The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 207: what you’re looking at

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

A MAGNANIMOUS WOMAN 177 great object was achieved. The papers, those valuable, those important papers, are in my possession; and I am now here to dictate my own terms to you, the discomfited, the defeated, the humiliated enemy.”’ ‘““ Meagles deserved all that has happened to him,”’ said the prince, in a thick, hoarse voice and with a dogged manner, “for he stole the papers from me in the first instance, and it was by their aid that you and he overawed my father.” “We will not dispute upon the point,’ responded the Amazon, calmly and resolutely. ‘“ Suffice it for my purpose and for you to know that the papers are now in my hands. Yes, the Lightfoot certificate, which proves your father to be a perjured miscreant and a cold-blooded traitor to a young, lovely, and confiding woman whose heart he doubtless broke — ”’ ‘“‘Calumniate not your king!” exclaimed the prince, trembling with rage. “Then the documents proving your own marriage with Mrs. Fitzherbert,’’ continued the Amazon, heedless of the interruption, “‘ a marriage which, if proclaimed to the public, would lose you the crown that you hope to wear — ”’ ‘‘ Ah! do you dare menace me? ” cried the prince, clench- ing his fists and grinding his teeth. ‘Then the correspondence which shows that this same Mrs. Fitzherbert, your own wife,’”’ proceeded the remorseless Amazon, ‘‘ became the paramour of the Marquis of Bellois, the mother of a child, too — ” ‘“‘ Fiend! devil! demoness! ”’ ejaculated the heir apparent, stamping his feet with fury and extending his arms menac- ingly toward the huntress. ‘“‘ Rage on, rage on, I defy you! ” she exclaimed; and her musical laugh rang through the chamber. ““ The papers,— you have them about your person,— yes, the plunder is concealed beneath your garments,” cried the prince, in a hoarse, thick voice and in broken sentences. ‘“‘ But, by the eternal God, I will tear them from you, I will rend your garments to shreds, I will murder you, sooner than let you escape me.’ And with a species of savage yell, such as a hyena sends forth when goaded into fury, he sprang toward the huntress. But, nimble and agile as the young fawn in the forest, the lady darted aside; and at the same moment a bright dagger (C(O) mG 6)(0)()