The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 290: what you’re looking at

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THE MYSTERIES. the humiliation of that haughty, arrogant, and vindictive man: and at the same time, nething could exceed the calm and resolute determination which Meagles evinced in thus reducing him to obedience. “Well, sir,” exclaimed the discomfited Prince, scarcely able to subdue his rage, and utterly unable to conceal his mortification,—“ I suppose that when I have signed this, you will suffer me to depart?” ‘One moment!” ejaculated Tim: “you must not take me for such a fool as to imagine that I will receive a paper which to-morrow morning you would denounce as a forgery. It must be regularly attested: and where can we find a better witness than the nobleman whom you have outraged, and whose vengeance will in some degree be satisfied by the spectacle of your humiliation? Have the icindness to remain here for a few minutes while I proceed in search of the Earl of Desborough.” And without waiting to hear the remonstrance which the Prince began to utter against the plan now suggested, Meagles opened the door—quitted the room—locked the door on the outside—and took away the key in his pocket. The miserable Prince groaned aloud: then, from his chair, he began to pace the room in a condition of fearful mental excitement. * * * * * s * * = = i While this extraordinary scene had been taking place in the parlour where we have just left his Royal Highness a close prisoner, certain explana- tions were passing between the Earl and Countess of Desborough. This nobleman, on rescuing his wife from the power of the royal voluptuary, had immediately conducted her to her own apartment, where she sank upon a sofa and gave way to a flood of tears. The Earl said nothing: not a syllable of either reproach or consolation issued from his lips ;—for he was as yet unaware how far his wife merited sympathy, or to what extent her conduct had in- curred his blame. The explanations which he had received from Meagies, were necessarily so brief, hurried, and meagre, that his ideas relative to the incident of the evening were confined to the mere knowledge that the criminal Ramsey had returned to England—that he had induced the Countess to grant him a first interview in St. James's Park and a second at Stamford Manor—and that the Prince of Wales was to become his substitute on the latter occasion. The fit of weeping into which Eleanor burst on being conducted to her apartment, relieved her surcharged bosom and afforded an issue for the fury of all those pent-up feelings that had been agitating her while arguing, reasoning, and event- ually battling with the Prince. But one of the first effects of that relief was to afford her leisure to contemplate the position in which she now stood with regard to her husband. “ Francis,” she said, in a low and tremulous voice, as she rose from the sofa and aososted the Earl, “do you believe that I encouraged the visit of the Prince to your house?—do you imagine that he came hither by my invitation ?” “I am certain that he did noé,” replied the noble- man, with a mournful gravity of speech and manner: “for I have learnt enough to afford me a glimpse SE ae 279 of the whole plot. Inaword, Philip Ramsey is in England——” “Ah! then you know all,” ejaculated Eleanor; “and Iam spared the pain of much disagreeable explanation. But before another word passes be- tween us, read this,” she added, drawing from her bosom the note which she bad written in the after- noon: and as she presented it to her husband, the pallor of her countenance changed into the glow of confidence and satisfaction. The Earl opened the billet, which was addressed to himself, and read as follows :— “My dearest husband, “7 write these few lines in order to save myself from fatal misconeeption on your part, should you by any means obtain a clue to the deplorable circumstances which are now enmeshing me. A person whose name I cannot—dare not commit to paper, has returned to Eng- land, and has demanded a last interview with me, as the sole condition upon which he will molest meno more. Overewed by the horrors of past reminiscences, and subdued by the weight of present fears, I have yielded to his desire. Bat I have prepared weapons to defend my- self against the slightest insult;—and I will mercilessly slay that man, if he dare to approach me otherwise than with respect. “Should he adhere to his solemn promise and content himself with the gratification of that passing whim which has Induced him to solicls this interview,—.namely, that he may contemplate me for a few moments and for the last time,—it is my intention to keep all this proceseding a secret from my husband. Whereforeafflict him by the revival of the most painfal reminiscences? ‘Tis I alone who should suffer for the past ! “But should that man drive me to desperation,—should thie interview lead to some deplorable catastrophe,—-then whatever may be the circumstances, this note will con- vince you, my dearest husband, that Iam true to the pledge which I made you when receiving your forgive. ness for my weakness—my frallty—-my crime, in regard to that man! “Your affectionste wife, * ELEANOR.” “This goes far—very far to acquit you in one respect,” said the Earl of Desborough, when he had perused the extraordinary billet: “but in an- other——And yet,” he exclaimed, suddenly check- ing himself, “I know not by what right I dare question your actions, wretched being that I am!” “Speak—my God! speak,” cried Eleanor, clinge ing to his arm and gazing up wistfully into his countenance. “What do you mean?—how am I open to suspicion? Return to the room whence you have ere now led me away—and upon the floor you will find a broken dagger—on the table the pistol damped with water. Those were the wea- pons which I had secreted there, and which I would have used against the Prince himself— yes, all Prince though he be— had he not discovered them in the place where they were concealed.” “Qh! if this were true, Eleanor,” cried the Earl, “it would be indeed a proof——But you were in the adjacent chamber—and the lights were there,” exclaimed the nobleman, once more interrupting himself, as dar® suspicions returned to his mind. “It was in a moment of utter prostration of all mental and bodily powers,” said the Countess, now profoundly afflicted at the turn which the conver- sation was taking,—“ that the Prince hastened with the candles into the adjoining room and then bore me thither in his arms. But did I not shriek for help? My brain is becoming confused—and yet methinks that I sent forth a cry of terror——" GOH GOO SS