The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 310: what you’re looking at

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

} — er ES — 304 nation, it is impossible for me to fathom this mystery.” “You have got nothing to do,’ returned Marchmont, “but to learn that lady’s motive for wishing to pay a visit to Oaklands. It was not through mere curiosity—of that 1 am well con- vinced. There are hundreds of beautiful country- seats; and wherefore should she thus have pitched upon mine? Besides, I tell you that I saw enough of her to convince me that so far from being inexperienced in our habits, manners, and customs, she is in every way as civilized and ac- complished a woman as any English lady in the land.” “ Well, my lord,” said Madame Angelique, ‘“ I will lose no time in seeing what Sagoonah the ayah can do for me.” “Be it so,’ responded the Duke: and having quaffed another tumbler of wine, he took his de- parture. On returning to his mansion in Belgrave Square, the Duke of Marchmont learnt that Mr. Army- tage was waiting to see him. An expression of annoyance passed over his countenance: but he repaired to the room where Zoe’s father was seated. Composing his looks in as amiable a manner as he possibly could, he gave Armytage his hand,—saying, “ Well, what brings you hither at half-past ten o’clock at night ?” “T regret to say,’ replied Armytage, “that I am compelled to bez a boon iH “What! another ?” ejaculated the Duke, utterly unable tc repress his anger and annoyance. “ But of course,”’ he added hastily, “it is not of a pecu- niary character ?” “Indeed, my lord,” responded Mr. Armytage, “IT am sorry to say re “ But what the deuce is coming over you, my good fellow P” exclaimed Marchmont. ‘‘ You who for years were so prosperous, have of late appeared to be going altogether in the contrary direc- tion,” “IT hope and trust, my lord,” responded Army- tage, “that it is merely a temporary inconvenience which I am suffering I shall put myself right shortly.” * Ah! go you told me six or seven months ago, when I lent you fifty thousand pounds—which, I need not remind you, have never been repaid.” “It is perfectly true, my lord,” answered Zoe’s father, growing more and more doggedly decisive in his tone: “but it is not the less certain that if I do not have twenty-five thousand pounds to- morrow by midday, I shall be a ruined man.” “ Twenty-five thousand pounds, Travers !” ejacu- Jated the Duke. “ Hush, my lord!—that name!” said Armytage hastily. “Perdition take the name!” cried Marchmont, as 1f driven almost to desperation. “And yet methinks,” said Armytage coldly, “it was not altogether without your Grace’s concur- rence—and in some sense by your counsel—that I abandoned it.” “Well, well—but about this money which you require?” rejoined the Duke, petulantly. “It is amoepiher out of the question—I cannot afford it “And I, my lord,” answered the other deci- sively, “ Cannot afford to be ruined.” i ee ee eee —— | ee ee ee THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. ——— “ But how is all this ?’ demanded the Duke. “When I applied to your Grace for the fifty thousand pounds,” responded Armytage, I in- formed you that I had suffered materially by that scoundrel Preston, who commited forgeries to such a large amount. During the past six months I have been endeavouring to retrieve my losses: but somehow or another fortune has set in steadily against me—and I have only incurred fresh ones.” “ And what chance have you of improving your position ?”? demanded the Duke. “I thought you told me when I lent you the former amount, that you had numerous sums to receive from nobles men and gentlemen in the course of a short time ?” “And so I had, my lord,” replied Mr. Army- tage: “but 4 “But what? wise P” “There is no use denying the truth,” rejoined Armytage : “the fact is, I have been exceedingly unlucky—and if I do not pay this sum of twenty- five thousand into my banker’s hand to-morrow to meet certain bills that will be due, I shall bea ruined man. On the other hand, if your Grace will assist me, I can immediately procure fresh pecuniary accommodation 2 “Then you will have to borrow in order to be enabled to go on ?” exclaimed the Duke. “Yes: but fortune is sure to take aturn. In a word, my lord, I am deeply interested in a splendid speculation which only requires money to float it on to complete success.” “Then you, a money-lender,” cried the Duke, “ are now in the hands of money-lenders ?” “Tt is a highly respectable solicitor who is as- sisting me,” rejoined Armytage—“ a Mr. Coleman, of Bedford Row, Holborn. The fact is, he has advanced me tnis twenty-five thousand pounds which I have got to pay to-morrow; and if my bills be all taken up, I can go to him with the cer- tainty of obtaining fifty thousand.” * But out of that fifty thousand,” said the Duke, “would you pay me hack the twenty-five you wish me to advance P” Armytage hesitated for a moment—and then said, “ Yes, my lord—I will :” but it was in a way as if he thought to himself that if he did repay the sum he could speedily have it back again in case of need. “T do not think, Travers, that you would de- ceive me 9 “Pray, my lord, be careful about that name! I don’t know how it is, but of late your Grace has frequently dropped it inadvertently. *Yes—I am afraid I have,” answered the Duke, in an abstracted manner. “ Well, come to me at ten o’clock to-morrow morning, and you shall have the amount. Bnt remember, it is to be repaid in the course of a few days: for if not, it would put me to a serious inconvenience. And pray, Army- tage, mind what you are about—or you will ruin yourself. Do your daughter and her husband know of these difficulties P” “ Heaven forbid, my lord!” replied Armytage. “ Zoe has gone abroad.” ** Gone abroad ?” ejaculated Marchmont. course her husband has accompanied her ‘‘No—she has gone alone—that is to say, with only two female servants.” ‘ Has that money all gone like» Ts Of 33 ‘ wo ! cw Os aS 85 Pet OT er rte tee yO eee a RN Fe, re nn ee re a ¥ micbooks (E(0) | | (E(0)