The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 265: what you’re looking at

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254 “My dear Fanvy, wpat, in heaven’s-name !-fs the matter f° “ Nothing -~ nothiag —a little -tem exa- tion,” dhe said, ‘endeavouring to smile: but ‘the’ attempt was-very-meffectual. ° “It B something more serious thah you chodse to admit,” observed the Prince: then, his eye catching the letter which lay upon the rug, he stooped down and picked it dp. “You must not read it!” éxclaimed Mrs. Brace, extenditig her hand to receive the note. “This is silly of you,.Fanny,” said the Prince, ocither giving. her the document nor yet reading st “Ihold in my hand the undoubted cause of your annoyance. and yexation—and you are. well aware that I should not wish to becomeacquainted with its. contents through, any mative of jealousy. Such nonsense has long ceased. to.’exiat. betmeen youandmes Thereforg-whea I expresean anxiety to read this letter, it is through pure solicitudes sn gour behalf——” “And.aen .apprehepsion that it may probably cefer ta. zourself,” added.the millinar,with « tarb- aess which she verp rarely exhibited to any ove+- auch les» 40 the- Pringe of Wales. “Wett-I do aot knew Ditthat you had better perme the doca- ment,” she observed iininediately pfterwards, in a milder tone. His Royal Highness .aceordingly. cast. his: eyes over the letter;—aad his eountenanes fell. } “ By -heavem!: thisi is serieus,3 he ejaculated flinging-hinself upon e seaty white Mis; Brave rev sumed hér -chair- to ‘him. “‘ Fhé plot thickens rapidty,”*fie said:in a musing tone, as he ceferred to Florimal’s communication -.“ by God! tt must.thicken.as,mach as it likes,’. he exclaimed abruptly, “for angthing thas:1 can do toprerent: it. ‘ Pondios is not sidice on: behalf of her sister.’ This is just whatl -foresaw—justs what ¥: expected all along. Padiiwe and. Florine! are- two maudlin sentimentalists together; ‘and they wilt worka dea! of mischief. How the deuce is it, Fanny, that you did not contrive to have Pauline debauched by some gay fellow, or else to prodace a separation. Setwecoher.and Florimel? The thing is nesious: ‘put may &@ be partiq@lerly dammedsif i lenow how to remedy %.' ‘ In less: than forty-eight -hours she* —that’s Patiine—“ will have ‘cleared up all doubt the identity of Octavia’s lover? Forty- eight hours! When was this note written?” © “ It reached mea,a fem instanis before. you entered | .. the room,” answered Mrs. Brace. ; “To be sure! \I qught+o have recelleated the con-' fasion and trouble in which you were plunged at the moment,” said-the Prince.. “ Well —~ forty-eight: hours—~— that’s plenty of time to adopt some de- cisive measure in.” “Oh! you must not take the phrase in its literal sense,” exclaimed the milliner. “It may mean a longer, or it may mean a aborter period: but it is used emphat&ally to show that the interval will be brief ere your rank is discovered. So far, therefore, from postponing.a due and serious consideration of the proper measures to be.adopted, we must deliberate at once.” © “Ifthere be one thing more than another that I » said the Prince, speaking as if he had a nausea in his mouth, “it is the trouble of thinking an dis- agreeable matters,” “ Possibly f" observed Mra. Brace, with petulant THE MYSTERTIES.*~ dryness. “ But your Royal Highness will be pleased to refledt that an exposure in this instafice may com- ptomise the very crown which ‘you have in the per- spective. A young lady of good family; apduced by the Prince of Wales under a feigned name.—led .to believe that his intentions were hononrahle. and. that die would. espoyse. her,+my. God!. sueh.a_histoarg would create a feeling of .indignation. from. one end of the kingdom to the other;. and the pegnle, would: pull down my. house about my ears”. “No, my dear Fanzy—ywe'd have « regiment of Guards stationed along Pall .Mall,.to pretect you,” responded the.Prince, in a jecular mannex.- “Thank, *Gad, we always have:plenty of Genorat-efficera who + like.nothing better thamdhaviag ¢o0 oper a neurderous. cannonaits upentize people:'! . “ Thie is :not‘e time: nor‘a subject for "jesting,” said: Mrs. Braee.»:“ I bessegis you to look serseusly * at the matter— for it troubles me profeandly You percstve-that-.even if you : were -enabled ee silence Octavia by means of ~the' dnflwenge --you exercise-over hér, her sisterPaviline would still ‘pre~ coed a) | “And this Florintel- wonld ‘no doubt: kelp-her,* added the’ Prince. “By the bye, he is coming to Carltor House-to-morrow night. He'voted with the small Whig section in the Hotse of Lotds the‘other evening—and I was therefore courpelled to place his mame.on my reception-list. I shall be‘ very eivil to him to-morrow, and thus disiirm hith of any rancour ‘with which Patliné may have inspired hinr: for it is perfectly clear that the identity of Mr. Harley with the Prince of Wales is even more than suspected hy that young .jady—-whereas Octavia is perbaps still. full of uncertainty.” “You may. canoiliate. Florimel,, perhaps,”. said. afm. Brace: “ besides, you perceive by his note that, he’ would: rather -hush the matier yp. if he sould. But depend ypon it, from all I have-heard;: Panline. Clarendon is a girl .of spirit and -will leave you: no peace. when once sha shall -haya established the. fact. of your.identity., There is.enly.oneplan that I cam think of——” 1, “Name it—name it, my dear Fanny," cried the , Prince. “I knew you would-end by suggesting eomething: you are so fertile inexpedients. Besides. women always like to: make mateere out-as bad as they can, when they mean to w:nd up by propos- ing a remedy. Now then, my dear, what is your lan?” = Listen patiently for a few minutes,” said the milliner;smatiagat the complinicatewhielr Che-Prince -} paid .her..: “ You are: webb acquainted: wit Mn Cjarendon's positicn. A fewerecks age he believed : himself cestam ‘of euceceding othe ‘Murehmest : e Hen, Arther Baton'belng thenatdeath’s: door. But this young gentieman barrecovered- in 2 ‘most miraculous manzer ¢ and théeteis net the sight- est chance ‘that: Mr. Clarenden-wilt ever: be~Lord -|: Marchmont.: ‘To'make things sti niore unpleasant for Mr. Clarendon, he accepted‘a large tnconre from: the present Lord Marohnront; and went and took a fine house, at the time wher Arthtir Eaton was sup- posed to be dying. Hé’is therefote totally dependant on Lord Matchmont’s boanty ; and at the old yjieer’s - death, he will: be dependant on Arthur, Such a position is doubtless intolerablé for’ Mr'Clarendon ; and yet it is quite clear that’ he cannot well retreat, and go back to lis cottage in the Edgeware Road and his hundred or two Imuadred a year.” CORNICE OOO ‘SS CO