The Seamstress; or, The White Slave of England — page 35: what you’re looking at

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

28 THE SEAMSTRESS. hand upon him: but instantaneously recovering his | just spoken. “But surely Mr. Collinson docs not |- presence of mind, he followed the servant from the intend you to push this matter to the extreme ?” brilliantly-lghted apartments. “Tam afraid, my lord, that I have no alternative Upon gaining the landing outside, he turned | but to leave my men in possession,” answered Mr. somewhat abruptly round upon the domestic, and |; Solomon, glancing towards his followers, “unless said, “ Where is the man who sent up this note?” | the debt is paid or very satisfactory security given. “T have shown them into the library, my lord,” | But even this latter I could not take upon myself to was the answer. accept. Your Grace must not blame me.” “You have shown them?” echoed the Duke, with} “On the contrary, I have thanked you for the a petulance which he could not control: then, in- | urbanity and delicacy which have marked your pro- | stantaneously experiencing a sentiment of shame at | ceedings, Mr. Solomon,” returned the Duke. “It | making his servant the victim of his vexation, he | is too late for me to see Collinson to-night—and if | said in a milder tone, “ How many persons are} your men remain in the house, my domestics will there waiting below ?” perceive in that circumstance the confirmation of “Three, my lord,” was the rejoinder. those suspicions which your visit has no doubt The Duke asked no farther questions, but pro- | already engendered. Are you compelled to leave ceeded at once to the library—while the domestic | your men here?” hastened to communicate to his fellow servants the “ Having once taken possession, my lord,” replied suspicions which he had formed relative to the pre- | Mr. Solomon, “I dare not withdraw my followers sent incident. except upon full payment. Thirteen thousand seven On entering the library, the Duke of Belmont | hundred and odd pounds, my lord, is the amount,” found the three persons coolly and comfortably | added the officer, as he glanced at a slip of paper seated, as if they were “ quite at home.” They | which he held in his hand. however rose the instant his Grace made his appear-| “By heaven! this is perplexing to a degree,” ance ;—and the rapid glance which the Duke threw | muttered the Duke between his quivering lips as ha upon them, one after another, produced in his mind | began to pace the room in an excited manner. “ Au a feeling of disgust and aversion which expressed | execution in the abode of the Belmonts! What a itself for a moment upon his countenance. One was | disgrace—what a disgrace!”—then, stopping sud- a tall, good-looking man, with that peculiar facial | denly short and fixing his eyes significantly upon outline which denotes the Hebrew race: he was Mr. Solomon, he said with rapid accents, “ Grant well dressed, had a gentlemanly appearance, and | me but until to-morrow evening, and I will endea- wore upon his features a certain air of frankness | vour to find the amount.” and good-nature which is not usually ascribed by | ‘If your lordship means that I am to retire with tale-writers to individuals of his profession. The | my men,” observed the sheriff’s officer, “I must other two men were not of the Jewish family: nor | reiterate the impossibility of such a proceeding.” had they, at least so far as personal appearance] “I will make you a handsome—a very handsome went, anything to be proud of in that respect;—for | present,” urged the Duke, dropping his voice to a their sinister countenances and ominous looks con- | low whisper. sf trasted strangely with the frank and open-hearted | ‘I thank your Grace—but I dare not,” responded aspect of the Jew. Moreover, notwithstanding it | Mr. Solomon. was evident they had assumed their best apparel | ‘Consider my position—it will be ruin—total and bestowed some little attention on their toilette | ruin!” continued that nobleman who was so proud for this special occasion, there was a certain air of | —so haughty—and who entertained such an aver- seediness about them which precluded all possibility | sion for the race to which belonged the individual of misconception relative to their state and circum- | of whom he was thus anxiously and earnestly im- stance. ploring a boon. ‘Ifit be once known that there is’ “You are Mr. Solomon, I presume,” said the] a seizure in my house, all possibility of amicable Duke, conquering his aversion almost as speedily as| arrangement will be destroyed. My numerous : it was conceived and forcing himself to adopt an air | creditors——” ' of more than ordinary condescension towards the| He stopped short: for he suddenly perceived that individual whom he particularly addressed. the very arguments he was using in order to per- “That is my name, my lord,” replied the Jewish | suade Mr. Solomon to accede tu his request, wero gentleman, speaking with a tone and manner that | those best calculated to influence the officer in a were properly respectful, without being servilely | stern performance of his duty—inasmuch as his cringing or fawning. “I am sorry to have disturbed | Grace was only laying bare the desperate condition your Grace at such an hour and on such an occa- | of his circumstances. sion: but Mr. Collinson, the lawyer, insisted upon “Since your Grace has alluded to your other its being done to-night—and I had no alternative. | liabilities,’ said Mr. Solomon, “I think it only I however proceeded as delicately as I could, and right to inform you that from what I have heard, sent your lordship up a few liries.to explain the|one or two more executions will be issued to- nature of my business. Otherwise’ was afraid you | morrow; and that was the real reason why Collin- would refuse to see strangers this evening ; and as | son ordered me to be beforehand with them and we must have persisted in remaining until we did | come to-night.” see your Grace, the servant would have thought it| ‘Tben you have no power to assist me in any , odd.” way?” demanded the Duke, his manner suddenly “T am obliged to you, Mr. Solomon, for this con- | becoming stern and severe. sideration on your part,” said the Duke, who had “ None, my lord,” was the officer’s calm reply. listened with attention to aJl that the sheriff’s-officer ; ‘In that case I must break the sad intelligenca —for such indeed the Jewish gentleman was—had | to Augusta at once,” muttered the Duke to himself, ——— a a Gomichbooks.;com