The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 270: what you’re looking at

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

THE “ What on earth is all this to come to?” demanded the Prince of Wales. “ Why—that you must obtain a peerage and a pension for Mr. Clarendon, as the price of having the intrigue with his elder daughter completely hushed up,” returned Mrs. Brace. “* And Pauline?” said his Royal Highness. “ Must submit to any arrangement her father chooses to make,”’ answered the astute milliner. “ By heavens! you are the shrewdest woman I ever met in all my life,’ exclaimed the Prince. “ But you forget that I have not theslightest influence with the Ministry to obtain a peerage and a pension for any one who is even well known—much less for a comparatively obscure individual--—” * No influence with the ministry perhaps,’ mter- rupted Mrs. Brace: “but have you not the power of extorting by menaces from your royal father 7 And she fixed her fine eyes significantly upon him. “To be sure! Hannah Lightfoot’s paper—or rather the half of it!” exclaimed the Prince. “ Your advice is admirable. I'll send my friend Tim Meagles to my father to negociate the business. On Tuesday morning the matter shall be entered upon. Thanks to your counsel, Fanny, I now see my way pretty clearly out of this thicket of difficulties. And now you will permit me to inform you what it is that brought me hither this evening.” * T am all attention,’ said Mrs. Brace. “ But will you stayandsup withme? You perceive by Florimel’s note——” * That he has disappointed you,” added the Prince, with asmile. ‘“ Well—lI will take his place at your table this evening. Shall we be alone?” “If you lke. But there was to have been another——” “A young lady, I'll be bound !” ejaculated his Royal Highness. “Precisely. Sheis a sweet creature—and I in- tended to tempt Florimel with her,” said Mrs. Brace, * Her name is Camilla Morton—and as a camilla is she pure and chaste.’ “ By all means let her sup with us,” cried the Prince. “In the meantime I will hurriedly inform you what brought me hither this evening. You are aware that to-morrow night there are grand doings at Carlton House. Invitations were of course sent, amongst others, to the Earl and Countess of Des- borough; and I heard just now--about an hour before I came hither—that the Countess will accept the invitation.” “I should scarcely believe it,’ observed Mrs. Brace. “ But I know that she will be present to-morrow evening,” returned the Prince, emphatically. “ My sister the Princess Sophiaand the Duchess of Devon- shire botn told me so just now, in the course of con- versation.” “And what do you propose to do?” inquired the milliner: “ for, fertile as I may be in expedients, I have not as yet thought of any scheme to forward your views with respect to Lady Desborough.” “I believe that Mrs. Fitzherbert has sent to request your attendance upon her to-morrow evening to superintend her toilette—has she not?” asked the Prince: and, on receiving an affirmative reply, he continued to observe, “ Well—that is for the grand dinner-party at seven o'clock; and you will have to remain at Carlton House until nine or -half-past in _ order to see that Mrs. Fitzherbert’s toilette is in per- EE AER, AOS thd a a a ONS UNS See COmicsoolKkS.€® MYSTERIES. 20 -————- fection for the ball. Is it not just as T ai describ- ing 2?” “ Nothing could be more accurate,” yresponded Mrs. Brace, smiling at the minuteness of detail into which his Royal Highness was entering, and the ultimate object of which she could not by any means conjecture. * So far, so good,’ resumed the Prince. Now, you are aware that when the company arrive, they ascend the grand staircase, and the ladies pass into a toilette-chamber to lay aside their scarfs or cloaks, before they proceed to the ball-room.” “T cannot be ignorant of this fact,” observed Mrs. Brace, “since I have more than once assisted Mrs. Fitzherbert’s gentlewomen in that very chamber to receive the ladies’ cloaks. This was, however, several years ago, when curiosity prompted me to take that post in order to obtain a good view of your lady- guests and observe the fashions which chiefly pre- vailed in their toilette.” * Ah! I had forgotten that you had done this,” said the Prince. ‘ Well—it is precisely the same thing that I require you to do again to-morrow evening. You will then watch for the Countess of Desborough —and the moment she makes her appearance, you will hasten forward to attend upon her.” “ But her ladyship will refuse my services with indignation,” cried Mrs. Brace. “ Her ladyship, on the contrary, will affect not to recognise you,” returned the Prince. “Do you think that she would draw all eyes upon herself, by any display of feeling on such an occasion? Be- sides, if questioned by her friends and acquaint- ances relative to the cause of her anger against you, what reply could she make? Only reflect for amoment upon her position. She has accepted the invitation, partly, no doubt, for fear her hus- band should imagine that she had any cause of complaint against me—and partly in compliance with the wishes of the Princess Sophia, who is her very dear friend. Her behaviour will therefore be of a character to defy the least suspicion that any- thing, agreeable or disagreeable, has ever taken place between herself and me.” “I comprehend the force of your reasoning,” said Mrs. Brace. “I shall therefore hasten to volunteer my assistance to her ladyship the mo- ment she enters the toilette-room——” “ And, while thus aiding her,” interrupted the Prince, * you will whisper in her ear these words :— ‘ Ji is of the utmost importance that I should speak to your ladyship alone, for a few minutes, presently. Your honour is threatened — your reputation is at stake. I both can and will show your ladyship how ta defeat your enemies.’—These ominous words will terrify her, and make her anxious to know more. Her curiosity will be painfully excited, especially as you are the person to utter so singular and mys- terious a warning. Taking advantage of this im- pression which you are certain to create, you must add these words: ‘ At midnight precisely I shall be ai the end of the passage leading from the left of the great landing which your ladyship will cross to enter the ball-rooms. If your ladyship wishes to know more, you can meet me then and there. But come alone—-or I shall hurry away if I see you accom- panied bg any one.’” « And if her ladyship should keep the appoint- ment ?” said Mrs. Brace, inquiringly. “Then you will throw open the door of the room