The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 329: what you’re looking at

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

298 REYNOLDS’ WORKS “ Again I say, Heaven forbid! But your Grace knows the terrible uncertainties of such ventures. Look you, my lord,” exclaimed Armytage, with a sudden access of fervid, almost wild joy. “ If I succeed, this day month will behold me in possession of two hundred and fifty thousand pounds. With that sum I restore Zoe’s fortune, I pay Coleman, I return your Grace the loan you so kindly advanced — Oh, yes, fortune must favour me; it is impossible it can be otherwise.” “And if it should happen to turn out contrary to your expectations,’’ said the duke, “‘ have you a very hard man to deal with in this Mr. Coleman? ”’ “To tell your Grace the truth, I can scarcely understand him,” replied Armytage. “It was not I who originally sought him out; he came to seek me. It was very shortly after that first little embarrassment of mine, which arose from Preston’s failure, you know, and when your Grace so gener- ously advanced me fifty thousand pounds in January last, Mr. Coleman one day called upon me. Apologizing for hav- ing introduced himself, he said that he had a wealthy client who wished to lay out his money at good interest, and as he knew that I had excellent opportunities of accommodating the members of the aristocracy and fashionable gentlemen with loans, he had taken the liberty of waiting upon me for the purpose of ascertaining if 1 would thus use any money he might place in my hands. It was thus our connection com- menced.”’ ‘‘ And who is this wealthy client of Mr. Coleman’s? ” asked the duke, thinking it probable that he might be the same who was secretly urging the lawyer on to the prosecution of Madame Angelique. ‘““T do not know,” replied Armytage. ‘“ I never saw him, never even heard his name mentioned. In fact, my lord, I do not believe that there is any such client in the back- eround at all. There are several of these lawyers who lay out their own money at interest, pretending it is that of their clients. They do it to save their respectability and avoid the reputation of usurers. But as I was just now observing to your Grace, I cannot exactly make out this Mr. Coleman. He seemed to force his money upon me, as it were, in the first instance; and afterward, when he found me punctual in my engagements with him, he suddenly appeared to place such unlimited confidence in me — and though I do verily ECORMICIOOKS (E(0)