The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 212: what you’re looking at

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

om ——— —— ‘own mansion in Berkeley Square. THE “And you have succeeded?” said the Prince. «“ Ah! that tell-tale glow upon your plump cheeks, Fanny——” “ No—I did nvt succeed,” interrupted the milliner. “J Javished all my arts and wiles upon the object in view—and at the moment when I was about to triumph and he to succumb, a most unexpected intrusion dissolved the spell which I had cast upon him—-and he escaped me.” « And you have not seen him since ?” inquired the Prince. “No. But he shall not escape me thus,” added the milliner. “I have a thousand stratagems as yet unexhausted, and which I know well how to adopt in such a case,” she observed, a wanton smile playing upon her moist lips and showing her bril- liant teeth. “ Would that you were kind and amiable enough to use one of them in my behalf!” exclaimed the Prince, fixing upon her a look full of meaning. “Ah! you have seen another houri who has smitten you,” said Mrs. Brace, the wantonness of her smile now changing into archness—-both irre- sistibly fascinating ! “You have conjectured the truth, Fanny,” was the reply; “and your aid is needed to catch the wary and haughty, but beauteous bird in an inex- tricable mesh.” “The affair is, then, a difficult one?” said Mrs. Brace, inquiringly. “More dificult than any amour which I have ever yet undertaken,” answered the Prince; “in- asmuch as the new object of my fancy is no young and inexperienced girl to be subdued by means of sophistry, promises, pledges, vows, and protestations —no woman of the middle class whom it is com- paratively easy to dazzle with the splendour of my rank—no lady of easy virtue who values the title of the Prince’s mistress more than her own coronet.” “Then who, in heaven’s name, can she be 2” in- quired Mrs. Brace. “ A lady of high rank and most unimpeachable virtue,” returned his Royal Highness: “a lady who has never furnished scandal with the slightest ground to assail her fair fame, and who neverthe- less lives on terms of a singular and unaccountable nature with her husband. This husband is hand- some—rich—elegant in manners—accomplished— generous—and in every respect formed to rendera young and beautiful wife happy. But rumour de- clares that they live apart, though under the same roof——” “You allude to the Countess of Desborough !” exclaimed Mrs. Brace, suddenly interrupting the description which the Prince was giving her. “T do. But are you acquainted——” “T have the honour of her ladyship’s patronage,” rejoined the milliner. “By heaven! this is fortunate,” ejaculated the Prince, his countenance expressing the liveliest joy. ‘“ Does the Countess ever visit your establish- ment ?” “Seldom—and even then she merely stops in her carriage at the door to issue some order,” said Mrs. Brace. “I usually attend her ladyship at her Indeed, it is singular enough that I am to wait upon her the day after to-morrow at eleven o’clock in the morning.” “Oh! if your fertile brain could only devise some MYSTERIES. 197 means of bringing that haughty woman to my arms, I would never, never cease to think of you with gra- titude—the deepest gratitude, Fanny,” said the Prince ;—and, as he thus spoke, he took Mrs. Brace’s plump, warm, white hand and pressed it tenderly. “ First let me know upon what terms you are with her ladyship,” remarked the milliner. “ As a matter of course you are acquainted with her: but does she suspect that you admire her? I am kalf-inclined to believe that you have expressed your feelings already in that quarter; and, being too precipitate, you have experienced a rebuff! Else wherefore do you de- nominate her proud and haughty ?” “You have guessed rightly, my dear friend,” said the Prince. “It was on the very day after that disagreeable Sunday evening to which we have already alluded, that I called at Desborough House in Berkeley Square—and I saw the Countess alone. Although I had known her for some years, yet never before had she struck me as being so ravish- ingly beautiful. She dazzled — bewildered—fasci- nated me; and, unable to restrain my feelings, I cast myself at her feet. For a moment she yielded her hand to me—and I could see the fires of excitement flash from her eyes and the warm blushes glow upon her cheeks. But suddenly recovering herself, she assumed all the hauteur which would have become her so much better had she adopted that proud atti- tude at once. I soothed her—and our conversation proceeded: on her part, it almost seemed to en- courage me—and, worked up nearly to a pitch of frenzy, I caught her in myarms. Again she aban- doned herself to me for a few moments—and again did her eyes sparkle, and her cheeks glow with wan- ton blushes. But all in an instant she sprang from my embrace—uttered some words of reproach—and, ringing the bell, ordered my carriage to be summoned to the door, the menial of course betieving that 1 myself must have expressed a wish to depart. But ere 1 left her, I was foolish enough to murmur some threat in her ears—and since that day I have not beheld her.” “Can you not read the enigma of her lJadyship’s conduct?” asked Mrs. Brace. “The explanation may be summed up in afew words. Sheisa woman of strong passions and stubborn virtue: her deeply- seated principles triumphed over her consuming desires.” “ Yes—it must be as you have represented <ny dear friend,” said the Prince. “And therefore it will be almost impossible to corrupt the Countess of Desborough,” rejoined Mrs. Brace. “What ! have you no hope to give me—no stra- tagem to suggest—no scheme to propose ?” exclaimed his Royal Highness, “Ah! is this your fertility in resources, Fanny ?” “TI do not profess to work miracles,” was the answer. ‘“ Give me the common clay and I will un- dertake to mould it into the shape required: but if you place granite in my hands, it will resist all attempts to model it to a particular purpose.” “ True !” ejaculated the Prince. “ And yet Iam not disposed to abandon the enterprise on account of its difficulty. Look you here, Fanny,” he con- tinued, throwing a Bank-note upon the table: “there are five hundred pounds—poor as I am, I can spare that amount for such an object. Remember, I do not mean to insult you by attri- buting mercenary motives to the assistance which Go JOO AMUC <STIGO