The Mysteries of the Court of London by Pauline Clarendon — page 257: what you’re looking at

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

204 THE COURT OF LONDON in a different manner from what I suggest or arrange, and then leave me completely in the dark? ’’ ‘“ T do not consider that you have a right to catechize me thus, Mr. Meagles,”’ said the prince, haughtily. ‘ If it be irksome or unpleasant to you to attend occasionally to my business — ” | ‘“Irksome and unpleasant be hanged!’ exclaimed Tim. “ What I meant was, that your Royal Highness places me in such a position at times that I should look like a fool were I, for instance, to meet this man Foster — ”’ “The fact is,’ interrupted Lady Letitia, “‘ Tim Meagles is anxious never to look otherwise than like a sapient fellow, as he Is.’’: “A thousand thanks, my dear huntress, for taking my part!’’ exclaimed the prince, now thinking it politic to resume his good humour. -‘‘ Come, Meagles, give me your best attention, and let us see what can be done in this difficulty.”’ “We shall be sure to overcome it,’’ remarked Tim, quite satisfied with the little amount of independent spirit which he had just shown, and which was only displayed for the purpose of disarming Lady Letitia of any suspicion that she might have formed to the effect that he was nothing more than the prince’s servile toad-eater and did not dare to call his soul his own. “ Pray proceed, my illustrious friend; I am all attention.” “Well, you must know that this unfortunate fellow Foster is on the very verge of bankruptcy, — that’s what I think they call it amongst trading people,’ continued his Royal Highness, with a supercilious smile of contempt for that mighty industrious class upon whose hard earnings and incessant toils the unprincipled voluptuary was liv- ing in a luxurious indolence and an execrable dissipation. “Tt appears,’ proceeded the prince, “ that Foster has met with sad reverses, and that unless he can pay a sum of between fourteen and fifteen thousand pounds by three o’clock to-morrow, he will be irremediably ruined. Now, the fact is that the other evening I agreed to meet him at the’ very tavern where three years ago he lent me the cash, for you know that I have a desperate aversion to any of those tradesmen fellows setting foot within these walls.” ECORNIE NCO KS (EO) m