Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 104 — page 17: what you’re looking at

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

“My town-house, my banking-house and all I have is mo up to the last dollar—I have not ten thousand in the safe.” *“ And Abercrombie & Company led you into this scrape?” ‘Yes, sir, they made representations which, 1 am sorty to say, were untruthful; led me to believe they had invested largely in stock in which they had not a dollar, and trusting to them, for I never doubted them, I went reck- lessly on, until they now hold all my mortga- and a quarter of a million of my notes. I ear, sir, I have been tricked, as 1 was their rival, and drew from them some of their cus- tom. “Mr. Angelos, as you have acted honorably with me, I will do the same with you What would clear your notes, mortgages, and all out- standing debts?” ‘** Four hundred thousand, sir, it would take.” “A small sum to drive a man to the depths of despair,” and across the face of Montezuma swept a smile of womanly sweetness that fas- cinated Andrea Angelos, as much as did his manner of speaking of hundreds of thousands of dollars as ‘‘a mere bagatelle.” “*T have reason to know, sir, as Mr. Sebastian warned me not to deposit with you, and yet I came here, and you have told me honestly your condition, and refused to take my money in neerang: ‘To Mr. Sebastian I replied that there was some mistake—you had ample backers, and were well recommended to me, and I desire to prove my words to him ; ere, sir, is in this roll of bills, a half a mil- lion dollars, which I desire you to accept asa loan from me, without interest, and on any time you desire; and here, sir—” But he said no more, as Andrea Angelos had vallen from his chair in a dead faint. Montezuma quietly raised him from the floor and laid him upon a lounge—then, taking from his pocket a lancet, he quickly bled him in the arm, holding it over a spittoon. Then he arose and bathed his head with water from the ice-cooler. h, Mr. me, too all right again I nm glad to see: “the Ii “< oon the liberty of bleeding y es called no one.” y Jora, did I hear aright your words? ** You e banker. did, sir, the half-million loan lies there.” * Oh, was not for myself I cared God! what joy to my poor wife! It ut to keep the shock from her, for, my lord, when she mar- fied me her father cast her off, and we were banished from Cuba, and came here.” Then all is well now, Iam gladtosay. Now, again to business, Mr. Angelos; I wish to de- posit with oe. Here,” ont he picked up the wallet that Velik had laid upon the table, “ you will find ten million dollars in Bank of England notes, and in thi in notes of the Beno ecrage a8 much more Andrea Angelos could not = Serge Was he in a wild dream? Was he talking to "At lest, with reiiai as a@ sigh i i sare somewhat, a ig Pood ned his compo- ‘* And you wish to i is i wink met deposit this immense sum i". o> — A venord Aho I will bave much our »” with the utmost ndifference. ee ia Pasa ma a ate Angelos, Iam a little ex- re and i 3 , around rae ave every comfort ‘““ My income is large, and it is my intention to buy a home in your city, and andéher over upon the lake-shores for a country-seat. Per- et you a o' ay laces for sale?” ve heard aptain ] cell his place “me the lake Pp Grenville might ‘‘And somewhere I learned that th - ron place was @ very handsome Sotatis Go the lake. “Tt is, my lord; it was left by Commodore Brainard, at his death some years ago, to his dson, Brainard Abercrom*i : it 7 ems, Bren €; but it is not “That is the lace I desire, Mr. ‘ please send one of your clerks over to Fy Voie . and purchase the estate.” so often.” ‘‘ At what does he value the estate?” ‘“ Ata very sum, I know; he made cost- ly alterations and additions to the house spent thousands upon the grounds.” » and ‘Please send your cashier over to buy it, Mr, Angelos,” was the quiet reply. Andrea ae AP looked at his patron with surprise; but e had seen him purchase, half an hour before, a e and horses that were not for sale, and he called his cashier. “The Senor Montezuma desires you to go over to the banking-house of Abercrombie @& Company, and purchase the Lake estate of Mr. Brainard Abercrombie.” ‘Tt is not for sale, sir.” ‘8 I told the gentleman, but he wishes it.” «“ At what price, sir?’ and the cashier turned to Montezuma, who coolly answered: “At any price, sir; buy it,” The cashier disappeared, and Montezuma turned again to the banker: ‘“* Now, sir, for a city residenee. You see, as I am astranger here, lam making you my ad- viser and agent, Mr. Angelos.” “‘T will be only too happy to serve you, my lord; the Monteith, or ratber now the Sebastian mansion, is the most elegant in the city, but that is not for sale either.’ “*T must have it, sir; how is it located?” “*Tt occupies one corner of a square, sir, and the stable and gardens surround it on two sides.” ‘Tt does not take in the whole square, then?’ **No, sir; there are two other residences on the square, one owned by aor Grenville, the other by Dr. Bethune, or rather his wife.” ‘**T wish the whole square, Mr. Angelos. The Sebastian mansion is, I suppose, the argest?” ‘“‘Tt is, sir, and the finest in the city. *“‘Then Messrs. Sebastian, Grenville and Be- thune must seek other quarters, for I will bu their homes. and all turned intoa high wall of brick. e Sebastian mansion, I e , will do as it is, but the stables must order.” these places cannot be bought.’ “They must be bought, Mr. Angelos; I de- sire them, and I wish the improvements sug- gested to be completed within the week, I was going to say; but I will say two weeks.” ** My lord, it will be impossible—” ‘Many hands make light work, my dear sir, and I will move in within two weeks. Ah! here is your cashier. Now I will give youa poe for improvements at the mansion on the e. ‘* He will not sell, sir,” said the cashier. Montezuma looked at him in polite surprise. “* He refuses double what the place is worth,” explained the cashier. My dear sir, I asked yo to buy the place.” Mr. Mercer, my Lord Montezuma has just deposited with me twenty millions of dollars, and he desires to purchase the Abercrombie es- tate for a country-seat, and then I wish you to FO up and buy the Sebastian, Grenville and ethune mansions, for a city residence for the Montezuma,” said Andrea Angelos, who now saw that he had a man to dea with, who con- sidered money of no value, and would have what he desired. The eyes of the cashier widened, and he was happy, for the banking-house of Andrea Angelos was solid, now, he thought. Bowing low he disappeared from the office and Rs twenty minutes returned. bt a ““He was an at my worryin m, an said he would é a quarter of a million, think- ing to bluff me, and I closed with him immedi- ately, sir.” “You were right, Mr. Mercer. Alwa you go to do anything for me, accom your first visit. Are you married, sir? ‘Yes, my lord.” ** Do you keep house?” “1 am ren a little place on the edge of town which I hope to buy, my lord.” ** At what price, sir?’ ‘Five thousand dollars, my lord.” ‘Please take this and purchase Every man should own the house he lives in,” and Montezuma handed a roll of bills to the de- lighted cashier, whose tongue clove to the roof of his mouth with surpri ies Ye ‘‘Mr. Mercer, now go up and buy the man- sions Mr. Angelos spoke of awhile since.” The cashier left the office, and jum four feet high, as soon as the door was closed, to the t astonishment of his fellow-clerks, who thought he had been suddenly seized with St. Vitus’s dance. “Now, Mr. Angelos, I wish you to put men at once to tearing down the Grenville and Bethune mansions, and fitting up the Sebastian home. Also enlarge the stables and improve and ornament the grounds. [ hope you con- sider it unnecessary for me to say spare no ex- pense, cost what it may, sir.” “T understand you, my lord.” ‘Please do not call me my lord. Iam plain Mister Montezuma, a Mexican country gentle- man.” “ As you please, Mister Montezuma.” “Thank you. I dislike titles. Now, Mr. An- gelos, Iintend running over to the lake shore to see how I can pie my purchase there.” ‘*But your duel, sir?” . * Ah! I had forgotten about that.’ “ What a man!” thought Andrea Angelos— “forgotten that he has to face the most dan- gerous citizen we have, in a duel.” “ He will certainly call you out, sir, and I did not wish it said you had left to avoid it,” ex- plained the banker. ‘* My dear Angelos, you will find, when you know me better, that [ never swerve from my path for any man. By the way, I shall have to ask you to act for me as second.” “With pleasure, sir. Now give your com- mands, sir, in regard to all you wish done with your mansion, and it shall be attended to,” said “ when it at our house. “Tl am almost afraid, my lord, to tell you that | 17 Andrea Angelos, falling in with his patron's manner and thoroughly convinced that the three lordly mansions on Rue St. Lowis would be purchased by Mercer. In afew words Montezuma gave his instruc- tions, and then added: “I have my own vessels at anchor in the river, with furniture for both my city and country houses. I bought it in Paris, and as soon as the mansions are ready | wish it moved n. ‘“* My horses, carriages and servants are also on boar the vessels, and I shall remain at the Hotel Saint Louis until I can move intg my own house.” ‘* Ah, Mercer?’ and Andrea Angelos almost feared to ask the result of his cashier. ‘‘T found Mrs. Bethune at home, and she re- fused to listen to me unti] Imade ber an offer, and she accepted it. ‘Captain Grenville was at Abercrombie & y | Co.’s, so I saw him with Captain Sebastian and Let me see, Mr. Angelos, I wish . the Grenville and Bethune houses torn down, | rden, surrounded by a | made them an offer, which they too accept- ed. All three families will give possession day after to-morrow.” ‘““You have done well, Mercer: now, Mr | Montezuma, I am going to beg that you do me enlarged, and the house put in most thorough — a the honor to dine with me to y." “With pleasure, sir; at what hour?’ ** At four, sir. We dine earlier to-day, on ac- count of the Carnival ball to-night.” ‘*T will be punctual, sir,” and Montezuma arose to take his departure. ‘Don Felipe Cosala would see you, sir,” said the cashier. ‘* Ask him in, if a able to you, Mr. Ange- los,” quietly returned Montezuma. ‘“* Perfectly; he bears a challenge, I am confi- dent.” Don Felipe Cosala entered, and the banker presented him to Montezuma. “Pardon, senor, but I saw your carriage at the door, and called in to ask at what hour I could see you at your hotel?’ said Don Felipe, in his courtly manner. “*T am engaged for the day, sir; will you not make known your business here?” ** Certainly, if you desire it. I am the bearer of an unpleasant message, sir, from my friend, r Lucien Bethune.” ““A challenge, doubtless?” quietly asked Mon- a. ye NA “My friend, Mr. Angelos, will act for me, sir,” and turning to the banker he continued: ‘“‘Any terms you may make, Mr. Angelos, will oblige me.” “But weapons, Mr. Montezuma?’ “Perfectly immaterial, sir. As for the time, the sooner the better—say to-morrow morning, as I wish to take a cruise in my yacht over the Ig shore. I will be punctual at dinner, Ange- Os. ** Au revoir, messieurs,” and Montezuma bow- ed low and left the office, and entering his car- riage was driven back to the Hotel Saint Louis, **Cool as champagne on ice, I call that. Be- thune had better look to himself,” muttered Don Felipe. “So I think, Don Cosala,” and the two seconds sat down to discuss the arrangements for a eae which must be deadly in its termina- on. Twenty minutes after Andrea Angelos drove home, a happy light on his handsome face; he was no longer in the depths of despair, and he had much to tell his beautiful wife about the magnificent Montezuma. CHAPTER XX. OTIS ALDEN RECEIVES A CARTE D’OR. As I have already, in a SM ean chapter, ken of the grand Carnival ball, en masque given at the Salon Saint Louis each vear, I will only here state thet the gay Louisianians seem- ed to consider it their duty and pleasure to make these entertainments more superb with each re- turn of the merry season of Mask, and upon the occasion following the arrival of Montezuma in the ‘‘Crescent City,” it certainly surpassed all the other gatherings of the kind, in every par- i r of magnificence. As the crowds of gay dancers whirled around the brilliant saloon, and the Po ame of pro- menaders wended their way hither and thit er, they all seemed determined upon catching sight one personage who had come there en masque. This object of unj arsal attention was a tall form in the costum of a knight, or rather the «tig and with his visor down, to hide his ace. But the most remarkable of all was that the helmet was certainly of solid gold, and the whole armor of gold and silver, while it was gemmed with diamonds and rubies of the largest size and of exquisite luster. In one hand the knight carried a rie, | lance of ure gold, the handle set with emeralds, and in the other he held a shield that was like the sun at noonday to look upon, so dazzling was it to the eyes of the beholders. It was a shield, the frame of solid gold and at the points were rubies of immense size, while an opal, the size of a walnut, sent its rainbow hues out from the center JOO S) Comic (E(O) /'