The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 213: what you’re looking at

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

“The Countess of Desborough accompanied me,” was the immediate reply, given without a moment’s reflection that there might be any harm in thus asso- ciating Eleanor’s name with the sponging-house ad- ventores. “Now I presume her ladyship has gone away with Miss Plantagenet!” exclaimed the Prince: “is it not sof Ah! I eee by your countenance, Georgiana, that I have guessed the truth! Upon my honour, this is capital—delicions !” “But Eleanor,” began the Duchess, by way of defending the Countess from any imputation which the Prince might fancy to throw upon her,—* does not for an instant suspect that her companion——” ‘“‘ Better and better!” cried the Prince, in the ex- ultation cfa malicious glee. “Oh! this is admira- ble—admirable! The haughty Eleanor of Des- borough undertaking to become the protectress and chaperon of Miss Plantagenet—from the door of a sponging-honse to any other house into which the said Miss Plantagenet may choose to lead her lady- shi ”” “ Really your Royal Highness does not appear to have much use for your time, since you can afford to waste it in such idle scurrility,” exclaimed the Duchess of Devonshire’ for she was not only in- clined to become the championess of her absent fnend from those motives which in such a case prompt one woman to defend another; but she was likewise annoyed and disgusted at the whole tenour of the Prince’s conduct on the present occasion. «To come to the point at once,” she said, after a few moments’ panse, “do you intend to release Fitz- herbert from her present embarrassments, or leave that duty to be performed by her friends f” “J have come hither to make Mrs. Fitzherbert a certain proposal,” replied the Prince: then, draw- ing forth a packet of letters from beneath his cloak, and displaying them before the eyes of that lady, he said, “I presume, madam, that you recognise this correspondence ?” “I do,” answered Mrs. Fitzherbert, instanta- neously perociving that the Prince held in his hand ali the letters which she had sent to the Marquis de Bellois: and the blopd rushed to her cheeks, a moment before so pale ! “The next step for me to take,” centinued the Prince of Wales, “is to count down five Bank- aotes of a thousand pounds each. There is the amount! And now,” he added, opening a paper which he took from his waistcoat pocket, “here is a short deed setting forth and declaring that no marriage-ceremony nor any matrimonial rite was ever performed in any church, chapel, or private house, by any clergyman or priest of whatsoever denomination, between Mrs. Vitzherbert and my- gelf——” “And what is the object of that decument?” demanded the lady, with feveris§ impatience. “I¢ is for you to sign, madam,” responded the Prince, with the calm assurance of a man who knows that he can carry matters with a high hand against all opposition. “ Never f ejaculated Mrs. Fitsherbert, her quivering lips becoming as bloodless as her coun- tenance, while her whole form trembled visibly. . “Then listen, madam, to the observations I am about to make,” said his Royal Highness. “ Cir- cumstances place me in a desperate position—and the proceedings I shall adopt will prove of an equally desperate character. Fortunately the an- thority of the Home Office backs me at this mo- ment: otherwise, perhaps, you and my other enemies might stand a chance of triumphing over me. You refuse to sign this paper? Be it so: but I must warn you of the consequences.” “Dare you threaten me?” demanded Mrs. Fits- herbert, partially recovering her presence of mind in the face of the cold-blooded, brutal, heartless tyrant whose head had so often lain pillowed upon her bosom and upon whom she had been wont to lavish such tender caresses. “J dare speak what I mean—aye, and perform what I threaten,” he exclaimed, a sardonie smile . for an instant wavering upon his lips, and proving that there was a tinge of fiendish malignity mingled amongst the other dark shades of his character. “Know, then, that if you refuse your signature to this document, madam, I shall at once release you from this place of captivity—but it will only be to have you hurried on board. a ship and transported to North America! Remember that the Habeas Corpus Act is suspended; and your forced exile may be accomplished safely, securely, and im- mediately. The world will believe that the once gay and brilliant Mrs. Fitzherbert has voluntarily fled the country in order to avoid the consequences of those debta with which she is overwhelmed ;— and should any satirist, pamphleteer, or scandal- monger, dare to publish aught wherein Aer namo and mine are inconveniently associated, the cor- respondence with the Marquis de Bellois shall be printed and issued so that a true light may be thrown on the character of Mrs. Fitzherbert! What would the world say then? Why, that I— the Prince ef Wales—had been made the dupe of a vile, profligate, intriguing woman ;—and while all the indignation would be levelled against you, ma- dam, all the sympathy would redound upon me. Then, with such a state of public feeling, of what utility would it be for your friends to publish any- thing more relative to our past connexion and its true nature? The popular voice would drown the echoes of any complaints which your adherents in this country might raise, while you would be power- leas in a far-off clime! Andif in addition to the revelations which your correspondence with the Marquis de Bellois contains, anything be wane to convince the world of your real character, the incidents of the sponging-house——" “Enough — enough murmured the woman, in a hoarse thick voloe: for she felt tho truth—the crushing, overpowering truth—of all the consequences which the heir-apparent thus mercilessly shadowed forth. “In the name of heaven, let this scene draw to a speedy close!” exclaimed the Duchess of Devon- shire, who was deeply affected on the one hand and incensed on the other—for while she pitied Mrs. Fitzherbert from the bottom of her soul, she was disgusted at the heartless conduct of the Prince. “JY am in his power—I am at his mercy,” said the persecuted lady, clinging to the arm of the Duchess and bursting into tears. “Oh! what do you advise, Georgiana ?—what shall I do?” “ Give your signature to the document, my dear friend,” hastily whispered the Duchess: “resis*- ance will be useless—opposition will ruin you alte- gether DOO SS