The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 239: what you’re looking at

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

ner lp a Se ls as Shit eS teat VRE MYSTERIES. “My dear Panny,” interrupted the Prince, “I know all that you would say; and your slarms are not without foundation. Within the last few days I have myself reflected very seriously on this matter. In the first flush of that ardent passion with which the dear girl inspired me, all other considerations were absorbed; but, awaking as if from a dream, I now perceive all the perils which are likely to ensue. To reveal myself to her, were impossible: to con- tinve with the constant risk that she may discover who I am, is fraught with danger.” “ And if this amour should lead to other conse- quences” said Mrs. Brace: “if Octavia should find herself in the way to become a mother——” “3 know not how to act—I am bewildered {” ox- claimed the Prince, in a tone of deep vexation. “ Bot we will talk over this matter on a fature oc- casion. It was relative to the Countess of Des- borough that I wished to speak particularly to you oow. “And it was likewise concerning her ladyship that I was anxious to see you,” said Mra. Brace; “fer I felt assured there was something wrong in that quarter.” “ Ah! how could you possibly have formed such a conjecture?” demanded the Prince. “Because, on the very day after I called upon ner ladyship, and the particulars of which inter- view I sent you in a hastily written note on my retarn home, one of her servants came with an imperative command that my acoopnt should be sent to her ladyship without delay. So urgent was the message, that I instantaneously complied : and in the course of that very same afternoon the sum jue to me was brought by the same domestic. At che bottom of the bill were these words :—* The Countess of Desborough will not in future trouble Mre. Brace to wait upon her as hitherto with the aewest fashions. This intimation,” added the mil- tiner, “ts not to be misunderstood: it is a with- drawal of her ladyship’s custom from my house.” “T see it ali!” exclaimed the Prinoe, a light oreaking in upon him. “She must have overheard the conversation which took place between me and your wretched husband !” “ Conversation! — husband !* ejaculated Mrs. Brace, starting and turning very pale. “1 will explain myself,” said the Prince. He then related all those adventures in con- nexion with his visit to Desborough House, which are already known to the reader—merely suppréss- ing the fact that the Earl had lent him twenty thonsand pounds. But he mentioned how his lord. ship had invited him to dinner—how Eleanor had promised to edmit him to her chamber—how he had encountered the Magsman—and how her lady- ship’s door was afterwards fastened against him. “And did you yield to the extertion of that villain?” inquired Mrs. Brace, deeply humiliated at the thought that her own husband should thus unre {insulted the Prince so grossly a second “What coald I do? exclaimed his Royal High- ness, “It was impossible for me to risk cution and exposure at the hands of that man, who already knows tou much concerning me,” he con- tinued; “and therefore the money was paid in the way he had stipulated. That the Countess must have left her chamber, listened at my door, and overhoard everything which took place between me and that scoundrel, is very evident. Hence her refusal to keep her promise and admit me to her room: hence also the summary manser in which she has withdrawn her custom frem you. For that rufian, whom I will not call your hasband, said enough to make her ladyship understand that you and I were very intimately connected, and that all you had said to her in the morning was entirely in my behalf.” “You have therefore abandoned all hopes in that quarter?” said Mrs. Brace, i ively. “Far from it excisimed the Prince. “Those burning kisses which [ gave and which were re- tarned with equal ardour — those delicious toy- ings and that voluptuous dalliance in which I revelled for a few moments, during her husband's absence from the room—the deep hold which this passion has taken of my heart—and a certain sen- timent of pride prompting me to wiumph over the coy and banghty besaty,—all these motives, my dear Fanny, prevent me from abendoning my de- signs regarding the lovely Countess. I am maddened by the contemplation of her image: my veins boil with the fervour ef my desires. And her own nature is so warm—éso impassioned — 20 giowing, that it mast be paradise to repose in her arms. By heaven f° the Prince, with almost a wild emphasis,—* she shall be mine, by fair means or foul.” “ And is it for this purpose that you hare sought my advice ?” asked the milliner. * Assurediy so,” responded his Royal Highness. “Place all your powers of invention upon the rack— torture your imagination to the extreme—bat fail not to devise some project whioh shall give that delicious creature to my arms.” “ For the life of me, I can think of nothing I” ex- claimed Mrs. Brace. “ Uulsss, indeed——" “Unless, what?” demanded the Prince, impa- tiently. “Unlees actual violence be resorted to—or some deeply laid stratagem,” returned the milliner. “ Be it either—I hardly care which,” added the‘ impassioned George, “ 80 long as we succeed. But I do not ask you to make up your mind at once: the matter is a serious one, and requires consi- deration.” “In the course of a day or two I will devise some project,” said Mrs. Brace. At this moment Harriet entered the room, to an- nounce that Miss Clarendou had arrived. The Prince sprang from his seat, and hastened to the apartment where the beauteous girl was waiting for him. She flew into his arms; and tears of joy streamed down her blushing cheeks, as she returned the ar- -dent kisses which he imprinted on her moist red lips. Then she gazed with an expression of the most enthusiastic affection and admiration, on the fine countenance of her seducer; aud a love shone in the splendid blue eyes of this charm- ing creature. Having compelled her to lay aside her bonnet and scarf, and seating himself by her side on a sofa, with his left-arm encircling her waist and his right hand locked in her’s, the Prince said, * To ma dearest Octavia, it has appeared an age since last we met.” * And to me also!* murmared the lovely girl. “Never did you séem so radiautly beautiful as COMIC OOOKS.ECO