Изображения страниц
PDF
EPUB

"Is your name Mr. Pierce Mar, Esquire, Sir?" said the Hebrew.

"Yes."

you.

"Caush thish 'ere peesh of paper ish for 'Ere's the writ and 'ere's the copy vitch yer can keep if yer likesh."

ment.

Thus saying, the sheriff's officer presented More with two small documents: the one on paper was a transcript of the other on parchMost men are sufficiently acquainted with the form of the interesting letter which their Sovereign on particular occasions condescends to address to them in the name of their own royal personage. To the few who are yet in blissful igorance, we beg to present a copy of the formula :

"Victoria, by the grace of God, &c.,

"To Pierce More, of Moreton, in the county of

"We command you that within eight days after the service of this writ on you, inclusive of the day of such service, you do cause an

VOL. II.

K

appearance to be entered for you in our court of in an action at the suit of Messrs. Gild and Dobigmen, upholsterers; and take notice, that in default of your so doing, the said Messrs. Gild and Dobigmen may proceed therein to judgment and execution. Witness," &c.

"But what the deuce does this mean?" inquired the astonished More. Why, hasn't Dobigmen sent in his bill? I can pay him at once if he sends it in now. Here, Court!" 'Yes, Sir."

[ocr errors]

"The bill for my furniture was never sent in, was it?"

"Yes, Sir," replied the valet, gravely, "the bill was sent in two or three Christmases running, I forget which now, Sir; and Dobigmen's man called ten hor a dozen times, and come to be howdashous tiresome at last, Sir. So I told him as ow it was no use their a-calling, and that they adn't better call no more till further horders. And after that,

Sir, they took to writing a despurt quantity of letters, which I took care as they shouldn't be no hobstigle to you, Sir, and so I burnt

them as fast as they comed hin. said the valet, pointing to a

All these,"

quantity of

letters spread out on the table, "hall these, Sir, come in since we was at Mona; but I think they're mostly bills."

"That'll do then," said More, impatiently; "leave the room, and show that man out. Mind, I'm not at home to anybody. I shall breakfast in half an hour."

And Mr. Court ushered the sheriff's officer from the house, bolting the door behind him, as if to prepare for a regular siege. As soon as they were gone, Pierce examined the handwriting of his correspondents. There were two letters which interested him: one was from Bellerby, the other from his banker. Mr. Bellerby wrote to inform him that more than a year's interest was due on the mortgage which he held on the Moreton estate,

and that he was sorry to be obliged to request immediate payment, but he was obliged to do so, as he had to meet some very pressing demands within a week of the present date.

The letter from his banker advised him, in case he should be ignorant of the circumstance, that he had overdrawn to the amount of nearly a £1000.

The next letter he opened was from the Bank of England.

'Sir," it ran, "we beg to inform you that a power of attorney has been presented to us, authorizing Gerard Winter to transfer the sum of £10,000, now standing in your name, in the Three per Cent Consols.

"For the Governor and Company of the Bank of England.

"N.B.-If this is in accordance with your directions, no answer is required."

More cast his eye on the date: it was three days old. The two or three last days at Mona had indeed ruined him. But no! Winter must have drawn the money, and have paid it into some other bank. He seized his hat, rushed into the street, drove to Winter's lodgings. Mr. Winter had left town the day before yesterday. His heart sunk within him. He was walking from the door when he met Lord Pumpton.

[ocr errors]

Ah, More, how are ye ?" said Pumpton, 'Gad, how devilish seedy you look. Got the pip?”

[ocr errors]

Where's Winter gone ?" said More. "Do you know if he has changed his lodgings?" "Winter? D-n it! haven't you heard Master Gerard has cut his stick. They say he has let some poor devil in for a good pot. You haven't been bitten, have you? I'm rather sorry; Winter was a d-d shrewd fellow-good-bye."

More returned to the Albany. When at

« ПредыдущаяПродолжить »