The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 221: what you’re looking at

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

\ 210 and the great merchant had sought his study to look over his letters, it not being his purpose to visit the City on this particular day. Not another syllable had been spoken by Sir Frederitk Letham relative to that incident of the ball- night which had led him to entrust the key of the safe to his wife; and she on her own side had felt no inclination to revive the topic. The merchant fancied that Anastatia had been extra- vagant in some respect, and had therefore con- tracted a debt which she chose not to mention to him: he congratulated himself on the policy he bad pursued : instead of chiding and reproach- ing, he had seted with magnanimity; and he natarally concluded that the effect of such conduct would be more salutary and would be all the better appreciated, than if he had displayed anger and irritation. On the other hand Anastatia—though having been scandalously plundered by Madame Angelique, and therefore really innocent of any extravagance involving her in debt—was fully conscious shat she laboured under a suspicion of ah opposite character; and she was compelled to bear the imputation of extravagance because she dated not enter upon explanations which would reveal the whole truth. She was not happy in her mind: she deeply felt the generosity of Bir Frederick's conduct; and more than once since the oecurrence of the incident had she said within hervelf, “Oh, that I could tell him everything !” Sir Frederick, as we have said, had retired to his own private room; and there for a while did he busy himself with the letters that had reached him that morning. Some he answered: on the backs of others he made memoranda for reference to the account-books at the office in the City; dnd others he placed aside that they might be sub- mitted to his partners when in consultation with them. Presently the door opened, and « footman entered to state that the architect who had bailt Tudor House, requested an interview With Sir Frederick. The merchant desired that the architect should be admitted; and in a few minutes this individaal was conducted into the study. Presenting « paper to Sir Frederick, he intimated that he had called to receive the balance of his accoant, - “Which might have been settled long ago, Mr. Styles,” said the merchant, drawing himself up with a certain cold business-like pomposity, “if you had chosen to send it in.” “T am perfectly aware of that, Sir Frederick,” responded the architect: “but I did not want the money—I knew it was safe—and moreover I really had not time to go into the different details.” The merchant opened the document which had been presented to him; and spreading it on his desk, he proceeded to examine the items of the account. Taking down a file, he referred to former accounts: then he consulted the cash-book, which he took from a drawer; and having thus satisfied himeelf that all the items were correct, he pro- ceeded to verify the addition of the pounds, shil- ling, and pence colamns. All this he did in a precise and methodical manner, with coolness and deliberation, and yet with a certain perceptible businees-pride, so to speak, which in itself was as much as to say, “ Look how carefully I conduct all my business—and profit by the example |” Having added up the columns, Sir Frederick ae ee LL KX-E----ee THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. slowly bent his cold eyes upon the architect—ead said gravely, if not sternly, “Mr. Styles, might I ask whether you have frequently the misfortune of making mistakes in adding up your aceounts ?”” “Errore will occur, Sir Frederick,” was the answer: “but I flatter myself that I make them as seldom as most people.” “ Errors never occur in my office, ar!” observed the merchant, drawing himself up. “A elerk of mine who should have the misfortune to make such an addition as this, would never have the chance of making another within the walls of my establishment. Look, Mr. Styles! You have ast down a total of elevén hundred and thirteca pounds, eleven shillings, and eleven pence-half- penny; whereas [ make it eleven hundred and found that the discrepancy was of so trifling «a character: and as his time was precious, he wished to settle the business at once. But Sir Frederick to take a sort of cold-blooded inward de- light in delaying him ae & punishment for having made & inistake in hid avcount to the extent of a fow He therefore sententiously expatiated on the hecessity of being accurate in even the mi- natest matters: and then he slowly and deliberately cast up the columns, with the architect over his shoulder. “And now, Me. Styles,” he said, “if you will receipt this aceount, it shall be paid.” Rising from his chair, the great merchant ad- vanced towards the séfe, which he opened; and he took forth the cash-box. Meanwhile the architect had receipted the account; and Sir Frederick looked at the mode in whick the recsipt was writtea, to assure himself that it Was consistent with the proper formality. He then opened the eash-box; he looked in one compartment, where the notes ought to be—it was empty! Sir Frederick was astounded: bat not for an instant did he suffer his features to betray the feeling whieh had thes ssised upon him. He opened the other compartment, where the gold ought to be: not & si coin was there! Still Bie Frederick was outwardly as calm, as and as imperturbable as ever: aad he coldly said, as he closed the cash-box, “ After all, I had better give you a cheque for the amount.” “Just as you please, Sir Frederick,” replied the Architect, making way for the merchant to at down at his desk again. Sir Frederick wrote out the cheque: Mr. Styles received it—bowed—and took his departare. Whea he was gone, Sir Frederick again rose from his seat, and looked into the safe—but beheld none of the notes nor golden coins there. He consigned the cash-box back to its place—locked up the safa—end put the key in his pocket. “There must have been upwards of two theu- sand two hundred pounds in that cash-box the night before last,” he said to himself; “and Aaas- tasia took it all!” The merchant naturally concluded that his wife had been dreadfully extravagant in various ways ; but he was bewildered as to what particular debt could have amounted toso large asam. Hekaew that Anastetia did not gamble at the card-table, | for the best of all ible reasons that she never played cards at It eould not have been to GOR GOOO (So(GO)