The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 105: what you’re looking at

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90 . i turaily healthy hues of her complexion that she scemed radiant with animation. Nevertheless, his Royal Highness could not restrain a movement of impatience when he observed that his ffiend Meag'es bad brought her thither again: but the volatile Tim, hastening forward, whispered in the Prince's ear, “ I know what you want to see me for—and Lady Le- titia can help you.” : ‘Bee countenance of George brightened up imme- diately; and, rising-from his seat, he gave the Amazon a cordial welcome. Throwing aside her hat and riding-whip, aad taking a chair, Lady Letitia Lade smoothed down ther glosay black hair and arranged her luxu- tiant ringlets, exclaiming, “This wind plays the -very devil with one’s curls. I really think I shall bave them cut off altozether.” “It were the veriest sacrilege perpetrated against Nature's shrine of lovetimees that a Vandal imagina- tion comid possibly conceive,” obsgrved the Prince, omiliug. ‘gad! that’s the prettiest tamed compliment I e\ex bead fall from yous lips, may dear Prince,” satd >ivagles; “but I pesfectly agree with yes m the spinion which it impiies.” - Tlold your tongue, Tim!” qried the Armases, ‘uzhing so as to display thirty-tee of the whitest cevth, which were all perfect as to number arms with- tt a speok or biemish; so. that no eme couly com- pin of the somewhat large mouth which thes re- veiled the brilliant array. “ With the permissien of vour Reyal Highness, I shall help myself,” con- ‘awed Lady Letitia: “for, m. spite of your cheerful ircthe flames of whieh go roaring up the chimney like a broken-winded herse. pressed into a gallep, | eit! feel coli—end a glass of your exeabient Madeira sll warm me.”’ “ This is Liberty Hall, my dear huntresa,” said «> Prinee; “and theapfaee.[ shall not even adopt ‘he ceremenious courteagy of Gilling your glase for you.” “ By Jove: she can fill it’ foec ingggelf—and empty tt too,” cried Tims Meagles—an observation which gained him a emast box on the ear from Lady Le- Una. . ‘-Do you treat Sir John in that fashion?’ de- u..nded the Prince, laughing. “Poor od gentleman! he 1s well n:gh in his d.utage,”" said the Amagon. “ He let’s me do iast as L i:ke——” ‘ And if he didn’t, you'd do it all the same,’ re- marked Tim. “ Most assuredly,” responded the huntress. “But as he is indulgent and good, we never have any quar- rels. He only sees with my eyes and hears with ‘my ears; and thus we live happily enough to- ther.” e. You are particularly fortunate,’ observed the Prince. “But we must now proceed to business, Meagles. We have two clear hours before us to chat—and supper will be served at twelve.” “I can guess what you require,” said Tim: “ but I ruppose Sour wants are not very preasing—or else you would not have sent up a note to my lodgings last evening, postponing our appointment until to-night.” “The frct is that four-and-twenty hours made no mater.al difference, as affairs stood,” rejoined the Priuce of Wales: “but as they now stand, another four-and-tvrenty hours mast not be allowed to pass away without seeing my coffers replenished.” “ What is the matter, then f’ demanded Meagles * Anything particularly essing ?” “ That poor devil Foster, Wha lent me the fifteen thousand pounds, you know—upon my simple note of haud—three years azo——” began the Prince of Wales, speakmg hurriedly. “Why! I thought your Royal Highness had aettled it last Christmas twelvemonth,” interrupred Mecagies. “Did I not make an arrangement with him for youf—and did I not even find you the money to hand overto him? He agreed to receive the principal, and waive all claim to the twenty-five per cent. interest.” “It is perfectly truq, nry Sear Meagles,” resumed George, as he sipped tis wing, “that you did every- thing you have just stated: dut it is equally true that the money which yeu proeured for me on that occasion, went intogeqne other channel.” “And yet you never mentioned that ‘circumstance to me until now,” observed Tim, somewhat reproach- fully. “ Howcan I posgihby undertakete acttle these kiads of things for your Regal Highmess, when you constantly act in a diffeent masmer fram what I suggest or arrange, and: then leave me completely in the dark ?’. “I de not consiééy that you have a cight ts cate- hauzhtily. “ If it be irkeguse or unpleasant to you to attend occasionally te my basiness.——” “Irksome and unpleasant be hanged!" exclaimed Tim. “WhatI measst was, that your Royal High- ness places me in such a pesition at times that \ should look like a fool were I, for instange, te meet this maw Foster — — “The fact is,” interrupted Ledy Letitia, “Tim Mieacles is anxiows never to Jeak otherwise than like a Sap.ent fallow, assne1s.” “A thousand thanks, my dear huntress, fer tak- ing my part!” exelaimed the Prince, new thinking it poutie te reaume his goef numeur. “Come, ive me your best attention-~and let us see what combo dome in this difficulty.” “ We shall be sure to overcome it,” remarked Tim, quite satisfied with the little amount of independent spirit which he had just shown, and which was only displayed tor the purpose of disarming Lady Letitia of any suspicion that sne might have formed to the effect that he was nothing more than the Prince's servile toad-eater and did not dare to call his soui Lis own. “ Pray proceed, my illustrious friend: I am all attention.” “ Well, you must know that this unfortunate fellow Foster is on the very verge of bankruptcy—thafe what I think they call it amongst trading people,” continned his Royal Highness, with a supercilious smile of contempt for that mighty industrious chss upon whose hard earnings and incessant toils the un- principled voluptuary was living in a laxurious in- dolenee and an execrable dissipation. “It appears,” proceeded the Prince, “that Foster has met with sad reverses, and that unless be can pay asum of between fourteen and fifteen thousand pounds by three o’clock to-morrow, he will be irremediably rained. Now, the fact is that the other evening I agreed to meet hire at the very tavern where three years age he lent ethe cash ; for you know that I have a desperate ‘aversion to any of these tradeamen-fellowc antting foot within these walls.” » “And very proper too,” rermarkead the Amazon, totally unmindful of the little cireumstance that ake CORNICE LOO SH oCO