The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 70: what you’re looking at

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

a See enhneeSoeteseErtesinsANEae__ _sateennneanennenns fae wveruare. a “¢ Tien light the fire,” continned the Prirce. “his comimand was inmiediately obeyed; and in a few moments the flames wert rushing ap the wide- mouthed chimney with a cheerfal sound. “Tell me, Germain,” said George, after a patse,— “was I very particularly drank last night? Speak gandidly now—and without any nonsense.” “Your Royal Highness was certainly not sober,” tesponded the valet, in a submissive tone. 7 “ Damn the sobriety!’ ejaculated the Prince, im- patiently. “I know perfectly well that I was far from sober—but I wish to be informed whether I was help- less or incapable.” | “I had the honour of supporting your Royal Highness hither,” said Germann. “And of putting me into bed—eh f* cried the Prince. “I experienced that honour likewise,” answered the valet. “Then I must have been damnation drunk—and there is no longer any doubt upon the point,” said George. “ But this soda-water lies disagreeably cold mpon my stomach: give me a little drop of brandy, Germain.” This order was obeyed—and the Prince swallowed the dram with a relish. “ Now unlock the door leading to the private stair- ease,” continued the Prince: “I am expecting Mr. Meagles—and he will breakfast with me.” “Your Royal Highness will take breakfast in bed ?” observed the valet, interrogatively. * No—I shall rise and have a bath first,” was the reply. “ But you will not serve up breakfast until eleven—and in the meantime I shal] not want you” Germain unlocked the door communicating with the secret stairs, and then withdrew. In two or three minutes the sounds of voices, maingled with subdued laughter, reached the ears of the Prince, who started up in his bed, muttering to himeelf in a tone of vexation, “That damned fool Meagles is up to some of his tricks again—and yet I enjoined him to come alone !” Scarcely had he thus given vent to his armoyance, when the door which Germain had so recently un- lecked, was opened—the velvet curtain covering it, was thrust aside—and a gentleman made his appear- aace. But instead of immediately advancing to pay his respecte to the Prince, he held the drapery back from the door until the person by whem he was ac- eompanied had likewise emerged from the secret staircase and had entered the chamber. But ere we allow these new-comers to proceed a step farther, we must tcll the reader something about thems. Firet and foremost, then, we introduce to public notice Mr. Timothy Meagles, or, as his friends called him, plein Tim Meagles. He was an individual of ' about thirty years of age—short in stature, of slight and dapper build, bet endowed with great physical strength. His face was marked with the small-pox: but he had expressive blue cyes, a fine set of teeth, and an enormous pair of well-curled aubarn whiskers —eo that he could not be pronounced positively agly. It is true that his hair was of a Mery red, and that there was something coarse, if not actually vaigar, in the expression of his countenance: never- Gholess, he was not without his admirers amongst the fair cex—end when he rode his splendid iron grey in the Park, he received a ious bow from more than one lady of quality. Amongst the noblemen Ff and gentlemen of fashion Ke was a opecidl favourttt, —not merely because Ne was knowl to enjoy Gm friendship of the Prince, but Kkewlee because he wn avery good fellow in many ways For if any om required a second in a duel, to whketh could he betew apply than Tim Meagies ?—if an untpire were wanted at a prize-fight or a pigeon-match, who wae mae competent than Tim Meagles? Behold him on tie race-course—or out with the hounds—and it would do your heart good to contemplate the epirie with which the sport was entered into by Tim Meagtes. Again, who could sing a better song or make a move fluent speech after dinner, than this gentleman of such numerous qualifications f-—-who conld drink his three bottles of wire and make niore strte of going home soberthan Tim Meagles? Hin taste wae as excellent in the choice of wines as bis judgment was unquestionable with regard to horse-flesh. Pte could drive a four-in-hand or a tandem with equal proficiency : at steeple-chases he performed such wonderful feats that it appeared as if himself and his horse were possessed of a hundred lives apiece —and in swimming, leaping, running, boxing, fencing, wrestling, and all kinds of gymnastics as well as manly sports, Tim Meaygles was unapproachable by any of his friends or acquaintances. He was moreover reckoned a crack shot with either gun or pistol; and in respect to the “ laws of honour” he was & peripatetic code. But these qualifications, numerous though thep be, do not make up half the sum of those possessed by Mr. Timothy Meagles. He was a most con- venient and useful personage to the Prince of Wales, who in many instances would not have known what to do without him. Did his Royal Highness get into &@ scrape with the friends of some lady whom he had seduced, Tim Meagles was employed to hush the matter up:—did the illustrious spendthrift require money, Tim Meagles was indefatigable in his search after some capitalist to advancé a loan:—and on more occasions than one had this same universal and ubiquitcus agent conveyed the Prince's plate or Mrs, Fitzherbert’s jewellery to a certain celebrated pawn- broker in the Strand. In fact, Tim Mengles’ ser- vices were as varied and numerous as his qualifica- tions or his resources. He was wever at a loss for the means of carrying out anything which be under- took: his ingenuity in concocting plant was only equatled by his perseverance in pursuing an object until its final attainment. Nothing could daunt his courage or damp his spirits; and the greater the ob- stacles he had to encounter, the more energetic ba. came his mode of action. It was all the same te him whether he had to console a forlorn and deserted fair one, or t® thrash a bailiff; and his tact in hush- ing up a love affair was as adinirable as his skill m appeasing a clamorous creditor. The Prince not only retained him asa able ine | strument, but liked him as a good fellow and a pies- sant companion; and it was suaffivient that he thes patronised Tim Meaglies, to induce all the frends and acqeaintances of his Royal Highmess to treat that usefnl individual as aa equal. It,was true that Tira loved a lark above al) things, and did not muck mind on whom he played off b.s practical jokes; bus no one dared to frown on one who basked in the | smiles of royalty ;—and thue Mr. Meagles was top | only tolerated in fashionable life, but actually courterf, At the time when we introduce him to our readeyg lie had heen about three yeats on this footing of Sty es - tres SEP DPa@bamew wee —eugetewwem « CONNEC OOO CO -