The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 52: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERIES. Mr. Martin had departed on the preceding evening for London on pressing business. It struck me at the moment that Ramsey seemed pale and even con- fused as he gave me this information: but I attri- buted his appearance and manner to the bustle of business, and took my leave. I thence proceeded to the horse-dealer’s, and after some little bargaining purchased the ponies, for the price of which I at once wrote a cheque upon the bank. Having thus fulfilled the principal object of my visit to Aylesbury on that occasion, I was returning to the livery-stables where I had left my horse, when I recollected that my gold watch-chain was broken; and as it had been in my possession some years, and was completely out of fashion, I resolved to treat myself to anew one. I accordingly entered the jeweller’s shop at which we were accustomed to deal, and made a selection of a new chain. My invariable custom had been to pay ready money to all tradesmen save those with whom it was convenient to have running accounts for the domestic purposes of the Manor ; and I accordingly wrote a cheque for the amount of the chain. But as I handed it to the jeweller, I saw that he fidgetted and seemed embarrassed, as if wishing to say something to which he was nevertheless afraid to give utterance ; and I began to question him. ‘Then, with many apologies for troubling me—many excuses for men- tioning so delicate a subject—and many expressions of hope that he should not lose mine or her ladyship’s custom, he observed that having a very large sum to pay in the course of the month, he should feel in- finitely obliged if I would settle the account which had been running for the last three years! I was astounded—stupified. What could the man mean ? Whenever Eleanor had fancied any new article of jewellery, I had invariably given her the money to purchase it : how, then, could there be a bill owing ? An explanation took place ;—and, with indescribable feelings of sorrow and amazement, did I learn that Lady Stamford was indebted to the jeweller in the amount of eight hundred pounds! I endeavoured to master my feelings as well as I was able, so as not to suffer the shopkeeper to perceive that my wife had erossly deluded me; and when he opened his books to show me the statement which afforded such terrible evidence of Eleanor’s extravagance, I felt sick at heart on discovering farther proofs of her dupliciiy. For on examining the items, I found that articles which she had represented to me as having cost twenty guineas were in reality a hundred; and so on throughout the entire category. Still, however, veil- ing the intense anguish which racked me, I gave a cheque for the amount due, and took my departure. As I was proceeding towards the livery-stables, wrapped up in the most painful meditations, I met the horse-dealer of whom I had purchased the ponies. His countenance had in it something so ominous as he accosted me, that I was struck by his aspect ; and no tongue can describe my dismay when he somewhat rudely informed me that my cheque had been dishonoured at the bank. Assuring him that there must be some egregious mistake, and bid- ding him return home and wait for me, I hurried to the bank, where I questioned the cashier, Mr. Ram- sey being out at the time. I then learnt enough to convince me that the affairs of the establishment had long been in a most disordered state, and that they had now reached a point when insolvency was inevitable. With a suffocating sensation in the throat anda pres- | sure upon the brain, I went into the private office and — Ny aw! commenced an examination of the books. Little accustomed as I was to accounts, yet heaven knows that it was far from a difficult matter to perceive even through that multitude of figures the utter ruin of the establishment. For two hours did I pore over those books until my head swam round—my brain reeled—and my senses appeared to be deserting me. I waited for Ramsey—still.he came not; and I at length took my departure. It was now five o’clock in the evening—and I felt so thoroughly wretched that I experienced a repugnance to return home. How could I reproach Eleanor for her extravagances which a comparatively small sum would remedy— when my imprudence in rushing headlong into that fatal partnership had involved us in ruin? I was demented—and feeling that I required to be alone in order to reason with myself, I entered a tavern and ordered dinner merely for the sake of having a private room for an hour ortwo. There I remained until nine o’clock—and heaven only can tell what myriads of agonising, despairing thoughts swept through my brain during that interval !” There was another pause, at which Page was al- most wildly impatient, though he said nothing: but the interest and curiosity now awakened within him, were intense even to poignancy. “Oh! you can well believe that my reflections were of no pleasurable description!’ exclaimed the baronet, at length breaking a prolonged interval of silence. “ But I could have borne the ruin in which the villany of my partners involved me—yes, [ could have borne that cheerfully—had it not been for the crushing discoveries I had made respecting my wife! And as I meditated upon the duplicity of her conduct, suspicions of another nature began to steal into my mind,—at first gradually, faintly, and im- perceptibly, like the breaking of the dawn,—then with a gleaming more intense, lighting up as it were all the unfathomable depths of my own soul and bringing forth ideas which seemed to have always had a latent and slumbering though unknown exist- ence there,—and then rushing in upon my appalled imagination with a vividness that struck me with dis- may. A thousand little circumstances suddenly ap- peared to spring to‘life in my memory—all combin- ing to strengthen those horrible suspicions, and rivet the conviction that it was not alone in her expendi- ture that Eleanor had deceived me! Yes—yes—I saw it all: she was faithless to me—and Ramsey was her paramour! My tongue felt like a flaming coal —Vesuvius seemed glowing in my brain—the Mael- stroom raging in my heart. I rose from my seat— staggering against the wall for support; and there I sustained myself for a few minutes, literally unable to move. And now you may say it was providen- tial, or that it was a mere matter of chance,—but it is nevertheless a fact that the little incident of thus leaning against the wall was the cause of my obtain- ing a deeper insight into the villany of my partners. For I heard voices in the adjoining room—and, as the partition was thin, I could not help catching what was said. Judge of my feelings when I found that the occupants of the next apartment were Martin and Ramsey! Yes—I knew théir Voices in a mo- ment ;—and now I listened in breathless suspense. Martin was speaking at the time; and I heard him explain to Ramsey how the forgeries had been so skilfully executed that he experienced not the slightest difficulty in selling out the stock at the Bank of England! The wretch, then, had been to London -_-- com GbooksSreom