The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 190: what you’re looking at

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

4 m) | | AN AMAZON 159 ‘Egad! I was quite sure that you would be welcome,” exclaimed Meagles, taking up a foil from the table and making a sham thrust at her ladyship. ‘“ Only conceive,” he added, turning toward the prince, who was surveying with gloating eyes the fine form of the huntress, “ | met our fair friend here as she was coming from her morning’s ride — ” “1 was just about to put up my horse in the stables in King Street,’ interrupted Lady Letitia; “‘for I went out alone for a good scamper at daybreak, and when I came back, there was not a groom nor even a boy in attendance to take the animal from me.”’ “Well — and I offered to unsaddle him for you,’’ said Meagles. ““ But I did it for myself while you were thinking about it,”’ responded the lady, as she gave her friend a real lash with her riding-whip in acknowledgment of the sham thrust he had made at her. “Don’t spare him!” cried the prince, laughing heartily as Tim Meagles vainly cut a caper to avoid the blow. “ But had I anticipated the pleasure of your company, my dear Letitia, I would have risen to receive you. Indeed, I ordered Germain not to make his appearance with breakfast until eleven, though I knew that Meagles would be here at ten — because I had resolved to take a bath in the interim.” “Treat me just as if I were one of your own sex,” ex- claimed the lady; ‘‘ and have your bath, by all means. Here, I will give you your dressing-gown and slippers,” she continued, throwing the former upon the bed and placing the latter in a convenient position on the carpet by the side of the couch. “And you mean me to rise in your presence? ’”’ asked the prince, laughingly. “ Why not?’ demanded Letitia. ‘‘ You do not suppose that I shall go home and tell the baronet that I have had the honour of assisting at the toilet of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales? ”’ ““Kgad! you are quite capable of telling your husband anything,” exclaimed Meagles, putting on a pair of boxing- gloves and attacking an imaginary antagonist in a most scientific fashion. ‘“You are very brave in buffeting the empty air, Tim,” (C(O) i 0) Oy 0) (CO)