The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 317: what you’re looking at

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

286 REYNOLDS’ WORKS with a certain gloss of dignity over all! Sir Frederick knew that the viscount was looking at him, but affected not to have the slightest idea of it. He could read, too, all that was passing in Robert’s mind, but he afforded not the faintest indication that such was the case. At length Anastatia’s brother fancied himself sufficiently primed, — which indeed he must have been if a couple of bottles of wine could accom- plish such priming, but still he was very far from being intoxicated. ‘“‘ Ah! by the bye, Sir Frederick,” he said, ‘‘ did you happen to notice that little sentence in my letter where I intimated that I had a matter of importance to submit to you? ” ‘“ IT did note it,’”’ answered the merchant, with businesslike precision. “I never fail to observe and I never forget any announcement which appears to be stamped with a serious meaning.”’ ‘‘ Ah, well, that’s all right,’’ exclaimed the viscount. ‘I was afraid you had lost sight of the thing.”’ Sir Frederick Latham poured a small quantity of wine into his own glass, for he was habitually temperate, but he said not another syllable in response. “The fact is,” continued the viscount, first sipping his wine, and then playing with his silver fruit-knife, ‘‘ I am in a little trouble at this moment — I don’t mean trouble ex- actly, because I know that’s a term which frightens you City gentlemen, but what I mean is that such a thing as a couple of thousand pounds would be of the very greatest service to me. I should know how to use it.” ‘No doubt, my lord,” said the merchant; ‘‘ everybody. knows how to make use of a couple of thousand pounds, especially in these times when no one ought to misuse money.” | — “ Just so,” said the. viscount, ‘ precisely my idea,’ again he filled his glass, again he fidgeted with the silver fruit-knife, while in the depths of his heart he thought to himself, ‘‘ Perdition take the cold-blooded fellow! he will make me put the question pointblank to him, so that he may have the prideful satisfaction of giving a pointblank ‘yes,’ or the malignant satisfaction of giving as direct a 4 no.’ I) | | There was a pause, during which Sir Frederick Latham sipped his wine with the most provoking composure, and. ? and. ECORNICIOOKS (E()