The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 325: what you’re looking at

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

6i4 “ Am I to understand that you await a reply from my lips, in order to convey it to his Royal: High- ness?” demanded the lady, fixing her cyes keenly upon his countenance. “ Madam, the aflair is no longer in the hands of '# the Prince of Wales,” said Meagles, solemaly and impressively. . “Then, in whose charge is itt” asked Mr, Fits- herbert. “In mine!” rejoined Meagles, “Ah!” ejaculated the lady, a flush re-appearing on her cbeeks and dying away again as suddenly: ~ then Fam to understand that I behold ia yon an enemy « God forbid that you should fasan ie into an act Meagian. claim open hastiity to thie umansms I assert cneren Be \ vahepny lady, { end Risagion.sp be stociithaibes bar-with | “And if | auiat thin-ameel dashien~if 1 peo- | emine~if « Not a syliable—anloes | it be to demand my par- don for an insolence which has already lasted much | tbe past yar bewe this day tkan agsioat ‘me. “© meden! be enaistuad, ‘tne tome which BE ma, hanwe—tell na," she ead, her manner showed that his beart wen net enliansrtwalicdhe pa-~i thoa.cf this-cinguier Qa touabing snamnt-“eempel ‘me notto gmmenéhegunec to menaces—Rgen me note to speak in an unmeniy way towards you." “Nay—I wili not he thas enaily crushel-athas readily subdued , “ And yet you must suspect, madam,” he said, ia } with. | subdued and her voice sinking, 3 | he—the Prines—does he know that you those papers——” “As God is a witness to my words, the secret » conditions which you dictate?” she demanded, in a heame thiek tome: then, without waiting for wep, Mun wales, “Had I been left to contend only the Pujace, whom I still look upon and claim a tone fall of meaning, “that I am acquainted with moe twband, I’ would not have yielded—Ob ! no— & secret concerning yourself—a secret involving yeur honour, madam-——Ah! that tell-tale blush shows that I am not misunderstood——”” “ But the Marquis de Bellois would not be villain doubtless coups,” interrupted ‘Dire. COE- ing end geing-witt rapid aRernations upon ber coun- tenance, and her whole frame trembling with concen- “Y require not the Marquis de Bellois’ words to corroborate the tale which it isin my power to tell,” oaid Fim Meagies, foreing all ens te pore ut. teramce threate which he was shamed. 7 “ Ah! then you fancy that the honour of a woman ean be ailied beyond ali redemptian by the mere fact of your breathing upon itt?” exclaimed Mrs. Fitsherbert, in a tone of the bitterest scorn. © Madam, you do wrong to provoke me,” answered Mengles: “but the sooner you understand me fally, the better. Know, then, that you mus yield to cir- earactances-——_.” “ Begone, ciri—begene!” cried the lady, inter- never; never ! Nor should all the power which the- King might exercise, when informed of the position wherein I stand with regard to his son, have induced me to disavow my marriage or place a seal on my lips respecting it. Te the nation would I have sp- pealed—te the country would I heve addremed my~- self. But since you, sir, have dectare’d yourself the Prmee’s champion im the perpetration of this -tre- Sendens wrong, I am forced to submit : for I know,” she exclaimed, her eyes glaring wildly — even savagely upon him,—“I know that you would not scruple to coerge me by the means which a villain's treachery hes placed in your hands. And now, sir,” she demanded, after a few instants’ pauss,—“ what are your orders f°" “Tho conditions I propose, madam, are that you leave Carlton House as soon as con ” said Meagies, not daring to look her in the face; “and I will guarantee that a handeome provision shall be made for you by his Royal Highness.” “Not a shilling, sir—not a single shilling?” ejaca- lated Mra. Pitsherbert, summoning all the diguity and hauteur of her character to her aid: for uniess she were thus sustained in a condition of unnatural eo CORNICE LOO SS