The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 182: what you’re looking at

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

ee —————— ee THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. 169 ES fe “No particular news, Colonel Malpas,” replied the bill-broker: “unless it be that I have just had the Earl of Curzon with me.” . “Ah! indeed,” said the Colonel, by no meuns discomfitted at this announcement. “ And whrt did he want?” . “ Money—money, to be sure,” answered the bill- broker, contemplating his visitor with searching, penetrating eyes, as if to read into the depths of his very soul. “No one ever comes to this office except for money. some have different ways of obtaining it to what others have.” “No doubt, my dear fellow,” obeerved Malpas, caressing his moustache with infinite composure. “Different kinds of security—eh? That's what you mean, I suppose ?” “But some securities are valid, Colonel Malpas,” rejoined Emmerson, a malignant smile appearing faintly upon his lip,—“ while others are mere waste paper—or worse—being downright forgeries.” 22 “Well, I suppose you must run these kinds of risks now and then,” remarked Malpas, still un- moved—and indeed not noticing the intentaess with which the money-lender was surveying him. “But what do you do in such cases—forgeries, foe instance ?” “If the man is a poor devil from whom I can never hope to get a farthing,” replied Emmerson, “I send him to Newgate and make an example of him, for the benefit of society. But if he is a man not without resources, I give him four-and-twenty hours to take up the bills and save his honour.” “A very good plan too,” observed Malpas, quite y. “1 am glad you approve of it, sir,” exclaimed Emmerson, in a severe tone: “because it is the very course I am about to adopt towards your. self.” “Towards me! What the devil do you mean ” demanded Colonel Malpas, with apparently so comliclbooks.com