The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 277: what you’re looking at

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

268" eirculate. The absence of both of us at the same time cannot fail to engender certain suspicions ;—and I leave you to judge whether they will be more pre- judicial to you orto me. Now, beauteous Eleanor, do you begin to see the position in which you are placed %” “ And despair nerves me with courage!" suddenly ejaculated the lovely‘woman, who did indeed appear lovelier still in her indignation. “ You may keep me a prisoner here, Prince of Wales,” she cried, darting looks of defiance at the heir-apparent: “bat I fake God to witness that, be the consequences what they may, the first use I shall make of my liberty will be to hasten into the presence of a magistrate or a jadge and demand whether there be no law to reach even your Royal Highness.” * You are ing nonsense—utter nonsense, Eleanor !” said George, his lips curling with con- tempt. “In the first place, Kings, Queens, Princes, and Princesses may do just what they please—for they sre above the law and stronger than the law; and the Jaw was only made to keep the millions in subjection to thes ’” Think you, then, that magis- trates or judges would dare to entertain a charge against a Prince? Ne—no: they would sooner hang ten thousand insocent working-men, than even vea- ture upon a reprimsad te a guilty scion of Royalty.” “But if you detain me here—by force—against my will,” exclaimed Eleanor, “the scandal—the shame—the infamy that will resu]t——” “Can all be dispersed and set at rest in a moment,” interrupted his Royal Highness, with a promptitade showing that he had well considered the subject “ For how stands the matter? Mra Brace will step forward and declare that she managed the whole 1n- trigue—that the Countess of Desborough of her own accord proceeded fe.a certain bed-chamber where she met the Prince of Wales—and tHat it is a mere maudlin sentiment of compunction, or, else a feeling of jealousy, which makes her tarn round upon her royal paramour te denounce him. There, Eleanor— the story is cut and dried—all in readiness;—and you see that everything can be accounted for as naturally as possible.” “Yes—lI indeed perceive that you are capable of any villany,” exclaimed the Countess, darting a look of deadly hatred upon the Prince of Wales. “I al- ready knew you to be profligate—extravagant—sel- fish —ungrateful—and heartless: but it was reserved for the incident of this night to teach me that you are a Villain.” “The sooner I close that abusive mouth with kisees the better!” cried the Prince, with a_voice and look of vindictive triumph ;—and, extending his arms, he rushed towards the Countess, “Hold!” ejaculated a full-toned female voice ;— and from behind the curtains of the bed stepped forth a lady whose flashing eyes, crimson countenance, and quivering lips proclaimed a rage not easy to be ap- It was Mra. Fitzherbert ! A cry of joy and triumph burst from the lips of the Countess of Desborough: but a terrible oath— an imprecation 80 fearful that we dare not attempt to record it—fell from the tongue of the Prince of Wales. ~ “ Madam, you have doubtless heard all that has passed between bis Roval——I mean, between this man,” exclaiined Eleanor, poiating disdainfully and oathingly at the Prince,—* and myself?" - ™ Tre wvérnarE “ Yes—every syliabie,” answered Mra. Fitzherbert, darting furious glances on the heir-apparent, whe folded his arms, leant against the mantel, and ea- deavoured to assume an air of indifference. “You will therefore agree with me, madam,” con- tinued the Countess, “that I have been subjected to an outrage as vileas the spirit which suggested it mast be cowardly and despicable ?” “We will not use hard words, if your ladyship Pleases;” said Mrs. Fitzherbert, bending a severe look upon Eleanor; “ for, according to one portion of the dialogue which ere now took place between yourself and his Royal Highness, it would appear that he hae received some considerable amount of encourage ment on the part of yoar ladyship. Nay—it would even seem,” she added, with a caustic emphasis, “that om one particular occasion his Royal Highness should have become the partner of your ladyship's bed, had not some unforeseen incident prevented se agreeable a result.” ; “ Madam,” said the Countess of Desborough, re covering all her dignity, and fixing her magnificent eyes with graad effect upon Mrs. Fitzherbert,—“ if you yourself be immaculate, then wherefore is it that you are not styled her Royal Highness the Prineces of Wales ?—but if, on the other band, you have no ciainyty that distinction, how dare you un- dertake the part of moralist with me? Teil me that you are the wife of his Royal Highness; and you will thea bring a-blush to my cheek, and I shall fall upom my knees and implore your pardon for ever having wronged you in thought, though never in deed: dut if you be only Mrs. Fitsherbeftt—the mistress of the heir-apparent ——” “Silence, madam!" cried the lady whom Eleanor thus boldly addressed in such words of sarcasm: then, stamping her foot imperioualy, Mrs. Fitsherbert drew herself up to ber full height —and, in a tone and manner of the loftiest dignity, she exclaimed, “Itietime that yonr.ladyship should leam whom you have insulted and outraged—for I am indeed her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales !*” “My God! what have you eaid’—what madness have you perpetrated f° exclaimed the heir-apparent,- suddenly becoming fearfully excited: and, seizing Mrs. Fitzherbert—for so we had better continue to call her, inasmuch as she was never krown by any higher name to the world,—seizing her by the wrist, we say, the Prince muttered in a low, hoarse, and thick tone, “I am aware that my conduct has been bad this evening towards you: but your vengeance is terrible in the extreme! yourself to be my wife, you have endangered my very heritage of the British crown!”’ A deadly pallor came over the countenance of Mrs. Fitzherbert, as she was thus painfully reminded of the tremendous indiscretion .of which she had been guilty: but almost instantly recovering hee presence of mind, she took th2 Countess of Des- borough's hands in both her own, saying, “ Let us pardon cach other for the harsh words which we have exchanged—and let us henceforth be friends.” “Oh! cheerfully —cheerfully!” cried the generous- hearted Eleanor, in a tone of fervent sincerity. “ Your Royal Highness ——” “ Hush!” exclaimed the other: “you must never fail to call me Mrs. Fitzherbert ! I will not ask you to swear to keep this secret—because I know that your ladyship is a woman of honour, aud it would be an insult to exact a vow to that effect: but I will ECOMICOOOKS For by proclaiming | 1 i ages | ea en CO