The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 20: what you’re looking at

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

| LHKE MYSTRYIBS, 5 But just as it appeared to the wretched George | curious to learn whateffeet that t.dividual's sudden that he was about to plunge headlong into the fiery | disappearance had prodaced upon her, as well asthe lake, he awoke with so convulsive a start that the toassive bedstead shook and quivered beneath him. Then he lay motionless—utterly motionlese—for a few minutes, striving to collect his scattered thoughts and settle his scared ideas in such a man- ner as to deduce from them the conviction that it was really all a dream! Bat such a dream-——Oh! the death-bed has known no anguisno and the churchyard has seen no mental misery more poignant than the hell of ex- cruciating feelings through which the Prince of Wales had passed in that tremendous vision. Still upon his corrugated prows stood the big drops of terror —still upon his countenance lingered the lines into which its hideous workings had convulsed it—and still was tlhe sense of an awful consternation upon his brain and in his heart. At length, when assured that there was nothing of reality in all that he had gone through, he raised himself in the bed—poured a quantity of brandy into a tumbler—and drank the burning alcohol at a draught. Then, closing his eyes, he endeavoured to settle himself to sleep again; and slumber was just weighing down his lids, when a strange noise at the farther end of the spacious apartment fell upon his ears. CHAPTER CXXI. & STRANGE ADVENTURE. Witnourt shifting his position in the bed—for he waa so far overcome with drowsiness as to be unwil- ling to make any exertion—the Prince of Wales opened his eyes: but he was instantaneously recalled to complete consciousness, when he beheld the door of the secret staircase open slowly and cautiously. The idea that thieves had dared to break into Carl- ton House naturally flashed to his mind; and he thrust his hand towards the silken bell-cord which hung behind the curtains, when to his amazement he recognised the well-known form of the Amazon as she noiselesaly glided into the room. The first suspicion now yielded to the thought that Lady Lade, presuming upon the intimacy of a for- mer occasion when she had disported with his Royal Highness in the bath, was intent upon some frolic ; and, all idea of danger being instantaneously dissi- pated, the Prince raised himself in his couch and surveyed the beanteous intruder with mingled feel- ings of curiosity and indignation. Closing the door as gently as she had opened it, the Amazon, who was dressed in her male attire, approached the couch; and when she saw that the Prince was awake and gazing upon her, she took off her hat—smoothed down her glussy hair—and bent upon him a smiling look fraught with a wanton aweetness that immediately disarmed him of his anger. “Pardon me, your Royal Highness,” ehe said, advancing close up to the bed,—“ pardon me for this anwarrantable liberty—this extraordinary intrusion, —and deign to hear me while I give a brief explana- tion of my motive.” “Beauteous lady,” exclaimed the Prince, now feeling assured that the Amazon suspected not his treachery towards Tim Meagles—although he was conjecture which she might have formed relative to the cause of it,—“ beauteous lady, if you come to me as the representative of the Goddess of Love and Pleasure, you are truly weloome: for not only am I passionately enamoured of your charms, but [ am likewise far from displeased at the sudden and unexpected presence of such agreeable company— inasmuch as I have only just awoke from a dream which troubled me not a little.” “ My dear Prince,” said the Amasen, seating her- self on the edge of the bed, and fixing upon him a look full of voluptuous languor, “I came but to consult you as a friend and concerning a friend. If, however, you wish to receive me in another and more tender capacity, Iam your Royal -Highness’s obe- dient servant now—as I was a few weeks ago in yonder bath-room.” “You are looking gloriously handsome to-night, Letitia,” said the Prince; “and were I an anchorite —which, thank heaven! I am not—you would as- suredly tempt me to sin.” “ But do permit me to give you some little expla- nation of this most extraordinary intrusion,” ex- claimed the Amazon, disengaging herself from the embrace in which the Prince had caught her— though not without having permitted him to cull a few kisses from her moist red lips. “The fact is,” she contiaued, reseating herself upon the bed, but a little farther off than before,—“sume days ‘have elapsed since our mutual friend Meagles disap- peared most strangely and unaccountably from his lodgings.” ‘‘Well—I have missed him too,” ejaculated the Prince, colouring deeply as he spoke: but as the Amazon was looking downward at the moment, he flattered himself that his confusion passed unper- ceived. “ At first,” continued Lady Letitia, * I was not at all uneasy, because there might bea thousand reasons for his temporary absence from home. But when a couple of days passed and no tidings were received from him, I began to fancy that he must be in prison —arrested for debt, perhaps—and unwilling to let his friends know of his tribulation. I accordingly visited the Beach and the Fleet, and then made the round of every sponging-house in London ——” “With what result?” demanded the Prince, as if sharing the Amazon’s anxiety on behalf of the missing individual. “With no success whatsoever,” replied the lady: “and ever since I have been racking my brain to think what possibly can have become of him. At length—but not until to-night —it struck me that your Royal Highness had probably despatched hiin upon some secret and important mission ; and know- ing that he possessed a pass-key to the secret stair- case of this apartment, I hastened to his lodgings— possessed myself of it—and made bold to pay the pre- sent visit For when once a partioular idea isin my head, I cannot rest until I have acted upon it; and my suspense was too great to permit me to curb it until the morning. Besides, I thought it probable that your Royal Highness might not have yet re- tired to rest—in which case I hoped and trusted to be pardoned for this intrusion.” “You are pardoned, my dear Letitia,” said the Prince : “ your forgiveness was Sealed by thuse kissen which you allowed me to snatoh just now—sad am ~ ei ElOOO® SS