The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 309: what you’re looking at

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

a couple of hours ‘agreeably enough in his estima- | tion. He then muffled himself in his cloak—quitted Carlton House by the private staircase leading from his own bed-chamber—and passed hastily into St. James's Square. The doorof that department of the milliner’s establishment was speedily opened; and in a few minutes he was seated with Mrs. Brase in the little parlour to which allusion has been so frequently made in former chapters of ous tive. 4 To this lady the Prince speedily commentcated the satisfactory intelligence that her advice had been adopted in respect to the means of propitiating Mr. Clarendon when he should come to know his daughter’s shame; and the milliner was weil pleased by the intelligence thus conveyed. She then spoke ef the ise of the adventure at the ball, the failare of the Princa’s attempt upon Lady Desborough Having been already made known by him in a nete which he had written te Mrs. Brace on the ensuing morning, His Royal Highness did not however at present seem in a humour to diseuss that subjects but, hastily shifting the diseouree, ye demanded whether she had any good news for reapesting * Miss Camilla Moston. “I will tell you very ogndidly,” anewered Maus. Brace, *that I am at a loss to eumnprehend this young git It was Sunday evening, you remember, that you supped with me, Camilla being peussnt. All Monday I saw little of her, as I was mueh occupied during the day——end om the night I was at Casiton House, as you are aware. But yesterday I obesrved that there wae some alteration in hey manner. She ether beheld me with rp veiaiaweny of timi- ity, or with suapi knew net which. I spoke kindly to her ahe muveered axe in a tene that struck me as being oold and with an air that seemed reserved. Throughout yesterday she was thus peculiar in her manner; and te-eday it has been the same,” added the milliner: for it was on the Wednestiny evening that the Prince and henself were thus eenversing to- er. “Think you, my dear Fanny,” i 1 Royal Highness, “that she suspeots whe I am f* “ Decidedly not,” responded Mra. Brass. “If she did, she would not heaitate to tell me so—for, with all her natural timidity, she is a girl of a frank, art- “It was thus that I also read her character, on Sundey night,” said the Prince. “ Well, if she do not suspest who I am, what the devad mingiving can she entertain f* “I know not, P che has overheard seme sided Mra Brooo, in a wading tone.“ Thore sone reee, ina tone, “ There is one Rachel Forrester — whe will mother: and her spcition ie not apparent--aoe eontmit any indiscretion in the pre- dexce of Cotuilia, In fact, I am qaite bewildered whet t make of the sisi,” exclaimed the nililiner “Then you have not been able to ol mm arrange any ot all,” intavepted Mre. Brave, laceni- “The trith dear ” dite after 0 betel poune wed iowecing her vou " Canale is am erphen und totally friemflees—and consequently there is not the mms necessity & net fn w slow, cautious, cefal manner as when's young gitl wie has parents to fly to is coné@rned. Now, do you us derstand me?” “I should be a perfect idiot if I did not,” an- ewered the heir-apparent. “You mean, my dear Fanny, that you leave Camilla Morton entirely to my management——”’ “Yes: to your tender meveies,” said the milliner, darting upon him a look full of signi 2 The Prince of Wales regarded his watch. It was close trpen eleven o'clock. The young ladies had all rétired to rest: but it was'too early to think of put- ting his diabolical scheme into execution. He se- cordingly resdived to wait until near midnight; and Mrs. Brace covered the table with all the wines, epirits, and liqueurs that were likely to tempt the palate of hie Royal Highsess, That, by the ald of sursoga punch and seme delestable conversation with the handsome milliner, the Prince whiled away the time until “Now, my dear Fanny, I shall retire—i hope te patadise,” said the emiling at his owa awfal blasphemy. “ But should any sceident dissp- unexpected event constrain me to | point mo-—-eny beat a retreat—I shall find my way to your chamber, “Indeed, my good friend,” exclaimed Mrs. Brace, blushing and looking confused, “ I must bag and im- plore you to leave me unmolested under any circum- stances——" “ Well, well,” interrupted the Princa, smiling sig- nifeantly; “let us hope thaf my snceess with Ca- mille will be such as to render it umsscesmry for me to seek a bed elsewhere. Bat I understand you, my oanning friend—you have a little intrigue of your own in progress to-night—ehf Thera, now—you need not blush ner cast down your eyes: I am well aware that you ase not immaculete—and indeed I have no right to question you as 60 year proceedings. Se give me a taper and conduct mie to the door of Camilia’s room.” Mra, Brace said not a word : but, with the crimson hos still upen her cheeks, she roee—lighted a wax oandle-—and led the way noiselessly along the pas- sage into that division of her premises which looked apon St. James's Square: for the sleeping-rooms of the young ladies were all, for obvious reasons, in this latter compartment of the spacious establishment. Having ascended two flights of stairs, Mrs. Brace extesing earefully closed it agaiss behind him. ECOMICOOOKS ©) Fanny,” he added, caressing her plump cheek with | his hand. GEE ¢. 20b6-ts. sep { ~ pr Tee - cy hn hee Dette 2S ss oo | CO