The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 34: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTGRIES. 17 =r ~ oa which the commercial traveller almost instantane- ously endeavoured to veil beneath a forced com- posure, Mr. Hodson approached the table, and took a seat, observing, “How do you do, Mr. Page? ‘Jiekt assured, from your last letter, that you would Strive in town yesterday evening; and as I was peming this wa;, I thought I might as well give yea a call.” “Thank you, sir—I am really much vbliged to you for this kindess, sir—very much obliged, sir,” stammered the commercial traveller. “ How is Mr, Morley, sir?” “He is quite well,” responded Mr. Hodson: “ that is to eny, well in health, Mr. Page—but in regard to spirits, I cannot give an equally satisfactory secount.” “ Indeed, sir 7” exclaimed Page, interrogatively. “The fact is,’ continued Mr. Hodson, “ Berkeley end Trent have stopped payment—and the result is ‘Ghat our house experiences a very heavy loss.” | 8 & _ “Berkeley and Trent of Friday Street, sir!” cried the commercial traveller. “I thought they stood A 1 in the trade?” “And so did we,” observed Hodson. “The cone trary, however, has been made sadly apparent ; and this very day have we two of their bills thrown back on our hands.” “TI am extremely sorry to—to hear it, sir,” fal- tered Page, now feeling convinced that his employers would require the documents contained in the pocket-book, “I hope that the loss does not put you to any serious inconvenience, sir?” he added. “ Why—I think we can get over it,” answered Mr. Hodson, his countenance now relaxing into a species of grim smile: for the man was worth thousands and could have stood up against the bankruptcies of a dozen correspondents or agents. “ But we require at once all the securities we can get together, to pay into our bankers’; and as I am going direct to them ' I thought I might as well look in and obtain from | | \ GDOO SS COMM