The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 193: what you’re looking at

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

a c 180 | the fire, when ft suddenly flashed to his brain THE MYSTERIRG. Germain retired as soon as he had introdéused it might prove useful hereafter in some way | this individual; and the Prince, having scanned ar another. . Who koows what purpose it may serve?” he muttered to himself. | And as he proceeded to secure the document in ‘his desk, the operation reminded him of how his moet valuable and important papers had been ab- atracted by the Amazon, and how they were still retained in her possession until the conditions which she had imposed upon his Royal Highness wore fulfilled. “TI will be revenged upon that woman, by heaven!” he exclaimed aloud, and he dashed his clenched fist upon the lid of the desk. “Once let me be out of her power, and we shall see who is the more powerful—the heir-apparent to the British throne, or Jack Rann’s blowen converted into Lady Lade *” Scarcely had the Prince made this reflection, when Germain entered the room with a letter, which he handed to his royal master. He then re- treated to the vicinage of the door, where he stood to await the reply that was desired. The heir-apparent instantaneously recognised the fluent writing of Mrs. Fitzherbert; and with a trembling hand he opened the missive, the con- tents of which ran as follow :— ‘ “ Circumstances of the most distressing and humilia- ting character could alone induce me to ask you for as- sistance. I do not appeal to you asa wife to a husband —although I have the right to do #0: I do not appeal to you as a friend to a friend, because all kindly feeling on your part towards me is extinct ;—and I do not appeal to you as a mistress to her lever, because I nerer looked upon myself in any less honourabie light than that of your spouse. No: in none of those capacities do I ap- peal to you—although it was originally my intention to put both love and friendship to a last test. But I request you, on the score of past reminiscences and all that has ever taken place between us, to see the bearer of this letter and setisfy him ia such a manner that I may be released forthwith from my present crael embarrass- ment.” The note was without date or signature: but the beautiful handwriting would have been unmistak- able, even if the tender pathos of the language had touched no responsive chord in the heart of the Prince of Wales. He knew, then, that the missive was from Mrs. Fitzherbert: but he was altogether ignorant of the calamities which had befallen her ;—and it was as much through curi- osity to be enlightened in this respect, as from any feeling of a more praiseworthy nature, that he bade Germain introduce to his presence the bearer of the setter. The valet bowed and retired;—and in a few minutes Mr. Nathan Crimp was ushered into the royal voluptuary’s private apartment. But the sheriff's-officer’s external appearance had undergone as a change as copious ab- lutions, clean linen, the Sunday apparel, and a fine display of jewellery could possibly accomplish with regard to it. In fact, Mr. Crimp had made him- self as smart as possible; and although it would havo been well if he had looked a trifle less greasy about the hair and face, and likewise if he had removed the black cornices from his nails or at all events worn gloves, there nevertheless certainly was a great improvement in the personal appear- ance of Mr. Nathan Crimp. a eee him with a hasty but searching glance, demanded in a somewhat tone, “Where is Mrs. Fitzherbert ?—and who the devil are you ?” “Please your Royal Highness,” returned Mr. Crimp, with a low bow and a scrape of the left foot, “the lady’s in lavendar, and I'm the you know what—savin’ your Royal Highnese’s pre- sence.” “Damn the presence!” cried the Prince, impa- tiently. “What do you mean me to understand, man? Is Mrs. Fitzherbert in a lock-up house ?— and are you a bailiff?” “Please your Ro ess, the lady's safe i my lock-up, as youlhave at observed : I ain’t a hordinary bum-baily—I’m the officer his-self.” “Ah! now I comprehend,” said the Prince, throwing himself back into the arm-chair whence he had risen: then, taking a tooth-pick, he crossed one leg over another in a leisurely manner, and seemed to reflect for nearly a minute. “ Well, and how much is she locked up for?” he at length de- manded, in a tone which now appeared to be ex- pressive of very great indifference indeed. “Two thousand and odd guineas, may it please your Royal Highness,” answered Crimp. *“‘ Zounds!” ejaculated the Prince, tossing the tooth-pick into the fire. “And what does she want me to do” “Pay it, I suppose,” was Mr. Nathan Crimp's very natural though somewhat blunt explana- tion. “ May I be damned———I mean may I be hanged exclaimed his Royal Highness, correcting himself, “if I can do anything of the kind. Come now, Mr. What’s-your-name——” “Crimp—Nathan Crimp—at your Royal High- ness's service,” interjected the bailiff, with another low bow. | “Well, Mr. Crimp, then,” continued the Prince, in a tone of half-superciliousness and half-com- mand,—“I know that all gentlemen of your fra- ternity are not only rich as Croesus, but likewise ever ready to advance your coin at good interest. You will therefore take my note of hand for the lady’s debt—with the addition of a suitable bones for yourself.” “Your Royal Highness’s note of hand!” ex- claimed Crimp, with a sort of dismay at the pro- posal. “Why, bless your dear heart! it isn’t ne. gotiable—I couldn't do nothink with it: and be. sides, 'm young in the business as a hofficer and haven't so much money to lend.” “What can be done, then?” asked the Prince, carelessly. “For my part, I cannot spare two thousand guineas just at this moment; and if my note of hand will not do, why then———" “The lady must go to the Fleet—that’s the long and short on it,” added Mr. Crimp. “Bat I hope your Royal Highness will make a heffort—for I can assure you she’s in a woful plight. All her servants has ran away-—ter friends won't do no- think for her—she’s got little or no money left— and since she was arrested, a execution for a small debt has been put into her house in Picca- dilly, s0 that her wery wardrobe is now under re- straint, as the sayin’ is.” “ Well, I am very sorry for it,” said the Prince, in a tone of unfeeling abruptness. “But I can (CO (C DOO (CO