The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 107: what you’re looking at

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

‘Well, I dare say you know what it is to let a gen- Jleman escape out of a difficulty by means of s golden key; and as the gir) has come to no harm, it would be useless for you to cawy the matter any farther. There—take those ten guineas and be of. You’ve done me quite mischief enough already—or aather your dog has,” added the Prince, with a sup- pressed moan, as he tied his handkerchief round the wounded limb. “Well, sir, ’'m sure I don’t want to make things more uncomfortabler than they are at present,” said Mobbs, picking up with ill-concealed satisfaction the gold pieces which his Royal Highness threw down upon atable. “But you must know that if geatle- men like you will get into scrapes, they stand the chance of bringing the law about their ears.” “TI paid you to take your departure, and not to remain here lecturing me,” said the Prince, with all the dignified hauteur that was natural to him. “ Bat stay—one moment,” he cried, a sudden idea striking him: “how came you to barst into this room ?—or rather, how was it that you were iu the house at all” “ I°d better leave it to this good lady to explain to you, sir,” remarked Mobbe, pointing tewards Mrs. Braee, who at the moment hurried into the room, followed by Frederick Dray and the other footman. “ Hosh !” aaid the Prince, placing his finger upon his lip to warn the milliner not to utter a word which might make known his rank to Mobbs: for he saw by the agitation and dismay which heg entire ap- ce exhibited that it was more than probable she might blurt forth something calculated to betray his incognito. “JT will call again to-morrow night. Ina the mean- time you've nothing to fear, ma’am,” hastily whis- pered the ex-constable as he passed by the milliner; —and, calling his dog to follow him, he took his de- parture, well pleased with the result of the adven- ture and chinking the gold in his pocket. “You may retire,” said tho milliner to Frederick Dray and the other footman : then, the moment they had left the room, she turned towards the Prinos, ex- claiming, “ My God! what has happened? But it was not my fauit—you cannot blame me——Oh! I am going mad—mad !” And flinging herself upon a chair, che pressed her hands to her throbbing brows, as if she could thereby steady her reason which she felt to be roeking upon its throne. “ Whatin the devil's name is the matter with you f” demanded the Prince, who was giad te find a vent for his exeerabie ill-humour even though it were against a poor defenceless woman—and that woman the pander to his vile pleasures Street rannez come to make inquiries concerning Magsman your husband f—or how was it that such an ill-looking ruffian came to be im. the house at this time of night?’ * My, Harley—your Royal Highness this is cruel ihe, argh to a degree,” sobbed the milliner. “]-—]—do not deserve—such— such-—ireatment at your hande;”—-and then she burat into a flood of tears. “Come, Fanay—this is stupid,” mid the Pinos, somewhat mollified by her grick “I spoke hastily —and unkindly, I will admit; bat when one has been interrupted just at the moment of success with a lovely eseature—then subjected to the bratail: neulte of a low reffian—naext bitten in the leg by an accursed dog that may be mad for anything I knew to the contrary——" * Bittea—by a dog!” screamed Mrs, Brace, start- ing to her feet and surveying the Prince with dis- may. “Qh! is this possible ?” “Quite possible—inasmuch as it has happened,” said the heir-apparent, pointing to the bandage on his leg. “Bat I will hasten heme and get Dr. Somers to look to it at once. Relieve me from suspense, however, before I take my departure—and tell me how that man came to burst into the reom:; for surely the girl’s soreams could not have been heard in St James’s Square ?” “ No—no,” responded the millmer hastily. “The officer came on a little business of his own—to—to —in fine, to receive some money for the affair of Caroline Walters ;—and being in the other house, he heard the shrieks ——” “Knough, enough,” exclaimed the Prince. “I am satisfied now. He did not recognise me—and I gave him ten guineas to go away quietly. But I was fearful that if the girl’s screams had been heard out- side, a crowd might have collected. Your explana- tion has however put my mind at rest on that head. And now, my dear Fanny, forgive me for what I said just now—and don’t think the worse of your old friend on account of a passing petularce on his part. Come—one kise—and then I will take my But as the milliner raised her countenance to- wards the Prince, he perceived that it was haggard and had a ghastly look; and fixing his eyes more intently upon her, he saw that the traces of pro found horror and bitter grief were upon every linea- ment, despite her endeavours to assume a composed aspect, “ What in the name of heaven is the matter with you ?” inguired the Prince, somewhat alarmed, iuas- much as there were so many of his own little affairs mixed up with those of Mrs. Brace that he did not know how far her present cause of annoyance might affect himselé “Tell me, Fanny—what is the mat- ter with you?” he repeated, more emphatically still, “ Nothing—nothmg—lI can assure you,” she an- swered. “Only the evente of the last few days— Rese Foster's affair—that of Caroline Walters—and sow the alarm of this night,—all these have un- strung my nerves.” “Well, you must take courage and console your- self,” said the Prince, not for an instant suspecting that anything more serious than the circumstances she had enumerated was preying upon her mind “And now goed night. I myself am infernally vexed at the issue of the adventure with Pauline Claszendon—~” “Pauline Clarendon!" ejaculated Mrs. Brace, forgetting for a moment all the causes of her own affliction in the amazement with which the Prince's words had filled her. “ Welh—since -I inadvertently let the name es- cape me,” he observed, with a smile, “I shall net attempt to conceal the truth. Besides, 1 may se- quire your assistance in the matter——” * And that was Pauline Clarendon whom you brought hither just now?” remarked the milliner still under the influence of a profound and somewhat peimfal surprise. “ What—is it possible that the amour with her unfortanate sister did not cause beth you and me sufficient alarm——" AOOLK co