The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 294: what you’re looking at

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

| THE MYSTERIES. 279 desk on that morning when the heir-apparent amused himself with the Amazon in the bath. “Well, Tim,” continued the Prince of Wales, “you must take that fragment of the certificate with you—and my illustrious father will be very glad to give you in exchange an undertaking that the necessary patents shall be drawn up with- out delay in order to confer the peerage on Mr. Clarendon. Come, Tim—you shall be off to Wind- sor this very day—for we may as well set briskly and earnestly to work with a view to haye these little matters settled as soon as possible. Give me my desk, Tim—and I will at once put you in pos- session of the half of the certificate which is to act like a spell upon my father.” Putting a good face upon the matter, and with as much alacrity as if he knew that the document now required was really in the place where the Prince had deposited it, Tim Meagles proceeded to convey the handsome writing-desk from the chef- fonier on which it stood to the table by the side of the sumptuous couch. His Royal Highness then drew the long gold chain from beneath his pillow; and with the key suspended thereto he opened the desk. Plunging his hand amidst the papers which filled one of the compartments, the heir-apparent sought for the particular packet which he required ; and when he could not immediately find it, he in- stituted a more careful and less hurried exami- nation into the contents of that division of his desk. But, the packet still continuing invisible, he rapped out sundry impatient oaths: while a cloud gathered rapidly upon his brow. “By heaven! I have lost the papers—the very important papers which I am seeking,’ he ob- served, in a tone of bitter vexation. “Iam sure that I put them away here——” “ You might have locked them up in some other place,” suggested Meavles, as if quite innocent of any sinister knowledge concerning them. “ No—I am sure they were here /” exclaimed the Prince, “ Perdition! some one has been to my desk,” he added, his entire countenance contract- ing with the rage and alarm that gathered rapidly in his breast. “ Have you lost any papers besides the half of the certificate?” demanded Meagles. ' “ ‘yes—several,’ responded the heir-apparent, clenching his fists with impotent fury: “ papers of the utmost consequence—proying this very mar- riage between myself and Mrs. Fitzherbert——” “That is awkward—very awkward,” observed Meavles, shaking his head in aserious manner. * Awkward !—tis positively ruinous,” exclaimed the Prince. What shall I do?—whom can [ sus- pect? The only person at all likely to visit my desk would be Mrs. Fitzherbert herself——” “ Depend upon it, she is the authoress of this circumstance,” interrupted Tim; “and if I were you, 1 would not annoy myself with unpleasant speculations and conjectures. Besides, if any other person should have got hold of those papers, it can only be for the purpose of selling them back again to you——” “True!” ejaculated the Prince. “But whatare we to do now without the fragment of the certi- ficate in Hannah Lightfoot’s affair ?” “ Have the goodness to listen to me fora few minutes, Prince,’ said Meagles: “and I dare swear we shall come to a right understanding. You know that lam a man of rather ready wit, and that I don’t take a year to decide what ought to be done when the emergency isso pressing as scarcely to leave a minute for reflection. Well—ti have hit upon two schemes——” “Two schemes?” exclaimed the Prince, in- quiringly. “Yes—two schemes,” repeated Meagles: “for are there not two separate affairs to settle? One is to induce Mrs. Fitzherbert to consent to sepa- rate from you—to renounce all pretentions to be considered your wife—and to agree to such terms for her future maintenance as you may be enabled to propose. This, I say,is one object to gain—and I am the man to accomplish it !” “You” cried the Prince, with mingled amaze- ment and pleasure. “But Mrs. Fitzherbert does not——” And he stopped short suddenly. “ Does not like me much better than the devil does holy water, eh?” exclaimed Meagles. “ That is what your Royal Highness would have said: and why not finish your sentence? It is useless to stand on ceremony with me. However, I tell you over again that I will undertake to induce the lady, whether she likes me or not, to assent to all the conditions I have named: but I must stipu- late that you do not ask me to explain the means which I shall adopt for this purpose.” “Damn the means, Tim,’ exclaimed the Prince, in a hilarious tone, “ provided the aim be accom- plished. You have my free permission,” con- tinued this execrably selfish and diabolically heart- less individual,— to use any spells—charms—in- cantations—or enchantments you choose,—in plain terms, to adopt any means you may think advis- able,—so long as the grand result be gained.” “ Good!” observed Meagles, scarcely able how- ever to conceal his disgust at the cowardly, un- manly, demoniac treachery which that infamous Prince was capable of practising towards a woman who really loved him. “ You may consider the af- fair relative to Mrs. Fitzherbert as being just the same as if it were settled. On my return from Windsor I will direct my immediate attention thereto.” “Your return from Windsor!’ repeated the Prince: “but how can you go thither at all with- out the document ?” “T haye a scheme in my head to meet that emer- gency also,” replied Meagles. “ Come—don’t ask me any questions—and don’t make yourself un- happy: both matters shall be settled, I can promise you. Mrs. Fitzherbert shall agree to your terms on the one hand—and your illustrious father shall grant Mr. Clarendon a peerage, on the other hand.” “Ts it possible, Tim !” exclaimed the delighted heir-apparent. “You are the cleverest fellow in the universe, by God! But how can I rewardyou for all this ?” “ When I have fulfilled what I have promised, it will be time to talk of recompense,” said Meagles. “ No cure, no pay: but if there be a cure in this instance, I warn you, my dear Prince, that I shall ask something handsome as my reward, to be granted whenever the means arein your power.” “You cannot ask too much, my dear friend,” said his Royal Highness, who was always ready to | eens - CoOmicoooks.€®