The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 241: what you’re looking at

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

| aE eee oni, rently in quite a casual way, she observed, “I can only say, my dear sir, that Lord Leveson vill always be most happy to see you in Albemarle Street, and that henceforth no guest will be re- eeived at his table with a more cordial welcome than yourself.” The governor was now so enchanted that he knew not whether he was standing upon his head or his heels; and he literally confounded himself in‘bowings and scrapings. Ernestina rose from the chair Which she had taken on entering the room; apd the obsequious governor forthwith eonducted her to the cell in which her husband was confined. He then withdrew—and Ernestina re- mained alone in the company of Paul Dysart. “ What intelligence have you for me?” he de manded with breathless impatience. “ Good,” she replied: then taking from about her person a document which her husband instan- taneously recognised, she pointed to some writing on the margin, saying “ Read this !” Dysart’s looks at once settled with all the avidity of suspense upon the writing thus indicated; and when he beheld that solemn recognition of the pledge contained in the document, with the Prince’s signature affixed thereto, he exclaimed in a joyous tone, “Thank heaven! I am saved!” “Yes—you have now nothing to dread, Paul,” said Ernestina, appearing to participate in his enthusiastic delight. “The Prince was with me for an hour this morning—and he did not hesitate to pen of his own accord that annotation on the margin of the paper. But he nevertheless feels that the matter is a delicate one, and must be managed with tact and judgment, so as to prevent the public mind from being outraged by a leniency which is not warranted by the Tnese are the Prince’s own words: and he has accordingly hit upon a plan——” “And that plan?” exclaimed Dysart, im- patiently. “I will explain it to you,” said Ernestina, with a winoing air of apparent sincerity, all the more deeply simulated in proportion to the ticklish nature of the ground upon which she was touching. “The Prince’s idea is that things must be left to take their usual course until the very last mo- inenb———"” “Ahi I understand you,” interrupted Dysart, becoming ghastly pale. “He means to treat me like one of those common malefactors who are mide to ascend even the very platform of the scaffold before the reprieve is produced !” “Do not be impatient—and do not give way to passionate feelings,” said Ernestina, as she again secured the document abont her person. “The Prince has desired me to submit two alternatives to your consideration. The first is that you receive a respite at once, and this to be fullowed by a commutation of the sentence to three years’ imprisonment in Newgate: the other is that you receive the respite on the scaffold, and this to be followed by a free pardon within a day or two. ; In either case appearances will be saved, and the public will have no room to suspect that any private influences or intrigues of an extraordinary nature have been brought to bear upon the mind of the Prince Regént.” * ¥ea—l see the difficalty in which he is placed,” anid Dysart; ‘aru I was not altogether unpre- THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. pared for something of this sort. Well, the alter- natives do not require a moment's reflection: I accept the latter, as being the shortest though the most paiofal ordeal. As for remaining cooped up in this infernal prigon for three years, 'd sooner be hanged straight off at once. And, after all there’s no great harm in mounting the steps of a gibbet when one knows that the sheriff has got the reprieve in his pocket.” “ This is the course I should have recom- mended, had you asked my advice,” said Ernes- tina: “because in ten days all will be over, and you will be free again.” “And then we will return to the Continent, or go anywhere you like,” observed Dysart, anxious to show a conciliatory spirit towards his wife, for he more than suspected that the Prince had exacted from her certain favours as the reward of the acknowledgment written on the margin of the document. “ What do you say, Ernestina” “Oh! by all means let us repair to France, at least for a time!” she exclaimed, appearing to catch with avidity at the proposal. ‘< You have plenty of ready money in your possession—and i shall manage to get a thousand or two from my uncle.” “So much the better. By the bye, what did the Prince say when he found that the heroine of his midnight adventure and Lady Ernestima Dysart were one and the same person ?” “If I told you that be was very sorry to meet me again, I should deceive you, Paul,” she re- sponded, with an arch look. “ Personally, I hate and detest him—but I was prepared to make any sacrifice for your sake. However, do not let us talk upon that subject. Yuu must now keep up yoor spirits as well as you can——" “Oh! 1 shall be happy enough, my dear,” ex- claimed her husband. “ Are you to see the Prince again shortly?” “ Yes—in a day or two,” she replied. “ He made me promise——” “ That's right [° observed Dysart. “Stick close tohim. Not that he can possibly fly from his word-——” “He would not have ratified the document if such had been his intention,” Ernestina hastened to answer. “But I can tell you something more, Paul——" . “What is it?” he demanded eagerly. “The Prince has promised that a private inti- mation shall be sent to the governor to the effect that the extreme sentence of the law is not to be carried out im your case: and his object in doing this is that the governor himself may give you a secret assurance of your eventus! safety.” “Ah! now the last remaining scintillation of un- easiness has become extinguished in iny mind f” exclaimed Dysart, rubbing his hands joyously. “Upon my word, my dear Ernestina, you have managed all this admirably—and my future con- duct shall show my gratitode towards you.” The lady embraced her husband, and then took her departare. Returning to the governor's room, she again thanked this fanctionary for his courtesy and kindness; and entering the carriage, drove home to Albemarle Street, rejoicing at the success of her interview with Dysart and the security of mind into which she had so completely but so art- fully lulled him. eomilclooolks COMM