The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 132: what you’re looking at

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

er re rt to ee a i a et tt il Net should have become a matter of deep importance to himself. And then too the counsel he had re- ceived from Mr. Redcliffe was continuously upper- most in his mind—to keep a watch on all the Duke’s proceedings, and to report everything to the said Clement Redcliffe. He had the highest confidence in this gentleman’s sagacity and good intentions; and without at all foreseeing, the means which Mr. Redcliffe might recommend for contravening the diabolical plot that was now in full progress against the honour and well-being of the Duchess, Christian felt assured that the more facts he could glean in respect to the Duke’s pro- ceedings, the greater would become the resources and the easier the plans by which Mr. Redcliffe would accomplish the salvation of the Duchess and the discomfiture of her foes. All these consider- ations decided Christian to listen to what was about to take place between Marchmont and Mr. Armytage. ‘Your Grace will excuse me for intruding thus early upon your privacy,’ said Armytage, as he was ushered into the library: “ but when I explain m yself+—”’ “You don’t mean to say,” interrupted the Duke, “that you have any fresh favour to ask at my hands—any new demand to make upon me?” “Indeed, my lord,” replied Armytage, “ I come to you for that purpose.” “And what is it?” asked the Duke. “ Why, it is but six or seven months ago since I did all you required me in a certain matter’”—thus signi- ficantly alluding to the impulse which he had given to the courtship of Octavian Meredith in respect to the beautiful Zoe. “I am perfectly sensible, my lord,” responded Armytage, “of all your great kindness on that occasion ; and I can assure you that nothing but the sternest necessity would bring me hither asa suppliant for an additional proof of your generosity and friendship.” “On my soul, this language of your’s, Army- tage,” said the Duke curtly, “is foreboding of a demand of no ordinary magnitude.” “Tt is an affair of magnitude to myself,” re- joined Zoe’s father,—“‘but of very trifling con- sideration to your Grace.” “ Well, hasten and come to the point,” said the Duke: “ for I have business to attend to else- where.” “This, then, is the point, my lord,’ resumed Armytage: “JI am in immediate need of fifty thousand pounds.” “Fifty thousand pounds?” echoed Marchmont: and his voice, to Cliristian’s ears, sounded as if it were expressive of a perfect consternation. “Nothing more nor less, my lord,” responded Armytage, with a decisiveness which was far more astonishing to young Ashton. “But this is ridiculous “ You—a rich man i “ Have the kindness to hear me, my lord,’ in- terrupted the speculator. ‘‘Some three months back—or nearly so—a certain person in whom I had the utmost faith, decamped suddenly, leaving his own affairs in such a frightful condition that a Jjiat of bankruptcy was issued against him. He has not surrendered to that fiat: indeed he has never since been heard of: and so completely ruined was he—or else so effectually did he 1)? . cried the Duke. LL Le RE CE ee THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. realize his available funds, and thereby defraud his creditors—that there is not a shilling in the pound to divide amongst them. But this is not all. He committed forgeries to the amount of thirty thousand pounds; and unfortunately all those forged bills have passed through my hands. My name is upon them: they will be due to- morrow—and the holders will look to me for the liquidation thereof. But in addition to those forged bills, I am a sufferer to the extent of an additional twenty thousand pounds by this Mr. Preston “ Preston — Preston?” said the Duke, in a musing tone. ‘‘ What—he who lived 4 “ Not far from me, in the Regent’s Park.” ‘** Ah, to be sure. The Ashtons ss “1 know it, my lord,’ said Armytage. “That young lady who is staying with my daughter — and her brother, who is in your lordship’s house- hold—suffered in some way or another by that man’s flight.” “And is it possible that yow are really ham- pered ?”? demanded the Duke in a tone of. voice which showed how little agreeable to him was Armytage’s request for a loan. “T have told your Grace precisely how I am situated,’ replied Mr. Armytage: “and every moment that we expend in conversation, is so much time unnecessarily thrown away.” “ But fifty thousand pounds!” said the Duke: “it isan enormous sum. I do not exceed my in- come—but I Jive close up to it—and positively I cannot lay my hands at a moment’s warning on a quarter of that amount. Indeed I question whether I have ten thousand at my banker’s at this present instant.” %The Duke of Marchmont’s name is good at his bankers’ for one hundred thousand, if that were all,’ responded Armytage, with the tone of a man who was by no means inclined to take a refusal, nor to hear difficulties started without overruling them. “Yes: but one does not always like to borrow of one’s banker,” continued the Duke. “Then I will introduce your Grace to a person in the City % “What! a money-lender P” ejaculated March- mont, as if in deep indignation and disgust. “IT do not think,” responded Armytage, “ that it would be the first time your lordship had come in contact with usurers. When simply Lord Clandon < “Enough, Travers—enough!” exclaimed the Duke, sternly and curtly. “Ah, my lord!” quickly interjected Armytage: “you have let slip a name which I haye long ceased to bear.” “Did L?—I noticed it not,’ said the Duke. “ But really, my dear Armytage, you must raise this money in some other way i “Impossible, my lord! I eannot do it with my own resources. If I went to a money-lender to ask for a loan on my own account, it would be whispered abroad, and I should be ruined. But if your Grace will not borrow of your banker, and if you also have an insuperable objection against applying to a usurer, you may give me your bill or your bond: and with such a security I ean at once obtain the funds I require.” “And about the repayment ?” asked the Duke. } } | | | | | ! | (EO) NOOLKS (C©)