The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 47: what you’re looking at

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

8: were seated on the box, and five followed on horse- back —the chief, as already mentioned, being in- side to keep guard upon the prisoners. At the expiration of about half-an-hour, during which a profound silence was observed in the in- terior of the vehicle, the equipage stopped. The leader put down the blinds—opened the door—and sprang forth. The moon was now riding high in the heavens; and it immediately became apparent to the royal party, as they glanced forth from the windows, that the carriage had brought them back to the very spot where the desperadves had atop- ped it upwards of three hours before. Tie two men had already leapt from the box— and the servants, being now permitted to issue from the interior, resumed their places outside. “Good night—or rather, good moruing,” said the leader of the masked band. “Good morning,” returned Lord Leveson, who thought it prudent to be civil until fairly out of the hands of the formidable troop: and the uext moment the carriage rolled rapidly away. The Prince and the Marquis aow began to ex- change thqse explanations which they mutunally lunged to receive. The nobleman’s story was short enough—but {t nevertheless caused the Reyent the atmost amazement, inasmuch as he had hitherto telt convinced that pluoder formed no part of the disyuised desperadoes’ aims, The discovery of the fact that the very contrary was. the case, for a moment damped the pleasurable feelings which his strange and exciting love-adventure had left be- hind: and he began to think that be had been made the dupe of some unprincipled adventuress, wstead of having been the object of a disinterested affection on the part of a lady who had travelled all the way from the east to enjoy his company and who had been compelled to have recourse to ex- traordinary measures to procure the yratification of her passion. However, he related his adventure to the Mar- quis, who listened with the profoundest attention und the liveliest interest—especially to those por- tions of the narrative in which the Prince de- lineated the charms, fascinations, and seductive powers of the beauteous lady. “And upon what understanding did you sepa- cate ?” inquired the Marquis. “The time slipped away with marvellous rapidity, while we lay clasped in each other's arms,” re- sponded his Royal Highness: “and my thoughts —my sensee—all my faculties, were so absorbed in the intoxicating bliss which I thus experienced, that I forgot to question her minutely upon those inatters concerning which it was most necessary fur me to be enlightened. But I presume that even if I had put such inquiries, she would have evaded all satisfactory answers—and thus, in any ca-e, was I no doubt doometl to depart in igno- rance of who she is, what is her name, where she lives, and why she adopted such extraordinary precautions to shroud herself in an impenetrable secrecy. Ah! let her be what she may, Leveson, she is not the less an adorable creature—and | would give the world to obtain her altogether as a mistress [” “But under what circumstances did yon part?” .faqaired the hobleman. «The time-piece upon the mantel proclaimed er hoer of three.” said the Prince: “and then she THE MYSTEBIES OF THK COURT. atarted from my arms, declaring tnat we must se- parate immediately. | implored her to alow me to remain a little longer—but she was peremptory. Then I hesought her to promise that we should ineet again—and she cheerfully acquiesced, reserv- ing to herself the privilege of making the appoint- ment. She vowed that she would write to me ia the course of a few days: then, having roug a bell, she embraced me with impassioned fervour and hurried me away. Outside the door I found the man with the lantero—and he escorted me back to the room where you were waiting.” “Aud the deed which you siguea, sir?” re marked Lord Levesun, interrogativel¢. “Ah! that circumstance begins tu vex me,” ex- claimed the Prince: “ but I did it iu a moment of such infatuation, that if it were the assignment o. my soul to the Evil One, I should not have hesi- tated. Whatever the doeument migt« have been, its nature must transpire sooner or later—and it will no duubt farnixh a clae to the correct reading of the entire mystery. But for the life of me I cannot fix upon any one who, having offended me, would be anxious to receive my written par- dun ——” “Ie it not probable - that your Royal Highness has signed that pardon, not in any private capa- city, but in yeur executive position as Regent of the Kingdom ” observed the Marqais of Leveson, in s serious tone, “it may beso,’ observed the Prince, with the im- patience of vexation: “and if your surmise is cor. rect, | have dune a very foolish thing—that is al! ' But it is useless to deplore what caunot ‘be re. called,” added his Rvuyal Hi,huess, after a brief pause, and in that devil-me-care spirit which he so frequently summuved to his aid in the same way as adesperate man has recourse to aleoholic liquors to drown care. “ And does your Royal Highness wish to fathom the whole affuir to the bottom without delay,” asked Leveson,—“ or to wait aud see whether the lady will perform her promise of writing to you? * “Can you suggest any means of an avelliug the skein of the mystery ?” demanded the Prince. “ But remember that we dare not adopt any course oal- culated to give publicity to the adventure: other. wise we should be laughed at by our friends aud reviled by our enemies,” “I am aware of the necessity of throwing a ven over ali such ocourrences in which the honour or character of your Royal Highvess may In soy sny be. mixed up,” said Leveson: “ but still I think that a private aud secret investigation might be set afont ——” “ How? —by what means?” asked the Priace im- patiently. “I repeat that whether this woman be an adventa ees or not—a well-meaniag lady or the associate of brigands—I care ‘not. 1 am ena moured of her, Leveson — deeply, despérately enamoured of her--aad 1 would adopt any mea- sure that is likely to trace her out, pruvided that all chauce of exposure be avoided.” “I view the thing precisely in the same light,” returned the Marquis. -“Sume time on Wedues- dy I shall be ealled upon -to p+y the two thousand guineas ransom-money: and I thought of employ- ing an active, intelligent, crafty Bow Street ufSccr to follow the person who muy oume fcr Nar money ———" GORMGOOOKXS COMM