The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 280: what you’re looking at

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therefore nothing more than a kias at meeting and another at parting until the expiration of the year. And then——"* “ And then—what?” asked Meagles, recovering somewhat of his own former gaiety, as he iooked with a sly significance into the depths of the wi- dow’s splendid black eyes. * And then-—aaything you choose,” she answered, drawing baci her chair to avoid another patting of the cheek which her companion seemed inclined to bestow upon her. “ Well, my beauty,” he said, laughing, “ you shall rule me in all things: for, as I just now observed, you have been a good and kind friend to me-—and absence has not made you forget me.” And as Meagies gave utterance to thease words, he inwardly vowed to renounce all idea of secking any more after Rose Foster: for he could not feel otherwise than touched by the conduct of Lady Lade towards him. Nevertheless, as he came to that resolve, he copid not help heaving e sigh at the sacrifice he was thus making to a sense of gra- tituds: for he hed never experienced towards the Ameson any other than that of friendship mingled with the attachment which belongs to a sensual fruition. “You sigh, Fim,” she observed. “Heve you ponerse 7 upon your mind with which I gm mnac- ainted ?” “ Nothing, I can assure you,” he i suddenly forving himself to seem cheerful. “But atl these mateess with which you are acquainted, afro enough % érive a fellow wild with vexatien. To think that some few months ago—-weeks I may say—the Prince was so completely in our power ;— and now he is thoroughly out of our clitches. Bevausd all the secrets which we know of, are nse- less as weapons to wield against him, withont the documentary evidonee to support the verbal aaser- tion of those facia.” “What course, then, do you propose to adopt ?” inquired the Amazon: * for tevenged upon him we must and will be, even if we gain no really solid and substantial advantage. What do you think of making use of the Marquis of Samt Oroix, whe, as I told you fast night, cannot obtain a single shilling from the Prince, and who has been donning him, at my instigation, for some weeks past?” “But how can we make any ase of him beyond what you have already done in that respect?” asiced Mreagies. ‘Pp e hin to publish s pamphlet containing s full statement of his case,” replied the widow, “Well, we may do that.” said her corapanion : “hut I want a far more substantial revenge—a re- venge which shall proceed direeily, end not tdi- rectly from eayselves, and which the Prince never- theless could not adopt as a pretext for punishing us.” “Watch all his movements, Tim,” Lady lade; * and depend upon #, you will find him out in some prank the circumstances of winch we may turn to our own Who knows but that we might once more get him into our power ?” “True! The advice is excellent,” observed Meagies. “¥rom what you told me last night and from the inquiries which I was enabled to make 267 other. Such at least is the current rumour, founded on little incidents that have oozed out even from the innermost privacy of Carlton House ;—-and the report is pretty well confirmed by what a friend of mine who is connected with the Opera, and whom I accidently met this morn- ing, confidentially whispered in my ear.” “To what effect was his communication?” in- quired the widow. “ That the Prince had three of the new dancing- girls at Carlton House last night,” returned Mea- gles; “and one of them remained with him until the morning. It is therefore pretty evident that he is still pursuing the old game.” * And hence the greater encouragement for you to adopt the course which I have suggested, and keep a watch upon his movements and proceedings go far as you cana,” observed Lady Lade. “You are 6Q woll acquainted with his habits and pur- syite—the feces of all the frequenters of Carlton House are so familiar to you—and you are so quick at drawing the most important deductions from the slightest ipcidents, that you could scarcely fail te discover, sooner or later, something that may he turned to our adyantage. What do you really think af my suggestion ?” “The longer J reflect upon it, the better I am pleased with it,” rejoined Meagles. “Come, we will give wp meping aad desponding, Letitia,” he exclaimed, a sudden brightness overspreading his couatenamees “and we will drink succeas to our schemes. Here, my beauty—pledge me in a bum- per.” And Meagles, having filled two glasses with claret, handed one to his fair companion. * Well, I cannot refuse te pledge you in that toast, Tim,” she observed, with a smile ;—and the nex; moment her empty glass was set down upon the table. “ Now perhaps ‘you will take a weed, my harum- scarum 2” said Meagies, presenting his cigar-case. “No—not sntil my year’s mourning shall have expired, Tim,” answered the widow. “You must tempt me into nothing wrong, you know,’ she added, with a laugh which revealed the two rows of large bat splendid teeth. “And in order to avoid leading you into temp- tation, my beauty,” said Meagles, rising from bie chair, “I will take a stroll while I smoke my cigan It is now eight 9'clook,” he observed, after eon- sulting bis watch ;—“and I will this very night commmence operations wilh a rambie about the vicinage of Carlton Hoyse for an hour or so.” “You will return te supper, Tim?” said tho wider, as he took up his hat to depart. * Assuredly, my charmer,” responded Meagles; —“and I leave ay whip as the seourily for my return.” Then, stepping close up tothe Amazon, he threw his arms round her neck and imprinted a kiss upon her moist red mouth. “ Hey-dey! what does this mean 2” she cried, af- fecting an angry look, as she arranged the cap whieh the abruptness of the proceeding had some- what disturbed. “Did you not promise a kiss at meeting and an- other at parting on every occasion?” demanded Meagles, laughing with all the joyousness of former this morning, it is pretty clear that ho and his wife, | times the Princess, are already on queer terms with each “ Oh { that is the interpretation you put upon mg GOH GOO SS