The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 320: what you’re looking at

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

THE LORD AND THE MERCHANT 289 nobleman felt to be so provoking, ‘‘ that a bill for two thou- sand pounds, purporting to be the acceptance of the Marquis of Swalecliffe, 2 nobleman well known upon the turf, and drawn by Viscount Rushbrook, came in the course of business into the hands of the firm to which I belong. This bill was a forgery, the marquis’s acceptance was a forged name, and Viscount Rushbrook was the forger.”’ “Sir Frederick! ’’ moaned Anastatia’s brother, piteously. ‘What if any one were listening? ”’ ‘““ No one listens improperly, my lord, in my house,”’ replied the merchant. ‘‘ Am I to go on?” “Yes, if you will. I am at your mercy — but this is indeed cruel.” “Tt is a fashion which I have of bestowing the favour which is asked of me,’ rejoined Sir Frederick, and there was something coldly implacable in his tone. ‘‘ Well, the bill came due; it was a forgery, as I have said; the Marquis of Swalecliffe disavowed it, and you, Lord Rushbrook, were stated to be upon the Continent. At all events, you were not to be found. Your father came to me in an agony of grief. I took pity on him; he himself could not pay the bill for you. A terrible exposure seemed to be staring you in the face. As for the marquis, he was inexorable; he vowed that justice should take its course, and that even though I, the holder of the bill, might arrange the matter with your father, he would expose you at all the clubs, he would brand you as a villain. Then all of a sudden a change came over the marquis. What influence was brought to bear upon him I know not, but doubtless the intercessions of your father and mother, privately made, prevailed. His lordship agreed that the matter should be hushed up, and I on my part agreed to exchange the forged bill against a note of hand which your father the Earl of Fordwich gave me. I need not add that it was the same as presenting you or your family with two thousand pounds, for until this day that note of hand re- mains unpaid.” ‘ Not one syllable of all this have I ever denied,” said the wretched viscount, “ nor do I deny it now. But wherefore, Sir Frederick — ”’ ‘Stop, you have promised to hear me,’ interrupted the implacable merchant, and he added, with a cold sneer, ““ When our discourse is at an end, and I have filled up the CORANICLOO© <S (CO)