Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 181: what you’re looking at

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

164 THE COURT OF LONDON knew full well that the prince kept every document of an important or private nature there. But, as it frequently happens in such cases, the very last packet which Tim Meagles drew from the desk bore the endorsement that he had hitherto so vainly sought; and having secured this little parcel about his person, he rearranged all the others, locked the desk, and restored the key to its place of concealment under the pillow of the couch. For a few moments a smile of triumph played upon the lips of Tim Meagles; but it almost immediately yielded to that calm, free and easy, and independent expression which was the natural characteristic of his features. Drawing a large armchair close to the fire, he deposited himself indo- lently in the luxurious seat, and lighted a cigar. In a few minutes the door of the bathroom opened, and Lady Letitia came forth, followed by the prince. Not a blush appeared upon her cheek, not the slightest embar- rassment marked her manner, as she emerged from the bathing-room; but Meagles turned an arch look upon the prince, exclaiming, ‘‘ Well, are you displeased with me for having brought our Amazonian friend this morning? ”’ ‘“ Hold -your tongue, Tim,” cried the lady, laughing. ‘Ah! I thought I smelt the delightful flavour of the weed. I will keep you company with a cigar, while the prince dresses himself — and then for breakfast. I already feel as hungry as a hunter.”’ | ‘Or a huntress — which? ”’ observed Meagles. “ Both,” replied Lady Letitia, throwing herself upon a chair opposite to her humourous friend; then, taking an elegant ivory case from the pocket of her frock-coat, she drew forth a little Spanish cigarette, which she lighted by the aid of Meagles’s full-flavoured Havana. ‘And so you smoke, Letitia, do you? ”’ asked the prince. ‘Your Royal Highness sees that I can manage a ciga- rette,” responded the huntress, ‘‘ but barely a cigar. And as for tobacco — I mean as it is smoked in a pipe — pah! the idea makes me feel — ”’ ‘Not sick,’ interjected Meagles; ‘‘ but only as if you would spoil your beautiful teeth. It’s all vanity on your part, my beauty! and if it wasn’t for the teeth you’d be smoking the strongest cavendish, I know! ”’ The huntress laughed, and then gave Tim a tap on the ~~ Gomicbooks (ee) m