The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 83: what you’re looking at

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

THE FRIENDSHIP OF ROYALTY 61 the matter. ‘‘ And now, as they are both rekivering, I should advise your Royal Highness to withdraw.” ‘“ Your counsel is excellent,’’ said the prince. ‘“ I cannot condescend to bandy words with such men, should they seek to address me and implore my pardon for this unpro- voked outrage which they have perpetrated upon me.” Having thus spoken, and in this last sentence conveying to Mr. Bax a hint relative to the language in which his evi- dence was to be couched at the Home Office, the Prince of Wales quitted the chamber just at the moment when Tim Meagles and James Melmoth were being restored to complete consciousness. Having hastily reassured Mrs. Brace respecting any fears which she might entertain of exposure, scandal, and disgrace, and having recommended her to keep Rose Foster a close prisoner for the present, his Royal Highness hurried back to Carlton House, which was only a couple of minutes’ walk from the milliner’s abode. Immediately on reaching his private apartment, he sum- moned Germain to his presence, and addressed that faithful servitor in the following manner: “ You will proceed without an instant’s delay to the lodgings of Mr. Meagles in Jermyn Street. I know that he is not at home at this moment, neither will he return for some time. But you will say that you are anxious to see him, and will therefore wait for him. When alone in his apartments you will open his desk, closets, cupboards, trunks, everything where letters or papers are likely to be kept; and all such letters and papers which you can find you will conceal about your person and bring to me. Never mind about breaking open locks, hesitate not to force doors or drawers, so long as you accomplish my commands. And if interrupted by anybody, declare boldly that Mr. Meagles is in a scrape, and that he requires his papers to help him out of it. If need be that you should say more than this, then state with equal effrontery that you are my servant, and that it is by my orders you are thus acting on behalf of my valued and esteemed friend, Mr. Meagles. Do you com- ~ prehend me? ”’ “ Perfectly, may it please your Royal Highness,”’ answered Germain; and, with a low bow, he retired to execute the commission thus entrusted to him. (C(O) ALG 6)(0)() So