The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 267: what you’re looking at

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

24 The Prince now rang the bell to give some orders to Germain ere he retired for the night: and in a few moments the disarect and faithful Frenchmas made his appearances. “You will request the Countess of Jersey to inform her Royal Highness,” said the Prince, “ that ! I shall be compelled to ait up until a very late hour for the purpose of examining a mass of papers relative to the Duchy of Cornwall. Her Royal Highness will thence understand that I intend to remain in my own apartment to-night. You may now retire, Germain.” “May it plese your Royal Highnem,” said the valet, “a person who has been waiting for the last two hours, earnestly besought me to become the bearer of this note. I assured him that your Royal Highness was exceedingly occupied with t business———” “And so I have been,” exclaimed the Prince, bestowing a smile upon the dancing-girl who was seated near him. “But where is this note ?—and who is the individual ?” Germain handed his royal master a sealed letter, observing at the same time, “The gentleman declines giving his name, and is even carefal to eanceal his countenence as mach as he can.” The Prince took the note and opened it in an idle, leisurely manner: but the instant that his eyes caught a glimpse of the signature, a serious expression seized as it were upon his features ;— and, with a degree of interest as absorbing as it was suddenly excited, he read the following lines :-— “Your Royal Highness will remember the solemn pledge which you gave meon a particular occasion,—a pledge to the effect that when the proper time should arrive, yeur Royal Highness would assist me in the ac- eomplishment of that aim which can alene render life tolerable. Mag I therefore implore your Royal Highness to fulfil the promise so generously made?—and as my suspense is too acute to brook delay ere I receive from the lips of jour Royal Highnessa reiteration of that pro. mise, I humbly but earnestly beseech the favour of a few moments audience this evening. “THE RESUSCITATED.” Having perused this note, the Prince tore it up into amall pieces, which he threw under the grate. He then reflected profoundly for upwards of a minute,—deliberating within himself whether he should grant the interview solicited, or not. But suddenly resolving upon the affirmative course, he rose from his seat—apologised to the dancing-girl for being compelled to quit her for a little while— and hastened to the Red Drawing Room, where he was accustomed to receive visitors upon private business. Germain then proceeded to the waiting- room to conduct the atranger to the presence of his royal master; and in a few minutes a tall man, enveloped in a cloak (despite the warmth of the weather), and holding a large silk handkerchief to his face, was introduced into the Red Drawing Room. Germain immediately retired ;—and the Prince, walking straight up to the visitor, said in a low and agitated tone, “Have you not acted most impru- dently, Mr. Ramsey, in coming hither 7” “I hope that your Royal Highness will not frown @pon me for the great liberty which I have taken,” pbeerved the resuscitated criminal, withdrawing the handkerchief which he had been holding up to his “ nose as if he were ee nae GOK ST Fete Dees own fo he woe meas under a violent cold; “but I have only just retarned to Lendon, after an sbeence of more than two months from Eng- land ——” “ Ah t you have been out of the country, then, 7” encinimed the Prince. “Why, in the name of heaven, did you not remain abroad altogether ?” “it was my original design to proceed to America and thence write to your Royal Highness to im- plone Rhy generous though secret intervention everything —explain your exact position—asatate what you have to fear, and what to hope—and then I shal] be enabled to judge how far I can as- ness bitterly, “is a mere cypher | in the ontimauoo “I will explain as vcleay as I can, the circum- stances which compelled me to return to England,” said Ramsey. The Prince flung himself upon a sofa, and pointed to a chair, which the resuscitated criminal} “ Proceed, then,” said the heir-apparent. “lam prepared to listen attentively.” “Tt was in the early part of Marah,” continued Ramsey, “that I embarked at Liverpool on board a schooner, named the Firefly, and bound for the United States. I was known on board as Mr. Gustavus Wakefield; ard no one entertained the slightest suspicion that there was anything peculiar connected with my history. A month elapsed, during which our course was delayed by tempes- tuous weather: but we were nearing the place of destination, when we came in cellision with @ pirate brig, called the Royal George All the crew of the Fire-fly were slain in the conflict, with the exception of a common sailor and myself; and we were taken prisoners by the pirates. This was the first occurrence 60 specially ominous to myself, which had taken place since I quitted Liverpool : for, lo and behold! in the persons of the two chiefs of the freebooters, I recognised a couple of scoun- drels with whom circumstances bad made me ac- quainted in England.” “Then they were British pirates—eh?” ex- claimed the Prinee, interrogatively. “And they had the consummate insolence to name their ship the Royal George? Did I not understand you that such was the case ?” “ Your Royal Highness is correct,” respoaded the resuscitated criminal. “The real truth is that the two men to whom I have alluded, were com- promised in some of the details of the affair which threw me into the grasp of justice—and sent me to the scaffold,” added Ramsey, his voice suddenly sinking to a scarcely audible tone. “Joseph War- ren, better known to the world of crime by the DOO (C GiPGinein ania Gi CED @ >? GpaeGED GED a pSord rarer aser resrs RV TAT U SS