The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 236: what you’re looking at

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

\ THE MYSTERIES. 21$ ; against his high and noble forehead—the despair to which he abandoned himself—and the frequency with which he exclaimed aloud, “ Yes—either suicide or that other dread alternative! My God! my God! have compassion on me!” Once he seated himself at his desk and com- menced a long letter which he addressed to his wife, and in which he explained the motives that Jed him to resolve upon eelf-destruction. While thus en- gaged, he experienced an unnatural calmness — ' amounting almost to that joy which animates the ' desperate man who has resolved upon escaping from the miseries of life by the avenue of suicide ;—and a . smile of satisfaction stole over his countenance, as | he folded, sealed, and directed the letter. Then he | rose from his seat—took his pistols from the case— | charged and primed them. Yes—he had resolved upon self-destruction ! But even at the very mstant when he was about to place the muzzle of one of the fatal weapons in his mouth, the idea flashed to his mind that he would dshonour his name, and by reflection dishonour his wife also, were he to accomplish his terrible pur- pose: for no one would believe that insanity had driven him to the consummation of such a deed. And that first idea engendered a thousand others, whieh swept through his brain in ghastly and ing array,—the Coroner’s inquest—the pro- hability that the Countess might in the first mo- ment of her terror, exhibit his letter to some friend, or faint om reading it, and thus afford others an op- portunity of reading it also-—the chance that Thurs- ton might come forward, as a matter of public duty, to bear evidence respecting the real facts which had prompted the suicidal deed—then the verdict of felo de ee—the denial of Christian prayers—the dis- grace which would survive him, and which would in a measure cling to his widow, especially if the fatal cause of his suicide should transpire,—all these re- fleetions passed through his mind with the rapidity of a hurricane. Shaddering at the idea of self-destruction which he had dared to harbour, and which for a short space he had contemplated sao calmly,—shocked to the very soul at the madness to which he had yielded,— the wretched Earl restored his pistols to their case, and threw into the fire the letter which he had ad- dressed to his wife. Then, somewhat relieved, he again paced the room ;—and at last he ejaculated in accents of despair, ®Yes—it must be that other alternative! There is bo help for it———- My God! my God!” Having thus made up his mind to the adoption of a certain plan which, though cruelly revolting and abhorrent to his mind, was, notwithstanding, far less terrible than the idea of suicide, the Earl of Des- borough com his countenance — arranged his dress—ord his carriage—and repaired direct to Carlton House. It was about three in the afternoon when the nobleman reached the princely dwelling; and he was immediately ushered into the presence of his Royal Highness, who happened to be alone and dis- engaged at the time. At first the heir-apparent was somewhat confused when the Earl’s name was announced: for he knew that Mra. Brace was to have seen the Countess in the morning,—and it instantly strack him that she might have managed her business so clumsily as to compromise himself — and that her ladyship had ee complained to her husband, who was now come to | demand explanations of the indignity offered to his wife. But the affable tone and the manner of dig- | nified respect with which Lord Desborough accosted the Prince, speedily dissipated those apprehensions ; and his Royal Highness received the noble visitor ‘with a cordiality enhanced by the relief that his feel- ings had just experienced. After the usual compliments had been exchanged and a few observations passed on the leading topics of the day, the Karl of Desborough, drawing his chair closer to that on which the heir-apparent was lounging, said in a subdued and serious tone, “ I am about to take an exceeding liberty with your Royal Highness: but I humbly hope that my motives will ‘be rightly understood. Have I permission to explain myself farther ?"’ “ Most assuredly, my esteemed friend,” ex¢laimed the Prince, wondering to what point this mysterious Preface was to lead, bat confident that # had no connexion with the designs which he had formed and the intrigues he had set on foot in regard to the beautiful Countess. “ You carmot, I am well aware, have anything in view which fs inconsistent with my interests; for your lordship invariably votes on the right side,” added the Prince of Wales, who, be # recollected, patronised the Whig party, to which the Ear! belonged. “T thank your Royal Highness for this gracioes permission to explain myself,” said the nobleman; “and I shall proceed frankly and candidly to state the object of my visit. The indelicate publicity which the Pitt Cabtnet has given to the pecuniary affairs of your Royat Highness, has both grieved and incensed mie. It nevertheless ceases to be a mere rumour or surmise that your Royal Highness is somewhat annoyed by certain liabilities at the pre- sent moment; and as some weeks must elapse ere the House of Commons can possibly come to 2 votes upon the propositions submitted to it the other day in respect to those ermbarrassments, I have ventured to seek this interview with your Royal Highness for the purpose of statmg that I have at the moment a surplus of twenty thousand pounds in my bankers’ hands. If your Royal Highness will condescend to take charge of that amount till the end of the year ee “My dear friend,” interrupted the Prince, his counte- nance lighting up with joy, as he seized the Ear!l’s hands and wrung then: both with cordial warmth,— “TY appreciate all the generosity and delicacy of this proceeding on your part; and | accept with un- igned gratitude the noble offer which you have made me.” “Yn that case,” said the Earl, “if your Royal Highness would condescend to accept such poor hos- pitality as I may be enabled this evening to offer——” “ Again I express my thauks,’’ interrupted the Prince, delighted at the prospect of a twofold pleasure: namely, of touching twenty thousand pounds on the one hand, and of passing a few hours in company with the charming Eleanor on the other. “If it be agreeable to your lordship and your amiable Countess, I will take dinner with you this evening. But pray let us enjoy a friendly privacy —~” “It is precisely this that I intended to propose,” said the Fark. “ Her ladyship will feel honoured by the presence of your Royal Highness,” he added, his voice becoming slightly tremulous and the colour deepening somewhat on his cheeks: but recovering COMGROO S COMM