The Mysteries of London; or, Lights and Shadows of London Life — page 297: what you’re looking at

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

LIGHTS AND SHADOWS OF LONDON LIFE. 296 NE titi ee | Worldky reputation, awed him.” He hesitated—his | father and afianced bridegroom appeared in public OPA eneened the cause, __ 1 * Hie knows all, George,” he whispered. “At the F more frequently than ever, | Fitsgerald’s second visitor was the respectable Mr. _pmoment of my reunion with my father I showed my | Prim the lawyer, He received him alone, after giving Whole heart to him.—its weakness, strength, friend-! strict orders to the groom of the chamber not to edmit Ship, and—no, not love,” he added, with a melancholy | even his son till the visitor was gone, unless, indeed, ‘smile; “he knew that secret long before,” he rang to request his presence, » 6. “* Yes, I will go,” replied the youog man, “Hu-} “ Humph!” thought Prim, as he surveyed the mag- tility is the Grst frei of repentance. Ab, Maybird,” | nificent mansion of the supposed borrower; “no he added, calling him by his old familiar name, “ your | wonder he wants money. Here’s a mansion for a . well be proud of you; but mine, even| man with only four thousand a year! Why he ought | mast owa a felon for his son. God!” “that the sins of youth should rise against y* to have twenty at the very least to Keep ifup. So many lazy vermin of servants too-—leeches that are age! hastily led him from the spot; he feared a of sorrow and remorse, and he endea- continually sucking. Poor affair—E shall be very “voured, by talking of their early days and fature short with him,” 7 For a borrower the bishop received his visitor very the spirit so humbied and so hour that the young men made coolly. Without rising from his seat, he quietly pointed toa chair, an act of courtesy due to the old man’s age, and ordered the servant who had ushered him in to close the door. . isit to the public-house in the Almonry, Mr} «Yon are welcome, Mr. Prim,” he said, gravely; ®rim was seated, as usual, in his office, He had just | closed a very profitable transaction, and was counting the lange sum he had received over and over again, ‘With a sort of lingering fondness, ere he deposited it “although the subject of our conference will prove of painful interest to us both.” ic his strong box. There was a gentle tap at the At the word interest the lawyer pricked up his ears. It began, he thought, to look like business, By the term painful interest he thought the speaker alluded to the per-centage which fools who want monéy pay to knaves who lend it. “ Ah, my lord,” he sighed, “there is no business to be transacted how-a-days without interest, and a _ “Certainly,” said the old man, after he had perused | security too,” he added—« real, good, tangible se. ; ” ie note; “1 shall be most honoured to attend his lordshi He may rely upon my being punctual, ess my soul,’’ he added, after the clerk and mag had left the room—‘“a bishop! Weil, well—I shall the king himself, I suppose, coming to borrow money next. But I must have good security—nothing without security. I wonder if his see is a rich one,” Aiter carefully depositing his treasure in his strong x, the idea’struck him that he would make inquiries nto the revenues of the prelate, who, he doubted not, sought to become his debtor, and stepped across the ourt to the chambers of a friend, who, from being the aw. er to the chapter of St, Paul’s, was well versed in eclesiastical affairs, The gentleman informed him the bishopric was not worth more than four ad a-year—probably not so much. - Pour thousand a year!” muttered Prim, with an rof disappointment, as he hobbled back, for he was ow & very old man, “ Poor affair—poor affiir! He st insure his life, or not a penny irom wwe—not' 9 » Fall of which resolution, the lawyer returned to his amber and busily occupied himself with his He thought it as weil to give his lordship a hint that nothing in the shape of personal security would de accepted. “ I spoke not of vulgar material interests,” observed his lordship, “but those which concern the Reart’s happiness—the mind’s repose—the peace of an ulce- rated conscience.” “T think, my lord, if was to consult with me on money matters,” replied the old man sharply, for he began to suspect that the speaker was cither mad, or judged him to be so, . “Money!” repeated the bishop; “dross! vile dross: I have too much to trouble me already.” Prim stared; he had met many strange characters in his time, but @ man who conrplained that he had too much money wss a being perfectly beyond his comprehension. * Your lordship dees not want to borrow, then ?”” “ Not a shilling!” replied Fitzgerald, with a simile. “Wants to get a donation for some church er chapel,” thought Prim to himself; “he has heard that [Tam rich. Not a penny—not a peony, if he were to preach till doomsday.” | With this mental resolution not to be humbugged, the old man quietly awaited till it should please the owner of the stately mansion to explain himself, “ Your name, I think, is Nicholas Prim?” Nicholas nodded assent “ Formerly of Gloucester?” “Yes, yes,” hesitatingly replied the lawyer; for, although it was many years since he had resided there, the question had awakened many painful recollections. ‘“‘Where you married, some fifty years since, a lady named Arabella Wilmot ?” The old man turaed very pale; but unable to lie while the searching eye of his questioner was fixed upon him, he stammered an answer in the affirma- tive. * Tha day the prelate received two visitors—the 6 was the Marquis of Sourton, who hasted down © moment he received his note, and remained closeted the iubre y more than three hours with him. What 4 at this interview can only be guessed from the that the very same day the marchioness and Lady ina, much to the astonishment of their friends, Wn for their country seat; and it was observed i the poor girl smiled as she entered the car- if was tho first which had been seen ad the intelligence of bis supposed marriage, me good-natured friends made their usual kind marks upon her unexpected departure; others ited, aud some whispered, that the match was off; not that the rumour was believed, for her \ . 4 : - Ja J ’ ee = % te <S) (CO) im