The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 221: what you’re looking at

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

CONTINUATION OF THE MYSTERIES 199 afoot my plan. Well as I think of you, my dear Venetia, yet you must nevertheless remember you are a total stranger to me, and I am about to place unlimited confidence in you. At starting, therefore, I make it a purely business matter, and my lawyer has prepared a bond, which you will sign, and which makes you my debtor to the extent of three thousand guineas. Of course I shall never expect payment direct from you, but this bond will enable me to reénter into pos- session of all the property wherewith I am entrusting you if at any time you should endeavour to deceive me. It isa mere precaution, and as you doubtless mean fair play, there can be no harm in your signing it. My lawyer is waiting in another room, and when you have gone through this little formality, I will give you full and complete explanations of the whole project which I have in hand, and for the carrying out of which your assistance is engaged.”’ Venetia made no objection, and accompanying Miss Ba- thurst to the dining-room where the attorney was seated, she signed the bond. The lawyer took his leave, and when he was gone, Miss Bathurst proceeded to address Venetia in the following manner: _ ‘“‘ Start not, my dear Venetia, when I inform you that some years ago I was upon terms of the closest intimacy with the prince regent. In fact, I was his mistress. But our connec- tion came to an end, and with it ceased all the influence which for the time it gave me. Mrs. Fitzherbert was like- wise for some years on the same footing with his Royal Highness. No, not exactly on the same footing, for whereas I was only secretly and privately his mistress, she was openly and publicly acknowledged as such. Her influence during the period of her connection with his Royal Highness was far greater than mine, and the loss of it, when that connection ceased, has even been more profoundly felt by that lady. A complete rupture has for the last twenty years existed between herself and the prince, but as you have seen by the letters from his Royal Highness which I have shown you, he still now and then deigns to think of me. Were I to ask a favour of him, however, I should experience a refusal, or else a cold neglect which I do not choose to draw down upon myself. “Now, you must know that both Mrs. Fitzherbert and myself have reason to regret our total loss of influence at (CO nin