt in| an obedient daughter,” rejoined Mr. Armytage, my drawing-rooms: but, my lord, as yet not] sententiously, “will follow her father’s advice in one all things.” ' “Has paid his suit to your daughter,” said the And suppose that the whole is brought about ac- Duke, anticipating his visitor’s meaning. “ But | cording to your wishes,” said the Duke, “ you will what would you have me doP You don’t for} not eventually throw upon me the blame of any ® minute imagine that I have i¢ in my power| mishaps that may arise—the squandering, for in- tc find a patrician husband for your daughter?” | atance, of your daughter's dowry by the husband “On the contrary, my lord, it is precisely | whom she may thus obtain i what I do mean,” said Mr. Armytage; “and “J, my lord, will take care of all that¢ in the I will tel) you how. ‘Your Graco is intimately | marriage-settlements,” replied Armytage quickly. acquainted with all those young noblemon who | “ Suppose, for argument sake, that the noble suitor Visit meé 7 © whom 1 seek for my daughter, should be hampered “No doubt!" interjected Marchmont: “ be-| with debts, To a reasonable amount 1 will liqu- cause it was through me that yuu became ac- | date them; and I will guarantee a liberal income quainted with them.” —say a thousand a year—for pocket-money and 80 “ Precisely so, my lord} said Mr. Armytage. | forth, for my son-in-law. This, with the interest “They are your Grace's companions and friends— | of my daughter's sixty thousand pounds, will yield you meet them at your club—yqu ride with them |a aufficient revenue; and the young people will —they visit yor at your country-seats and at | have the prospect of double at my death. Is not your shooting-bux—they dine at your table—thoy | this fair, my lord ?” are satellites revolving round your Grace as their | ‘It is at least explicit,” responded the Duke; . central sun.” “and as I see that you are #d perseveringly bent ‘Well, Armytage—and to what is all this to | on marrying your daughter to almost any one, a0 lead P” inquired the Duke. loug as he possesses a title of nobility—1 will, as “Simply to this, my lord,—that you have it in | already promised, do my best to help you in the your power to hint to these noblemen that Mr. | matter.” Armytage is a wealthy man-a very wealthy| “For this favour, and for all past ones, my lord,” man-—that by successful speculations he has! said Armytage, rising from his seat, “I beg to amassed a considerable fortune-——” | proffer my sincerest thanks.” “Tho young noblemen to whom you allude,} He then bowed in the same half .espectful half are aware of this already,” observed the Duke. familiar mannor as before—and quitted the room. © Yea, my lord: but they ar@ not aware that I | As the dour closed behind him, a sneering expres- will giva my daughter sixty thousand pounds on | sion of contempt appeared upon the countenance her wedding-day. Ot course this is an announce- | of the Duke of Marchmont: but it was promptly ment which { cannot blazen forth from the head | succeeded by a darker eoowl of gnger and annoy- of my dinuer-table, nor in the midst of my drawing: | ance, at baving been thus selected to play the igno- room. Your Grace however can bring up the | minious part of a sort of helper-on for ¢he ambi- conversation, ae if.quite in an indifferent manner ; | tious schemings of the parvens speculator, Mr. and whatevever hint your lordship may throw out | Armytage. in reapect to my means and intentions of pro-| A few minutes after the depariure of Mr. Army- mding for my daughter, will assume for those | tage, and just as the Duke of Marchmont was wno hear it, the shape of @ recommondation to | about to proceed to his chamber to dress for guing ¥ & » + csnbetey —iinsteahn ECONNIC I OOO© > aie ean flores ane cepacia My shegectinnroes tap aap ape emmoesnttl thik emcsenrtcrsegaenenenetetie essa feat aia A LDS OT te a ene nea menia reed a ee —— —————_VO SS