The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 239: what you’re looking at

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

ar eg ge ST qe — ES SD Re = a eee Peete ee eee ow =a OE EE es eee oe, ST I a GP a sn CHAPTER CLXXX. THE BRIDAL CHAMBER. On arriving at the princely mansion, the heir-appa- rent handed Caroline from the carriage and conducted her through the hall, amidst the ranks of bowing domestics—up the grand staircase—to the principal drawing-room. Lady Jersey, Mrs. Harcourt, and Mrs. Harvey Aston, who had followed from St James's Palace in another carriage, were now in close attendance on the Princess; and after remaining for | few minutes in conversation in the drawing-room, those ladies conducted her Royal Highness away to the bridal chamber. } The instant he found himself alone, the Prince-ad- vanced hurriedly towards a table covered with _ refreshments—filled a large tumbler to the very brim with Port wine—and drank off the potent fluid at a draught. Then flinging himself apon a sofa, he gave way to his reflections, But these were of no pleasurable character: and indeed his Royal Highness had many real sources of annoyance, in addition to the imaginary ones which the morbid condition of his mind had conjured up. In the first place, although the Prime Minister had consented to demand of Parliament a grant adequate to meet the liabilities of the Prince, he had insisted upon having a schedule of all his debts,—not a mere list of creditors’ names and amounts due—but a de- tailed and business-like balance-sheet, showing for what purposes money had been raised—at what rates of interest the loans had been taken up—and the pre- cise amount of consideration received for all bonds, bills, or other securities then in the market. Now it happened that many of these debts were either of so delicate a nature, or else were accompanied with such circumstances, that he could not possibly enter them in the schedule demanded. In that category was the sum he owed to the Marquis de Saint Croix; for the fact of his having taken the money of an unfor- tunate refugee as a frust, and then withheld repay- ment when it was solicited, would be regarded by the nation as a transaction of the most disgraceful cha- racter. And yet within the last three days the Mar- quis had been more than ever pressing for his money ; ‘and the Prince doubted not but that the Amazon was vindictively urging the Frenchman to be thus peremp- These portions of the royal debts which were aseo- ciated with “delicate circumstances,” were conse- quently no mean sources of annoyance to the Prince. Then, again, he had lately received a letter from Pauline Clarendon which contained an announcement that stirred ap remorseful feelings in his breast,—the announcement that her sister Octavia was beyond all doubt in the way to become a mother ! In addition to those subjects for meditation, there was his marriage with a being against whom he bad conceived a strong aversion ;—and a presentiment of great evil, as yet unborn, but which would in- evitably arise from this ill-assorted union, unfolded its dark and ominous wings overshadowingly upon his soul Therefore, during the half-hour which elapsed while he thus remained alone, he paid frequent visits to the side-table and poured the wine down his throat just as if it were water. The consequence was that his countenance acquired a ruddier glow—his eyes be- came bloodshot—the flesh forming their sockets grew swollen and inflamed—and his step was more un- steady with each journey he made between the sofa and the refreshment-table. At length the door opened~—and the Countess of Jersey made her appearance. A glance at the Prince showed her the condition he was in: she saw that he was three parts intoxicated ~-and a smile of triumph for an instant shone upon her lips. But the next moment it changed into an expression of the most winning sweetness as she bent her lustrous, beaming, velvet-black eyes upon the drunken voluptuary whoee swinish condition was only calculated to inspire disgust. She had howevers certain part to perform—namely, to manage matters so that the newly-married couple should be mutually loathsome: and this part, which had been adopted by the Countess through motives of jealousy and envy towards her royal rival, was also encouraged by the Queen herself! “The banquet of love is served up for my attend- ance, I suppose?” said his Royal Highness, with as much bitterness as a vacant manner ang a difficulty of articulation would permit him to assame. “The bridal chamber is in readiness for your re- ception, my well-beloved George,” returned the Countess, placing herself by his side and taking his hand between both her own. “ But you do not appear bappy—and it cuts me to the soul to observe this downcast demeanour——” “Frances, do you really love me?” demanded the Prince, abruptly. “You know that I love you, George,” replied the syren. “Then pity me—pity me, my dearest friend,” exclaimed the heir-apparent, who was becoming maudlin sentimental under the influence of the liquor he had imbibed. “Ob! I do pity you, George—beloved George” murmured the Countess, throwing her arms about his neck and covering his inflamed countenance with kisses, “ But did I not tell you on the day of her arrival that she was no fitting wife for you?” “The mischief was done—the evil was already consummated—and it was too late to retract,” said the Prince, his speech interrupted with many a hiccup. “Six hundred thousand pounds of debts were not to be trifled with—they might have lost me the throne——-But, perdition seize upon it I" he exclaimed with an almost savage abruptness: “fill me a tambler of wine, Jersey—no paltry in- significant glass—but a good tambler—and let me drown thought, and care, and everything that presses upon my mind.” The Countess hastened to perform the part of Hebe; and as she advanced to the refreshment table, the Prince followed all her movements with his eyes as if his lascivious looks could plunge be- neath that rustling velvet which clothed her, and revel in the contemplation of all the charms con- cealed. Then as she returned towards him, with the brimming tumbler in her hand, he slowly and gloatingly surveyed the countenance that beamed with smiles—the bosom that was half exposed— the delicate hand that held the glass—and the beaatiful feet and ankles that glancingly bore the graceful being over the thick carpet of the gor- geous saloon. He took the wine—he kissed the hand that pre- Giiiats oiy we + sented it—he drained the tumbler—and then ue. drew towards him the designing creature, ElOOO® re SS