-
Articles/Ads
Article IL GRAN VASCELLO. ← Page 7 of 8 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Il Gran Vascello.
the exchange , when the prisoner interrupted the chef-de-Ia-police , by declaring it unnecessary , as he acknowledged the transaction ; adding , that he had received the note in question at the Bank of Scotland , previous to his quitting Edinburgh . The chief smiled incredulously , and observed , that possibly his judges might believe the tale , but for his part he could not ; from his respect for the English , he had permitted Mr . Levi to compromise one or two affairs of the kindbut this was a case of
, forgery too evident . He concluded by demanding if the prisoner was known in Rome . Mr . Cackelben here handed a paper , with a list of persons resident in the Eternal City , with whom , he said , he had been acquainted for years ; amongst those were , Cardinal W , and his son-in-law , Lord C d ; names which very much surprised the functionary , who immediatel y dispatched an officer with Mr . Cackelben ' s card , and a note explaining the nature of the charge against him . His
opinion ofthe case was so evidently changed , that he ordered a chair for the young Scot ' s accommodation . I must confess I still doubted the fatal notes in my possession . The money-changer , I thought , began to look fidgetty and uncomfortable . In a few minutes Lord C d arrived , with a message from the Cardinal , who stated that he had long knoivn Mr . Cackelben , and would answer for his integrity . " 1 , too , " added his lordship , "have long had the honour of his acquaintance" ( shaking him at the same time warmly by the hand ) , " and will be answerable , to any amount , that he is incapable of the crime with which he is charged ; he may possibly have passed a
note , which , upon inspecting , turns out to be forged ; but what does that prove ? m erely that he has been himself deceived- You have doubtless examined the rest of his money—his other bills or notes—they , I presume , are good ?* The magistrate replied , that no other cash , either in bills or coin , had been found among the effects of the prisoner ; a circumstance which gave , to say the least of it , a very singular colour to the whole affair ;
but , of course , as the Cardinal ' s evidence , and his Lordshi p ' s , could not be disputed , he should dismiss the affair , not doubting but his friends would enable Mr . Cackelben to reimburse the money lender . That , said the Scot , is an affair willingly settled- That gentleman ( pointing to me ) has the rest of my cash . I placed it in his hands last night ; I thought an English gentleman a better trustee than a Roman police officer . His lordship smiledbut appeared evidentlleased with
, y p the turn the affair had taken . I , of course , immediately produced the pocket-book , when , judge my surprise , the clerk from Tortoni ' s instantly pronounced each to be a genuine note . The case was now clear;—Mr . Cackelben had been unfortunate in receiving a bad note amongst many good ones . Mr . Levi expressed himself satisfied , and gave up the forged paper for oue of the good ones , -which Mr . Cackelben handed him . Never did I behold a countenance change so instantaneouslas did the
y young Scotchman ' s on receiving the fatal note ; his eyes flashed like a rattlesnake's with fury . " The damned rascal ! " he muttered , " but I'll clench him for it . " Turning to the chief of the police , he demanded that the money-changer should be detained , as he " had a few questions to ask him before be left the office .
The Jew was pale as death . Upon a motion from the magistrate he was brought to the table . "Ask him , " said Mr . Cackelben , " if I ever changed more than one note with him . " "No , " faltered the man , in answer to the question ivhich the chief put
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Il Gran Vascello.
the exchange , when the prisoner interrupted the chef-de-Ia-police , by declaring it unnecessary , as he acknowledged the transaction ; adding , that he had received the note in question at the Bank of Scotland , previous to his quitting Edinburgh . The chief smiled incredulously , and observed , that possibly his judges might believe the tale , but for his part he could not ; from his respect for the English , he had permitted Mr . Levi to compromise one or two affairs of the kindbut this was a case of
, forgery too evident . He concluded by demanding if the prisoner was known in Rome . Mr . Cackelben here handed a paper , with a list of persons resident in the Eternal City , with whom , he said , he had been acquainted for years ; amongst those were , Cardinal W , and his son-in-law , Lord C d ; names which very much surprised the functionary , who immediatel y dispatched an officer with Mr . Cackelben ' s card , and a note explaining the nature of the charge against him . His
opinion ofthe case was so evidently changed , that he ordered a chair for the young Scot ' s accommodation . I must confess I still doubted the fatal notes in my possession . The money-changer , I thought , began to look fidgetty and uncomfortable . In a few minutes Lord C d arrived , with a message from the Cardinal , who stated that he had long knoivn Mr . Cackelben , and would answer for his integrity . " 1 , too , " added his lordship , "have long had the honour of his acquaintance" ( shaking him at the same time warmly by the hand ) , " and will be answerable , to any amount , that he is incapable of the crime with which he is charged ; he may possibly have passed a
note , which , upon inspecting , turns out to be forged ; but what does that prove ? m erely that he has been himself deceived- You have doubtless examined the rest of his money—his other bills or notes—they , I presume , are good ?* The magistrate replied , that no other cash , either in bills or coin , had been found among the effects of the prisoner ; a circumstance which gave , to say the least of it , a very singular colour to the whole affair ;
but , of course , as the Cardinal ' s evidence , and his Lordshi p ' s , could not be disputed , he should dismiss the affair , not doubting but his friends would enable Mr . Cackelben to reimburse the money lender . That , said the Scot , is an affair willingly settled- That gentleman ( pointing to me ) has the rest of my cash . I placed it in his hands last night ; I thought an English gentleman a better trustee than a Roman police officer . His lordship smiledbut appeared evidentlleased with
, y p the turn the affair had taken . I , of course , immediately produced the pocket-book , when , judge my surprise , the clerk from Tortoni ' s instantly pronounced each to be a genuine note . The case was now clear;—Mr . Cackelben had been unfortunate in receiving a bad note amongst many good ones . Mr . Levi expressed himself satisfied , and gave up the forged paper for oue of the good ones , -which Mr . Cackelben handed him . Never did I behold a countenance change so instantaneouslas did the
y young Scotchman ' s on receiving the fatal note ; his eyes flashed like a rattlesnake's with fury . " The damned rascal ! " he muttered , " but I'll clench him for it . " Turning to the chief of the police , he demanded that the money-changer should be detained , as he " had a few questions to ask him before be left the office .
The Jew was pale as death . Upon a motion from the magistrate he was brought to the table . "Ask him , " said Mr . Cackelben , " if I ever changed more than one note with him . " "No , " faltered the man , in answer to the question ivhich the chief put