The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 275: what you’re looking at

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264 THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. t. must obey the instructions which that other has certain vacancy, as if reason were abandoning given me.” “But you can make a farther advance? or he ' can make another advance?’ said Armytage, gasping as it were with the awfullest feelings of suspense. “If you do not, it is ruin !—utter and complete ruin for me-——aye, and not only ruin for myself—but likewise for others! And I who have such opportunities! There is at this moment a project which, if entered into, would be certain to realize hundreds and thousands. Ob, you must —you must afford me this opportunity of getting back my lost fortune—of redeeming my past ad- wersities! Oh, dear kind sir! I beseech, I beseech you to aid me!” There was a wild horror in the look and manner of Armytage—a species of frensied terror leet a negative response should issue from the attorney’s lips. His countenance was ghastly pale: he leant forward as he sat,—bis gaze fixed with a sort of devouring avidity upon Coleman's countenance. The solicitor, who was a humane map, felt his heart touched by the spectacle; and Redcliffe, who was in the next room, was likewise moved as he listened to the tone of anguished entreaty in which the wretched being spoke. But still neither would yield upon the subject: the course which was being adopted arose from a paramount necessity. “T tell you, sir,” continued Armytage, “ that it is not merely ruin for one—it is ruin for more! My daughter—my beloved daughter—the amiable and accomplished Zoe, for whom I have toiled so hard—for whose sake I strove to heap up riches,— eke too will be ruined !—eke will be reduced to penury iteelf,—she who bas never known what it is to want! And then her husband—my son-in- law—Lord Octavian——Ob, what a dreadful blow for him! No, no! it is impossible!—you could not do me eo muchinjury! You would not-—— you are a man of feeling 7 “Mr. Armytage,” inquired Coleman, “how much money do you possess ?” “Not a hundred pounds in the whole world !” almost shrieked forth the wretched man. “I ought to have made hundreds of thousands! I ought to be rich! Ob, I ought to have amassed treasures ! But a hideous fatality has hung over me—every- thing has gone wrong! I throw myself upon your mercy !” “ Mr. Armytage,” said Coleman, rising from his him. “And these bille,” continued Mr. Coleman, “have all fallen into my hands—or rather the hands of that same client to whom you were already so largely indebted.” “But they are not as yet due!” cried Army- ‘No: bat they will be due in « few days,” re- joined Coleman; “and how will you pay them? Upwards of seventy thousand pounds do you now owe to this client of mine; and you have admitted your almost total want of resources. Permit me to ask one question. I believe you the friendship of the Duke of Marchmont. Think you that he will come forward with so large a sum to extricate you from your difficulties?” “What if he were to advance a pert ?'” ejacu- lated Armytage eagerly. “Say twenty thousand ? I dare not beseech him for more!” “So far as my client is concerned,” responded Coleman, “‘he insists upon being paid everything to the uttermost farthing. “Or else what?” said Armytege quickly. “Ob, have mercy! Think of my poor daughter! She has been ill—she has been in France for her health ———-and, On! if she were to see her father in prison, i¢ would kill her! I beseech you to have mercy.” “Mr. Armytage,” resumed the lawyer, “ there is the warrant of attorney; and if you fulfil not your engagement, it must be immediately acted upon. Unfortunately in these circumstances all private feelings are lost sight of: my duty towards my client prevents me frum paying that regard to this appeal which you make on your daughter's be- half-—— “But who is this client of your's P” exclaimed Armytage, driven almost to despair. “Surely be cannot be so hard a man ?—surely he cannot wish to plunge three of his fellow-creatures into a ruia for which there will be no redemption? Give me time, even if you will not assist me with a farther loan! But to put the bailiffs into my house —to seise upon my person———Oh, the disgrace! And then, when the news reach my poor Zve——”" “You would make very great sacrifices, Me. Armytage,” said the lawyer, “in order to avoid this catastruphe P” “Sacrifice!” ejaculeted Armytage. “ Tell me seat, and leaning against the mantel with a certain | what sacrifice you demand? Tell me what I can resoluteness of air, “ you borrowed this money for a stated time—the instructions of my client are positive—and however much I may deplore the ne- ceseity of using harshness, yet circumstances leave me no alternative.” “And what—what would you do?” asked the miserable man, bending forward in his chair, and looking up with an expression of haggard, ghastly appeal into the lawyer’s countenance. “ Mr. Armytage,” responded Coleman, “I have already told you that my client's instructions are of the most positive character. And when [ tell you that it is no secret to us that you are otherwise in- debted—that you have raised twenty thousand pounds by means of bills——”’ “'Yes— bills!” gasped Armytage: and more hideously haggard, if possiblo, became his coun- tenance. “Those bills—those bills! Ruin—die- grace-infamy!” he muttered to himeclf, with a | prison. do——” “There i¢ something, Mr. Armytage,” said Culeman,—“ yes, there is something—but you little suepect to what I allude——-yet there is something, I repeat——” “My God! keep me not ia suspense!” cried the miserable creature imploringly : “bat tell me, fs there a means of saving myself?” “There is a means,” answered the lawyer: “ it is the only alternative to save you from a debtor's I will even go farther; and wild though my words may seem, yet they are nevertheless fraught with truth. The warrant of attorney, and the bills which are coming due, may all be torn up before your face and tossed into the fires: the lost fortune of your daughter may be replaced — and ruin may be averted from yourseif——if— if,” repeated Coleman, with a solomaly signifcant look, —" if you———” CONC OOOlKS (CO