The Seamstress; or, The White Slave of England — page 42: what you’re looking at

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

THE SEAMSTRESS, 35 the money at the expiration of the two years, so as | to avoid the fulfilment of a condition which I know is very unpalatable to your lordship? Come, let us deal frankly together and treat the matter in a business-like way.” «‘T will do so,” responded the nobleman, scarcely able to subdue the disgust which be experienced for himself and the repugnance which he entertained towards the man with whom necessity compelled him to drive a hateful bargain. “I am well aware that the sum I have demanded will only settle im- mediate and pressing liabilities, and leave some twenty thousand pounds for the improvement of the estates. I do not therefore deceive myself so far as to imagine that the estates themselves, after paying the interest to the mortgagees, will yield anything like the surplus requisite to meet your claim at the expiration of two years. But in the interval I do hope that one of my daughters will become the loved and honoured wife of some nobdle- man who will not hesitate to assist me in any emer- gency that may arise.” 4 ~ JT thank your Grace for this remarkable can- dour,’ said Collinson, now speaking in a tone of undisguised sarcasm. “ Your lordship conde- acends to make use of me as a most convenient tool——” | “7 was endeavouring to prove that you have every possible certainty of being repaid your money,” exclaimed the nobleman, now fearing that he had indeed been too explicit and that Mr. Collinson would rather have depended upon the fulfilment of the other condition which had been alluded to. “At all events you are safe between the two alternatives.” “Granted!” was the lawyer’s ejaculation. ‘ But as your Grace has chosen to modify my proposition, as I originally made it some few months ago, I must take leave to modify in turn your lordship’s stipula- tions as you have explained them now.” Thus speaking, Mr. Collinson rose from his chair by the fireside and took a seat at the writing-table. Then, folding down the margin of a sheet of fools- cap in the true professional style, he proceeded. to pen the conditions which he sought to impose upon the Duke. While he was thus occupied, his Grace walked to and fro in the library in an agitated manner: and in the course of a quarter of an hour he consulted his watch a dozen times. Mr. Collinson paid no attention, however, to his impatience, but continued to write with the deliberations of a man who is en- gaged in an important transaction. He paused several times to take a pinch of snuff; and on those occasions the Duke stamped his foot with a species of concentrated rage at even the few moments’ delay thus caused, At last, the quarter of an hour having expired, Mr. Collinson threw down the pen and handed his Grace the document which he had drawn up. | With a nervous trembling of the entire frame did the Duke of Belmont run his eyes over the condi- tions categorically detailed: then, as the pallor be- came more ghastly upon his cheeks, he flung the paper from him, exclaiming, “I never will consent to those terms!” “In that case,” said Mr, Collinson, with his wonted imperturbability of tone, “our interview is at an end, I wish your Grace good night—or OO sss sss Ce ee See eae rather good morning :’—and he moved towards the door. His fingers were. upon the ivory handle—it was already turning ‘AMDB asp —when the Duke sprang forward and caught him by the arm. “Stop!—we must not part immediately,” ex- claimed his Grace, profoundly agitated. “At all eveuts, let us talk the matter over.” “Be it so,” said Mr, Collinson, returning towards the fire. “Ts that your wltunatum?” demanded the Duke, pointing towards the paper. “Ttis, my lord,” was the phleematic reply. “ You know that I am a thorough man of business and that my mind is made up in a moment. It is mado up now.” “But you cannot insisb upon such outrageous conditions ?” urged his Grace, with a wild mingling of indignation; anguish, and reproach in his voice and manner. | “T do insist upon them, my lord,” answered Collinson: “ that is to say, if Iam to be a party in this transaction.” : “You are taking an unworthy advantage of my position,” said the unhappy nobleman, almost wring- ing his hands. “You place me completely in your power—-you become as it were the arbiter of the destinies of my two daughters, Oh! Mr. Collinson, pause—reflect—re-consider the one point upon which we are at variance in the terms respectively pro- posed——”’ “T have reflected, my lord—and, so far as I am concerned, there is nothing to re-consider,” said tho lawyer, with that coolness which is so provoking towards a man who is excited. * Malediction!” murmured the Duke; and turn. ’ ing away, he began to pace the room once more, like a chafed lion in his cage: but at the expiration of a few minutes, he abruptly accosted the lawyer, exclaiming, “If I agree, when will the money be forthcoming ?” “The moment the banks are open—at nine o'clock,” was the response: and Mr. Collinson took snuff with an air of indifference, although he was chuckling inwardly all the time, for he saw that the victory was his own. “Are there no other terms upon which I can obtain the money?” asked the Duke, his wavering becoming every instant more and more apparent. “None that I am aware of,” replied Mr. Col- linson, “Will you advance me fifty thousand—only fifty thousand—upon the joint security of myself and Lord Arden ?” demanded his Grace. * Not a penny, my lord—not a penny,” was the rejoinder, “Then I must accept your proposal—I must yield to your conditions,” exclaimed the nobleman, giving utterance to the words with a great effort, and then appearing to deplore his own want of moral courage in having uttered them atall. “At half-past nino o'clock, Mr. Collinson, I shall expect you here with the money——-” “And the agreement,” added the lawyer. “In- stead of going to bed on my return home, I will sit up and prepare it. Shall I bring one of my clerks to witness it P” * Yes—yes,” responded the Duke, as a sensation of faintness came over him: for he felt as if he had LE ee... See OEE eee ee eet ease a TT ED ECOMMICLOOO - es — a Wewirns—” * en a cccnsnff Oe ee ee _ ———-~ ee eee S (E©)