England -- Fiction; Gothic fiction; Inheritance and succession -- Fiction
Mr. Longcluse was destined to a surprise to-night. Mr. Longcluse, at his
own house, was awaiting the return of Sir Richard. Overlooked in his
usually accurate though rapid selection, a particularly shabby and
vulgar-looking letter had been thrown aside among circulars, pamphlets,
and begging letters, to await his leisure. It was a letter from Paris,
and vulgar and unbusiness-like as it looked, there was yet, in its
peculiar scrivenery that which, a little more attentively scanned,
thrilled him with a terrible misgiving. The post-mark showed it had been
delivered four days before. When he saw from whom it came, and had
gathered something of its meaning from a few phrases, his dark eyes
gleamed and his face grew stern. Was this wretch's hoof to strike to
pieces the plans he had so nearly matured? The letter was as follows:--
"SIR,
"Mr Longcluse, I have been unfortunate With your money which you
have Gave me to remove from England, and Keep me in New York. My
boxes, and other things, and Ballens of the money in Gold, except
about a Hundred pounds, which has kep me from want ever sense, went
Down in the Mary Jane, of London, and my cousin went down in her
also, which I might as well av Went down myself in her, only for me
Stopping in Paris, where I made a trifle of Money, intending to go
Out in August. Now, Sir, don't you Seppose I am not in as good
Possition as I was when I Harranged with sum difculty With you. The
boot with The blood Mark on the Soul is not Lost nor Distroyed, but
it is Safe in my Custody; so as Likewise in safe Keeping is The
traising, in paper, of the foot Mark in blood on the Floar of the
Smoaking Room in question, with the signatures of the witnesses
attached; and, Moreover, my Staitment made in the Form of a
Information, at the Time, and signed In witness of My signature by
two Unekseptinible witnesses. And all Is ready to Produise whenevor
his worshop shall Apoynt. i have wrote To mister david Arden on this
Supget. i wrote to him just a week ago, he seaming To take a Intrast
in this Heer case; and, moreover, the two ieyes that sawd a certain
Person about the said smoaking Room, and in the saime, is Boath wide
open at This presen Time. mister Longcluse i do not Want to have
your Life, but gustice must Taike its coarse unless it is settled of
hand Slik. i will harrange the Same as last time, And i must have
two hundred And fifty pounds More on this Settlement than i Had last
time, for Dellay and loss of Time in this town. I will sign any law
paper in reason you may ask of me. My hadress is under cover to
Monseer Letexier, air-dresser, and incloses his card, which you Will
please send an Anser by return Of post, or else i Must sepose you
chose The afare shall take Its coarse; and i am as ever,
"Your obeediant servant to command,
"PAUL DAVIES."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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