The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 319: what you’re looking at

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

288 REYNOLDS’ WORKS claimed Rushbrook, who was now perfectly at his ease in respect to the loan he had asked for, inasmuch as he knew full well that his brother-in-law would faithfully fulfil any promise he had made. ‘‘’Pon my soul, this wine’s capital! — But I beg your pardon, I was interrupting you. Now, then, I’m all attention. By the bye, hadn’t we better have an- other bottle before we go deeper into serious discourse? ”’ ‘“‘ Listen to me, my lord,’’ said the merchant, somewhat severely, and without heeding the hint relative to the fresh bottle. ‘ It was not I who first sought the acquaintance of the Earl of Fordwich, nor that of his son the Viscount Rush- brook, but it was a circumstance of a peculiar character — or what other term shall I use? — which made me acquainted with your lordship’s family.” “But my dear Sir Frederick,’’ exclaimed the viscount, now wincing visibly at the merchant’s words, which seemed fraught with an allusion that was only too intelligible, ‘‘ you surely are not going to recapitulate.” “Yes, my lord,”’ said the merchant, coldly, “‘ I am going to recapitulate. You ask me a favour, and I will confer it in my own fashion, or else not at all.’”’ Then drawing forth a pocketbook, Sir Frederick displayed several blank cheques, and he added, ‘‘ One of these will I presently fill up for the amount you desire, provided you listen to all that I have to say. But remember, I do not force you, and if you decline to hear me, I replace my cheques in my pocketbook, and there is an end of the matter.” ‘“ But my dear Sir Frederick,”’ stammered and faltered the viscount, “‘ there is something very strange about you this evening. What does it all mean? I scarcely think it 1s quite generous — ”’ ‘“ Oh, if you take it in that light, my lord,” interrupted the merchant, “ I can only answer that perhaps it will not be quite prudent for me to comply with your request.”’ Thus speaking, Sir Frederick Latham made a movement as if to shut up his pocketbook, when the viscount, who had the most desperate need of money, and would rather hear anything, however unpalatable, than abandon the chance of obtaining it, hastened to exclaim, ‘‘ Well, well, Sir Frederick, be it as you will. Proceed. I listen.” “It was between two and three years ago,’’ said the mer- chant, still with that calm, businesslike air which the young ECORNICIIOOKS (E(0)