The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 300: what you’re looking at

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

eee ee age a a ee a aS OI I a Onna rh re oh —_ 4 THE MYSTERIES OF TILE CQURT 969 perturbability of manner ;—“ and we should like the document sealed with that signet-ring which your Royal Highness wears'‘upon your right hand,” she added, pointing to the jewel itself. “What! you will not take my word—my solemnly pledged promise?” cried the Prince. “Then be off -—depart—I defy you!” “Ah! bat we are not to be defied, most illustrious Highness!” exclaimed the Kinchin-Grand. “Page's servant-gal is my blowen—and ’tis she who has put us up to the whole business about that young lady there,” he added, looking towards Pauline, who still remained buried in a profound lethargy. “ That is true, Prince,” said the Gallows’ Widow, speaking without any excitement in her manner, and yet with a certain ominous significancy in her tone. “The entire proceeding is known to us in all its details;—and I ask you, Prince, what the world would say if we were to raise an alarm and bring a mob to see how his Royal Highness em- 89 ——eees _ _—e ne ee eee ee ee Le e | al = = - | = =] J * i lite — 7 Fey ‘F ae % & ‘ u : me bev eet a. is —_—"".. - > fl ‘ ’ =. ° 4 + es le _ i Te tes = e ee ay a - . ' 3 \ 7 a - Ls? %, i . a - * wa of alk res ploya people to administer narcotic drugs to inno- cent young ladies, in order that he may have an opportunity of ravishing and deflowering them.” The royal voluptuary was staggered—and a mortal pallor overspread his countenance: for he saw that he was entircly in the power of a.set of desperate characters. Resistance was vaiu— refusal was useless ; and exposure wasto be averted at any sacrifice. He could not make his position much worse by giving the required promise in writing: it would be a more prudent alternatiye than that of leaving the wretches then present to have recourse to any extreme measures which they might choose to adopt. For were his conduct towards Pauline Clarendon made public, he would be irrecoverably disgraced in the national. estimation, if not altogether ruined in his pros- spects as heir to the throne. The situation was grave and serious; — and he inwardly cursed his folly in allowing his brutal passions to COUMIUC OO co