The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 156: what you’re looking at

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

DUCAL RECEPTIONS 133 It may seem repulsive at first, but the longer you think of it, the more palatable will my plan appear. Get a position, by all means; make yourself truly independent of your father, and of your elder brother after him. There are heiresses who would jump at an offer from a good-looking young man with the title of lord prefixed to his name. What say you, Meredith? ” ‘Tt is something to be thought over,’’ replied the young nobleman, and then he added, slowly, ‘‘ If I did form such an alliance, I would do my duty toward my wife. I would surround her with attentions, even if I could not bring my heart to love her with sincerity. But where are such heiresses to be looked for? ”’ ‘“'Where?’”’ said the duke, apparently in a careless manner. ‘ Oh, that is your business! I have given you the counsel; it is now for you— But, ah, when I bethink me, there is the daughter of that very gentleman we spoke of just now.” “Who?” inquired Octavian. ‘“‘ Armytage,”’ was the duke’s response. ‘‘ Do you know, my good fellow, that Armytage is a very wealthy man, and that his daughter’s dowry will be sixty thousand pounds on her wedding-day? This I can tell you for a fact. I have known Armytage, as you are aware, for a great number of years; I respect him because he is an upright, honest man, who by his own industry has made himself.”’ ‘““ He was your factor, or steward, or intendant originally, —or something of that sort,— was he not?” inquired Octavian, who had been listening thoughtfully to all that the duke said. “ Yes, something of that sort,’’ responded Marchmont, again relapsing into his manner of seeming carelessness. “He scraped together some money, and I think he had a pretty considerable sum left him by a deceased relative. So he came up to London, launched out in business as a merchant and speculator, and thus made his fortune. You know very well, Octavian, that my antipathies are great in respect to the plebeian money plodders on the other side of Temple Bar, but in this individual instance I have never forgotten that Armytage served me faithfully and honestly, and so [ have countenanced him.”’ “The feeling does you honour, my dear duke,’’ replied CONNIE OOO (-) <S) (E(0)