The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 51: what you’re looking at

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

34 REYNOLDS’ WORKS ‘“‘ Good heavens! what am I to do?” moaned the wretched Armytage, clasping his hands in despair. ‘“Am I to understand,” inquired Mr. Coleman, “‘ that you have come unprepared with a cheque for this amount, — an amount which you so solemnly undertook to pay, and for which you gave me this warrant of attorney, exercising full power over your person as well as your property? ”’ ‘“ Good God! you would not take my person? you would not plunge me into a gaol?” cried Armytage, looking as if frenzy had suddenly seized upon him. . “ T have already informed you,” responded Mr. Clie ‘“‘ that it is not my money which you have had; it is that of a client. I am not therefore acting for myself, but for an- other; and I must obey the instructions which that other has given me.’ ‘* But you can make a further advance, or he can make another advance? ”’ said Armytage, gasping as it were with the awfulest feelings of suspense. ‘‘ If you do not, it is ruin, utter and complete ruin for me, — ay, and not only ruin for myself, but likewise for others. And I who have such opportunities! There is at this moment a project which, if entered into, would be certain to realize hundreds and thousands. Oh, you must, you must afford me this opportunity of getting back my lost fortune, of redeeming my past adversities. Oh, dear kind sir, I beseech, I beseech you to aid me! ”’ There was a wild horror in the look and manner of Army- tage, a species of frenzied terror lest a negative response should issue from the attorney’s lips. His countenance was ghastly pale; he leaned forward as he sat, his gaze fixed with a sort of devouring avidity upon Coleman’s countenance. The solicitor, who was a humane man, felt his heart touched by the spectacle, and Redcliffe, who was in the next room, was likewise moved as he listened to the tone of anguished entreaty in which the wretched being spoke. But still neither would yield upon the subject; the course which was being adopted arose from a paramount necessity. “1 tell you, sir,” continued Armytage, “ that it is not merely ruin for one, it is ruin for more. My daughter, my beloved daughter, the amiable and accomplished Zoe, for whom I have toiled so hard, for whose sake I strove to heap up riches, she too will be ruined, she will be reduced to Gomiuicdoc <S (E(0)