Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1852-03-04
THE STORY TELLER.
From Dickens Household Words.
A FASHIONABLE FORGER.

am an attorney and bill discounter. As
it is my vocation to lend money at high inter-
est TO extravagant people; my connexion prin-
cipaly lies among fools, sometimes among
rogues 'of quality Mine is pursuit which
a prejudiced world either holds in sovereign
contempt, or visits with envy, hatred, and all
uncharitableness; but TO my mind, there are
many callings, with finer names, that are no
better. 1t gives me two things which love
money and power; but cannot deny that it
brings with ii bad name. The case lies be-
tween character and money, and involves mat
ter of taste. Some people like character;
prefer money.
If am hated and despised, chuckle over
the per contra find it pleasant for men,
bers of proud aristocracy to condescend from
their high estate to fawn, feign, flatter; to ef-
feet even mIrthful familiarity in order to gain
my good will. l am no Shyock. No client
can accuse me of desiring either his flesh or his
blood. Sentimental vengeance is no item in
my stock in trade Gold and bank notes salts
fy my rage or, if need be, good mort
gage. Far from seeking revenge, the wors,
defanlter l ever had dealings with cannot deny
that l am always willing to accept good post
obit.
say again, am daily brought in contact
with all ranks of society, from the poverty
stricken patentee TO the peer; and am no more
surprised at receiving an application from
duchess than from pet opera-dancer. In my
ante-room wait, at this moment, crowd of
borrowers. Among the men, ibeardless folly
and mustachioed craft are most prominent =
there is handsome young fellow, with an
elaborate cane and wonderfully vacant counte-
nance, who is anticipating, in feeble follies, an
estate that has been in the possession Of his an
cestors since the reign of Henry the Eighth
There is hairy, high-nosed, broken-down
non-descript, in appearance something between
householder and puglIst. He is an old
Etonian. Five years ago he drove four-in-
hand; he is now waiting 10 beg a sovereign,
having been just discharged from the Insolvent
Court, for the second time. Among the ladies,
pretty actress, who, few years since, look
ed forward to supper of steak and onions, and
bottled stout, on Saturday night, as great
treat, now finds fl00 a month insufficient 20
pay her wine merchant and her confectioner.-
am obliged to deal with each case according
10 its own peculiarities. Genuine undeserved
Ruin seldom knocks at my door. Mine is
perpetual battle with people who imbibe trick
cry at the same rate as they dissolve their for
tunes. / am hard man, of course. | should
not be fit for my pursuit, if were not; but
when, by remote chance, honest misfortune
paws me visit, as Rothschd amused himself
at times by giving beggar guinea, so oc-
casionally treat myself 10 the luxury of doing a
good action.
My favorite subjects for this unnatural gen.
erosity are the very young, or the poo., inno-
cent helpless people, who are unfit for the war
of life. Many among my clients Especially
those tempered in the 'ice-brook' of fashion and
high lfe-poIshed and passionless) would be
too much for me, if had not made the face,
the eye, the accent, as much my study as the
mere legal and financial points of discount. To
show what mean, | will relate what happened
TO me not long since
One day, middle-aged man, in the usual
costume of West-end shopman, who had sen,
in his name as Mr.. Administer, was shown in
10 my private room. After a little hesitation,
he said - Although you do not know me,
living at this end of the town, know YOU very
we'll by reputation, and that you discount bills
/ have bill here which l want to get discout-
ed. / am in the employ of Messrs. Russle
and Smooth. The bill is drawn by one of our
best customers, the Hon. Miss Shape, niece OF
Lord Blimley, and accepted by Major Munge
whom, no doubt, you know by name. She has
dealt with US for some years, is very extrava
giant. but always pays He put the accep
tance- which was for two hundred pounds
into my hands.
looked at it as scrutinisingly as l usual,
do at such paper The MAJORS signature wa
familiar TO me; but having succeeded to grea
estate, he has long ceased TO be a customer. -
instantly detected forgery by whom! was
the question. Could it be the man before me
experience told me it was not.
Perhaps there was something in the expires
sion of my countenance which Mr.. Axminste
did not like, for he said, 1t is good for tn,
amount, presumed
replied. Pray sir, from whom did yo,
get this bill .
From Miss Shape herself
Have yon circulated any other bills mad
by the same drawer!'
sOyes! said the draper, without hesita
ton; Il have paid away bill for one hundre
pounds to Mr.. Sparkle, the jeweller, to whom
Miss Shape owed twenty pounds. They CAV
me the difference
And how long has that bill to run now?
Abont fortnight
Did You endorse it,'
did,, continued the shopnan. Mr.. Spar
kle required me to do so, to show that the bill
came properly into his possession
This second bill, Won say, is urgently re
quired to enable Miss Shape to leave town.
Yes; she is going to Brighton for the win
ter
Igave Mr.. Administer steady, piercin,
look of inquiry. Pray, SIR said, coul
you meet that one hundred pounds bi!