The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 307: what you’re looking at

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296 dently struck him as something ominous. “I don’t like these persons who just want to speak to you !— Waiter, what sort of a looking man is he P” ‘Well, sir,” replied the functionary, thus ap- pealed to; “he looks something like a sporting character—cat-away cons with brass buttons, sir— red whiskers, sir——— ‘Oh, you had better seo him!” exclaimed Stanley. “T dare say it is some fellow connected with the Turf, and who has heard that you are making up a book.” “ Ah, very likely!” ejaculated Alexis, clutching at the hope. “ Let him come in, waiter.” “Come in? Yos, sir,” said the waiter: and he shuffled away with that peculiar coffee-room walk which it would seem every accomplished waiter must necessarily posscss: but the man had upon his countenance a certain sly expression which failed not to attract the notice of Captain Stanley and Christian. “The trath is,” said Alexis Oliver, when the waiter had retired, “I have got four or five cursed little things hanging over my head. Mrs. Oxenden has given me the money two or three times to pay them: but it has always burnt a hole in my pocket, as the boys say at school. So it rather frightens one when & suspicious message is deli- vereda DP The door of the coffee-room was now thrown open; and the visitor walked in. The door swung back on ite hinges; but the waiter just placed it ajar, that be might listen outside to the proceed- ings, the nature of which he more than half sus- pected—and perhaps chiefly so from the fact that when the in the cut-away coat had entered the hotel, another individual in a more seedy garb remained lurking against a lamp-post opposite. The individual in the cut-away coat advanced with a polite bow towards the table at which the three young gentlemen were seated; and Alexis Oliver’s looks showed that he was by no means reassured by the appearance of his visitor. “ You, sir, are Mr. Oliver?’ said this person, at once singling out the gentleman whose name he had mentioned; “and my name is Solomons. You know my errand—sorry to disturb a gentleman at his wine—but Coleman the lawyer was peremptory in his instructions—and Mabley | his client won’t wait another hour. So you see, sir, it’s no fault of mine: but I tried to do the business in as deli- cate a way as possible.” “What does all this mean?” exclaimed Ohris- tian, starting up from his seat with a well assamed air of indignation. “ Nothing that concerns you, sir,” observed Mr. Solomons, with an air of exceeding politences. “It's just a trifle of a hundred and ninety odd pound that regards Mr. Oliver.” “ By Jove thie is unfortunate!” cried Alexis. “TI wish I hadn’t been fool enough to go to Tat- tersall’s to-day and buy the chesnut at Sir William Katchflatt’s recommendation. Mrs, Oxenden too isn’t at home——” “What is it you require P” exclaimed Christian. “A couple of hundred pounds to settle this debt? I have the bank-notes about me——-” “ Beg your pardon, gentlemen,” interrupted the bailiff : bat Mr. Oliver must come along to my house while we search the Office to seo if there's anything else out against him.” THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. “ And if so, I dare say we can settle it!” ex. claimed Christian. “Ah! that’s what I call true 1” oried Alexis. “Bravo, my boy, I shan’t forget this in a hurry! I suppose I must go to the loek-ap——.” “Let us settle the bill here,” ejaculated Stanley; “and we will all go together in s cab. There’s no- thing like sesing one’s friend through his diffi- culties. Just step outside, Mr. Solomons: we will join you in a few minutes. I suppose you can trust us ; and you'll have a couple of guineas for your civility.” Christian made a sign for the officer to comply ; and Mr. Solomons, who had especial instructions from Mr. Coleman, hesitated not to do whatecever our hero directed. He therefore withdrew: the waiter was summoned—the bill was paid—and the three gentlemen issued from the hotel. A cab was speedily procured: they took their esats in- side : Mr. Solomons rode upon the box: and his man was left to tramp back to Chancery Lane on foot. During the drive thither, Alexis Oliver vowed eternal friendship to Christian, who played his part so well, that it seemed as if he was only doing the most natural thing in the world in un- dertaking to pay the debts of his new acquaint- ance. But all the time Mrs. Oxenden’s our was thus expressing his gratitude, he thought within himeelf that of the green and inexperienced young gentleman he had ever encountered, his new friend Craven was assuredly the greenest and the most inexperienced. The sponging-house was reached: the three gentlemen were shown to a room—more wine was ordered—and a considerable fee was exacted for the process of searching the Sheriff's Office at that time of night, for it was now past ten o'clock. Nearly an hour elapsed,— Alexis volunteering three or four songs, and appearing most sapremely to enjoy the situation in which he was placed—as well indeed he might, considering that his debts were to be paid from the purse of another. At the expiration of the hour, Mr. Solomons reappeared, with the intimation that there were other judgment-writs out against Mr. Oliver, and that the entire sum requisite for his amounted to four hundred and thirty pounds. Christian’s pocket-book was produced; and bank- notes for that sum were counted down by him on the table with as much apparent indifference as if they were so many pieces of waste peper. Me. Solomons received his fees in addition to the amount specified: another cab was summoned ; and the three gentlemen took their departure, laughing and joking in the gayest possible humour. “Now we will go and have supper somewhere and make a night of it!” exclaimed Alexis, as the cab drove westward until more specific orders should be issued to the driver himeelf. “Come to my lodgings,” said Stanley; “and I can promise you something choice and good for supper.” “With all my heart!” exclaimed Christian, be- fore Alexis could interpose; for this young gentle- man would have infinitely preferred Evans's of the Cider Cellars. The order was given to the cabman; and to Captain Btanley’s lodgings in Albemarie Street did the vehicle proceed. The table was econ spread LDOO @ COMM