The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 247: what you’re looking at

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

234 ties: one is the party for the King or Prince, as the | Jersey, affecting the deepest sorrow and surprise case may be—and the other is the party for the Queen or Princess. There will consequently soon be two parties in Carlton House—and I am glad that the friendship vouchsafed to me by your Royal Highness has at once determined me which side to take.” “Then you will be as it were opposeddo the Prince f” exclaimed Caroline, ingenuously. “ Not exactly opposed to him—beegamse these par- ties are not precisely hostile to each.other,” explained: Lady Jersey : “ but they serve as cauaazillas or secret councils to each exalted personaga. Nevertheless, even were I obliged to oppose the Prince in any sense of the term, I should not hesitate to do so provided I was consulting the veritable interests ‘of your Royal Highness.” “ Then, after all, the Prince is really no favourite of your’s ~” cried her Royal Highness. “Far from it,” responded Lady Jersey. “De you wish me to be candid ?” “I do,” said Caroline. “Speak opeatp—undis- “Then must your Royal Highness now-jeamm that I hate the Prince of Wales,” answered the Countess, throwing an accent of deep and concentrated. acer- bity into her tone. “You hate him!” repeated Caroline, in wonder- ment. “Then why did you accept a post about my person which would compel you to take up your residence beneath the roof of Carlton House?” “ Because I already loved: ygss before I sven saw you,” was the immediate reply, delivered with sach rally warms and enthusiasts, theew her.arms rened Lady Jersey’s neck and .coverah: hen:checka with “Bat tell ma.whesefoce -you hate sag royal hus- band?” inquized .the confiding, unsmapacting Caro- line when she had.thus laviehad:the proofs of her gratitude and feiadshia upon the:falsee woman who was thas sqcosesfeily entangling her in the inex- tricable meshes of.a profound duplicity. “I hate the Prince of Wales,” replied Lady Jersey, assuming the alc of an outraged woman conscious of integrity,—-* because he would have seduced me into that path which calumny repre- sents me to be treading. O Princess!” exclaimed the accomplished hypocrite, throwing into her voive all the tremulousness and into her manner all the excitement of deep emotion; *I am inno- cent of any wrong—and yet your husband has caused me to be regarded as a faithless wife! Can I do otherwise than hate him ?” “Alas! alas! it is very sad,” murmured Caro- line, the tears trickling down her cheeks. “ Bat I will endeavour to recompense you for the injary which you have thus sustained at the hands of him who is now my hasband——” “Your friendship and your confidence will amply reward me, dear Princess,” hastily exclaimed the artfal lady. “And you shall have bofh {* rejoined Caroline, in a fervid tone. “Nevertheless,” she continued, suddenly recollecting herself, “there were certain things which the Prince said to me just now and relative to which he exacted a solemn vow of secrecy —— “Oh! is it possible that his Royal Highness should have commenced the work of coercion, in- timidation, or tyranny with you?” exclaimed Lady “Alas! poor Princess——Bat you will pardon mine———”” “Pardon you, dear Jersey!” ejaculated Caro- line. “What have you done to offend me? You are speaking to me with the purest motives and in the kindest sense——” “Yes, dear Princess,” interrapted the trea- cherous womaa, —“and you must repose implicit confidence in me—fer I perceive that dangers are alzeagy overclending the sky of your existence. It .weald be wreagy—asy—it would be folly—mad- ness—to observe pledges extorted by menace, or te adhere te vows wrung from you at a moment whea yeu exercised not a proper command over yourself. Besides, if you regard me in the light of , a coofident—~and as I shall retain iaviolable all the commaninations you may impart to me—there can be no. possible harm in your revealing the secrets te whieh you allude. You must consult me with regard ta them—for I already perceive that they involve matters seriously affecting your hap- piness and your welfaze :—but it is utterly impos- sible that I can tender any advice until [ know all —everything withoat reserve——” “You shall know all—everything,” said Caroline, in a tone of decision: for she was now completely enmeshed in the toils which the daplicity and spe- ciousness, the treachery and false friendship of Lady Jersey had been gradually yet surely weav- ing around her. But scarcely was that promise of eatire confi- deace giveo, when the door opeaed, and Mrs. Harvey Aston and Mrs. Haroourt entered the room. “Not another word upon that subject now, dear Princess,” said Lady Jersey, leaning forward over the bed. and speaking in a low rapid whisper: “we will shastly ecise an opportanily to converse at our lelsuve.” “Rie it s0, my dearest friend,” responded Caro- lime, in the same subdued tone ;—and the unsus- pecting Princess felt her heart leap at the idea that she had secured the love, devotion, and fidelity of a woman whom she now looked upon as the most generous-hearted as well as the most calum- niated of her sex ! Her Royal Highness now rose from the virgin nuptial couch, and submitted herself to the opera- tions of the toilette. . OHAPTER OLXXXIL THE EX-BAGMAN AT CARLTON HOUSE- InoxepiaTexy after breakfast, the Prince of Wales repaired to his own private apartment,—that splen- didly-furnished chamber where we have already so often seen him, and with which the seoret stair- case communicated. He wished to be alone—or at all events with no other companionship than his own thoughts: for he loathed himself—loathed his present positicn— loathed the whole worid, in fine;—and he was pre- cisely in one of those humoars when the mind, bordering upon misanthropy, finds a sort of relief in solitude. But his Royal Highness was not destined to be left long undisturbed: for Germain shortly made Cregeen ere NR ST a 9 rea (CO lin (C DOO (CO