The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 80: what you’re looking at

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

58 THE COURT OF LONDON widow, likewise speaking in a subdued tone. ‘“‘ Do not yield under a dukedom, mind! ”’ ‘““ Nothing less,’ returned Meagles, with a resolute air. ‘“ My good sir,” at length said the king, now giving utter- ance to his words in a slow, solemn, and measured manner, “you have inflicted a deep wound upon my — or rather, you have torn open one which was barely skinned over. I shall not attempt to appear indifferent to the subject which has been brought so vividly to my notice. Doubtless the honour of your king is in your keeping; speak, therefore, without reserve, and fear no interruption from me. Now, sir, what have you to say?” And resting his right elbow upon the arm of the chair, the monarch covered his face with the hand which at the same time supported his head. ‘““I am well pleased that your Majesty is prepared to listen calmly and tranquilly to the observations which I am about to make,”’ said Meagles; “ and as it will save your Majesty the pain of another interview with us, I will at once proceed to glance at the nature of these documents which I hold in my possession. Your Majesty will then be enabled to judge whether it be worth while to purchase the papers from me, and whether in the remuneration that I seek, I have placed too high a value upon them.” ‘““ Proceed,” said the king, still retaining the attitude of profound attention and of deep dejection which he had ere now assumed as he sat in the armchair. “In the year 1756,’ resumed Meagles, “‘ your Majesty, being at that time his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, fell in with Miss Hannah Lightfoot and became enamoured of her. Your meetings were frequent, but innocent; and you found that the charming Quakeress was too pure to surrender herself to your wishes without marriage, or at least without the semblance or solemn promise of a mar- riage. Thus compelled to adopt a decisive part, your Maj- esty — then Prince of Wales, as your son now is — wrote Miss Lightfoot a letter revealing your rank. This was in the month of February, 1757, and although the letter is not in the collection which I now hold, there are many allusions to its contents in other letters which are in this correspondence. In the month of April, 1757, Hannah Lightfoot became your bride in the sight of Heaven, the memorable certificate to Gomichboo cS (EO)