The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 32: what you’re looking at

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

which tho commercial traveller almost instantane- ously endoavoured to veil bencath a furced com- posure, Mr. Hodson approached the tuble, aud took a soat, abserving, “ Wow do you do, Mr. Page? I felt assured, {rom your last letter, that you would arrive in town yesterday ovening ; and as I was passing this way, I thought I might as well give a call.” “ Thank you, sir—I am really much obliged to yow for this kindness, sir—vory much obliged, sdr,” stammered the commercial traveller. “ How is Mr."“Morley, sir?” “He ig quite well,” responded Mr. Hodson: “ that is to say, well in health, Mr. Pago—but in regard to spirits, I cannot give an equally satis- accqunt.” “ Indoed, sir ?™ exclaimed Page, {nterrogatively: “The fact is,” continued Mr. Hodson, “ Berkeley and Trent have stopped payment—and the result ig that our house experiences a very heavy loss.” 8 enc eae re : THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. A Ce vv “ Berkeley and Trent of Friday Street, sir!” crfed the commercial traveller. “I thought,they stood A 1 in tho trado ?” ; “ And so did we,” observed Hodson. “The contrary, however, has been made sadly apparent; and this very day have we two of their bills thrown back on our hands.” 4 1—am extremely sorry to—to hear it sir,” fal- tored Page, now feeling convinced that his employ- ers would require the documents contained in the pocket-book. “I hope that the loss does not put | you to any scrious inconvenience, sir?” hoadded, “ Why—lI think wecan get overit,"answered Mr. Hodson, his countenance now relaxingintoaspecies of grim smile: for the man wag worth thousands, andcould havestood up against the bankruptcies of adozencorrespondentsoragents, “ But we require at once all thesecurities wecan get together, to pay intoourbankers'; andasI am going direct to them, Ithought I might as well look in and obtain from ge ES TS SE comicloooks. conn