The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 288: what you’re looking at

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

vocation: for you deprived me of certain important ® “Ah! bat when you exercised your power against me,” interrupted Tim, sternly, “and had me sent to the Home-Office as a preparatory step to being packed off out of the country, you were not aware that I had possession of your documents. It was only when that French rascal of your’s went to pillage and plunder my lodgings, that the inci- dent of the missing papers came to light. Your villanous treachery therefore preceded the dis- covery of those documents.” “But since you choose to argue the question,” said the Prince, endeavouring to pluck up his courage, “let me remind you that your treachery in possessing yourself of those papers had been enacted at the time when I adopted harsh measures towards you.” “Yes—because I had all along been aware of your real character,” retorted Meagies. “I had obeyed you as ¢ willing instrument—a servile tool —a ready agent: I had done everything that a man could do to deserve kindness at your hands }— and I saw that you meant to throw me overboard and cast me off the instant I should prove no longer useful to you. For that reason did I em- ploy the Amazon to beguile you one day in the bath-room at Carlton House, while I obtained possession of your documents.” “Ah! the Amazon —a veritable demoness {* muttered the Prince, in a tone audible only to himself. “I do not know what you are saying,” observed Meagles: “but I can only assure you that Lady Lade entertains towards you no better feeling than { do, and that any vengeance which I may be prompted to inflict upon you, is as much on her account @s on my own.” “But do you know, air, that you are guilty of high treason in menacing the life of the Prince of Wales?” demanded his Royal Highness, suddenly catching at a threat which, with characteristic ar- rogance, he fondly and foolishly thought would overawe his enemy in a moment. “I know that there exists such a law as the one to which you allude,” was the calm and indeed contemptuous reply : “ but even were I a desperate man, Without the glimpse of a loop-hole of escape, I should not hesitate to wreak my vengeance upon you. Much less, then, shal] I shrink from ing to circumstances, now that I may blow your brains out with the fall certainty of getting off scot free.” “What do you mean?” asked the Prince, trem- bling all over: and, in order to seem cool and col- lected, he tool a seat. “The explanation is easily given and as readily anderstood,” returned Meagles. “His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales employs a resusci- et criminal——— Ah { you may well start—-I know “But who, in the name of God, told you this ”” demanded the heir-apparent, now trembling like an aspen leaf. “It is sufficient for our present purpose that I am thus intimately acquainted with all your pro- ceedings,” rejoined Meagles. “But, stay,” he added, as a sudden thought struck him: “I do not wish you to run away with the notion that the wretched being Ramsey has betrayed you, If t a ge A 277 permitted you to entertain that thought, your natural vindictiveness would speedily hand him over to the tender mercies of the ordeal which he has once escaped: and I am not barbarous enough to be instrumental in sending the poor devil back to the scaffold—for I suppose that Jack Ketch would do his duty more effectually the next time. I will therefore relieve you from any misapprehen- sion relative to Philip Ramsey; and I will tell you the real truth—which is, that I saw him in St. James's Park—I recognised him as a person of whom I had canght a glimpse on board the Diana —I was led by curiosity to watch his movements —and I overheard all that passed during an inter- view which he had with the Countess of Desbo- rough in the park. Their conversation revealed to me who he was;—and after the Countess left him, the oral utterance which he unguardedly gave to his own thoughts, made me acquainted with the startling fact that he was purchasing his pardon at your hands, as the price of placing the Countess in your power.” ‘The incautious fool _—the idiot [" muttered the Prince. “ His folly has wrought all this mis- chief !” “Speak out anything you may have to say if comment upon my explanations,” cried Meagies: “I do not like those mutterings. Ramsey, you now perceive, has acted foolishly—but not treache- rously. When once acquainted with the plot in which you were to figure so conspicuously, I was not the man at all likely to let it pass without an attempt to turn it to my own purposes. I there- fore deliberated with the Amazon; and we settled the manner of proceeding. The course indeed was plain and facile enough. I came just now to Stam~ ford Manor, and watched near the garden wall until I saw you enter. I knew your gait, disguised though you were. Then I went round to the front- door and demanded an interview with the Eari. Ino afew words I explained to him that a trap had been laid to ensnare his wife, and that the Prince of Wales was the intended ravisher or seducer, as the case might be. I stipulated with the Earl that he was to leave me to manage your Royal High- ness, a8 I had an account to settle with you ;—and you have just seen how faithfully Lord Desborough has falfilled his portion of the compact. He does not know, and very probably does not care, whether I mean to send the contents of this pistol through your royal head, or not.” “Can it be possible that the Earl of Desborough has abandoned me to this insult — if to nothing worse?” exclaimed the Prince, almost writhing upon his chair. “Was it likely that he would remain to thank your Royal Mighness for attempting to ravish his wife?” demanded Meagles, with a sneer. “But you do not yet understand how it is that I am ina position to inflict summary vengeance upon you, purely and simply on my own account and that of the Amazon, without inourring the slightest per- sonal danger. Well, I will explain that point as succinctly and as truthfully as I have alreddy in- formed you how I became aware of the conspiracy wherein yourself and Ramsey have so pleasantly figured. Let us suppose a case. A husband is drawn to & particular room in his house, by hear. ing his wife scream : he finds her in the arms, not of a mare seducer — but of a ravisher;— and he GOH GOO SS