The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 167: what you’re looking at

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

144 REYNOLDS’ WORKS a son-in-law of whom one might feel proud. But are you sure, my lord —”’ ‘“T am sure, Armytage,”’ interrupted the duke, ‘“‘ that I have managed the thing most capitally for you. Meredith furnished me an opportunity the other day of counselling him relative to his affairs; indeed it was the very same day on which you yourself called, and I have had him with me every day since. You may expect a visit from him this afternoon, so I shall not wait another moment, lest he might think it strange if he were to see me in conversation with you. Play your cards well, Armytage, and the fair Zoe will be Lady Octavian Meredith.”’ The carriage drove away, and Mr. Armytage reascended to his drawing-room, perfectly satisfied with the proposed arrangements, for after all the Duke of Marchmont had just sald, he saw at a glance how his daughter and himself would obtain, after the marriage, a suitable footing in the Pens- hurst family. But as he returned to the apartment in which Zoe was seated, his countenance betrayed not that anything unusual was passing in his mind, and as he was invariably accustomed to parade before his daughter, as well as in the presence of his friends and acquaintances, his great intimacy with the Duke of Marchmont, he was at no loss for an excuse for his Grace’s flying visit. ‘“‘ Tf I was to listen to that fellow Marchmont,”’ he said to Zoe, ‘“‘ you would scarcely ever have my society at the dinner-table. He is always wanting me to go and dine with him. That is what he came for just now. I do really believe he feels more pleasure in my company than in that of any other of his friends. But hark! there’s another knock at the door.”’ Again did Mr. Armytage take up one of the splendidly bound annuals, and affect to be reading some stanzas by Lady Letitia Fitzharding Fitzpatrick Languishdale. The lines were by courtesy denominated poetry, but in reality they were the most mawkish twaddle that ever was con- tained in an array of words set out in unmetrical lines, and with false jingles by way of rhymes. The door was thrown open by the gorgeously dressed footman, and Lord Octavian Meredith was announced. The reader is already aware that this young nobleman had for some little time past been an occasional visitor at EORMIE NCO KS (E(0)