The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 230: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

TAY MYSTERIES: against hid high and noble forehead—the despair to which he kbandosted himecif-—and the frequency with whieh lie éxtiaimed blend, “ Yed-_either tuicide or that other dread altefnative! My Ged! my God! have co ‘oh'mes™ Onoe he ‘seated’ himoedlf ‘wt’ his ‘ desk knd coms merited a long ‘letter whiclt he addiextedd 'to his wife, and §4 wihfeli he explained the-metives that 1¢d hiin* to rendive upon selfsddstraction. While thus'en- gaged, he' experienced ‘an: unhatiral calsindss — arhotinting ‘almost to thet: joy wich 'animates the: ed ‘upon éseaping front desperate than who has the miseries of Hfe Wy the avertna of smicide-—and a: anfiie: of satisfaction’ stole over his coulttenatice, as he folded, vealed, arid difected the lettén' Then he eoée from hie seat—took his piatéis from the caseus charged and primed thent. Yes—he had resolved pon wett-déstritetion ! But even'at the vety instatit whén' he was about to plaéd the'mizile of one of the fatal weapons in hie mouth, the'idés fladied' to ‘hie mirid‘that he-would didhtonotr ‘his nanie; and by refieetion distoncour his wife alst; were: he to'actomyplish' His '‘térfble pur- pote : for tio dries Wottld ‘beli¢ve that insanity had driver ‘bit to ‘thé constirrietién of suth'a deéd And that ‘first ides ‘engendered a thonsknd others; which swept through his brain in ghastly and api ‘ arrayi—_the’ Corotier’y inquest--the prd- bability that’ the: Coutitess might in the-‘first ‘mo- merit’ of“Het terror, exhibit his fetter te some fiend, or faint dn‘réaditig #t, and thas afford others an op- portonity of readin’ it aleo-the thance that Thurs- ton thight come -forwatd, hea matter of publi¢ dtity, to bear evideticé respecting thé real facts which’ had: prompted: the suididal: deed -— then’ the verdict of felo de se\-the denial of' Christian prdyers—the dis grace which‘would turtive hind,:and which would in 2 méastre'cling to hid widow, especially if the fatal case of tid suttide'should trahypite;—all these re- flections passed throtgh' his mia witht the rapidity of # hurti¢ane. ' Shuddering at the idea of self-destrtretion which he hat datéd to harbour, ahd whidlt for a sott space he had contetnplated ‘so ¢alshly,--shocked' to the very soul ‘at the machress to whidh he had' yfeldéd,— the wretched Earl restored his pistols to thelr use; and threw into thée'fire thé letfer which he had ad- aressed to his wifé: Then, sorhéwhat ‘relieved’ ‘he sag@id' paéed the rodii';—and ‘at ldet Heefdcritated M atebnts ofdespair, “Yes—it mitst be that ofAér’ altertintive! There is no help‘fot it—-— My God! my'Ged !*' Having thus madé dp his mind to the adoption of a certain’ plan which, thotgtt cruelly revoltitiy and abhotrent'to hig rind! was, notwithstahdliig, fat less! terrible’ than the ‘idea ‘of suicide, the Bil of Dew borough composed his dountenatice—~ atringed his dréss—orderv his chrrlage-artd ' repuired! dirtet to Caritén Honte. | It was kbodt fhreein the: aftértoon -whén ‘the noblethan reachtd’ the prinedly ‘dwelling; and He’ was ‘imtnediately tishered ‘info the presénde of his Royal Highness, who happened to be alotie and dig- eigaged at the time. At first the heir-apparent was -soniewhat ‘cotfased when the Earl's riartie was aniotinedd: for he Knew: that ‘Mra Bricé was to have seen the Countes# in the btorning,—arid‘it instantly stfuck hint that she mtight Have maraged ‘her Bunifices so élumeity' ab to compromise himself — and that het’ IadyeNip had EE we a = — ww oe 219° | _ | complained to her husband; who-was-now ‘come to | demand ‘explanations of the indiguity offered to his wife. But the affeble tone and the miaziner of dige | ified reapect with which Lord Desborongh! acbostdd | the Prints, speedily dissipated: 'thdse apptebensions; and his Royal Highness received the noble visitor ' with a cordiality enhanced by the relief that his feel ings: had just expertenued. After the ubual conipliinents had beh dxohanged ° | amd'a' few oBservaGons paserd on th? liading topics of the day, the Earl of Daeborough; dtawitg bis- chair closer to that on which the hel? spparent wis - ‘lounging; cath ic a enbdhed end: seridus: tone, “I em‘about te take ‘an excesding: Hberty with your’ Royal Highness: but' I humbly: hope: that ory: motives will bed rigttly undtreteod: Have' I pte micstic to expinkh inyeclf farther?” “ Most awuredly,' my esteemed’ friend,” extlaifned : the Prince, wondering to what poimt thie mysteriéus | prefdos was to lead; bit:confident that it had no | contiéxidn' with the designs which he: had formed’ and the intrigues: he had set on foot in regard to the beautifal Countess. “ You carmmot, I am well awate, have mything-is view which is incohsistent with my - interests ¢ fer your lordship invariably votes'oh the | right sidé,* added the Prince of Wales, who; bé it recoliéeted; patronised the Whig party, to which the Earl belohged, “I thank your Reyal Highness for thid grécious permissionto explain myself,” said the: novleman; “and I shail proceed frankly and candidly to ‘state’ the objéor' ot my visit. The indelicate publicity which the Pitt ‘Cabinet has given to the: pecuniary afthirs of your Royal Highness, has both grieved ahd indended'me. It nevertheless ceases to be-a ni¢re rumour of surmise that: your Royal Highness is somewhat annoyed by eeftain liabilities-at the pre- sent incinent; and &s some weeks must clapee ¢re the House of Commons can possibly come: te a vote upoh the propositions subtiitted to it theother day in respect to thosé-embatrassments, I have ventdred to seek this interview with your Royal Highness for the putpose of stating that I have'st the nioment a surplus of twenty thousand pounds in my batikers handy. If your Royat Higtmess will oondesoend to _ take’ chatge of that ameuut till the end of the earo——" “My dear friend,” interrepted the Prince, his outite- | nance lighting up with joy, as he seized the Eatl’s hati@d dnd -wrting thern both with cordial warmith}— | “I approéiate all' the genetosity and detiesdy of thie : proceeding on Yyoitr part; and J accept with wae feigned prattade ‘the noble offer which you have made me.” | “Im ‘that’ case” said the Earl, “if your Royal - Highness would cordescend to acoept such poor hos- | pitality au ¥ may'be enabled this evening to offér—” “ Agair I express: my thanks,” intertuptéd the Pritict; delighted at theprospect of « twofold pleastré: | naniely,' of touching twenty thousand poudds‘on the one hand, and of passing a few hours in company qith the charming Eleanor on the other. “If it be agteédtile: to your ‘lordship ani yodr antiible Countess, I will take dinner with you this ‘everting, But pray let us enjoy a friendly privacy ——" “It is precisely this that ‘I intended to prepote,” | said the Earl “Her ladysttip will feet honoured by the preserice of yout Royal Highness,” he added, his voive: bevoming slightly trediulous dud the ‘coloer deepening semnowhaton his choekb: but redbveting ae eb omega ° ann ew eee = ee ee oe Quam cas Son an -> = =_—— —— _ =—= «= ap — aay ae =: = i COMIC OO© <Sr OTL!