The Mysteries of the Court of London by Pauline Clarendon — page 299: what you’re looking at

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

306 THE COURT OF LONDON when once seated on the throne, may choose to east the Royal Marriage Act to the winds and proclaim Mrs. Fitzher- bert his wife and his queen. In such a ease, would it be of ho avail to us that the honour of the lady exists in our keep- ing? But, under any circumstances, when we have obtained as much as we can get from the prince, we shall then demand more through the influence and agency of Mrs. Fitzherbert.”’ “You are right, Tim,’”’ said the Amazon. ‘‘ We will secure the possession of the Marquis of Bellois’s papers. And now, when are we to renew our negotiations with Joseph Warren, the redoubtable Magsman? ” “ You and I will pay that worthy a visit this very evening, mv beauty,” answered Meagles. ‘“‘ Only faney what a glori- ous thing it would be for us if we should succeed in obtaining the other half of the certificate, and if, when put together, the entire document proved that the present king was really married to Hannah Lightfoot! Why, not only would the honour of the sovereign be completely in our hands, but likewise the validity of his alliance with the queen and the legitimacy of all his children.” “To be sure!’ ejaculated the huntress. ‘“‘ But I am afraid, from certain expressions — mangled and fragmentary though they be — in the moiety of the document which we now possess, that no real marriage ever took place.’’ ‘* The whole tenor of that moiety, so far as we can under- stand it,’ said Meagles, ‘“‘ admits of two interpretations, — one for, and the other against a belief 1n such a marriage. It is impossible to decide between them until we can peruse the document as a whole; and this evening we will endeav- our to lay a train for the purchase of the fragment in old Lightfoot’s possession,’ added Tim; for the old man’s death was unknown to him and the Amazon. ‘“T dare say we shal! sueceed,”’ observed the latter, rising from her seat. ‘‘ We shall work with more energy now that it is for ourselves, than we did when the prince commissioned vou to negotiate privately in his behalf. But it is now mid- dav, Tim, and the weather is clearing up. I must hasten home, change my Amazonian garb for a silk gown, gipsy bonnet, and warm furs, and appear in a dress which, as the common phrase goes, 1s suitable to my sex,’ she added, laughing. ‘And pray whom are you bent upon captivating to-day? ”’ ECORNIELOOO KS (El) m