How aggravating to have such a rude letter.

'Obedient--humble--servant,' forsooth! I hate that John Rich.
He's a bear." Then Lavinia unfolded the second letter.

It was more depressing than the first.
"Lancelot Vane, 3, Fletcher's Court, Grub Street," Lavinia read; "Sir,--I give you notiss that if you do nott pay me my nine weeks' rent you owe me by twelve o'clock to-morrer I shall at wunce take possesshun and have innstruckted the sheriff's offiser in ackordance therewith.
Yours respeckfully, Solomon Moggs." "Oh, a precious lot of respect indeed," cried Lavinia angrily.
The date of the letter was that of the day before.

The money had consequently to be paid that very day and it was already past twelve o'clock.

If the poor young man could not pay he would at that moment be homeless in the street and maybe arrested for debt and taken to the Fleet or even Newgate.