The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 105: what you’re looking at

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

eS mn i a 90 THE MYSTERIES. 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 imme- diately; and, rising from his seat, 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’s curls, I really think I shall have them cut off altogether,” “It were the veriest saerilege perpetrated against Nature's shrine of loveliness that a Vandal imagina- tion could possibly eonceive,’ observed the Prince, smiling, * Figad! that’s the prettiest turned compliment I ever heard fall from your lips, my dear Prinee,” said Meagles; “but I perfectly agree with you ip the opinion which it implies.” “ Hold your tongue, Tim!” cried the Amazon, laughing so as to display thirty-two of the whitest teeth, which were all perfect as to number and with- out a speck or blemish; so that no one coula com- plain of the somewhat large mouth which thus re- vealed the brilhant 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 horse pressed into a gallop, I still feel cold—and a glass of your excellent Madeira will warm me.” “This is Liberty Hal], my dear huntress,” said the Prince ; “and therefore I shall not even adopt the ceremonious courtesy of filling your glass for you.” “By Jove! she can fill it for herself—and empty it too,” cried Tim Meagles—an observation which gained him a smart 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 1 like——” “ And if he didn’t, you'd do it all the same,” re- marked Tim. “Most 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- gether.” “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 pressing—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-and-twenty hours must not be allowed to pass away without seeing my coflers replenished.” “ What is the matter, then ?”” demanded Meagles. “ Anything partieularly pressing ?” “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 last Christmas twelvemonth,” interrupted Meagles. “Did I not make an arrangement with him for you?—and did I not even find you the money to hand over to him? He agreed to receive the principal, and waive all claim to the twenty-five per cent. interest.” “Ttis perfectly true, my dear Meagles,” resumed George, as he sipped his wine, “that you did every- thing you have just stated; but it is equally true that the money which you proenred for me on that occasion, went into some other ehannel,” “And yet you never mentioned that cireumstance to me until now,” observed Tim, somewhat reproach- fully. “ Howcan I possibly undertake to settle these kinds of things for your Royal Highness, when you constantly act in a different manner from what I suggest or arrange, aud then leave me completely in the dark ?”- “*T do not consider that yon have a right to eate- chise me thus, Mr, Meagles,’’ said the Prince, haughtily. “ Ifit be irksome or unpleasant to you to attend occasionally te my business ——”’ “Irksome and unpleasant be hanged!” 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 I, for instance, to meet this man Foster —~-- “The fact is,’ interrupted Lady Letitia, “Tim Meagles is anxious neyer to look otherwise than like a sapient fellow, as he is.” “A thonsand thanks, my dear huntress, for tal- ing my part!” exclaimed the Prince, now thinking it poutic to resuine his good numour. “Come, Meagles—giye me your best attention—and let us see what can be done in this difficulty.” “ We shall be sure to overcome it,” remarked Tim, quite satisfied with the little amount of independent spirit which he had just shown, and which was only displayed for the purpose of disarming 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 bankruptcy—that’s what I think they call it amongst trading people,” continued his Royal Highness, with a suipercilious smile of contempt for that mighty industrious class upon whose hard earnings and incessant toils the un- principled voluptuary was living in a luxurious in- dolence and an execrable dissipation. “ It appears,” proceeded the Prince, “that Foster has met with sad reverses, and that unless he can pay asum 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 1 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 tradesmen-fellows setting foot within these walls.” “And very proper too,” remarked the Amazon, totally unmindful of the little circumstance that she COLMA (ElOOO|KS,. COM