The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 107: what you’re looking at

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90 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 friend Meagles 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.” The countenance of George brightened up imine- diately; and, rising from his sest, he gave the Amazon a cordial] welcome. . Throwing aside her hat and riding-whip, and taking a chair, Lady Letitia Lade smoothed down her glossy black hair and arranged her luxu- riant ringlets, exclaiming, “This wind plays the very devil with one’scuris. I really think I shall have them eut off altogether.” | Reet i ated against N: loveliness that a Vandal imagina- tio y eanceive,” ghaerved the Prince, ny | he prettiest tgarned compliment I ey m your jipa, my dear Prince,” said Mw perfastiy agrees with you in the op mphas.” _._ ..ngye, Tim! osie@ the Amasen, Langning as to display thirty-two of the whitest teeth, h were all perfect as to nymber ang with- out a epeck or blemish; so that no oe coula com- plain of the somewhat large mouth which thus re- vealed the brilliant array. “ With the permission of your Royal Highness, I shall help myself,” con- tinued Lady Letitia: “for, in spite of your cheerful fire the flames of which go roaring up the chimney like a broken-winded herse pressed into a gallop, I still feel eold—and 9 glass of your excellent Madeira will warm me.” “ Phis is Libesty Hall, my dear huntress,” said the Prince ; “ and thereferp I shall not even adopt the ceremonious courtesy of filling your glass for you.” “ By Jove! she ean fill it for hasself—and empty it too,” cried Tim Meagles—an observation which gained him a gmart box on the ear from Lady Le- titia. “Do you treat Sir John in that fashion?” de- manded the Prince, laughing, ‘Poor old gentleman! he is well nigh in his dotage,” said the Amazon. “ He let’s me do just as I like——” “ And if he didn’t, you’d do it all the same,” re- marked Tim. “ Moat assuredly,” responded the huntress. “ But as he is indulgent and good, we never have any quar- rels. He only sees with my eyes and hears with my ears; and thus we live happily enough to- — _ wos “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.” “T can guess what you require,” said Tim: “ but I suppose your wants are not very preasing—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-snd-twenty hours must not be allowed to pass away without seeing my coffers replenished.” THE MISTERIRE. “ What is the matter, then?” demanded Meagles. “ Anything particularly pressing ft” “ That poor devil Foster, who lent me the fifteen thousand pounds, you know—upon my simple note of hand—three years ago——” began the Prince of Wales, speaking hurriedly. “Why! I thought your Royal Highness had settled it Jast Christmas twelvemonth,” interrupted Meagles. “Did I not make an arrangement with him for you?f—and did I not even find you the money to hand overto him? He agreed to receive the principal, end waive all claim to the twenty-five per cent. interest.” “It is perfectly true, my deer Meagles,” resumed George, as he sipped his wine, *fhat you did every- thing you have just stated: but it is equally true that the money which you procured for me on that occasion, went into some other channel.” “And yet you never mentioned that circumstance to me until now,” obeerved Tim, somewhat reproach- fully. “Howcan!I possibly undertske ta settle these kinds of things for yous Royal Highness, when you constantly act in a diffasgpt manneg from what I suggest or arrange, and them leave me completely in the dark ?”: +] do not consideg that you have a right to cate- ghiso me thus, Mr. Moeagles/’ eald the Prince, haughtily. “ Ifis he irksome op unpleasant to you to attend occasionally te my business «r—” “ [rksome and unplessant be ° exclaimed Tim. “What I meant was, that your Royal High- ness places me in such a position at times that [ should look like a fool were J, for instance, te meet this man Foster — ~ “The fact is,” inteyupted Lady Letitia, “Tim Meagles is anxious never to look otherwise than like a sapient fellow, as he 1,” “A thousand thanks, my dear huntress, for tak- ing my part!” exolgimed the Prince, now thinking it poutic to resume his good numour, “Come, Meagles—give me your best attention~and let us see what can be doue in this difficulty.” “ We shall be sure to overcome it,” remarked Tim, quite satisfied with the little amount of independent spisit which he bad just shown, and which was only displayed tor the purpose of disarmirig 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 soul his 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 ptcy—thafs what I think they call it amongst trading people,” continued bis Royal Highness, with a supercilious smile of contempt for that mighty industrious class upon whose hard earnings and incessant toils the un- principled voluptuary was living in a luxurious ip- dolence and an execrable dissipation, “It appears,” proceeded the Prince, “that Foster has met with sad reverses, and that unless he can pay a sum of between fourteen and fifteen thousand pounds by three o'clock to-morrow, he will be irremediably ruined. Now, the fact is that the other evening I agreed to meet him at the very tavern where three years ago he lent me the cash ; for you know that I have a desperate aversion to any of those tredesmen-fellows setting foot within these walls.” “And very proper too,” remarked the Amazon, totally unmindful of the little circumstance that she COMING BOOKS Gon —— af