The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 76: what you’re looking at

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

58 THE COURT OF LONDON which they all unceremoniously entered; and, in spite of the remonstrances, threats, and entreaties of Mrs. Brace, a search was commenced throughout the premises. In a short time the screams issuing from a particular chamber led the party in that direction, but on Mrs. Brace’s hurriedly whis- pering to Meagles that the prince was with Miss Foster and that a scandal must be avoided, he had ordered the con- stables to remain on the landing of the staircase, while he and Melmoth prosecuted the search by themselves. How- ever, the noise of the struggling between Melmoth and the prince and the terrible imprecation to which the latter gave vent made the officers fear that violence was being used; and in order to adopt the necessary precautions to preserve the peace as well as to take any offender into custody, they hurried to the scene of action, despite the endeavours of the two tall footmen to hold them back and the entreaties of Mrs. Brace that they would not push their interference any farther. The constables, who of course belonged to the parish, in- stantly recognized the Prince of Wales; and, their ideas of justice being as immediately absorbed in the notion that as kings can do no wrong, so the heirs of kings must be equally incapable of offending, they at once and without a moment’s hesitation rushed to his rescue. Melmoth, the working man, was unceremoniously knocked down and laid senseless on the carpet by the heavy staves of the functionaries; and these legalized ruffians, having thus disposed of one of the persons who dared seek their assistance in order to interfere with the pleasures of his Royal Highness, thought that they could not possibly be doing the prince a greater service than by knock- ing down the other person in a similar style. Quick as lightning, therefore, were their bludgeons turned from Mel- moth upon Meagles; and the brave defenders of poor Rose Foster were both stretched powerless at her feet. So rapidly had this second act in the drama passed that the heir apparent had not the time, even if he had possessed the inclination, to interfere on behalf of Tim Meagles; and it was with a species of consternation that he beheld the sudden diversion created in his favour by the decided though inconsiderate course adopted by the constables. A strange scene of confusion now followed. Rose Foster had fainted when she beheld her champions so summarily (C(O) mG 6)(0)©) KS (C(O)