The Argosy — page 111: what you’re looking at

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

98 Court Netherleigh. Duke of Dunford this evening, but I could not have got back for it. As to my business, the little matter I have come down to you to speak of, I won’t trouble you with that until dinner’s over.” ‘Ouite right, my lord,” said the knight. ‘ Never unite eating and © business together when it can be avoided. As to your lordship’s par- taking of my dinner, such as it is, the obligation lies on my side, and I think it very condescending of you.” Sir Turtle Kite, knight, alderman, and tallow merchant, held the same reverence for dukes and lords that many another Sir Turtle holds, and his round face and his little bald head shone again with the honour of having the Earl of Acorn as a guest. But he need not have disparaged his dinner by saying “such as it is!” Lord Acorn had rarely sat down to a better. The knight hked to dine - well, and he had a rare good cook. ‘“ As rich as Croesus, I know; these City men always are,” thought Lord Acorn. ‘And he is as genial a little man as one could wish to meet, and not objectionable in any way,” mentally added his lordship as the dinner went on. It was not until the wine was-on the table, and the servants were gone, that Lord Acorn entered upon and explained the subject which had brought him. He spoke rather lightly, interspersing praises of the wines, which for goodness matched the dishes. One bottle of choice claret, brought up specially for his lordship to taste, was truly of rare quality. “Tt would be so very dreadful a thing if this honest-minded, chivalrous young fellow were to be compelled to stand a trial,” con- tinued the Earl confidentially, as he sipped the claret. ‘* Painful to your generous heart, I am quite sure, Sir Turtle, as well as to mine and Mr. Grubb’s.” “ Of course it would, my lord.” “And I thought I would come to you myself and privately ex- plain. By allowing this young fellow to be released to-morrow, you will be doing a righteous and a generous act.” Sir Turtle nodded. ‘But what a young fool the lad must be to have allowed the world to think him guilty!” he remarked. “JVho is it that he 1s screening, do you say, my lord? Some unfortunate acquaintance of his, who had got into a mess? Was the fellow also staying at Grubb’s ?” Lord Acorn coughed. ‘“ Yes; the culprit was staying in Grosvenor Square at the time. He, the true criminal, is out of the law’s reach now, and can’t be caught,” added the Earl, drawing upon his inven- tion. ‘‘ And we wish to keep his name quiet, and give him another chance. But, that the prisoner who has been twice before you is innocent as the day, I give you my solemn word of honour. I hope you will release him, dear Sir Turtle.” ‘“T will,” assented Sir Turtle. ‘There’s my hand upon it. And those libellous newspapers may go and be—hanged.” EMLMICELCKo KS, (E00)