The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 265: what you’re looking at

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254 “My dear Famy, wpat, in heaven’s-name !-fs thé matter 7° “ Noftting + nothiag —a little -tem exa- tion,” dhe said, ‘endeavouring to smile: but ‘the’ attempt was-very-meffectual. ° “It B something more serious thah you chodse to admit,” observed the Prince: then, his eye catching the letter which lay upon the rug, he stooped down and picked it dp. “You must not read it!” éxclaimed Mrs. Brace, extenditig her hand to receive the note. “This is silly of you,. Fanny,” said the Prince, ocither giving. her the document nor yet reading st “Zhold in my hand the undoubted cause of your annoyance. and yexation—and you are. well aware that J should not wish to become.acquainted with its. contents through, any mative of jealousy. Such nonsense has long ceased. to.’exiat. between youandmes Therefor when I expresean anxiety to read this letter, it is through pure soliciiude sn gour behalf——” “ And.an .apprphepsion that it may probably cefer ta. zourself,” added.the millimar,with « tarb- aess which she verp rarely exhibited to any onve+ auch les» 40 the- Pringe of Wales. “ Weit-I do aot know Dut¢that you had better perme-the docu- ment,” she observed iininediately pfterwards, in a milder tone. His Royal Highness -aceordingly. cast. his:.eyes over the letter;—aad his eountenanes fell } “By -heavem!: thisi is serieus,S he ejaculated flinging-~hinself upon e seaty white Mis; Brace rev sumed ‘hér -chair- to ‘him. “‘ Fhé plot thickens rapidty,”*fie said:in a musing tone, as he ceferred to Florimel's communication +.“ by God! at must.thicken.as,mach as it likes’. he exclaimed abruptly, “for angthing thas:1 can do topresent: it. ‘ Pondios is not sidice on: behalf of: her sister.’ This is just whatl -foresaw—justs what ¥: expected all along. Padiiwe and. Florine! are- two maudlin sentimentalists together; ‘and they wil? worka deal of mischief. How the deuce is it, Fanny, that you did not contrive to have Pauline debauched by some gay fellow, or else to prodacea a separation. Betweewher.and Florimet? The thing is esious: ‘but may @ be partiqulerly danmedsif £ lenow how to remedy %.' ‘ In less: than forty-eight -hours she* —that’s Patiine—“ wilt have ‘cleared up all doubt the identity of Octavia’se lover’ Forty- eight hours! When was this note written?” © “ It reached mea.,a fem instanis before.you entered | .. the room,” answered Mrs. Brace. - “To be sure! I ought to have recelleated the con-' fasion and trouble in which you were plunged at the moment,” said: the Prince.. “ Well —~ forty-eight: hours-—~—-that’s plenty of time to adopt some de- cisive measure in.” “Oh! you must not take the phrase in its literal sense,” exclaimed the milliner. “It may mean a longer, or it may mean a shorter period: but it is used emphat&ally to show that the interval will be brief ere your rank is discovered. So far, therefore, from postponing.a due and serious consideration of the proper measures to be.adopted, we must delfberate at once.” - “Ifthere be one thing more than another that I hate,” said the Prince, speaking as if he had a nausea in his mouth, “it is the trouble of thinking an dis- agreeable matters,” “ Possibly f observed Mrs. Brace, with petulant THE MYSTERIES.’ dryness. * “ But your Royal Highness will be pleased to refledt that an exposure in this instafice may com- ptomise the very crown which ‘you have in the per- spective. A young lady of good faniily; seduced by the Prince of Wales under a feigned name—led .to believe that his intantions were hononrahle. and. that tie would. espoyse. her,+my. God! sueh.a history would create a feeling of .indignation. from. one end of the kingdom to the other;. and the pegnle, would: pull down my. house about my ears”. “No, my dear Fanuy—swe'd have a regiment of Guards stationed along Pall .Mall,.to pretect you,” responded the.Princs, in a jecular maunez.- “Thank, ’Gad, we_alwaye have:plenty of Genorat-efficera who » like.nothing better thamhaving ¢o oper a murderous. cannonaits upentite people:'! . “ This is:not‘e time: nor‘a subject for "jesting,” said: Mrs. Braee.»: “I bessegis you to look serseusly ~ at the matter— for it troubles me profeandly You perostivethat-.even if you : were enabled ee silence Octavia by means of ~the' dnflwenge --you exercise-over her, her sisterPaviline woald still ‘pre~ coed a_—_ann?? “And this Floriotel- wonld ‘no doubt: kelp-her,* added the: Prince. “By the bye, he is coming to Carltor House-to-morrow night. He'voted with the small Whig section in the Hotse of Lotds the‘other evening—and I was therefore courpelled to place his mname.on my reception-list. I shall be‘ very civil to him to-morrow, and thus disirm hith of any rancour ‘with which Patliné may have inspired hinr: for it is perfectly clear that the identity of Mr. Harley with the Prince of Wales is even more than suspected hy that young .jady—-whereas Octavia is perhaps still . full of uncertainty.” “You may .canciliate. Florimel,, perhaps,”. said. df. Brace: “ besides, you perceive by his note that, he’ would rather hush the matier yp. if he sould. But depend ypon it, from all .I have-heard;: Panline. Clarendoa is a girl .of spirit and -will leave you: no peace. when once abe shall, -haya established the. fact. of your.identity., There is.enly.oneplan that I cam think of ——” 1, “Name it—name it, my dear Fanny," cried the . Prince. “I knew you would-end by suggesting eomething: you are so fertile inexpedients. Besides. women always like to-make matters eut-as bad as they can, when they mean to w:nd up by propos- ing a remedy. Now then, my dear, what is your lan?” . “ Listen patiently for a few minutes,” said the milliner;smatingat the complinicatewhiel: Che-Prince :} paid .her..: “ You are: webb acquainted: wit Mn (jarendon's position. A feweresks age he believed : himself cestam ‘of euceceding othe ‘Murehmest : e Hen, Arther Baton'belng then atdeath’s: door. But this young gentteman barrecovered- in 2 ‘most miraculous manzer and théeteis net the sight- est chance ‘that Mr. Clarenden-wiltt ever: be~Lord | Marchmont.: ‘To'make things sti niore unpleasant for Mr. Clarendon, he accepted‘a large tnconre from: the present Lord Mdrohnront; and went and took a fine house, at the'time wher Arthtir Eaton was sup- posed to be dying. Hé’is therefote totally dependant on Lord Matchmont’s boanty ; and at the old steer’s © death, he will: be dependant on Arthur, Such a position’ is doubtless intolerablé for’ Mr'Clarendon ; and yet it is quite clear that’ he cannot well retreat, and go back to luis cottage in the Edgeware Road and his hundred or two Inuadred a year.” CORNICE OOO ‘SS CO