The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 271: what you’re looking at

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— —=_ e- & ' has saved her! hayse’f an her for her perfidy towards me,” returned Ramsey, the Prince’s question itself furnishing the cuc to the answer which was sure to be most wel- come. ‘‘ Now listen to me, Mr. Ramsey,” continued the heir-apparent,—“ and I will reveal a certain secret to your ears, as you have confided a secret to mine. In a word, I[ love this haughty, beauteous, and impassioned Countess of Desborough : but she hates me! More than once has she been on the very verge of fallisg into my arms—and accident The measures which I have ~ adopted to ensnare her, have rendered me the ob- ry oS —_ =—_ a am rg ce re a g“™we ~w ee Ee ject of her aversion. That such is her feeling towards me, I am well assured. To be avenged upon her, then—to gratify my own passion at the same time,—to humble her, and appease the desires which boil up like a lava-streain within me when- ever I suffer my imagination to gloat upon her image,—these are now the aims which I have in view, and which yourself can assist me in carrying into execution.” “T am at the command of your Royal Highness,” said Ramsey, scarcely able to conceal the delight which he experienced at thus finding himself taken as it were alike into the confidence and the service of the Prince. “ Your Royal Highness can restore me to comparative happiness, and at all events to certain security ;— and in retarn I will become your ‘e, for any purpose—no matter whether of good or of evil.” “You pledge yourself, then, to aid me in the design which I have broached?” said the Prince, his imagination now filled with a thousand volup- tuous ideas relative to the beauteous Eleanor of Desborough. , “I pledge myself, body and soul, to the service of your Royal Highness,” responded Ramsey. “Then let this be the compact between us,” joined the Prince: “that when you, by means of any course of proceeding which you may think fit to adupt, ensure me the enjoyment of both love and vengeance with regard to the Countess of Desborough,—in that same hour, I say, shall the document containing your full pardon be placed in your hands. I will procure it to-morrow—and therefore the sooner you perform your part of the agreement, the more cheerfuliy shall I acquit my- self of mine.” “Be it so, great Prince,” exclaimed Ramsey: “the grass shall not grow under my feet.” The resuscitated criminal then took leave of the heir-appareut, and issued forth from Carlton House, enveloped in the ample cloak, with his hat slouch- ing over his countenance, and holding the silk pocket-handkerchief up to his mouth. “QO haughty, cruel, and imperious Countess of Desborough f’ exclaimed the Prince aloud, the moment the door of the apartment had closed be- hind Philip Ramsey: “the hour of vengeance approaches! Thou shalt yield thyself up to my embraces—lI will revel in thy charms—and then, which thou shalt fill for me, I will spurn thee from me as the paramour of a wretch who had passed through the hands of the common hangman! This will be a glorious vengeance, Eleanor—a glorious vengeance !” cried the Prince, rubbing his hands gleefully. “But, ah! the return of that fellow Meagles—and the scrape which this scoundrel | -— - awe mm = «= «@ —- —w @ om 4 er os = TIE MYSTERIES. F ' Warren has got himsclf into again—these are oc- currences which damp the pleasure that I should otherwise enjoy iu such uodiluted deliciousness when I think of my passion and my hatred—my love and my spite—my desire and my vengeance, in respect to thee, thou beauteous Eleanor! But let me not suffer gloomy presentiments and evil apprehensions to mar the joy which is in store for me. Meagles is powerless: he can do nothing against me. While those documents were within his reach, he could sting me with the venom of a viper: now all the efforts of his malignity will not be more galling than the bite of a gnat. And as for this Warren—well, what does he know ?—what can he do?—what can he say? That his wife has been my paramour——Ah! the English public are- so accustomed to hear such tales concerning their | future King, that they cease to experience sur- | prise—and they know full well that I do not care a damn for their displeasure.” Having arrived at this very satisfactory conclu- sion, the heir-apparent to the British throne sud. denly remembered that the dancing-girl was wait- ing for him in his own private apartment ;—and he accordingly proceeded thither, tu gratify in the arms of the Terpsichorean votiury those desires which had been so excited by the idea and the hope of speedily possessing the Countess of Des- borough. CHAPTER CLXXXVII. THE CONVERSATION. Ir was on the day following the incidents just. related, and at about two o’clock in the afternoon, that we shall find the Duchess of Devonshire alighting from her carriage at the mansion of the Earl and Countess of Desborough in “Berkeley Square. Eleanor was at home: indeed, she was seated alone in the drawing-room at thé moment when her friend Georgiana was announced. “It is quite an age since I have seen you, my dearest Eleanor,” said the Duchess, warmly press- ing the hand of the charming Countess. “ Four or five weeks—and you have been all the time at Stamford Manor——” “It is indeed five weeks since we last met,” ob- served Eleanor : “and by-the-bye, my dear, Geor- giana, I must give you a scolding for the serious manner in which you might have suffered me to be compromised——” “Oh! I recollect now,” exclaimed her Grace, bursting out into as merry a laugh as the restric- tions of etiquette would possibly allow. “That affair in Chancery Lane — with Miss Planta- genet——”". “Your scrape-grace cousin Lord Florimel,” in- 'terrupted the Countess of Desborough, with a when I have drunk to satiety of the cup of bliss | rather serious look. “Do you know, Georgiana, that it was too bad of you ?” ‘My dear friend, there was no opportunity for me to give you a hint—especially before that hor- rible character Lady Lade——” “ And yet you yourself introduced Lord Florime] to me as Miss Plantagenet,” said Eleanor, still pre. serving a tonc of remonstrance; “and I am o: ElOOO® — ee ee ee =i oe EE Wow EEE eee eee e-we © om Tees 8 ee eee eee eee SS i(GQ mn