The Mysteries of London; or, Lights and Shadows of London Life — page 87: what you’re looking at

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

—_— = eee - — = qe i i \, l| — } | sources thet enabled him to evade the punishment to which they had before rendered him amenable? No, no, Mr. Mordaunt—you startled me at first by your appearance, I confess; for, in common with others, I believed you by this time to be fer beyond the possibility of a return to earth; but since you are here, I must now tell you, candidly and frankly, that I defy you and your threats to work the mischief you talk about. I am too secure in my position to be frightened by a shadow.” “And if—that I may rescue the tenants here from such a harpy, who has thrived upon them too long— I were now to offer you the sum of one hundred and eighty thousand pounds, the purchase-money required for tho Bradley estate, I am to suppose you would dare to decline it?” said Mordaunt, with a cool glance “ You in the possession of sucht an amount!” cried Jarvis, with a doubting sneer; “ when the money is placed before me, it will be time enough to think of my answer.” “The sum is there,” responded Mordaunt, opening his pocket-book and withdrawing notes to the value _————_— ee ee ee THE MYSTERIES OF LONDON, a a mee | specified ; “ count them, examine them, see that thera | is no fraud or deception in a single note, and then give me yourreply.” The agent drew the candle nearer; and, after glancing at the other with an expression of amaze- ment, he proceeded leisurely to his critical examina- tion. With every test that he could call to mind, every expedient that he could put in practice, he bestowed a narrow scrutiny on each, to ascertain their genuine origin. His investigation was, however, satisfactory, and he was compelled to admit that he had noscruple as to the receipt of such a mode of payment, “ And what object have you in view, besides that most benevolent motive of which you hinted, that induces you to thus invest a large sum like this in an estate that can never repay you?” asked Jarvis, ironi- cally, fixirg his eyes in a crafty leer upon the person in whom he recognised his old acquaintance, “That which I feel to be a duty, and, in this in- stance, shall regard as a pleasure,” said Mordaunt, briefly—* the object of unmasking hypocrisy.” “ Mordaunt, beware,” rejoined the agent, hissing the words forth between his teeth, that were now - ll FOURTH SERIES. CORRIELDO© ET TL A a ay <S) (EC) >