The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 148: what you’re looking at

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

DUCAL RECEPTIONS 125 Marchmont, ‘“‘ I do not think it can be a very difficult one to be carried out successfully.” “Certainly not, if your Grace will only succour me to the extent I have been explaining,’ said Mr. Armytage. “May I rely —”’ “Yes, certainly,’’ responded the duke. ‘I will take the very earliest opportunity of giving the hint which you have suggested. But what will Miss Zoe herself say if some fine morning you bid her receive the ettentions of one whom she does not love? ”’ ‘““ Zoe, my lord, as a dutiful, an affectionate, and an obedient daughter,’ rejoined Mr. Armytage, sententiously, ** will follow her father’s advice in all things.” ‘‘ And suppose that the whole is brought about according to your wishes,’ said the duke, “‘ you will not eventually throw upon me the blame of any mishaps that may arise, — the squandering, for instance, of your daughter’s dowry by the husband whom she may thus obtain — ”’ ‘TI, my lord, will take care of all that in the marriage settlements,’’ replied Armytage, quickly. ‘“‘ Suppose, for argument sake, that the noble suitor whom I seek for my daughter should be hampered with debts. To a reasonable amount I will liquidate them, and I will guarantee a liberal income — say a thousand a year — for pocket-money and so forth, for my son-in-law. This, with the interest of my daughter’s sixty thousand pounds, will yield a sufficient revenue, and the young people will have the prospect of double at my death. Is not this fair, my lord? ” ‘It is at least explicit,’ responded the duke, “ and as I see that you are so perseveringly bent on marrying your daughter to almost any one, so long as he possesses a title of nobility, I will, as already promised, do my best to help you in the matter.” “For this favour, and for all past ones, my lord,’ said Armytage, rising from his seat, ‘‘ I beg to proffer my sin- cerest thanks.”’ He then bowed in the same half-respectful, half-familiar manner as before, and quitted the room. As the door closed behind him, a sneering expression of contempt ap- peared upon the countenance of the Duke of Marchmont, but it was promptly succeeded by a darker scowl of anger and annoyance, at having been thus selected to play the EORNICLIOOKS (C(O)