The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 197: what you’re looking at

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

Vee “Then you are acquainted with enough to make me blush in your presence,” said Mrs. Fitzherbert, now acting in perfect accordance with the affected prodery which had become habitual to her: and eovering her face with her hands, she appeared to be overwhelmed with shame and confusion. *=“Do not annoy yourself, madam,” observed the euntress. “I am not quite an angel of purity. myself—and perhaps a little farther removed from such an immaculate state of being than you are. Indeed, that same Mr. Meagies to whom I just now alluded as one who had served his Royal Highness too faithfully, had for some time been on intimate terms with me; until the base ingratitude and treachery of the Prince—pardon me for speaking in these harsh terms of his Royal Highness—caused the expatriation of Meagles——” “ And the papers—what became of the papers?” demanded Mrs. Fitzherbert hastily, and speaking fn a tone hoarse and breathless with nse. “ They fell nto the hands of the Prince,” replied the Amazon. =O God! then ke knows all!” exclaimed the unhappy lady, once again clasping her hands in the anguish of despair. “Think you, madam,” returned the Amazon, “that his Royal Highness would leave you in your present embarrassment, if it were not to avenge himself upon you for that one important passage in your life which those letters reveal? But what will you say when I inform you that these papers are at the present moment in my possession ?” “Oh! you will give them up to me—you wil] permit me to destroy those evidences of an amour which has proved so fatal to me?” cried Mrs. Fitz- herbert. “Tell me, dear friend—tell me that you will give me those letters——" “J dare not, lady—I dare not,” interrupted Le- titia. “But I may perhaps make use of other documents which are likewise in my possession, to terrify the Prince, and wring from him the amount of money you require. On this subject we will presently : but first of all, I must explain to you that inasmuch as Meagles did you a great and serious injury, and as he has since experienced the ingratitude with which the Prince pays those who serve him too faithfully, I know that the mind of my ill-used friend must have undergone such a change as would lead him to make all possible atonement towards those whom he has been the instrument of oppressing and wronging on the be- half of his Royal Highness. Therefore, with this conviction, am I now acting as Meagles himself would act were he in London at the present mo- ment.” “ Again, my dear Letitia,” said Mrs. Fitzherbert, assuming her most coaxing tone and wheedling manner,—“ again do I thank you for all the gene- rous sympathy you are displaying towards me. But, Oh! you would bind me everlastingly towards you if you were to give me up, or destroy in my those fatal letters——” “My dear madam, I dare not f was the emphatic reply given by the huntress. “Mr. Meagles will be in Engiand shortly, and then those papers must either be returned to the Prince himself, or placed by me at Meagies’ disposal. Which course I shall pursue, will depend upon circumstances. But there is one grand and important ese to which I can turn certain other papers, if you will——” “And those other papers?” ejaculated Mrs. inquiringly Fitzherbert . “ The proofs of your marriage with the Prince was the low, solemn, and whispered response. “ Ah! these also are in your possession?” ex- claimed the lady, surveying Letitia with as much suspicion and alarm as profound amazement. ** Yes, madam,” was the calm response. “I hold in 1uy possession such documents us would shake the very monarchy to its foundation F” “ And how—my God !—how can you serve me demanded Mrs. Fitzherbert, trembling all over with the nervous excitement of mingled hope, feaz, and cruel suspense. “ Listen, madam,” resumed the huntress, speak- ing in a low but impressive tone. “If you say but the word I will proceed to Windsor and seek an interview with the King. It would not be the first time that I have encountered his Majesty with threats in order to wrmg from him certain con- cessions,” observed the beauteous Amazon, with a smile. “On the former occasion it was to procure favours for the Prince—this time it shall be to de- mand justice for you. Leave the matter in my hands—and if I do not succeed in obtaining for you the title of a Duchess with an income of twenty thousand a-year——” . “Letitia, you are raving!—my dear friend, you are raving!” exclaimed Mrs. Fitzherbert, wildly excited with new hopes and aspirations. “The King will sparn you from him——” “The King will grant me all that I require,” re- joined the Amazon, with the decisive emphasis and look of one which is confident of success in a pro- posed undertaking. “But my union with the Prince exists in con- travention of the Royal Marriage Act,” said Mrs. Fitzherbert; “and the King will defy our threats.” “Not so, madam,” returned the huntress: “for I have already well weighed the various details and chances of the whole proceeding. The Prince, in espousing you, espoused a Catholic; and therefore he violated the Act of Settlement and forfeits his right, claim, and title to the British crown. Whether the marriage be good or bad acoording to the Royal Marriage Act, matters not to our purpose: it is a marriage in defiance of the Act of Settlement—and this is the point we have to rest our proceedings upon. Think you, then, that the King will abandon the cause of his eldest son—or that his Majesty will assist him out of this di- lemma ?” “It is heaven that has sent you to me, my be- loved friend! exclaimed Mrs. Fitzherbert, now throwing her arms about the Amazon's neck and embracing her with as much affection as if they were sisters. “A few weeke—nay, a few days ago, I would not have stirred a step in such a proceed- ing as the one you have outlined to me—nor would I have permitted a soul to take up my cause in such amanner. Bué now that I am so completely crushed and overwhelmed by calamities—now that adversities have fallen upon me thickly as hail— and now, too, that Ris Royal Highness prociauns his utter indifference, if not his open hostility and defiance, I feel that a change has come over me, and that I shall not be wise in suffering myself to be yielded up to martyrdom in order to spare the feelings of others. No—J will adopt the couss Fa S (CO (C DOO (CO