The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 48: what you’re looking at

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

34 were seated on the box, and five followed on horse- back—the chief, as already mentioned, being 1n- side to keep guard upon the prisoners. At the expiration of about half-an-hour, during which a profound silence was observed in the in- terior of the vehicle, the equipage stopped. The leader put down the blinds—opened the door—and sprang forth. The moon was now riding high in the heavens; and it immediately became apparent to the royal party, as they glanced forth from the windows, that the carriage had brought them back to the very spot where the desperadoes had stop- ped it upwards of three hours before. The two men had already leapt from the box— and the servants, being now permitted to issue from the interior, resumed their places outside. “Good night—or rather, good morving,” said the leader of the masked band. “Good morning,” returned Lord Leveson, who thought it prudent to be civil until fairly out of the hands of the formidable troop: and the next moment the carriage rolled rapidly away. The Prince and the Marquis now began to ex- change those explanations which they mutually longed to receive. ‘The nobleman’s story was short enough—but it nevertheless caused the Regent the utmost amazement, inasmuch as he had hitherto felt convinced that plunder formed no part of the disguised desperadoes’ aims. ‘The discovery of the fact that the very contrary was the case, for a moment damped the pleasurable feelings which bis strange and exciting love-adventure had left be- hind: and he began to think that he had been made the dupe of some unprincipled adventuress, instead of having been the object of a disinterested affection on the part of a lady who had travelled all the way from the east to enjoy his company and who had been compelled to haye recourse to ex- traordinary measures to procure the gratification of her passion. However, he related his adventure to the Mar- quis, who listened with the profoundest attention and the liveliest interest—especially to those por- tions of the narrative in which the Prince de- lineated the charms, fascinations, and seductive powers of the beauteous lady. * And upon what understanding did you sepa- rate ?” inquired the Marquis. * The time slipped away with marvellous rapidity, while we lay clasped in each other’s arms,” re- sponded his Royal Highness: “and my thoughts —iy senses—all my faculties, were so absorbed in the intoxicating bliss which 1 thus experienced, that 1 forgot to question her minutely upon those matters concerning which it was most necessary for me to be enlightened. But I presume that even if I had put such inquiries, she would have evaded all satisfactory answers—and thus, in any case, was 1 no doubt doomed to depart in igno- rance of who she is, whafé is her name, where she lives, and why she adopted such extraordinary precautions to shroud: herself in an impenetrable secrecy. Ah! let her be what she may, Leveson, she is not the less an adorable creature—and I would give the world to obtain her altogether as a mistress |” “But under what circumstances did you part?” inquired the nobleman. “The time-piece upon the mantel proclaimed the hour of three,” said the Prince: “ and then she en Te THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. started from my arms, declaring that we must se- parate immediately. I implored her to allow me to remain a little longer—but she was peremptory. Then I besought her to promise that we should meet again—and she cheerfully acquiesced, reserv- ing to herself the privilege of making the appoint- ment. She vowed that she would write to me in the course of a few days: then, having rung a bell, she embraced me with impassioned fervour and hurried me away. Outside the door I found the man with the lantern—and he escorted me back to the room where you were waiting.” *“ And the deed which you signed, sir?” re- marked Lord Leveson, interrogatively. “ Ah! that circumstance begins to vex me,” ex- claimed the Prince: “ but I did it in a moment of such infatuation, that if it were the assignment of my soul to the Evil One, I should not have hesi- tated. Whatever the document might have been, its nature must transpire sooner or later—and it will no doubt furnish a clue to the correct reading of the entire mystery. But for the life of me I cannot fix upon any one who, having offended me, would be anxious to receive my written par- don ——” “Is it not probable that your Royal Highness has signed that pardon, not in any private capa- city, but in your executive position as Regent of the Kingdom ?” observed the Marquis of Leveson, in a serious tone. * It may beso,’ observed the Prince, with the im- patience of vexation: “and if your surmise is cor- rect, Ihave done a very foolish thing—that is all! But it is useless to deplore what cannot be re- called,” added his Royal Highness, after a brief pause, and in that devil-me-care spirit which he so frequently summoned to his aid in the same way as adesperate man has recourse to alcoholic liquors to drown care. * And does your Royal Highness wish to fathom the whole affair to the bottom without delay,” asked Leveson,—“ or to wait and see whether the lady will perform her promise of writing to you? ” * Can you suggest any means of unravelling the skein of the mystery ?” demanded the Prince. “ But remember that we dare not adopt any course cal- culated to give publicity to the adventure: other- wise we should be laughed at by our friends and reviled by our enemies.” “T am aware of the necessity of throwing a veil over all such occurrences in which the honour or character of your Royal Highness may in any way be mixed up,” said Leveson: “ but still I think that a private and secret investigation might be set afoot ——” “ How ?—by what means ?” asked the Prince im- patiently. I repeat that whether this woman be an adventuress or not—a well-meaning lady or the associate of brigands—I care not. I am ena- moured of her, Leveson — deeply, desperately enamoured of her—and I would adopt any mea- sure that is likely to trace her out, provided that all chance of exposure be avoided.” “T view the thing precisely in the same light,” returned the Marquis. “Some time on Wednes- day I shall be called upon to pay the two thousand guineas ransom-money: and I thought of employ- ing an active, intelligent, crafty Bow Street officer to follow the person who may eome for the money ——” GoOmicdoo (C S) (Eo)