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Riccabocca would tell us. "But Levy," said Avenel, candidly, "is a decentish chap in his way, friendly too. Mrs. A. finds him useful; brings some of your young highflyers to her soirees. To be sure, they don't dance, stand all in a row at the door, like mutes at a funeral. Not but what they have been uncommon civil to me lately, Spendquick particularly. By-the-by, I dine with him to-morrow.
Riccabocca would tell us. "But Levy," said Avenel, candidly, "is a decentish chap in his way, friendly too. Mrs. A. finds him useful; brings some of your young highflyers to her soirees. To be sure, they don't dance, stand all in a row at the door, like mutes at a funeral. Not but what they have been uncommon civil to me lately, Spendquick particularly. By-the-by, I dine with him to-morrow.
To thrust on his boots, change his dressing-robe for a frock-coat, snatch at his hat, gloves, and cane, break from Spendquick, descend the stairs, a flight at a leap, gain the street, throw himself into a cabriolet, all this was done before his astounded visitor could even recover breath enough to ask "What's the matter?"
Standing at the celebrated bow-window for some moments in musing silence, Lord Spendquick at last thus addressed an exceedingly cynical, sceptical old roue, "Pray, do you think there is any truth in the stories about people in former times selling themselves to the devil?" "Ugh," answered the rout, much too wise ever to be surprised. "Have you any personal interest in the question?"
"X. Y. does not seem such a very bad fellow," said another. "He looks rich, and talks rich," said a third. "A decided, independent way of expressing his sentiments; those moneyed men generally have." "Good heavens!" ejaculated Spendquick, who had been keeping his eye anxiously fixed on the pair, "do look; X. Y. is actually taking out his pocket-book; he is coming this way.
To these foreigners I added some English sailors who had before served in the same vessel, and on whom Spendquick assured me I could rely. Still these precautions only availed in case Peschiera should resolve to sail, and defer till then all machinations against his captives.
He repaired to young men whom he esteemed better judges on these points than Spendquick and Borrowell, young men who resembled the Merry Monarch, inasmuch as "They never said a foolish thing, And never did a wise one." There are many such young men about town, sharp and able in all affairs except their own.
"Why, I am not sure that it is already bought, that is, paid for. Levy was to meet Spendquick this very morning to arrange the matter. Spendquick complains that Levy screws him." "My dear Mr. Hazeldean, you are guiding me through the maze. Where shall I find Lord Spendquick?" "At this hour, probably in bed. Here is his card." "Thanks. And where lies the vessel?"
"Yacht, at this time of the year! a man who habitually resides at Vienna a yacht!" "Spendquick sells it a bargain, on account of the time of year and other reasons; and the count proposes to spend next summer in cruising about the Ionian Isles. He has some property on those isles, which he has never yet visited." "How long is it since he bought this yacht?"
"In the first place, I learned, through Frank, that one Baron Levy, a certain fashionable money-lender, and general ministrant to the affairs of fine gentlemen, was just about to purchase a yacht from Lord Spendquick on behalf of the count.
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