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

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60 turally healthy hues of her complexion that she seemed radiant with animation. Nevertheless, his Royal Highness could not restrain a movement of impatience when he observed that his ffiend Meag!es had 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.” Tee countenance of George brightened up imme- diately; and, rising from his seat, he gave the Amazon a cordial welcome. Throwing aside her hat and ridiug-whip, and taking a chair, Lady Letitia Lade smoothed down her glossy black hair and arranged her luxu- ciant rimglets, exclaiming, “This wind plays the very devil with one’s curls. I really think I shal! have them cut off altozether.” “It were the verieat perpetrated against Nature's shrine of loveliness that a Vandal imagina- tion comld possibly couceive,” observed the Prince, omilbug. ‘ Egad?t that’s the prettiest tamed compliment I ever heard fall from your lips, nuy dear Prince,”’ said sleagles; “tut I pesfeetly agree with yes m the spinion which it impdies.” “Fold your tongue, Tim!” qpied the Armason, . ushing eo as to display thirty-twe of tha wiritest tevth, which were all perfect as to number argh with- ‘If 2 speek or biemish; so that no ewe coale com- p' iin of the somewhat large mouth which thes re- sethed the brilliant array. “ With the permission of vour Hoyal Highness, [ shall help myself,’ con- ‘aued Lady: Letitia: “for, m spite of your cheerful) firothe flames of whieh go roaring wp the chimney like a broken-winded herse pressed into a galleg, [ Fit]! feel coli—and a glass of your emeablent Madeira sill warm me.” « This is Liberty Hall, my dear huntreas,” said ‘.. Prince; “and theapfaee I shall not even adopt ‘he ceremenious courteag, of filling your glase for J a” “ By Jove: she can fill it fox nemelf—and empty it too,” cried Jim Meagles—an observation which guined him a smart box on the ear from Lady Le- tstia. ; ‘Do you treat Sir John in that fashion?’ de- i. cided the Prince, laughing. “Poor old gentleman! he 18 well nigh in his dutage,” said the Amazon, “ He let’s me do ‘ust as [ ike——’’ * And if he didn’t, you'd do it ali the same,’ re- marked Tim. “ Most assuredly," responded the huntrees. “ But as he is indulgent and good, we never have any quar- fels. He only sees with my eyes and heare with my omnes and thus we live happily enough to- g.ther.” “ 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.” “J can guess what you require,” said Tim: “ but I ruppose your wants are not very pressing—or else you would not have sent up a note to my lodgings last evening, postponing our appointment until to-night.” “The fact is that four-and-twenty hours made no material difference, as affairs stood,” rejoined the Prince of Wales: “but as they now stand, another four-and-twenty hours must not be allowed to pass away without seeing my coffers replenished.” “ What is the matter, then f’ demanded Meagies “ Anything particularly ,, essing ?” “ That poor devil Foster, who lent me the fifteen thousand pounds, you know—upon my simple note of hand—three years azo——” began the Prince of Wales, speaking hurriedly. “Why! I thought your Royal Highness had settled 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 over to him? He agreed to receive the principal, and waive all claim to the twenty-five per cent. interest.” “Tt is perfectly truq ury Geer Meagles,” resumed George, as he sipped bis wing, “that you did every- thing you have just stated: dut it is equally true that the money which yeu proeurcd for me on that occasion, went into.eeeee other channel.” “ And yet you never mentioned that circumstance to me until now,’ obgerved Tim, somewhat reproach- fully. “HowcanI posgitby wadertakete acttle these kiuds of things for yous Regal Highness, when you constantly act in a diffkvemt manmer from what [ suggest or ariange, aud then leave me completely in the dark ?’ “T de not consider thet you have acightte cate- ehisc me thus, Mr. ° entd the Fance, haushtily. * If%t be irkeeene or wapleasant to you to attend occasionally te my busipess.-——"™ “Irksome and unpleasant be heuged {" exclaimed Tim. “What I meamt was, that your Roya High- ness places me in such a pesition at times that | should Jook like a fool were I, fer instanage, to meet “The fact is,” interrupted Lady Letitia, “Tim Meagles is anxiows never to leak otherwise than like a sap.ent fellow, ae-ne 14.” “A thousand thauks, my dear huntress, fee tak- ing my part!” exeleimed the Peince, new thinking if poutie te resume his goof numeur. “Come, iw me your best attentieo—and let us see what camibe done 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 for 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—thafs what [think they call it amongst trading people," continued his Royal Highness, with a supercilious smile of contempt for that mighty indastrions okss upon whose hard earnings and incessant toils the un- principled voluptuary was living in a luxurious in- dolence and an execrable dissipation. “It appears,” proceeded the Prinoe, “ that Foster has met with sad reverses, and that unless he 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 ago he lent qe the cash ; for you know that I have a desperate aversion to any of those tradeamen-fellows antting foot within these walls.” + “And very proper too,” remarked the Amason, totally unmindful of the little circumstance that ske Reset re COMIC OOO SS co I —————— a a