The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 209: what you’re looking at

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

A MAGNANIMOUS WOMAN 179 you,” rejoined Lady Lade. “ Bad kings and princes make bad Ministers, and such is now the case in this wretched country.” ‘“‘Well, Meagles shall be restored,” said his Royal Highness, again biting his lip to restrain the wrath that cost him such severe struggles to prevent it from boiling over. ‘““ Meagles shall be restored, you say? Good! That is the first point. The second,’ continued the Amazon, “ is that he be raised to the peerage on the day of your marriage with Caroline of Brunswick, and that a pension of five thousand a year be settled upon him at the same time.”’ ‘“‘ Letitia, you are mad,” exclaimed the prince, now more amazed than even angry. ‘ Well, if you are afraid to ask your royal father for those boons,”’ said the huntress, coolly, ‘‘ I must repair to Windsor myself. It will not be the first time that I shall have de- manded of his Majesty a peerage and a pension for some one on your behalf; and provided with such important docu- ments, it is not likely that the king will refuse my prayer.”’ ‘“ No, no, you need not visit Windsor a second time,”’ exclaimed the prince. ‘‘ Come, I assent to the second condi- tion, — a peerage and pension for Meagles on my wedding- day. And that is all, I hope? ” “Yes, I have nothing more to stipulate,’ answered the Amazon. “ But I may as well inform your Royal Highness that the papers are not about my person, nor are they accessible to you. Well concealed are they now, and well concealed will they remain until the fulfilment of the condi- tions just laid down. You may employ bravos to waylay and murder me, but my death would not give you back your papers. On the contrary, they would fall into the hands of persons less scrupulous than I, and instead of reaping any advantage from the crime, your ruin would ensue. I give you this warning, because I am fully aware that the idea of sending me to an eternal sleep has flashed through your brain more than once during the last quarter of an hour. You will therefore now do so at your peril.” Thus speaking, the Amazon turned away and moved to- ward the private door, while his Royal Highness, astounded at the fact of her having read his thoughts so easily, remained transfixed and petrified with horror and amazement. ‘“‘ By the bye,” she said, stopping short and looking over (C(O) ANC 6)(0)©)