The Mysteries of the Court of London Vol. 4 — page 380: what you’re looking at

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

eppriatn Gage ~ Ss a SS SS se: Ey =e SSS, eS xr a i re a a i I ne, a RIE, (Seg mmm gc an A, ga a i ET A SP a ele = Sib oo = - = e > nn neha bait FRARIIS ba | Leave it to me,child-—do not ask ime anv ques- §“ Pardon me, Prince, if } am too familiar—but Lions now. I must act, and not talk :’—then, as she rose from her seat, she added, * Be of goud cheer. I feel convinced that the Prin¢e Regent will not only be brouzht to tefuns, but even perhaps be compelléd to do more for us than we have ever anticipat®l. lam now going to London.” » Penelope's eurivsity was greatlysexcited and her hopes were also revived by the tone of confidence in which her mother spole: but Mrs. Arbuthnot would say no mere at present; and again bidding her daughter be of good cheer, she quitted the apartnient. : . =e CUAPYTER CGIV. TRE CAPTAIN’S VIgstTt. Ir was between three and four in tjie afternoon of the same day, and the Prince Regent was seated alone at luncheon in one ef the splendid apart- ments at Carlton House. Hig Royal Lighne-s had been gising andicnee to Ministers and Am- bassadors during the early part of the alay ; and much fatigued with the ceremonies, he was now refreshing himself with some luxurious viands and racy wines ; but from time to time he made a movement of impatience, muttering half aloud, “IT wish to heaven that Venetia were hure !” Having pushed away his plate, be threw himself back upon the sofa where he was seated; and as he continued to sip his wibe, gave way to his re- flections. “Venetia has certainly abandoned me alto- gether: she will not come back—her husband has Jeft me and has gone to join her! She is therefore lost to me for ever! Ah, who ' shall supply her place? Ernestina, who in vo- - =< [teal a eee Sn EEE TR, TAN ae ly RE ERK UN See = aia _ = ee mr Ts Sets renege gia ete Es a a a =p ae ee. luptuous beauty of person came nearest to Ve- netia, is no more; and amidst the whole bevy of fair ones in whose arms 1 have already geveiled, or who are ready to bestow their favours upon me if 1 say but the word, there is nat one that can com- pare with Venetia—no, not one !” The Prince Regent was A melancholy mond ; and he felt thatthe wine did not inspire him with spirits. He wished for a companion at that moment, to enliven him with hilarious converza- tion ; and he was thinking fur whom he should send, when the door opened and a "domestic came to :unoance that Captain Tash soticiged an audi- ence. “Ah! Tash is come back then!” muttered the Prince to himeelf. “I am glad of it: he is the very fellow to cheer me up in my present low spirits :”—and he accordingly bade the footman in- troduce the Captain immediately. This command was promptly obeyed ; and the gallant officer, who was apparelled in the same re- markable fashion as when we beheld him visiting in his cabriolet at Levesan House, made his appear- ance. The domestio withdrew; and the Prinee, giving the Captain e ¢ordial welcome, bade bim sit down and help himself to wive. *T hope that I see your Royal Highness in a bluoming condition,” said the Captain, aa re deli- berately filled atumbler with Port wine to the brim; then having drained the glass as quietly and calinly as if its contents had buen watt. be observed, wa Mees SEP Uuseor ne oe —_ e _ = - = ro 12 wilde ——~ you look a trifle out of sorts /” ° * And I feel ao too, Tash,” responded his Royal [ighness. “But before we talk upon any other subject, give me an account of your proceedings.” “I have fulfilled your Royal [lighness’s instruc. tions to the very letter,” said the Captain; “and [ will now give you the details with the most prifect accuracy. On receiving yout Royal Highness's orders last week, I proceeded at once tu the sur- geon’s house in Bridge Street, and requested an immediate interview with the young man bearing the singular name of Jack the Foundling. At first the surgeon told me that no such person was there : but when I whispered in his ear to the effect-that I came from your Royal Highness, his manner changed in a moment, he looked significant enough, and conducted me up-stairs to a nice comfortable 100m, where I was introduced to the young man. The surgeon left us together; and I began speaking to him in the kindest and friendliest way. Indeed, that is my nature-eas I am an unconimon good- tempered fellow. I soon saw that the lad took a fancy to me; and we speedily got upon very good terms with each other. FP asked him if he had altogether recovered from the effects of his wound; and he said that he had pretty well, taough he did not feg} ao strong es before he had received it, not- withstanding so any months had elapsed. [then represented to him that there was some kind friend in the back-ground who had interested himee]f on his behalf, and had been paying the surgeon all this lime to take care of him and treat him with every possible attentiun. The lad said’that he knew very well the surgeon had not been keeping him there for the last neven or eight months out of mere phi- lanthropy—partioularly as a certain sort of myatery had been observed in making him stay in-doors as inuch as possible, and only taking him out for an airing occasionally of an evening in a carriage. | answered that all this had been done with the view of preventing him from falling agaiv into the hande of the infamous people eth whom be had been brought up and who might have been on the look- out for hisa. ‘Thereupon Jaek the Foundling ob- served that during the time Qe lay stratched upon a sick bed in consequence of his wound, he had ree flected upon his past career and had hoped that something would be done to prevent hip from re- lapsing into his old habits,” ‘Then he did really scem as if he wished to tura over a new leaf?” asked the Prince. ¥No doubt of it, your Royal Highness,” re- sponded ‘Lash, takiug the oppurtunity of the inter- ruption to refill aud empty his tumbler. “The lad told me that some time ago Mr, Lawrengs Samp- gon, the Bow Street officer, had tried fo. reclaim him; but that some evil spirit getting possession of his soul, prompted him to return to his old frieuds, He assured me however that his long ill- ness had given his mind a bettereturn, and he reallysfelt anxious to do something honest for his livehhuod. 1 then told him that bis former pro- tedtor Daniel Coffin bad that very morning been arrested for murder, and would be hanged as sure as he himself had tucked up scores in his time. The yourg fellow had not previously heard of OF. TIE GOuue re eee ee eer apnea ta haat ASSORTED chines Se ee he uceurrence; and he certainly did not seem much aifected by it—but observed, that he al- ways thuught Coffin would cume to some badgnd BM be te ee ee DT ener newews & 2 We Penh ve bP yanrerey & — et ie eee eS NSP PT LAT NS a ES RN “S i CS Sa A CEST SD eT a, LT Ee @ COMMU CY) AOC) cS) CO