The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 59: what you’re looking at

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

42 REYNOLDS’ WORKS agitated manner, ‘‘ My lord, one word with you, if you please? ”’ - It was precisely this meeting which Mr. Coleman was anxious to prevent, and he had accordingly followed the duke forth upon the landing. He heard that hastily expressed desire on the part of Armytage, and he stopped short, un- certain how to act. ‘‘ Eh, a word with me? ”’ exclaimed the duke, affecting an easy, offhand, indifferent manner, as he perceived that Mr. Coleman was immediately behind him. ‘“ Where can we converse? ”’ ‘‘T have no doubt,” replied Armytage, ‘‘ that Mr. Coleman will permit us the use of this room for a few instants.” “‘ Certainly,’’ said the lawyer, for he felt that it would be most churlish — as it indeed would have been, to all outward appearance — for him to refuse so simple a request. He accordingly bowed, and returned to his own private office, while the Duke of Marchmont entered that room on the threshold of which Mr. Armytage had made his ap- pearance. - ‘What is the matter, Travers — Armytage, I mean? ”’ demanded the duke, closing the door after him. ‘‘ You look pale, agitated, ill; something has excited you terribly. But I suppose I can guess what itis? All those grand schemes of yours, of which you spoke to me, and in which so much of the money I lent you has been locked up — ”’ ‘“‘ My lord, listen,’ interrupted Armytage, “‘ for it is indeed most serious.” ‘““ This is what I feared,” said the duke, with an air of such bitter vexation that it almost amounted to anguish. ‘‘ You are again pressed for money, but I hope, in Heaven’s name, you do not expect any more at my hands, for what with an extravagant mistress, and such drains as you have lately made upon my purse, Travers, it would ruin the greatest fortune.”’ These last words were not exactly uttered with an inten- tion of being overheard by Armytage, but were rather spoken in a musing manner to the duke’s own self, while he took rapid and short walks to and froin the room. Nevertheless, Zoe’s father did hear those words, but he seemed to take little heed of them. ‘My lord,” he resumed, “ it is indeed most serious, and I Gomicbdoc CS (E(0)