The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 299: what you’re looking at

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

238 . THE MYGTERIZE. undulations which the dress itself took from the rich contours of her bust, enabled him to finish and complete in his imagination the fine proportions of those hills of snow. In sooth, the entire spec- tacle of that exquisitely modelled form, stretched with all the abandonment of its flowing length of limb upon the couch, was enough to overcome the scruples of a saint, much less excite almost to mad- ness the furious desires of that royal voluptuary. For several miontes did he contemplate the lovely being whom he now fancied to be entirely in his power: for several minutes did he gloat over the glorious creature whom he looked upon as a sure and certain victim to his burning lusts. He stooped down—he was about to fasten his lips to that mouth which was so rich in its moist redness— he was on the point of sucking in the pure fra- grance of the breath that came slowly and heavily : when, hark! a sound is heard—the handle of the door is turning—that door which he had forgotten to fasten ! Bat even while still bending over the sleeping beauty, he paused and listened, without absolutely raising himself to his wonted upright carriage: for he fancied that his ears must have deceived him. Another moment—and the door opens—and foot- steps are stealing in! He starts—he springs te an upright posture—he turns hastily round—and he beholds intruders of no welcome aspect entering the apartment! “ Away with you!” exclaimed the Prince, ad- vancing towards Carrotty Poll, the Gallows’ Widow, and the Kinchin-Grand. “Depart this momeot— or I will give the alarm that thieves are in the house.” “'You don’t dare do it, Prince of Wales,” said Carrotty Poll. “If so, you'd only be exposing yourseif.” “But who are you?—and what do you require ?” demanded his Royal Highness, who had stamped his foot with vexation when the red-haired young woman's words showed that he was recognised by the intruders. “You want money, doubtless? Well, [ will give you a few guineas——” ‘* No—we want to have aconversation with your Koyal Highness on very particular business,” in- terrupted the Gallows’ Widow. “With me?—and to-night? Impossible!” eja- culated the Prince, glancing towards the bed, on which Pauline Clarendon still lay steeped in un- consciousness. “Wemeanwith you—and we also mean to-night,” said the Gallows’ Widow, in her quiet but resolute tone. “In plain terms, our presence here just at the very moment when yon thought of being happy,’—and she flung a significant look towards Paulice,—“ is nota mere accident. It is altogether a planned and pre-arranged thing.” “ What! has that scoundrel Page been playing me fulse ?” cried the Prince, now trembling for the safety of the other secrets of which the ex-bagman was the depositary. “By heaven! I will be sig- nally avenged fur this !” “Nonsense !” exclaimed Carrotty Poll, petalantly. “Page has got nothing at all todo with it On the contrary, he and his wife are safely and securcly locked in the parlour down stairs—and thsir own servant girl is mounting guard over them with a horse-pistol. So your Royal Highness perceives that all proper precautions have been taken.” “Bat once more, who are you?—and what do you want?” demanded the heir-apparant, every instant becoming more and more troubled by the mysterious words and self.suficient manner o. these intruders. “Pil speak fust, most illustrious Prince,” said the Kinchin-Grand, taking off his hat with mock ceremony. “ Know, then, that I'm a sort of Prince in my way: that is, I’m captain of as jolly a pack of juvenile rogues and rascals, prostitates and thieves, as ever was met together in this blessed country. They call me the Kinchin-Grand: and I'm wery much at the service of your Royal High- ness, if yoo ever want anything done in my way.” “ Enough, sir!” ejaculated the Prince, tarniag from the young reprobate in loathing and disgust. “ Now, my good women, who are you !—and what do you requireof mef Be explicit and brief—and let us put as speedy an end as posaible to this busi- ness.’’ “ My name is Mary Price,” said Carrotty Poll; “and I am the daughter of a certain Stephen Price, better known in some places as the Big Beggar- man.” “And J am the mistress of one Joseph Warren, better known as the Magsman,” obeerved the Gal- lows’ Widow, keenly watching the effect which this announcement would produce upon his Royal High- ness. The Prince had started visibly when the name of the Big Beggarman, which was far from unfamiliar to his ears, had been mentioned hy Carrotty Poll: but his features indicated a still more profound trouble at the words of Elizabeth Marks, the Gal- lows’ W idow. “ And what is it that you require of me?” demanded the Prince, summoning al] his presence of mind to his aid: for the unpleasant nature of the poaition in which he now found himself, was full of peril and perplexity as well as of annoyance. ‘¢We will explain ourselves in a few words,” said the Gallows’ Widow, taking upon herself the office of spokeswoman. “Stephen Price, the father of this young woman, is now in gaol, waiting his trial for pi- racy and murder. My man, Joe Warren, is exactly in the same difficulty—and, indeed, in the same place. The evidence will be tolerably strong against them : and besides, their previous characters will be quite enough to get them found guilty and condemned to death. But they must not die—their lives mast be spared, even though upon the condition of transpor- tation for the rest of their days. You see, Prince, we do not ask too much—we are moderate in our de- mands——”’ “Well, well,” interrupted his Royal Highness, hoping to get rid of his present petitioners by means of a promise that he never intended to fulfil,—“ your wishes shall be complied with—and I pledge myself to procure a commutation of those men’s sentences, whenever the trial may take place.” “ We are much indebted to you, Prince,” said the Gallows’ Widow. “ And we'll do you a good turn some day or an- other,” added the Kinchin Grand. “ Well—now our business is ended, worthy people,” exclaimed his Royal Highness; “and you can take your departure as quickly as you came. Upon my promise you may rely——” “Bat we would rather have it in writing, Prince,” observed the Gallows’ Widow, with her wonted im- ElOOO® ee SS