The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 51: what you’re looking at

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a frequent visitorattheManor. I insensibly expe- rienced a great regard for him: his good temper, unvarying gaiety, affability, and extensive know- ledge, rendered him a welcomeguest. Mr. Martin, who wasan elderly man, had been intimate with my parents, and was considered by me as one oMny best friends; and thus you will not be surprised to learn that when the two partners mooted certain proposals to me of a financial nature, I listened with much attention andinterest. In aword, they re the amount of benefit which a liberal banking and loan system wouldconfer upon the far- mers of the surrounding districte,—by saving that class of the industrious population from the rapacity of money-lenders, and from the necessity of forcing sales of their grain at large sacrifices. I cordially approved of the scheme; and the partners, having succeeded in making this favourable impression upon me, began to throw out hints relative to their want of adequate capital to carry out these philan- thropic views. _The bait took—and I ingenuously assured them that such an obstacle should not be allowed to standin their way, as [ would cheerfully advance any reasonable sum that thoy might re- quire. I was rich, and had the means,—+too rich and too well contented with the fortune I enjoyed, to be influenced by any selfish motives. It was therefore animated only with the desire to prove useful to a most deserving class, that I suffered myself to be drawn into a partnership with Martin and Ramsey. This connexion rendered us more intimate, if pos- sible, than ever; and Ramsey in particular scarcely ever suffered an evening to elapse without calling at the Manor. Shortly after the settlement of those financial matters, the death of my relative in Devonshire called me into that county; and my wife being somewhas indisposed at the time, could not accompany me. I was absent for nearly two months; and on my return, Eleanor welcomed me with an enthysiasm which at the time filled my heart with joy, but which I now look back upon as the affectation of a vile duplicity. I learnt that Mr. Ramsey had been constant in his visits during my absence: and I remember that I thanked him with friendly warmth for the attentions he had thus shown to my be. loved Eleanor. Insensate fool that I was! how could I have been so blind? My return was seized upon by my wife as an excuse for giving a grand festival; and I soon began to perceive that a fond- ness for company and pleasure was gaininga rapid ascendancy over her. She grew expensive in her dress—her jewellery —lher equipage—and her en- tertainments; and the once quiet and tranquil Manor was in course of time transformed into a scene of incessant gaicty. I never remonstrated with Eleanor as longas her proceedings involved no expenditure that exceeded our income; for I loved her too devotedly—too tenderly to thwart her in anything that afforded her gratification. Neither did the slightest sentiment of jealousy animate me when I saw that y was con- etantly by her side,—ever her partner in the dance, her companion in equestrian excursions, and her right-hand neighbour at the dinnertable. But if I ever reflected at all upon the subject, I saw nothing improper in such assiduity on the part of a young man whom many circumstances placed almost on the footing of a brother to us both. Thus three or four yéars passed away; and I became so accustomed to the gay—I might el even call it dissipated life which we led, that plea- sure grew as necessary to mo as if I had plunged into it voluntarily, instead of being drawn into the vortex by the example of a wife whom I adored. In the meantime, Martin was constantly assuring me that the bank was in a highly prosperous con- ditien; and, as I never interfered with him in the management of the business, I had not the slightest suspicion that the affairs were otherwise thas as he represented them. Indeed, the luxu- rious mode of life maintained by himself and Ramsey appeared to confirm the statements thus made to me; as it never struck me they were capable of living beyund the incomes produced by their legitimate share of the profits. Buta storm—a fearful storm was brewing over me,— ready to burst with an appalling violence.” Sir Richard Stamford again ceased speaking for a short period; and Page began to imagine that the dreadful charges subsisting against the baronet would be disposed of in such a manner as to shift the burthen of guilt entirely from his shoulders to those of others. “ Yesa—tho dark clouds were gathering rapidly,® resumed Sir Richard; ‘‘and I beheld them net— suspected them not! Oh! how terrible is the fury of that tempest which explodes so suddenly upon a dead calm, and without eventhe previous warn- ing of a single drop of rain! Thus was it in my unfortunate case; and I must now summon all my courage—all my composure—all my aself- command to aid me in approaching the fearful incidents of Monday last. I rose on that day with a heart as light and free from care as if there were no such thing as adversity in the world— as if no storm ever swept over the unruffled ocean of life! Eleanor was gay, tender, and affectionate as usual,—nay, more so—for she had an object in view! My God—when I think of all that duplicity into whose depths my menita! perception can now plunge as if it were a crystal stream transparent to its pebbly bed! While we were seated at breakfast, she turned the conver- sation upon Lady Wentworth’s beautiful pair of grey ponies, which her husband Sir William had purchased for her last week; and by degrees did my syren-wife lead me on till 1 promised that she should be enabled to vie with—if not eclipse her friend in the graceful attractions of her equipage. Then Eleanor told me how Mr. Ramsey had casually mentioned to her that a similar pair of ponies were to be procured at a certain dealer's in Aylesbury; and after breakfast I set out for town with the view of procuring them at any price. For never had Eleanor seemed more seductively beautiful—never more charmingly captivating than on this occasion. O Woman—dsughter of Eve!—why art thou ever loveliest when thine heart is most filled with guile?” And Page knew by the sounds which he heard that the baronet was wringing his hands bitterly —bitterly, as he uttered those last words in a tone of penetrating anguiab. “ Uususpicious, frank, and confiding, I went forth to purchase for my wife the objects of her phan- tasy,” continued the baronet, growing more excited as his narrative approached its catastrophe; “andin this disposition I rode into Aylesbury, followed as usual by mygroom. Having pat up my horse at the livery stables, and dispensing with the attendance of the servant for a couple of hours, I called at the bank CORNICE OOO CO