The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 327: what you’re looking at

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

296. REYNOLDS’ WORKS ‘‘ How mad! how foolish! ”’ exclaimed Marchmont. ‘“‘ Yes, mad and foolish,”’ responded Armytage, with almost the petulance of retort, ‘‘ if it had been my own money with which I was speculating, but it was not. And therefore what had I to do but to make the best of it? It was neck-or- nothing, riches once more or utter ruin.”’ ‘‘ And when will the result be known? ” inquired the duke. “Exactly one month hence,’ replied Armytage. ‘“One month? And wherefore are you so desponding and mistrustful now? ”’ ‘“‘ Because — because,’’ answered the speculator, ‘‘ I have just been reading the evening paper, and the intelligence is unfavourable for the particular way in which my money is laid out. Nevertheless, things may take a turn, — to- morrow their aspect may be as favourable as to-day it is gloomy. But, oh, what a life to lead, my lord, — at one time exultant with hope, at another cast down into the vortex of despair, yesterday dreaming of countless riches, to-day recoiling in horror from the presence of the grovelling mendicant who crawls past, with the hideous presentiment that his condition is a type of what mine may shortly be! ”’ There was another pause for some minutes, during which the duke and the speculator continued walking on together, and the silence was suddenly broken by the latter, who said, in a milder and more respectful tone than he had hitherto adopted, ‘‘ I am afraid your Grace must think I spoke rudely and even brutally just now, but such was the state of my mind — ”’ ‘‘Say no more upon the subject,’ interrupted Marchmont, who perhaps had his own reasons for not dealing harshly with the speculator. ‘‘I can make allowances for you. Your daughter — have you heard from her lately? ”’ “Ah, my daughter, and young Meredith!” ejaculated Armytage, with a renewal of the petulant bitterness of his tone, “it is this that drives me mad. I care not so much for myself, although it would be shocking enough for a man who has seen such wealth and raised himself to such a posi- tion, to sink down into poverty. Ah! you know not all —”’ ‘“‘ Tell me everything, Armytage,”’ said the duke; not that he experienced any veritable friendly interest in the man’s affairs, but he wished to ascertain the precise position wherein he stood, so that he might thereby measure the amount of ECORNICLIOOKS (E(0)