The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 238: what you’re looking at

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

| THE MYSTERIES. The Prince gave his arm to Lady Desborough ; and as they descended the stairs she felt that he pressed that arm gently with his own—but notin a manner which could have given offence, or been interpreted otherwise than as accidental, even if she had possessed courage and self-command enough at the moment to resent that silent evidence of his passion. The table, although only laid with three covers, would have presented asuperb spectacle to any one unaccustomed tosuch magnificence. It be- neath the barthen of the costliest gold plate, which shene brilliantly in the lustre of the chandelier suspended to the ceiling, and the light of which wae reflected in numerous mirrors. Amidst that glorious flood of radiancy, the hand- some Eleanor seemed a goddess in her own Olym- pian sphere of light; — and so dazzied was the Prince by her transcendent charms, that, epicure as he was, he had scarcely any appetite for the variety of delicacies now served up. The Karl appeared to be in excellent spirits; and eren when his Royal Highness, carried away by the enthusiasm of his feelings, looked and spoke more tenderly with regard to the Countess than a jealous husband woald have admired,—and wher she, in- fluenced by the same irresistible emotions, gave an- swers in a voice of silver tremulousness and blushed ' beneath the rapturous glances thrown upon her,— ‘the nobleman continued to discourse with an in- ereased gaiety—as if, bebolding nothiog amiss, he abaadoned himself to the pleasure of the evening. The various courses were disposed of—and at longth the dessert was placed upon the table. Shortly afterwards the Countess rose to withdraw ; and the Prince hastened to open the door for her, no servants being then in the apartment. She bowed in acknowledgment of this honour ; and as she passed out of the room, with that grace- fal carriage of the arching neck and sloping | shoulders for which she was so eminently distin- " the Prince said in a low and hurried whisper, “ Angelic being! I adore you!” Then, as she crossed the threshold, he beheld the tich blood mantling up over that neck and those shoulders ; and he returned to his seat with the in- ward eonviotion that he had already gone far to- wards the accomplishment of a complete triumph | over her. “ Your position is a most enviable one, my dear friend,” said his Royal Highness to the Earl of Des- boroegh, as the claret jug passed between them; “you y possess as your wife the hand- somest and most amiable lady in England.” “ Yes— Eleanor is indeed all that is most fascinat- ing and adorable in female shape,” returned the nobleman. “But, with the permission of your Royal Highness, we will now terminate that little omeetion “If you please, Desborough,” answered the Prince. “I really know not how to express my | gratitude for this most unexpected and generous act . om your But whenever the time may come ‘ that this hand of mine shall be enabled to affix a sig- | Bature to a document in order to make it law, your , eatidom shall be changed into a marquisate, which is . not far removed from the dukedom that shall speedily follow after.” “Your Royal Highness will only afflict me by the promise of reward,” said the nobleman. eee 22) “T am aware that the deed ia one of pure friend- ship on your part,” hastily returned the Prince: “ nevertheless, I should be wanting in gratitude, did I not express my inclination, although at present utterly deficient in the power, to make a suitable ao- knowledgment of the great service you are render- ing me,” While the heir-apparent was thus delivering him- self of frothy phrases, the hollowness of which was perfectly understood by the Earl, who well knew the selfishness of his royal guest,—twenty bank-notes for a thousand pounds each had been counted down on the table by the nobleman; and the Prince, amass- ing them all together as if they were a bundle of play-bills, thrust them into his waistcoat-pocket 3 then, drawing forth a letter, he tore off a piece of the back, and with a gold pencil-case scribbled an LO.U., which he handed to the EarL Thus ended this little matter; and the Prince con- tinued to enjoy his wine, the nobleman keeping him company glass for glass. The conversation turned upon a variety of topics: but every now and then his Royal Highness could not prevent himself from saying something com plimentary i in respect to Lady Desborough ; on which occasions the Earl invariably directed the discourse as speedily as possible into another channel. “ I fee] so comfortable and so entirely at home,‘ said the Prince at last, “ that I could almost wish ( was to be your guest for a week, Desborough—in- stead of only for another hour,” he added, looking at his watch. “In fact, I hate having to quit warm rooms and pass through the ordeal of a cold ride in & carriage.” “Your Royal Highness can easily avoid tha: ordeal,” observed the nobleman. “A bed-chamber is at your service beneath my roof: and, indeed,” he exclaimed hastily, “ I should esteem myself highly honoured were your Royal Highness to condescend to sleep in my humble abode.” “Upon my honour,” ejaculated the Prince, as the thought flashed to his memory that the Earl and Countess did not sleep together—a circumstance which we have already stated to be notorious,—“ upon my honour, I am inclined to accept this invitation.” The nobleman walked to the window—drew aside the curtain—and looked forth upon the square. “The night is bitterly cold,” he eaid, returning to his seat: “ there isa hard frost—and the pavement is quite white. It is enough to give any one his death, merely to pass from the front door into a carriage.” “T hate thecold, cried the Prince, shuddering at the idea of facing the bleak air. “Well, Des- borough, I accept your invitation—and I will sleep here to-night.” The Earl accordingly rang the bell, and ordered the servant who answered the summons, to direct the chamber-maids to prepare the best t, as his Royal Highness intended to pass the night at the mansion. The domestic bowed and retired; and shortly afterwards another lacquey came to announce that coffee was served in the drawing-room. Thither the heir-apparent and the Earl proceeded. Eleanor was eeated on the sofa: her cheeks were flushed—her eyes shone brilliantly—and there was an agitation, a feverish excitement in her manner which she could not altogether conceal, much less subdue. The truth was, she had already heard from the servants that his Royal Highness intended to sleep at the mansion; and although there was no- QOLAPKC bole S COMM