The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 375: what you’re looking at

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

344 REYNOLDS’ WORKS with the letters that had reached him that morning. Some he answered; on the backs of others he had made memo- randa for reference to the account-books at the office in the City, and others he placed aside that they might be sub- mitted to his partners when in consultation with them. Presently the door opened, and a footman entered to state that the architect who had built Tudor House requested an interview with Sir Frederick. The merchant desired that the architect should be ad- mitted, and in a few minutes this individual was conducted into the study. Presenting a paper to Sir Frederick, he intimated that he had called to receive the balance of his account. “ Which might have been settled long ago, Mr. Styles,”’ said the merchant, drawing himself up with a certain cold, businesslike pomposity, ‘‘ if you had chosen to send it in.’ ‘““T am perfectly aware of that, Sir Frederick,” responded the architect, “‘ but I did not want the money, I knew it was safe, and moreover I really had not time to go into the different details.” The merchant opened the document which had been presented to him, and spreading it on his desk, he proceeded to examine the items of the account. Taking down a file, - he referred to former accounts; then he consulted the cash- book, which he took from a drawer, and having thus satis- fied himself that all the items were correct, he proceeded to verify the addition of the pounds, shillings, and pence columns. All this he did in a precise and methodical man- ner, with coolness and deliberation, and yet with a certain perceptible business-pride, so to speak, which in itself was as much as to say, ‘‘ Look how carefully I conduct all my business, and profit by the example.” Having added up the columns, Sir Frederick slowly bent his cold eyes upon the architect, and said, gravely, if not sternly, ‘“‘ Mr. Styles, might I ask whether you have frequently the misfortune of making mistakes in adding up your accounts? ”’ ‘Errors will occur, Sir Frederick,’ was the answer, “but I flatter myself that I make them as seldom as most people.”’ ‘Errors never occur in my office, sir,’ observed the merchant, drawing himself up. “A clerk of mine who ECORNICLIOOKS (E(0)