The Mysteries of the Court of London Vol. 4 — page 385: what you’re looking at

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

a a LETS |e SS Sissi ses gS fi ts lee eemsinangpatemtammeveneas ee 872 THE MYSTERIES OF THE VOURT. ‘ejaculations which showed how profoundly he felt the terrible things that had been revealed to him. That he himself might have had some distant sus- picion of the possibility of his brother’s guilt, rela- tive to the death of Sellis, was probable—was even likely: but if so, he must ever have striven to put it away from his thoughts, as a man endeavours to shake off the influence of a hideous dream. But most assuredly the Prince had never suspected that his sister Augusta had been ao deeply cri- minal as he was now foreed to believe her. Profli- gate, unpriocipled, heartless, and depraved as he was—saturated with vices—capable of any iniquity iu the purauit of pleasure and in the conquest of female virtue—yet the Prince Regent was not so far removed from hud:anity and so nearly allied to the nature of a fiend, as to remain indifferent to the details of Mra. Arbuthnot’s disclosures. On her part, the wily woman saw how deeply the arrow had penetrated, and how excruciatingly its barbed head rankled in’ the heart which it had pierced; and she chuckled inwardly as she felt that some result beneficial to herself and daughter would ensue from the cousse she had taken. “Can you procure that fragment of a letter written by Sellis?” auddenly asked the Prince, as he stopped short in front of where the Bedvhawber Woman had remained seated. , “ Yes—1i can,” was her response. * And you will do so?” *7 will.” * Of course you expect your reward t” continued the Prince. “What is it to be?” “‘T am moderate in my ambition,” she answered. “All I nead is that my own position at the Court shall not be endangered by the exposure of my daughter's shame; and therefore that she herself may be provided for.” * But how?” cried the Prince. “I can give her money—bat nothing more. I cannot give her a title; and that is what she was looking after. I saw by everything she said last bight that such was her desire. If she were married, it wee dif- ferent: Icould do something for her husband———” “Ah! if she were married it would indeed be easy—I understand!” extiaimed Mrs. Arbuthnot. “You can confer a title—a baronetcy we will say —upon her husband; and it will be precisely the same thing, siace the lustre of the rank would be reflected upon her. But how can she marry, situ- ated as she is?” “Holdf” ejaculated the Prince, a sudden idea striking him: then after a few instants’ delibera-° tion, he said, * Mrs. Arbuthnot, if 1 were to find your daughter a husband who would accept her as she is—knowing tbat she has been my mistress —knowing also that seven months hence she will become a mother—if I find your daughter such a husbaad, I ask, will she accept him?” “ Assuredly she will—provided that this husband is at least a Baronet, with an income sufficient to maintain my daughter in comfort, if not in splen- dour. . But,” continued Mrs. Arbuthnot, “he, must not be a man of repulsive appearance: for I know that Penelope would not sacrifice herself to a person who might be loathsome to her.” “Qn the contrary,” said the Prince, his counte- nance brightening up somewhat as the project which he now revolved in his mind assumed reater eonsistency and feasibility,—“on the con- er | trary, the gentleman of whom I am now thinking, is good-looking enough; and there are plenty of young ladies whb would be well pleased with his appearance. As for the.Bayonetcy, I promise you he shall have that; and I will likewise guarantee that his income sha] not be less than six or’ seven hundred a-year. Indeed, I will find for him some situation—the Rarfership of a park—the post of an Ordoanca Store-keeper—or perhaps a Consui- ship——-At all eventa, something both honourable and lucrative.” . ; “I am perfectly contented with the proposed ar- rangement,” said Mrs. Arbuthnot; “aud on Pene- lope’s part I anhesitatingly accept it.” “When will you come with the document in your possession?” asked the Pince. “ Let there be no delay. To-morrew, if you will.” “ And shall 1 bring Penelope with me, so that she may be introduced to her intended husband ?” inquired Mrs» Arbuthnot, her question plainly praving that she did not mean to give up Sellis's letter unless convinoed that the Prinee Regent on his part was prepared to carry out the propositions he had made. “Yes—briug Penelope with you,” was his Royal Highnese’s answer; “and she shail meet her in- tended here. Let the hour be three o’cleck to- morrow.” “ At three o'clock to-morrqw Ishall be punctual with my daughter.” Mrs. Arbuthnot then tool her departure from Carlton House,—rejoicing at the success of her visit, and determined in her own mind to purioin the letter of the murd¢red Sellis from her friend Mrs. Bredalbane’s writing-desk. Aocordingly, with this very honest intention—and likewise with an almost fevered anxiety to impart the good news which she had for her daughter’s ears— Mrs. Ar- buthnot hasteued back to Windsor Castle, CHAPTER CCVI. THE INTENDED HUSBAND, Ox the following day, puactudily at three o’clook, Mre. and Miss Arbuthnot made their appearance at Carlton House, and were at once ushered into an apartment where they found his Royal High- ness waiting to reosive them. At onoe rising from his seat with the most familiar courtesy, and even condescending friendliness of manner, the Prince Regent shook Mrs. Arbuthnot very warmly by the hand; and then throwing his arms around the vo- luptueusly-formed Penelope, bestowed upon her a hearty kiss. Both mother and daughter were somewnat sur- prised at this remarkable change in the Prince's manner: for the elder lady had not failed to ac- guaint Penelope with the freezing reserve which his Royal Highness had at firat manifested towards her on the previous day, and how she had been compelled to use threats to bring him to reason. Of course Mrs. Arbuthnot was well pleased to ob- serve this change : and Penelope submitted with a very good grace to the roval caress—although she row in her heart eotertained the most cordial hate towards her seducer. The Prince made the two ladies sit down upom the sofa; and placing himself between them, he ae ee Sy pee eee EE ee eee CONNIE OOO cS) CO