The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 389: what you’re looking at

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£76 “Thank you, Emmeraon,” said the Earl, care- leesly. “I have not long breakfasted. But what news in the City ?” ‘* Why, would your lordship believe it—that con- ceited little hambug Mr. Under-sheriff Fire has ac- tually got made an Alderman; and Tibbs, who has so long managed the revenues of the ward of Gaz- ‘ gleton, has been obliged to resign at last. But what is the business that has procured me the hanour of a cal] from your lordship this forenoon ?"’ “You remember, Emmerson,” said the Earl, “that when I called upon you two or three months ago about some little money matters, you seemed to think that I had a great many promissory notes and bills of exchange in the hands of different per- sons: and if I recollect right, I told you at the time that General Beechy, young George Sefton, Paul . Dysart, and Colonel Malpas, amongst others, had all asked me to become security for them 2?” “I recollect perfectly well the conversation to whieh your lordship alludes,” said Emmerson, who and by this time recovered all his wonted business- Ske composure, although he perceived plainly enough into what channel the discourse was about to be turned: but he was ready prepared with the tale agreed upon between himself and Editha. “ Now, it strack me’at the time,” continued the Karl, “ that you were rather incredulous when I as- sured you that I had refused to have anything to do with all those persons.” ‘I certainly had reason, as [ thought,” said Eth- merson coolly, “to doubt your lordship’s word at the time of which we are speaking: inasmuch as at that very moment when you assured me that you had given no acceptances at all, [ had in my cash- box several bills bearing your lordship’s name, to the tune of five thousand guineas.” “Ah!” ejaculated the Earl, with a sort of subdued chuckle: for he now fancied that he was once more im the right track to bring all her guilt home to the faithless Editha. “ I suppose then, Emmerson, you discovered those bills to be forgeries?” he ad- ded inquiringly. “ Yes, my lord, they were forgeries indeed,” re- turned Emmerson; “and it was that scoundrel Malpas who forged them. Bnut I thought that by this time you would have learnt———” “Malpas forged them!” interrupted the Earl, looking very hard at the bill-broker. “Surely you must mistake? That he placed them in your hands, is one thing: bat that he himaelf perpetrated the forgeries, is another.” “In this very office, my lord,” said Emmerson, with increasing effrontery, “did Colonel Malpas, when taxed by me with the forgery, confess his guilt and implore my mercy. Of course I did not wish to send him to the scaffold; and therefore J allowed him to compromise the affair by making a simple iebt of it: and for that debt he is now a pri- soner in the King’s Bench.” “And you therefore gave him up the bills 2” said the Earl af Curzon inquiringly. “ How iss this, my lord?” ejaculated Emmerson with well-a:wumed astonishment. “Is it possible that your hordship never received thosy bilis—— But of cours @ you have: otherwise how could you bave obtaine: | any knowledge of the mattor at all?” “Now, pray’ explain yourself, Emmersion,” said the Earl, begi uning to feel strangely biewildered onee more, as i ¢ the mystifications of the previous THE MYSTERIES OF THE OCOURY. night were to be perpetuated daring the day ao4 to follow him from the West End even into we heart of the City. “The history of the bills is plain and simple enough,” returned Emmerson. “I had already endorsed those bills in order to pay them into my banker’s hands, when I discovered that they were forgeries. Althongh willing to avoid instituting @ criminal process against Colonel Malpas, and to hush up the matter, I nevertheleas thought, on mature reflection, that you ought to be informed of it. I accordingly proceeded to Grosvenor Street to see your lordship on the subject. Youwere not however within: bat her ladyship the Cunatess was at home and disengaged. Time beiog valuable to me, and not choosing to run the chance of call- ing three or four times without seeing your lord- ship, I took the liberty of requesting an interview with her ladyship, to whom I expiained all that had occurred. Her ladyship was frightened lest the matter should breed some desperate quarrel between Malpas and your lordship, and end ina duel: she therefore suggested that it would be better to allow some little time to elapse, daring which she undertook to seize some favourable opportunity to mention the whole transection guardedly to your lordship. Well satisfied with this proposition, and acknowledging its prudence, I at once declared my readiness to leave the whole matter in the hands ofher ladyship. I had not the bills with me at the time: but immediately on my retarn to Nicholas Lane, I enclosed them to her ladyship in an envelope marked ‘ Private. And now, my lord, you have the whole history of the transaction.” “ Yes,” stammered Curzon, scarcely able to con- ceal his astonishment at this uoexpccted explana- tion: “and I must admit that you acted very handsomely in the business.” “I presame that if the Countess of Curzon has not already mentioned the affair to your lordship, it has been for want of a suitable opportunity or else through oversight.” “ I suppose it must be so,” remarked Curzon, not knowing what to say and soarcely what to think: but still he was as far as ever from enter- taining the remotest suspicion that Emmerson bad become his wife’s paramour. Taking his leave, he issued forth from the money-lender’s office and was about to remount his horse, when he was suddenly accosted by a well-dressed and good-looking young man whose countenance appeared to be familiar to him. “My lord,” said this individual, “will you ex- euse me for venturing to give your lordship a piece of advice ?—but I conjure you to be careful in your dealings with that hypocritical miscreant Emmerson——” “Ah!” ejaculated the Earl: “the advice is startling, but perhaps well meant. Who are you? { have seen your face before.” “Your lordship bas seen me in that very office,” was the response: and the young man gianced over his shoulder towards the door of Emmerson's place of business. “Yes—lI recollect you now,” exclaimed the Earl: “your name is Varian.” ‘And if the world has heard of my crimes, it knows little of my misfortunes,” said the young man, bitterly. “If I were a culprit who deserved COMME lOO© Ss 7