The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 313: what you’re looking at

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

' | § 302 THER MYSTERIES. Come, sir—what are these papers? Come— epeak |” “ Correspondence, may it please your Majesty— memoranda—and explanatory remarks relative to a certain lady whose name cannot do otherwise than awaken disagreeable reminiscences in the mind of your Majesty :”—and as Meagles thus spoke, his looks quailed not beneath those which the monarch fixed intently upon him. “Ah! you always harp on the same string— game string!” cried his Majesty, the colour comiag and going in rapid transitions on his puffy cheeks, and his whole manner exhibiting a painful nervous- seas. “What papers have you got, sir? They are all forgeries—all forgeries—and I defy you. Go aboat your business—about your business :”— and the King, turning abruptly away from Meagies .end the Amazon, walked to the farther end of the room. “ Hear me, sire!” exclaimed Tim, raising his voice with firmness and decision. “I am inoapa- ble of committing the crime which your Majesty dares impute to me: I am no forger—no, not aalf so mach as your Majesty is a foul perjurer.” “Eh! what ?—this to me? this to me” cried George II], turning rapidly round and stamping his foot with rage, while his countesance became purple. “By heaven, sir, if you wish to sleep in the Tower——" “No: your Majesty dares not wreak your ven- geance npon me xow /” interrupted the undaunted Tin. “ Mention the name of Miss Hannah Lightfoot at once,” exclaimed the Amazon,—“ and thereby afford his Majesty a clue to the purport of our business.” “My good sir,” at length said the King, now giving utterance to his words in a slow, solemn, and measured manner, “you have inflicted a deep wound upon my heart—or rather, you have torn open one which was barely skinned over. I shall not attempt to appear indifferent to the subject which has thus been brought so vividly to my notice. Doubtless the honour of your King is in your keeping: speak, therefore, without reserve— and fear no interruption from me. Now, sir, what have you to say ?” And resting his right elbow upon the arm of the chair, the monarch covered his face with the band which at the same time supported his head. “I am well pleased that your Majesty is pre- pared to listen calmly and tranquilly to the obser- vations which I am about to make,” said Meagies ; “and as it will save your Majesty the pain of another interview with us, I will at once proceed to glance at the nature of these documents which I hold in my possession. Your Majesty will then be enabled to judge whether it be worth while to purchase the papets from me, and whether in the remuneration that I seek I have placed too high a value upon them.” “Proceed,” said the King, still retaining the attitude of profound attention and of deep dejec- tion which he had ere now assumed as he sate in the arm-chair. “In the year 1756,” resumed Meagles, “your Majesty, being at that time his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, fell in with Misa Hannah Lightfoot and became enamoured of her. Your meetings were frequent, but innocent; and you found that the charming Quakeress was too pure to surrender herself to your wishes without mar- “Ah! that name—no—no—don'’t mention it— | riage, or at least without the semblance or sajlemn don’t mention it, good people!” gasped the King, staggering back as if beneath the weight of a blow. “Come—let us talk quietly and tranquilly —without excitement. There—I will sit down,” be added, throwing himself into an arm-chair. “And now, Meagles—queer name, Meagles—very queer-— Meagles—Meaglee,” reiterated the mise- rable monarch, who always seemed to grow childish whenever he was much excited,—“and now, Mea- gles — Meagles — tell me what you want and all about it.” “In plain terms, then,” said Tim, “I wish to know at what price your Majesty will purchase the Correspondence between Miss Hannah Lightfoot and Lady Stamford : toyether with Important Me- : moranda and Explanatory Comments.” | ! | And as Meagles thus spoke, he drew forth the packet of papers and read the endorsement which we have printed in italics. “ Correspondence — Lady Stamford — Memo- rvanda—Comments,” murmured the King, becgm- | ing ghastly pale, and sinking back in the arm- ' chair: for he saw that he was completely in the | ‘ ] | | et gg eer ees nd epi g t a veageaase power of Meagles and the Amazon—and moreover, reminiscences of a very sad and painful nature were now agitating wildly in his brain. “We have him, my beauty,” whispered Meagles aside to the huntress. * He is at our mercy, Tim,” responded the hand- some widow, likewise speaking in a subdued tone. “Do not yield under a Dukedom, mind!” . ‘ Nothing less,” returned Meagles, with a reso- “ule alr. wa Se rr ee ee ieee, promise of marriage. Thus compelled to adopt a decisive part, your Majesty—then Prince of Wales, as your son now is—wrote Miss Lightfoot a letter revealing your rank. This was in the month of February, 1757; and although the letter*® is not in the collection which I now hold, there are many ‘allusions to its contents in other letters which are in this correspondence. In the month of April. 1757, Hannah Lightfoot became your bride in the sight of heaven, the memorable certificateft to which I need ndt farther allude, being the means adopted by you to silence the scruples of the charming Quakeress. Towards the end of June of the same year, Miss Lightfoot found herself in a way to become a mother;{ and she accompanied Lady Stamford to the Manor near Aylesbury. By a strange coincidence it happend that Lady Stam- ford had likewise just discovcred that she was pregnant. Some weeks afterwards Hannah Light- foot returned to London; and saw her nearly every day. Things went on thus until the month of January, 1758, when you appear to have made up your mind to dissolve the connexion. You accordingly wrote a long letter to Miss Lightfoot, breaking your intention to her as delicately aa you were able. Almost heart-broken, the unhappy lady fled from London, and songht her friend Lady Stamford at the Mamor.§ At that period both © This letter, dated Febuary 9, 1787, ia given at page §2, Vol. L t Given at page 108, Vol L ~ See letter, dated Jane 22, 1757, at page 62, Vol L § See letter, dated January 6th, 1758, at page 52, Vol L ElOOO® SS