The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 55: what you’re looking at

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

THE UNWELCOME VISITRESS 37 ‘Well, well, I suppose it was so,” replied Mrs. Gale, laughing. ‘‘ But, sure enough, I heard Emmerson talking about writing her ladyship cheques for thousands of pounds, and so I had the highest opinion of my customer. Thinking that I should like to lay out some money at good interest, I one evening spoke to Mr. Emmerson on the matter, and he told me to come and see him upon the business at his office. Sol paid him a visit accordingly, and put a couple of thousand pounds into his hands. Soon afterward he told me that he had an opportunity of laying out three thousand more to the greatest advantage, and I was fool enough to nibble at the bait. Well, my dear lady, to make a long story short — ”’ ‘““ Yes, do for Heaven’s sake!” interjected Venetia. ‘‘T will,’’ answered Mrs. Gale. ‘‘ I have lost, then, better than five thousand pounds by that Emmerson, and it’s a very cruel thing to lose one’s hard earnings in that manner,”’ added the woman, shaking her head with as much solemn mournfulness as if it were the produce of the most honourable industry instead of the wages of iniquity that she was thus deploring. | ‘‘ Pray go on. Wherefore do you come to me? The loss you speak of can have scarcely impoverished you,’’ observed Venetia. | ‘““ Yes, but it has put me to very great inconvenience,’ returned Mrs. Gale, “‘ because I have a certain sum to pay to-morrow by twelve o’clock for a renewal of the lease of my house in Soho Square, and what little money I have got left is so locked up that I really can’t touch it. If I don’t pay the lawyers to-morrow by twelve o’clock, I lose the lease; and you, my dear Lady Sackville, who have seen my estab- lishment and know how beautifully fitted up it is, must be aware how dreadfully inconvenient it would be to have to turn out and get another, besides the loss of custom in the meantime. So I thought that if you would accommodate me with a couple of thousand pounds — ”’ “I!” ejaculated Venetia, in mingled astonishment and indignation. ‘ I accommodate you with such an amount! ” “Yes, you,”’ rejoined the woman, all in a moment assum- ing the insolent look and dogged manner of an extortioner resolute in bleeding a victim. ‘What, this impertinence to me?” exclaimed Venetia, (C(O) nn) GDoOOo <Si