The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 236: what you’re looking at

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

| | -_— ~~ —-H«<, —_—— eee i ae ao mated _—--—-——_—_— a “Ah! you do not love your husband, then?” said the Prince. , “T hate—I detest—I abhor him!” cried Ernestina einphatically. “Besides,” she immediately added in a subdued and murmuring tone, “I love you— and you only !” “Thanks for that assurance, my angel,” said the Prince, pressing her warmly towards hirn: and for the time being, even the incomparable Venetia T're- lawney was forgotten by the royal voluptuary. “ But what were you going to observe?—that afier your marriage " “I was cut out, as it were, from that society in which alone I was likely to meet your Royal High- “Do not Royal Highness me,” murmured the Prince. “Let me be George or anything else you like to you.” “Dear, dear George,” said Ernestina, pressing her lips to his own. © But E will not weary you with along story. You are aware that Dysart killed Sefton ina duel PP “And he was condemned to death yesterday,” exclaimed the Prince. ™ But what was that paper which I signed re “‘ Here it is—read it, George,” interrupted the lady, producing the document from beneath the cushion of a sofa, and displaying it to the view of his Royal Highness. The Prince, suffering his curiosity to distract him for a few moments from his dream of volupiu- ous bliss, took the paper and read it. But when he found that it was in fact an acknowledgment on his part of a criminal correspondence with Lady Ernestina Dysart, and a solemn undertaking to grant a free pardon to her husband, whatever sen- tence a criminal tribunal might pass upon him,—a feeling of indignation sprang up in his soul—and turning his eyes reproachfully upon his fair com- panion, he said, “ And you were a party to this precious document?” “Hear me, Prince—hear me, dearest George— and do not prejudge me!” she exclaimed, re- doubling the fond ardour of her caresses, and im- mediately bringing all the wanton witcheries of seductive artifice to play their artillery upon him again. “But let us first destroy this paper, my love,” said the Prince: “that is, if you really have any regard and affection for me.” “ Destroy it if you will,” observed Ernestina, her manner suddenly changing into coldness “but in that case I shall be ruined, and you will be ex- posed.” “What mean you? Speak!” cried the Prince. “Tf the paper be destroyed, Dysart will proclaim to the world all that occurred at Beechey Manor,” responded the lady. “Thus my reputation will be wrecked—and your’s will sustain no advantage.” * But do you wish me to comply with the guaran- tee contained in this document?” demanded the be- wildered Prince: “do you wish me to exercise my prerogative as Regent and grant a free pardon to your husband? JI thought you said just now that you hated, loathed, and abhorred him——” “And I repeat those expressions now,” exclaimed Ernestina. “ Yes—I hate, loath, and abhor him: and it is precisely because I wish to leave him to his doom, that I, enjoin you nat to destroy that paper, but on the contrary help me in deluding routine of business and serious affairs. THE MYST“RIES OF THE COURT. and beguiling the wretched man to the very last, By so doing, he will retain our secret—he will not be goaded by rage or despair to proclaim it to the world—and neither your reputation nor my own need suffer.” “ But what purposes have you in view, Ernestina ? —and how do you propose to carry out your aims ?” asked the Prince, now beginning to comprehend the wily lady’s meaning, “ Listen attentively,” she said, throwing her arms about his neck and drawing him towards her in such a manner that his ear came close to her lips ; aid then she whispered long and earnestly. * Yes—it can be managed in that way—and it must be done so,” said the Prince, in a m tone, when she had ceased speaking. “ But have you the nerve—the tact—the courage to carry out the plan to the very last moment ?” * By all the wrongs I have sustained at his hands,” returned the lady, in a low voice that was full of concentrated bitterness, “ I swear that I am as remorseless in my vengeance as I am capable of being fervid, enthusiastic, and devoted in love.” *f believe you, dearest Ernestina—I believe you,” said the Prince, now again melting beneath the influence of her blandishments. “And re- member, I trust entirely to you—I confide in you altogether m “My love towards you is the proof of my sin- cerity,” murmured the lady, redoubling the ardour of her caresses and exciting the Prince to tender dalliance. * Well, let me write what you require upon the margin of that document,” he said; “ and then, as I ere now observed, we can talk of love—and only of love,” Thus speaking, the Prince rose and placed himself at a table on which there were writing- materials. ** Now dictate to me, my charming preceptress, what I am to say,” he observed, taking up a pen and preparing to write. *Let the annotation run thus,” said Ernestina, bending over him, with one arm thrown about his neck :—‘ J have re-perused this paper and reiterate the promise made therein.’ Now affix the date and your signature. That will do.” “ Well, it is done—and I am glad of it,” ob- served the Prince. You do not know how I hate trouble of any kind. Iwas formed and fashioned to spend my existence pleasurably, and not in the Come, put away that document, Ernestina—and tell me once more that you are really and truly very fond of me.” The lady lecked up the paper in the drawer of a cheffonier standing in one of the window recesses, and then took her seat upon a sofa, the Prince placing himself by her side. At the same instant his looks fell upon the door communicating with the mysterious suite of apartments: and, as a train of recollections associated therewith gushed through his memory, he said, “Ernestina my darling, have you ever been in those rooms?” “Never,” she replied. “They are my uncle's private apartments—and he does not allow any one save his valet Stephen Brockman and the house- keeper to enter them.” “And have you never been inspired with cu- riosity suflicient to induce you to explore those —_ -——_—_—_- -——_— — ee ee ee ew COmnuce JOOKS (CO)