The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 325: what you’re looking at

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

290 THE COURT OF LONDON ‘‘ Well, we won’t say any more about it, Letitia,” returned Meagles. ‘“ Let us talk of business. And, in the first place, I must tell you that I last night had another proof of the prince’s utter selfishness and thorough want of heart.’ ‘In what way? ”’ demanded Letitia. ‘“ You know it was George’s fault that I did not go off at once yesterday and pay the money to that poor devil Foster,” resumed Meagles. ‘“‘ The consequence was that I arrived too late — the poor man had blown his brains out! ”’ ‘““ Good heavens! ”’ exclaimed the Amazon, with unaffected horror. “Yes, and his unfortunate wife fell down dead upon the disfigured corpse of her suicide husband,” continued Meagles. “This is too shocking!”’ cried Lady Letitia. ‘‘ I would not for all the world become the cause of such a catastrophe,” she added, with the emphasis of sincerity. “Nor I either. And now, will you believe me when I assure you that the prince received the dreadful intelligence with the most heartless indifference; or, I should rather say, that any feelings which he displayed in the matter were those of an intense selfishness. His first impulse was to express anxiety lest the circumstances of the suicide should transpire and expose his name to scandal and obloquy. But I had already taken measures to save him from that ignominy; and when he was thus reassured, he indulged in a fiendish hope that I had not parted with the money which the Marquis of Saint Croix advanced, and which had been destined to pay the amount due to the ruined Foster! ”’ ‘T am not surprised, but I am horror-stricken by the prince’s conduct,” said Lady Letitia. ‘‘ What followed?” ‘“T told the prince that I had paid the debt for which Hodson and Morley so cruelly pressed the deceased, and so indeed I had. He was much vexed at having thus lost the chance of using the money for his own purposes; but he speedily consoled himself with the prospect of passing a jovial night, for he had company in the banqueting-room. I refused to join them, and came home.” ‘‘ And this is the heartless man who is one day to become the Father of his People! ”’ exclaimed the Amazon, in a tone of deep disgust. ‘‘ You do well, Tim, to adopt all kinds of precautions,” she added, at the expiration of a minute, “ to guard against being ill-treated by him eventually.”’ CORNICLAOO