The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 376: what you’re looking at

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

THE DESK 349 should have the misfortune to make such an addition as this would never have the chance of making another within the walls of my establishment. Look, Mr. Styles. You have set down a total of eleven hundred and thirteen pounds, eleven shillings, and eleven pence half-penny, whereas I make it eleven hundred and thirteen pounds, twelve shillings and three pence half-penny.”’ The architect felt infinitely relieved when he found that the discrepancy was of so trifling a character, and as his time was precious, he wished to settle the business at once. But Sir Frederick appeared to take a sort of cold-blooded inward delight in delaying him as a punishment for having made a mistake in his account to the extent of a few pence. He therefore sententiously expatiated on the necessity of being accurate in even the minutest matters, and then he slowly and deliberately cast up all the colums, with the architect looking over his shoulder. ‘‘ And now, Mr. Styles,” he said, ‘if you will receipt this account, it shall be paid.” Rising from his chair, the great merchant advanced toward the safe, which he opened, and he took forth the cash-box. Meanwhile the architect had receipted the account, and Sir Frederick looked at the mode in which the receipt was written, to assure himself that it was con- sistent with the proper formality. He then opened the cash-box; he looked in one compartment, where the notes ought to be, —it was empty. Sir Frederick was astounded, but not for an instant did he suffer his features to betray the feeling that had thus seized upon him. He opened the other compartment, where gold ought to be; not a single coin was there. Still Sir Frederick was outwardly as calm, as unruffled, and as imperturbable as ever, and he coldly said, as he closed the cash-box, ‘‘ After all, I had better give you a cheque for the amount.” ‘“‘ Just as you please, Sir Frederick,’ replied the architect, making way for the merchant to sit down at his desk again. Sir Frederick wrote out the cheque; Mr. Styles received it, bowed, and took his departure. When he was gone, Sir Frederick again rose from his seat, and looked into the safe, but beheld none of the notes nor golden coins there. He consigned the cash-box back into its place, locked up the safe, and put the key in his pocket. e@micbooks, (CO)