The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 329: what you’re looking at

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

314 eee “ Am I to understand that you await a reply from my lips, in order to convey it to his Royal High- ness?” demanded the lady, fixing her eyes keenly upon his countenance. “ Madam, the aflair is no longer in the hands of the Prince of Wales,” said Meagles, solemnly and impressively. “Then, in whose charge is itt” asked Mrs. Fitz- herbert. “In mine!” rejoined Meagles. * Ah!” ejaculated the lady, a flush re-appearing on her cheeks and dying away again as suddenly: “then I am to understand that I behold in you an enemy ?” “ forbid that you should force me into an act of hostility!” exclaimed Meagles, “ Nevertheless, your words prove that, under par- ticular circumstances, you are prepared to act on tb offensive,” said Mrs. Fitzherbert, her eyelids, her lips, and her bosom now evincing a nervous trepida- tion which showed that her glecial sternness of pur- pose was changing into excitement and agitation once more. “To put as speedy an end as possible to this most painful interview,” observed Meagles, “ permit me to inform you that you must expect to behold his Royal Highness no more—otherwise than as a friend.” “And if I resist this cruel decision—if I pro- claim open hostility to this tyrannous conduct—if I assert my rights——” gasped the unhappy lady, | throwing a look of mingled entreaty, apprehension, and suspense on Meagles as he stood before her with half-averted countenance. “O madam!” he exclaimed, in a tone wbich showed that his heart was not callous to all the. pa- thos of this singular but touching scene: “compel me not to give utterance to menaces—force me not to speak in an unmanly way towards you--—” “Nay—I will not be thus easily crushed—thus readily subdued !” ejaculated the lady, in a moment recovering her presence of mind and the energy of her character. “I know that you are capable of anything desperate, Mr. Meagles—but I defy your threats !” “ And yet you must suspect, madam,” he said, in a tone full of meaning, “that I am acquainted with a secret concerning yourself—a secret involving your honour, madam——Ah! that tell-tale blush shows that I am not misunderstood——”’ “ But the Marquis de Bellois would not be villain enough te proclaim in his sober moments what he has doubtless boasted of to you, sir, in his wine- cups, interrupted Mrs. Fitzherbert, the colour com- ing and going with rapid alternations upon ber coun- tenance, and her whole frame trembling with concen- trated rage. “TI require net the Marquis de Bellois’ words to corroborate the tale which it is in my power to tell,” said Tira Meagles, forcing himself thus te give ut- terance to threats of which he was profoundly ashamed. “ Ah! then you fancy that the honour of a woman can be sullied beyond all redemption by the mere fact of your breathing upon it?” exclaimed Mra. Fitzherbert, in a tone of the bitterest scorn. “ Madam, you do wrong to provoke me,” answered Meagles: “ but the sooner you understand me fully, the better. Know, then, that you must yield to cir- cumsetances———” “ Begone, airl—begone!” cried the lady, inter- fH MYSTERIES. rupting Meagles with sovereign imperiousness, and pointing towards the door. “One word, madam—one word——" “ Not a syllable—uniess it be to demand my par- don for an insolence which bas already lasted much too long. Begone!” repeated the indignant lady: “or I will order my valets to thrust you igno- miniously forth into the street !"’ “Then learn the truth at last, madam!” cried Meagles, his face becoming purple: and drawing forth a packet of papers he held it significantly up before her eyes. One glance—one single glance was sufficient to convince the startled and wretched lady that the damning proofs of her amour with the Marquis de Bellois were in the hands of her enemies—and, reel- ing half round, she sank heavily, like a dead weight, upon a eofa. Still she retained her sensees—Oh! retained them most keenly, most acutely: for it appeared as if lightnings had suddenly blasted all her hopes—as if the powers of hell clasped her limbs ;—and, a cold perspiration breaking out all over her, she was drenched in her own excruciating agony. “ Madam, pardon me—in the name of God! par- don me, for doing all this,” exclaimed Meagles, ter- rified by the appearance of the unhappy lady: “buat I am the creature of circumstances——”" “ No, sir—no—the creature of your own diabolical selfishness!” cried Mrs. Fitzherbert, in a rending tone. “ You are persecuting me that you may gain a reward : but sooner or later heaven wijl punish you for the part you have this day taken against me. Tell me, however—tell me,” she said, her manner suddenly becoming subdued and her voice sinking, —“does he—the Prince—does, he know that you possess those papers——” “As God if a witness to my words, the secret itgelf—your secret-—is unknown and unsuspected by his Royal Highness,” exclaimed Meagles. “And it will remain so, provided that I obey the conditions which you dictate?” she demanded, ip a hoarse thick tone: then, without waiting for a reply, she added, “Had I been left to contend only with the Prince, whom I still look upon and claim as a husband, I would not have yielded—Oh! no— never, never! Nor should all the power which the King might exercise, when informed of the position wherein I atand with regard to his son, have induced me to disavow my marriage or place a seal on. my lips respecting it. Tothe nation would I have ap- pealed—to the country would I have addressed my- self. But since you, sir, have declared yourself the Prince’s champion in tle perpetration of this tre mendous wrong, I am forced tosubmit : for E know,” she exclaimed, her eyes glaring wildly — even savagely upon him,—“I know that you would nof scruple to coerce me by the means which a villain’s treachery has placed in your hands. And now, sit,” she demanded, after a few instants’ pause, —® what are your orders f” “The conditions I propose, madam, are that you leave Carlton House as soon as convenient,” said Meagles, not daring to look her in the face; “and I will guarantee that a haudsome provision shall be made for you by his Royal Highness.” “ Not a shilling, sir—not a single shilling!” eacu- lated Mra. Fitzherbert, summoning all the dignity and hauteur of her character to her aid: for unless she were thus sustained in a condition of unnatural umes” aE COMNGOOOKS COM