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these usurers, lent their money to them at a very high interest. A lady of some position lent a thousand pounds to King, on the promise of receiving annually 15 percent.; which he continued to pay with the utmost regularity. Her son being in want of money, applied for a loan of a thousand pounds, which King granted at the rate of 80 per cent.; lending him, of course, his mother's money. In a moment of tenderness the young man told his tale to her, when she immediately went to King and upbraided him for not making her a party to his gains, and demanded her money back. King refused to return it, saying that he had never engaged to return the principal; and dared her to take any proceedings against him, as, being a married woman, she had no power over the money. She, however, acknowledged it to her husband, obtained his forgiveness; and, after threats of legal interference, King was compelled to refund the money, besides losing much of his credit and popularity by the transaction.
Lord Alvanley.—To Lord Alvanley was awarded the reputation, good or bad, of all the witticisms in the clubs after the abdication of the