The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 212: what you’re looking at

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

beware, then, how you attempt cither! As for the death of your husband, I do not think that you have been so exemplary a wife as to give proof of wondrous armeunt of affection for the old man.” “I am well aware that your Royal Highness is totally indifferent to a human life or two more or Jess,” remarked the Amazon, her red lip earling in Withering scorn; “the suicide of Foster the mer- chant, for example.” “Shall we blart forth in alternate volleys ali we know of each other?’ asked the Prince, who for a moment had started, tarned pale, and bitten his lip as that tremendous allusion was huried at his head. “But perhaps you have no wish that I should pro- esed to rake in the mire and £th of Lukner’s Lane, im order te discover the origin of a certain Letitia Flake t” “Your Royal Highness has nevertheless made that same person the companion of your mirthful hours within the gilded walls of Carlton House,” retorted the Amazon, in a tone of cool contempt and without the slightest indication of annoyance. “ Yes-—because I was anxious to hear her recite seme of the amusing rascalities of one of her earliest peramours, the celebrated Jack Rann who was executed at Tyburn,” observed the Prinoe, nettled at the placid indifference with which the Amason re- esived his taunts. “ Your Royal Highness has profited well by such’ teachings,” rejoined Lady Lade, still unmoved and slightly contemptuous: “ for the very debates in the of Commons upon your Royal Highness’s debts, afford ample proof that the rasoalities for which Jack Rann was hanged were mere trifles to the rascalities which your Royal Highness perpe- tzates with impunity.” “ By the living God! ihie to the heir-apparent to the threne ?” exclaimed the Prince, becoming purple fur a moment and then turning white as a sheet. “Yes—and a great deal more too,” cried the dauntless Amazon, “if your Royal Highness be agreeable to centinue this warfare of taunt and “I hawe alseady fhrgotten myself enough,” said the Prince, now recovering his wonted dignity. “Hark you, Lady Lade: we may as well come to mn i > a8 we now fight upea snore equal groweds than when last we met.” “ Do net think that because youhave regained poe session of the papers, I am completely in your power,” observed the huntress, “ Remember that the secrets eontained in ti.ese deouments are treasured up here 7” | Miss -and she tapped hes forehead significantly with the handle of her riding-whip,. “The secrets, without the decumentary proofs te back theaa,” said the Prines, “ would be looked upon ae mere ssandal and idle tittle-tattle. N I do not wish to provoke your animosity farther than upon you. Farewell!” “ Farewell, dear Lady Lade,” retamed Mrs. Fits- herbert, who, now that the Amazon was unable te assist her in obtaining a high title and a large pen- sion, would not have appeared quite so friendly to- the good-natured huntress, were it not on account of the little secret touching and eoncerning Miss Plantagenet. . Lady Lade then bowed to the Duchess of Devon- shire and took her “ Now, madam,” asid the Prince, turning towards Mrs. Fitsherbert, the instant that the door had closed behind the widowed huntress, “I request your atten- tion for a few minutes. From the observations which I ere now made, you have learnt that I am well in- formed upon certain matters, and that therefore I cannot possibly regret our separation. More explicit I do not wish to be—unless it were to observe that I came hither this morning for the purpose of ascer- taining whether certain information which I received were really true, and that under the name and garb of Miss Plantagentt—~—” “Wherefore say more upon that bead{” ex- claimed the Duchess of Devonshire. “The breach between yourself and Fitzherbert is past all power of healing; and it is evidently unnecessary to widen it A grand change is about to take piace in the position of your Royal Highness—your fature bride arrived last evening in the Thames—-to-day she comes to Loadon——” “Ah! then the event draws nigh?” murmured Mre, Fitzherbert, in a tone indicative of deep emo- tion. “One wife in a prison — another in a “ Speak net in these terms!” exclaimed the Prince, bending hersh and angry looks upon the unhappy lady. “ Whatever you may have been to me, you are nothing now. Nor can you be at a loss to com- prehend my motives for saying this. The bare mention of the town of Plombiess should bring the burning blush to your cheeks——” “Ah! this ie cruel,” marmured Mre, Fitsherbert, of Devenshire, whe knew nothing of her friend's amour with the Marquis of Bellois, was at a loss to conceive the meaning of the allusion which had just affboted her a0 powerfully. “ But as if that were not enough,” contmued the Prines, in a louder and more angzy tone, “ you entice hither yous Lady Lades to plot with yeu, and your iss Plantagenste——Bat, when I thiak of it,” he exolained, suddenly interrupting himeeif, “I should like to see how that mandlia sentimentalist, with all the sickly devotion ef love and worship towarde Miss Pauline Clarendon-—~” And while he was yet speaking, his Royal High- ness opened the bed-room deor and walked into that i may be already excited;—and therefore Jet there | chamber. be at least a cessation of hostilities between us. I have got beck my papers: in two or three weeks you will have back your Meagles—and Jet that suffice “ F accept the armistice,” exclaimed the Amason, after a few moments’ reflection: then advancing to- wards Mra. Fitzherbest, who was now conversing in & low tone with the Duchess of Devonshire, she said, “ Madam, I bid you farewell, Should it ever be in my power to render you a service, you will find me Willing to do so— if it be only to make suitable py But he was disappointed in his hope of finding Miss Plantagenet there; and an open door, leading wpon the landing, at ones explained by which means the bird had flown. “J learnt from the man down-stairs that fwe ladies had arrived in the carriage which I saw wait- ing outside,” observed the Priace, retursing into the parlour and ing himeelf to the Duchess of Devonshire: “ but the fullow did not knew who the ' ladies were. You are one, Georgiana :—who was the other 2" naan ee, a GOH GOO (COLUM