The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 52: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERIES. to procurea new cheque-bookand there [learnt that Mr. Martin had departed on the preceding evening for London on pressing business. 1t struck me at the moment that Ramseyseemed paleand even con- fused as he gave mo this information: but I attri- ‘buted his appearance and manner to the bustle of business, and took my leave. I thence proceeded to the horse-dealer’s, and after some little bargaining purchased the ponies, for the price of which I at once wrote a cheque upon the bank. Having thus fulfilled the principal object of my visit to Aylos- ~bury on that occasion, I was returning to the li- very-stables where I had left my horse, when I recollected that my gold watch-chain was broken ; and as it had been in my possession eome years, and was completely out of fashion, I resolved to treat myself to anewone. I accordingly entered the jewellers shop at which we were accustomed to deal, and made a selection of a new chain. My invariable custom bad been to pay ready money to all tradesmen save those with whom it was conve- nient to have running accounts for the domestic purposes of the Manor; and I accordingly wrote a cheque forthe amount of the chain. Butas I handed it tothe jeweller, I saw that he fidget ted andseemed embarrassed, as if wishing to say something to which he was nevertheless afraid togive utterance; and I began to question him. Then with many apologies for troubling me—many excuses for men- tioning so delicateasubject—and many expressions of hope that heshould not lose mine or herladyship's custom, heobserved that havinga very largesum to pay in the ceurse of the month, he should feel in- finitely obliged if I would settle the account which had been running for the last three years! I was astounded—stupifled. What could the man mean ? Whenever Eleanor had fancied any new article of jewellery, [had invariably given her the money to purchase it: how, then, could there be a billowing? An explanation took place; and, with indescribable feelings of sorrow and amazement, did I learn that Lady Stamford was indebted to the jeweller in the dmount of eight hundred pounds! I endeavoured to master my feelings as well xs 1 was able, so as not to suffer theshopkeeper to perceive that my wifehad grossly deluded me; and when he opened his books to show methe statement which afforded such ter- rible evidence of Eleanor’s extravagance, I felt sick at heart on discovering further proofs of her dupli- city. Foron examining the items, I found that ar- ticles which she had represented to mo as having cost twenty guineas were in reality a hundred; and so on throughonat the entirecategory. Still, how- ever, veiling the intense anguish which racked ma, I gavea cheque for the amount due, and took my departure. As I was proceeding towards the livery- stables, wrapped up in the most painful medita- tions, I met the horse-dealer of whom I had pur- chased the ponies. His countenance had in itsome- thing so ominous as he accosted me, that I was struck by his aspect; and no tongue can describe my dismay when he somewhat rudely informed me that my cheque had been dishonoured at the bank. Assuring him that there must be some egre- gious mistake, and bidding him return home and wait forme, I hurried to the bank, where I ques- tioned the cashier, Mr. Ramsey being out at the time. I then learnt enough to convince mo that the affairs of the establishment had Jong been in a most disordsredstate, and thattbey had now reached & point when insolvency was inevitable. With « 87 suffocationg sensation in the throat anda pressure upon the drain, I went into the private office and commenced an examination of the buoks. Little accustomed as I was to accounts, yet heaven knows that it was far from a diffioult matter to perceive even through that multitude of figures the utter ruin of the establishment. Fortwo hours did I pore over those books until my head awam round—amy brain reeled—and my senses appeared to be deserting me. I waited for Ramsey—=still he came not; andI at length took my departure. It was now five e'clock in the evening—and I felt so thoroughly wretched that I experienced a repugnance to return home. How could [reproach Eleanor for herextravagances which a comparatively small sum would remedy— when my imprudence in rushing headlong into that fatal partnership had involved usin ruin? I was demented—and feeling that I required to be alone in order to reagon with myself, I entered a tavern and ordered dinner merely for the sake of having @ private room for an hour or two. There I re- mained until nine o’clock—and heaven only can tell what myriads of agonising, despairing thoughts swept through my brain during that interval !” There was another pause, at which Page was almost wildly impatient, though he said nothing: but the interest and curiosity now awakened within him, were intense even to poignancy. “Qh! you can well believe that my reflections were of no pleasurable description !” exclaimed the barouet, at length breaking a prolonged interval of silence. “ But Icould have borne that ruinin which the villany of my partnets involved me—yes, I could have borne that cheerfully—had it not been for the crushing discoveries I had made respecting my wife? And asI meditated upon the duplicity of her conduct, suspicions of another nature began to steal into my mind,—at first gradually, faintly, and imperceptibly, like the breaking of the dawn,—thon witha gleaming more intense, lighting up as it were all the unfathomable depths of my own soul and bringing forth ideas which seemed to have always hada latentandslumbering though unknown exist- ence there, —and then rushingin upon myappalled imagination with a vividness that struck me with dismay. A thousand little circumstances suddenly appeared to spring to lifein my memory—all com- bining to strengthen those horrible suspicions, and rivet the conviction that it was notalone in her ex- penditure that Eleanor haddeceivedme! Yes—yes —Isawitall: she was faithless tome—end Ramsey was her paramour! My tongue felt like a flaming coal— Vesuvius seemed glowing in my brain—tho Maelstroom raging in my heart. I rose from my seat staggering agninst the wall forsupport; and there T sustained myself fora few minutes, literally unable to move. And now you may say it was providen- tial, or that it was mere matter of chance,—but it is nevertheless a fact that the little incident of thus leaning against the wall was thecause of my obtain- inga deeperinsight into the villany of my partners. For I keard voices in the adjoining room—and, as the partition was thin, I could not help catching what was said. Judge of my feelings when [found that the occupants of the nextapartment were Mar- tinand Ramsey! Yes—I knew their voices inamo- ment ;—and now [listened in breatbleas suspexrse. Martin was speaking at the time ; and I heard him explain to Ramsey how the forgeries had been so executed that he experienced not the slight est difficulty in selling out the stock at the Bank of pe ae A Sa, COMIC ‘SS CO NOOO)