Agnes, or, Beauty and Pleasure — page 210: what you’re looking at

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

ee i), os .—— ° Ke 5 - & 4 4 a J % -“ = oa | aie ‘ eo Fee? . ** ‘ans .¢, Mf * ae” ree ‘ ron % ‘ee * : a | . * ,%* 202 “Let us not wander away from the topic on which we were discoursing,” interrupted Timper- ley. “I tell you that your father bas left no debts behind bim They were all settled.” “Settled? Who settled them?” asked Sir Roderick, completely hewildered. “Who settled them?” repeated Timperley, in a balf mocking tone. “Wi.s, who could aettle them except me? You look incredulous But I may as well satisfy you, Sir Roderick,” continued Timperley; “and it will doubtless save you a AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. % and there he remained for some minutes. * issuing forth, he met three or four of the servants who purposely flung themselves in his way that they might cundole with him on the unfortunate position in which be was placed; for the fact of th» disinheritance was no secret in the house, “1 thank you for your kind sympathy,” he said, with much em»tion; “and believe me that | could cheerfully weleume poverty if I knew that my late fatber’s liabilities had been honvuurably liqui ated. But the matter shall not rest bere,” be continued, greet deal of trouble in running about to make | as he saw that the dining room door had been put inquiries of the creditors and ascertain what | ajar, evidently to enable Mr. Timperley to over- really bas been done “T await the explanation,” eaid Sir Roderick, but with a look and tone which was as much as hear whatsoever was taking place. ‘‘ There shall be a thorough and complete investigation !” “One word more with you, if you please, Sir to imply that he was prepared to resent any sub- | Roderick !” exclaimed the lawyer, now issuing terfuge, mockery, or trickery that might be prac- | forth from the dining-room. “ There is something tised towards him. “Since you overheard so much of what took place between your father and myself the other afternoon,” said Mr. Timperley, “ you perhaps learnt that amongst other liabilities he owed an immense sum to his lawyers. Well, of course his lawyers knew that the Chancery-suit was safe to be decided against him, and that he positively had not the ghost of a chance. I went to them— whispered in their ear that Sir John would be utterly insolvent if judgment Were given against him: they were alarmed for their own costs—I offered to make a certain bargain with them—in a word, I bought their debt—I gave them But no matter what I gave ts - “Tt matters greatly,” interrupted Sir Roderick Daiham. “But of this we will speak presently. I presume, Mr. Timperley, that you dealt in the same way with regard to the other creditors of my father ?”’ “Precisely so,” responded the lawyer coolly. “When I proved to them that his own attorneys thought so badly of his case that they took a moderate per centage as a settlement in fall 4 “Of course they were all willing, and indeed anxious to do the same?” ejaculated Dalham. “Bat remember, sir, that if you represented my father as being altogether insolvent, you practised a foul fraud; for,he himself explained to you that his assets would cover all his debts by paying twenty shillings in the pound.” “Well, well, Sir Roderick, we will not discuss the subject any further,” said - Mr. Timperley. “T bave given you as much explanation as you ean possibly require, and more than you had any rigbt to demand. It was a legitimate specula- tion on my part, with your deceased father’s creditors = ““Tt was a fraud and a villany on your part!” ejaculated Dalham passionately. “Those creditors should have been paid in full ere you touched single shilling of the spoil yourself!” ‘ “That may be your opinion, sir,” interjected Timperley; “bot it is not mine. And now per- tit me to observe that you are-not beneath your own roof,” “TT presume,” said Roderick sternly, ‘ that be- fore I am ejected hence, I may be permitted to go and fling one last look upon the remains of my father ?? Mr. Timperley bowed; and Sir Roderick left the room. He ascended to the chamber of death; I hed forgotten to say.” “*T will hear it,” answered Dalham; and he re- entered the apartment, where he was now once more alone with Timperley. “Look you, Sir Roderick,” said the man of business, assuming a pleasant and conciliatory air, .—“ you see very well that I am not afraid of you mm re - and that I care nothing for your threats. But I do not wish to be hard upon you. You angered your father—and he of course had a right to dis- pose of his property as he thought fit: therefore you must not blame me, nor yet the hospitals or charitable institutions “i “I do not wish to argue the pointy Mr. Tim- perley,” interrupted Dalhant, “Perhaps it is only too easy to understand how gow, who were for so many years the attorney of the deceased Mr. Barrington, could have merited such signal proofs of friendship on the part of Sir John Dal- ham. Yes!—the iniquitous part which for long years you must have played, is now beyond a doubt! To your vile machinations was poor Mr. Barrington the victim! It was you who kept him in prison!—you who by your conduct undermined his health!—you who have made him endure so much, that, by heaven! when I think of it ali, I can hardly keep my hands off you!” “Tf you address me in this style, Sir Roderick,” said Mr. Timperley, who first became very pale, and then assumed a supercilious look of contempt, ** | shall recall the benevolent intention which wes ebout to prompt me to offer youa ¢heque fora thousand guineas, just to see your way in the © world.” “Villain! would you bribe me?” exclaimed Dalbam, with a fierce indignation. “By heaven! you are a man who pollutes the very atmosphere itself and renders it sickly and fetid to breathe in your presence!” ‘ “Ab! this insult!” ejaculated Timperley in accents of rage. “By heaven! I will find some means of punishing you!” “Wretch! I defy you! Talk of punishment indeed! Oh! it is upon your head that retribu- tion ought to fall !” Thus speaking, Roderick Dalbam rushed out of the house; and throwing himself into the eab which had breaght him thither, he ordered the driver to retrace his way to Aldersgate Streot. On } GComichoo