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.

ca ee ee mnt ali an —— st A: te te tt tC CCC et til —_e- eee . MMMM MY LELLLL ELA fi Y] ‘\ * e\ we \ SA eS a — shich the commercial traveller almost instantane- ously endeavoured to veil beneath a forced com- posure, Mr, Hodson approached the table, and took a seat, observing, “How do you do, Mr. Page? I felt assured, from your Jast letter, that you would arrive in town yesterday evening; and as I was passing this way, I thought I might as well give you a call.” “Thank you, sir—-I am really much obliged to you for this kindess, sir—very much obliged, sir,” stammered the commercial traveller. “ How is Mr. Morley, sir?” “ He is quite well,” responded Mr. Hodson: “ that is to say, well in health, Mr, Page—but in regard to spirits, I cannot give an equally satisfactory account.” “ Indeed, sir?” exclaimed Page, interrogatively. “ The fact is,’ continued Mr. Hodson, “ Berkeley and Trent have stopped payment—and the result is that our honse experiences a very heavy loss.” 3 me ee THE MYSTE -_-— ee tC ) re ee RIES ——_ ee = - HI HOTTY i iz ee ee i iD yi : Mit iA Mi “Berkeley and Trent of Friday Street, sir!” cried the commercial traveller. “ I thought they stood A 1 in the trade?” “ And so did we,” observed Hodson. “The cons trary, however, has been made sadly apparent ; and this very day have we two of their bills thrown back on our hands.” “T_T am extremely sorry to—to hear it, sir,” fal- tered Page, now feeling convinced that his employers would require the documents contained in the pocket-book, “I hope that the loss does not put you to any serious inconvenience, sir ?”’ he added. “ Why—I think we can get over it,” answered Mr. Hodson, his countenance now relaxing into a species of grim smile: for the man was worth thousands and could have stood up against the bankruptcies of a dozen correspondents or agents. “ But we require at once all the securities we can get together, to pay into our bankers’; and as I am going direct to them, I thought I might as well look in and obtain from ~~ SS Se a com CElooolks. conn