The Mysteries of the Court of London Vol. 4 — page 387: what you’re looking at

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

S74. VHE MYSTERIES QF THE Court, candidly, upon the subject,” saul Mra. Arbuthnot, “that I hdve really nothing to add—unless it be to remind your Royal Highness that should either of us hereaiter prove ungrateful, the means of re- venge are in your own hands. A word from your Royal Highness to the Queen, would deprive me of my situation at Court; and a stroke of the pen would vancel the Government situation to be con- ferred upon Penelope’s husband. Surely, then, thes» are guarantees sufficient ?” © VYexy—or at least L must consider them sn,” re- joined the Prince. “ But as you have proved so exceedingly suspicious of my good faith, aud tave even exhibited a disinclinuatiou to trut that letter ju my hatids, you canuot be surprised ff I should be equally wary and dautious. Thore is now one more question I have to ask.’ “ Speak, Prince,” said Mrs, Arbuthnot; “ and you will see that I am prepared to deal as candidly as possible with your Tt sya! Highness,” © You have not yet tuld me,” auswered the Prince, “from whom you received ali these partivalars rela- tive to that frightful affiir, and from whom you procured that document ¥ “From Mes. Bredalbune—one of her Majesty s Bedchamnber Won: 0,” was Mra. Arbuthnot’. reply. ‘*“Aht L koow hee well—a regular old female courtier!” sani the Puince, his couutenance brifht.- ening up: “there is no harm to be anticipated at her hands. Besides,” bo inuttered to hunsell, “when once that ducument "—liuding to Sellis’s fragmentary letter—“is burnt, the main evidence isyone and the tale shriuks into a mere picee of possiping tittle-tattle. Well then,” he said, asain speakiug aloud, lL think touat we have uvthing nove to say. Butaniod, it @ understood that wh n f mtreduce her intended husband to Miss Pene- lope, and place in his hauds tha document con- ferring the baronetcy, that letter ’—and he pointed Ww the oue whics Mrs. Arbuthnot held tight be- tween her fiugers—" shall be at once given over eat Ry possession 2” . “Such is the arranzement for which I ‘avuelf ehonld have atipwlated,” gaid Mrs. Arbuthnot. “ But there is, one thing of which no mention has beer inade,” observed Penelope: and the flush of shame sppeared upon her countenance as she spoke. “Ah! 2 know what my daughter means,” ex, claimed her faother. “ Has your Royal Highness frankly and candidly stated to the gentleman, whom as yet you have not named to us, Penelope's exact position 2?” ‘ “He knows everything,” anewered the Prince; “and such is bis devotion to me, that he will chees- fully beatow his name upon Miss Penelope. [ think that every preliminary is now settled, and that nothing remains to be done save and except to in- troduce the individual in question.” Taus speaking, the Prince rose from his seat and advanced towards a dvuor at the extremity of the apartment. Penelope and her mother also roge— the former beco:ning greatly agitated, and the fatter whispéring hurned words of encouragement in hes ears. Penelope accordingly summoned all her | courage to her aid; and intensely eager was the look of curiosity aud atispense which she now fixed upon i the door towards which the Prince was advancing. . He opened it-ebeckoned the young lady’s future husband torth—aud then turning quickly ruuod as that gentlemau made his appearance, exclaimed Fe ee tm omen" ~— ~- - =o ™ = al = -_ — ——_= a oe ane al SE eg, ee wn i Se ee =a “Ladies, permit me to introduce Sir Rolando Tash!” And our friend the Captain indeed it was, Never in hia own idea had he eloghed so blooming or so killing! His frock-coat, one masa of braidigg and frogeins all over the breast, was pinched in/fat the waist to‘such a degree that its wearer was compelled to draw his respirafions in the softest manner pos- sible, for feanthe hooks and eyes should give way. His grey military trousers had stripes of the broadest gold Jace down the legs ;°and his boots were so bril- lantly polished as to be perfect mirrors for every article of furniture in the room.: Indeed, as the gallant officer bowed to the ladies as low as his tigntly-fitting garments would permit, he caught a glifipse of his Lirsntacountenatfve on the surface of either boot. But his hair, his mouatachios, his im- perial, and his Whiskers—heavens! who cau describe their magnificence? He would bave made the fortune uf any perrugwer im the Burlington Arcade by merely stamdiug in the shop-window for a single half-hour each day. ‘Lodo the Captain full juatice, however, all his hair was hiseown; and no pains had been spared to give it the richest gloss which bear's- grease could imparg, and the fluest twist that curling-irons cuuld produce. Oe wow a pair of doveecoloured gloves; and instead of one gould chain festooning over the outside of bis cuat, he wore two. The enil of an embrisdered cambric handkerchief peeped out of his pochet behind; and to close our description, We must not forget to observe that he was as duchly : perfumed as if he had just been imported fru.h those lands which are said to abound in myrrh, alues, | and Gassia. " He was known by sight to both the ladies ; and he knew them also: for when watching at the Green Dragon, as described in the earliest chap- ters of onr hit-tory, be had seen the Indies at Acaeia OCottuwe, and the ladies had seen him | coming in aud oat of the Green Dragon aforesaid. Sv iit when the Prince had mentioned to him who the frail Maid of Honour was, for wiom a husband was required, Sir Rolandy Tash—as we most now call hiu—nad at ouce jumped at the proposal, inasmuch as he had yery highly appre- enited the persuna: quali@catigns of Miss Peneivpe. Advaneiip: therefore with the mogt studied de- m.anour of aflability aud jauntiness, Sir Rolando Tash siniled so ous to exhibit lis white teoth in coutrast with the gloasy darkness of his moustache; and when he reached the place where the ladies were stinding, he literally confounded hiuaself in kows and salutations. Penelope was willing enough to receive this gentdeinan asa husband: but perhaps sie would have laughed at the manner io which he now acvostud her, had nut & sense of shame produced n more serious feeling. “Come, Miss <Arvuthnot,” said the Prince, “you need nut be bishful. My very particular fiend Sir Rolando Tash feels highly nonuured at the prospect of conduciing you to the altar; and if you are equally satisfied te accompany hu thither, I do not see why your happiuess should be delayed beyond tb-murrow, A special license —St. Cieurge’s, Hanover Square—a dejuaner — off an a chaise-ani-four to spend the honeymoon at Brighton or Bath—aud a paragraph in tle uers- papers to let the world kuow witat tas happemed, -tiese are all tual are dow required.” —— = rns a ee one oD: 4 & ~ wee § <<. Ve wo . = COMMU 7 LDOC < = CO