The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 312: what you’re looking at

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

a ae thease ssisipsseSSSSNpeESTucmeren THE MYETERIES. Sul compose himself to sleep ;—and then his dreams were filled with images of murdered men — stark corpses—and deep graves, all curiously and fantas- tically blending with scenes in which George I1I— a beantiful Quakeress—an infant child — and various other persons or ideas connected with the important documents, were strangely jumbled. It was therefore a relief when he was awakened by the light of morning streaming into his chamber ; —and, starting from the couch, he achieved his toilette with all possible despatch. Breakfast being disposed of and the bill paid with liberality, Tim Meagles mounted his horse and began to retrace his way to London. CHAPTER CC. ANOTHER INTERVIEW WITH THE KING. In the afternoon of the same day on which Mr. Timothy Meagles thus returned to the metropolis, the King and Queen held a grand levee and drawing-room at St. James’s Ralace. The farce of a parcel of titled fools and vain or silly women decking themselves out in all their splendour for the purpose of attending the royal raree-show, was duly performed ;—and the disgusting display of pomp and ostentation stood forth in striking con- trast with the soul-destroying and body-crushing miseries endared by the toiling millions through- out the length and breadth of the land. That dreadful King, George III, in comparison with whom Nero was an angel and Caligula a saint,—and that snuffy termagaunt, Queen Char- lotte, thus received the homage of the vile syco- phants and the titled demireps who paid those miserable specimens of fallen humanity a worship which they had not religion enongh to offer up to their Maker. The saloons of St. James’s were rich, and dazzling, and brilliant with the plunder | of the poor man: the produce of Ais labour was ; there—while he himself was starving and in rags; —and yet that execrable King and that hateful Queen bestowed not a thought upon the suffering millions over whom they ruled... The trumpery proceedings of the levee and drawing-room took place in the usual manner,— proceedings which were more contemptible than child's.play, without the innocence of the latter: for the effect of such pompous parade and gor- geous ostentation was inevitably calculated to puff up the principal actors with an intolerable pride, and confirm them in their course of tyranny, oppres- sion, and extravagance. But at five o'clock the whole tom-foolery was over; and while the Queen retired to her toilette-chamber to put off her robes, the King withdrew to an apartment denominated the Royal Closet, where he was in the habit of granting private audiqnces after the more ceremo- nial levee. Scarcely had the King thus retired to that room, when a page entered to announce that a gentleman and lady, who had delivered their cards, solicited an interview in the most private manner possible. The King took the cards and started visibly when he read the name of “ Mu. Mzaeuzs” upon the first : then, examining the other, he was almost inclined to fly into a rage when he beheld the name of * Lapy qua ae reaper Cece nS a apenas — Lape.” He was about to refuse the audience soll. cited by those persons : but reeollecting how vitally important to himself had been the object of their former visit, when he was staying at Windsor Castle, and trembling with apprehension lest some new incident had supplied them the means of coercing him at pleasure, he resolved upon seeing them. The page was accordingly instructed to lead them by a private passage to the Royal Closet ;— and in a few minutes Tim Meagles and Lady Lade once more stood in the presence of George IIL For this occasion our friend Tim had habited himself in a complete suit of black; and the riding-whip was dispensed with. Lady Lade wore her widows’ weeds ;—and truly handsome did she appear. The King motioned the page to withdraw ;—and 80 soon as he was alone with his visitors, he said in a petulant manner, where nervous suspense min- gied with irritation, “ Well, what is it now—what is it now ?” “ May it please your Majesty,” returned Meagles, “we have sought your Majesty's presence on busi- ness of the utmost importance——” “And why did you bring ker with you?—why did you bring ker ”’ demanded the King, pointing angrily towards Letitia. “You told me last time that she was your wife—yes—your wife—Mrs. Meagles—Meagies. But it was all false—all false. George—I mean his Royal Highness—let me into the secret afterwards. He was tipsy one night— one night~—I mean he was communicative one night—very communicative,—and he told me who the pretended Mrs. Meagles was. How dare you, sir—how dare you—dare you—bring that woman to me ?” “As a witness to see fair play, your Majesty,” answered Meagles, with an undaunted firmness. “I have been so scurvily treated on a special occasion by your Majesty’s eldest son, and the Home Office plays such queer tricks at times, that I resolved to bring a witness with me. And as the business is of a most private and confidential cha- racter, I thought your Majesty would be better pleased if I brought a friend who knows all my rather than a stranger.” “Ah! fine talk—fine talk !” ejaculated the King, in that jerking manner which was peculiar to him: then, as he surveyed the Amazon from head to foot, he said in a musing tone, “Well, upon my word, she looks as well—yes, quite as well—quite as well, in those widows’ weeds as in the male sp- parel: quite as well! A fine woman—a very fine woman. Pity she’s no better than she should be— no better than she should be,” he added, these last words being inaudible alike to Meagles and the ebject of the monarch’s musings. “And now what's the business—what’s the business?” he de- manded aloud, turning abruptly at the same time towards Meagies. | “Accident has thrown in my way certain im- portant papers which intimately regard your Majesty,” was the reply, delivered in a firm and measured tone. “Papers—important papers !—- what papers ?” ejaculated the King, growing more and more ner- vous. “This is the second time you’ve come to me about papers. More exactions—eh! More norisense to bother your sovereign about—eh? GOH GOO SS