i had almost no money with me , thanks to my recklessness and madness , so i used my considerable powers of persuasion with the clerks of venerable old claridge 's so that they accepted the number of my credit account , though i had no card to verify it , and upon my signature-sebastian melmoth , one of my favorite aliases-i was shown to a lovely upper suite crowded with charming queen anne furniture and fitted with every convenience i could wish .