The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 245: what you’re looking at

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

228 “My dear Fanny,’”’ interrupted the Prince, “I know all that you would say; and your alarms are not without foundation. Within the last few days I have myself reflected very seriously on this matter. In the first flush of that ardent passion with which the dear girl inspired me, all other considerations were absorbed; but, awaking as if from a dream, I now perceive all the perils which are likely to ensue. To reveal myself to her, were impossible: to con- tinue with the constant risk that she may discover who I an, is traught with danger.” « “ And if this amour should lead to other conse- quences ?” said Mrs. Brace: “if Octavia should find herself in tne way to become a mother-——” “T know not how to act—I am bewildered !” ex- claimed the Prince, in a tone of deep vexation. “But we will talk over this matter on a future oc- casion. It was relative to the Countess of Des- borough that I wished to speak particularly to you now.” “ And it was likewise concerning her ladyship that I was anxious to see you,” said Mrs. Brace; “for I felt assured there was something wrong in that quarter.” “ Ah! how could you possibly have formed such & conjecture ?” demanded the Prince. “Because, on the very day after I called upon ner ladyship, and the particulars of which inter- view I sent you in a hastily written note on my ceturn home, one of her scrvants came with an imperative command that my account should be sent to her ladyship without delay. So urgent was che message, that I instantaneously complied : and in the course of that very same afternoon the sum due to me was brought by the same domestic. At che bottom of the bill were these words :—‘ The Countess of Desborough will not in future trouble Mrs. Brace to wail upon her as hitherto with the aewest fashions.’ This intimation,” added the mil- tiner, “is not to be misunderstood: it is a with- drawal of her ladyship’s custom from my house.” “TI see it all!” exclaimed the Prince, a light preaking in upon him. “She must have overheard the conversation which took place between me and your wretched husband !” “ Conversation! — husband ” ejaculated Mrs. Brace, starting and turning very pale. “TI will explain myself,” said the Prince. He then related all those adventures in con- nexion with his visit to Desborough House, which are already known to the reader—mercly suppress- ing the fact that the Ear] had lent him twenty thousand pounds. But he mentioned how his lord- ship had invited him to dinner—how Eleanor had promised to admit him to her chamber—how he had encountered the Magsman—and how her lady- éhip’s door was afterwards fastened against him. “And did you yield to the extortion of that ‘iilain?” inquired Mrs, Brace, deeply humiliated at the thought that her own husband should thus nae insulted the Prince so grossly a second e, “ What could I do?” exclaimed his Royal High- ness. “It was impossible for me to risk perse- cution and exposure at the hands of that man, who already knows too much concerning me,” he con- tinued ; “and therefore the money was paid in the way he had stipulated. That the Countess must have left her chamber, listened at my door, and overheard everything which took place between THE MYSTERIES, mv and that scoundrel, is very evident. Hence her refusal to keep her promise and admit me to her room: hence also the summary manner in which she has withdrawn her custom from you. For that rufian, whom I will not call your husband, said enough to make her ladyship understand that yeu and I were very intimately connected, and that all you had said to her in the morning was entirely in my behalf.” “You have therefore abandoned all hepes in that quarter?” said Mrs. Brace, interrogatively. “Far from it! exclaimed the Prince. “Those burning kisses which I gave and which were re- turned with equal ardour — those delicious toy- ings and that voluptuous dalliance in which [ revelled for a few moments, during her husband’s absence from the room—the deep hold which this passion has taken of my heart—and a certain sen- timent of pride prompting me to triamph over the coy and haughty beauty,—all these motives, my dear Fanny, prevent me from abandoning my de- signs regarding the lovely Countess, I am maddened by the contemplation of her image: my veins boil with the fervour of my desires. And her own nature is so warm—so impassioned — so glowing, that it must be paradise to repose in her arms. By heaven!” ejaculated the Prince, with almost a wild emphasis,—* she shall be mine, by fair means or foul.” “ And is it for this purpose that you have sought my advice ?” asked the milliner. “ Assuredly so,” respunded his Royal Highness. “Place ali your powers of invention upon the rack— torture your imagination to the extreme—but fail not to devise some project which shall give that delicious creature to my arms.” ‘ For the life of me, I can think of nothing !” ex- claimed Mrs. Brace. “Unl2ss, indeed——" “Unless, what?” demanded the Prince, impa- tiently. “Unless actual violence be resorted to—or some deeply laid stratagem,” returned the milliner. “ Be it either—I hardly care which,” added the impassioned George, “ so long as we succeed. Bat I do not ask you to make up your mind at once: the matter is a serious one, and requires cons- deration.” “In the course of a day or two I will devise some project,” said Mrs. Brace. . At this moment Harriet entered the room, to a- nounce that Miss Clarendon had arrived. The Prince sprang from his seat, and hastened to the apartment where the beauteous girl was waiting for hia. She flew into his arms; and tears of joy streamed down her blushing cheeks, as she returned the ar- dent kisses which he imprinted on her moist red lips. Then she gazed with an expression of the most enthusiastic affection and admiration, on the fine countenance of her seducer ; and a passionate love shone in the splendid blue eyes of this charti- ing creature. Having compelled her to lay aside her bonnet and scarf, and seating himself by her side on & with his left arm encircling her waist and his right hand locked in her's, the Prince said, . To mé, dearest Octavia, it has appeared an age since last we met.” “ And to me also!” murmured the lovely girl. “Never did you seem so radiantly beautiful sf ee EP [| . OLOAP KGS OLSON KS) COMM