The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 163: what you’re looking at

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

1852 sules— and I must continue to believe that the same Deity who created Man in his own image, made the countenance a reflex of the mind. This is the rule: the other is the exception. Mr. Bradford, I am deeply—deeply indebted to you for the trouble which you have taken and the interest you have manifested in my behalf May. I now request that you will prepare me the antidote, which is to restore me to health and happiness ¢” “It will take me two hours to compound the mix- ture, Mr. Eatop,” was the answer. “Shall I send it $> your residence f” ; “No: in the afternoon I will call for it. I do not wish that a single soul beneath my father’s roof should learn that I am indebted to medicine for this miraculous resuscitation which is to take place. It must be believed that nature herself is working her own cure by means as mysterious as those which my friends imagine to be the cause of my malady.” Eaton then took his leave of the chemist, to whom be offered no pecuniary recompense. But he went straight to a goldsmith’s in the same street ;—and in the course of the day Mr. Bradford received a com- plete service of very handsome silver plate, which could not possibly have cost less than five hundred guineas. CHAPTER &LIV MRS. FITZHERBERT. Ir was about eleven o'clock in the forenoon : and the Prince of Wales was seated at breakfast with a lady im one of the most elegant apartments of Carlton House. The companion of the heir-apparent on this occa- sion was a woman of remarkable beauty. Her com- plexion was delicately fair—not of an insipid pale- ness, nor white as marble or as snow; but of a trans- parent living white such as the soft and velvet-like skin ought to be, and which no painter can imitate on his canvass. On each round cheek there ap- peared the tint ofthe rose, which could easily deepen, with excitement or animation, into a richer and a warmer glow. Her hair was very light,—not flaxen—nor yellow— nor auburn;— but of that indescribable paleness which is nevertheless glossy and shining, and which, in the sun’s rays or in the lustre of lamps, seems as if it were sprinkled with gold dust. She however wore it powdered, and arranged in a myriad curls: and although that style, borrowed from the Court of Louis XVI of France, was a disfigurement in nine cases out of ten, it appeared exquisitely becoming fo the lady whom we are describing. Her eyes were large, and of a light, clear, liquid blue — usually languishing and tender: but some- times lighting up with an expression which com- manded, or with a lustre which overawed. Froma soul formed for love did those eyes borrow the sweet- ness that smiled trom them; and more melting would they grow beneath the gaze of him to whom her heart was given. Her nose was remarkable for its classic shape; and its beautifully finished outline imparted an air of inconceivable grace to the general contour of the countenance. Her mouth was full and ripe, but not coarse; and her teeth were perfect in evenness and brilliancy. In stature she was not above the middle heicht and aithough her charms had expanded into the luxuriance of maturity, yet her figure not last its symmetry. The sweeping outlines of her robust arms, bare to the shoulders—the fulness but plump roundness of the bosom which a low dress more than half-revealed—the swan-like curvature of the proud neck— and the wavy development of the entire form,—all these constituted an assemblage of charms most suited to the taste of the libidinous Prince, and in which he rejoiced to revel. This lady was Mrs. Fitzherbert. She was now in her thirty-ninth year, but in all the glory of her charms—in all the splendour ef ber beauty. She had been twice married before she be- came acquainted with the heir-apparent: bat she was without issue from either of those alliances. In religious faith she was a Roman Catholic, and was slightly tinged with bigotry: nevertheless, she was addicted to pleasure, fond of society, and not par- ticularly scrupulous in her morals—as her amour with the Marquis of Bellois fully testified. At the time of which we are writing, Mrs. Fits- herbert dwelt openly with the Prince of Wales. She had her suite of apartments in Cariton House, where she received her own friends and gave ele- gant entertainments ;—and she likewise presided at the balls and soirées given by the heir-apparent himself. In every respect was she treated and looked upon as his wire, save in name: fur it was always as Mrs. Fitzkerberi that she was spoken of by his Royal Highness or addressed by others. But to return to our narrative. It was, as we have already said, about eleven o'clock in the forenoon; and the Priace of Wales was breakfasting with Mrs. Fitzherbert fn one of her own rooms at Carlton House. They had dismissed the attendants in order to converse without restraint: for it was evident by their manner that something had occurred to give them annoyance. “And when did you hear of his Majesty's in- tention?” inquired the lady, after along pause: and her voice, naturally soft and pleasing, was ren- dered perfectly melodious by the melancholy plain- tiveness which now characterised it. “Last night, my love,” responded the Prince. “JT had been to call on the Earl and Countess of Desborough, who have returned to town; and as I was returning home in my carriage I met a friend who was on horseback. He beckoned the coach- man to stop, as he had something of importance to communicate: and he assured me in a hurried whisper at the carriage-window that the thing was the talk of the clubs, It appears that Ministers re- ceived yesterday morning a message from my august father, intimating his deatre that such ap alliance should take place;—a Cabinet Council was held in the afternoon ;—and a few hours later the matter was known throughout the West End.” “And who was this friend that seems to have been the first to communicate so important a pro. ject to the personage principally concerned and in- terested in it?” asked Mrs. Fitzherbert. “Oh! you know him well enough, my dear,” re- plied the Prince. “It was that kind-hearteo, use- ful ——” “And good-for-nothing fellow Tim Meagles,” ae the lady, finishing the sentence of the heir- apparcat for hin—her brows contracting with dis i ee COMIC OOO So GO NM