The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 279: what you’re looking at

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

264 door is likewise closed behind her—and she is clasped in the arms of the Prince of Wales! Eleanor saw that she was betrayed : but, without giving vent to shrieks or screams,—she was too courageous a woman for such an ebullition of pusil- lanimous feeling,—she disengaged herself with a desperate effort from his arms. Then, rapidly smoothing her disordered hair, she said in a low tone of remarkable decision, “ I will sooner perish than become your victim !” And her magnificent eyes darted forth lightnings upon the countenance of the heireapparent. “ Haughty lady, you are in my power,” he ex- claimed, nothing discomfitted; “and no human aid can rescue you therefrom.” “ What means your Royal Hiehness ?” demanded Eleanor, drawing her fine form up to its full height, and assuming a bearing so splendid and queen-like in its dignified indignation, that for a few moments the unprincipled voluptuary was indeed overawed. “What means your Royal Highness?” she re- peated, in a voice that trembled not: then, sweep- ing her eyes rapidly around, and perceiving that it was a bed-chamber to which foul treachery had thus inveigled her, she said, “If you intend to exert brute force to retain me here, then will I re- | sist you to the utmost of my power. ‘There are windows,” she continued, pointing towards the easements; “and I will summon assistance thence. If no succour should come, I will precipitate my- self therefrom sooner than become the victim of a miscreant voluptuary such as you!” “By heaven! your words would provoke me strangely, proud and self-sufficient lady,” exclaimed the Prince,—* were you not so completely in my power that I can take full and ample vengeance upon you. But, oh! you are so handsome—so divinely beautiful,” he said, his voice suddenly as- suming a melting tone and his countenance a ten- der expression,—* that I would not for worlds re- main your enemy if you would only permit me to be your friend.” “My friend! repeated the Countess, with bitter irony: “is it to insult and mock one whom you have already cruelly outraged, that you use those words? But I understand you, Prince of Wales!” she exclaimed in a nobler, bolder, and loftier tone, while her countenance became lighted up with an animation that gave her the aspect of an avenging goddess :—“* yes—I understand you now! You imagine that because you are his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales—eldest son of the King of England—and heir-apparent to the throne on which that monarch sits,—you imagine, I say, that be- Cause you have only one more step to ascend in order to reach the pinnacle of earthly splendour and grasp the sceptre of an empire upon which the sun never sets,— you imagine that because the ac- cident of birth has placed you in a position so proud as this, you havea right to trample upon all those usages, customs, or proprieties which may militate against your own selfish pleasures. Yes — this is your arrogance—this is your presumption. You fancy yourself a god—whereas you are but a very miserable and despicable man !” So astounded was the Prince of Wales at being thus addressed, that he stood gazing in stupid wonderment upon the brave and spirited lady who dared to read him such a lesson: and this, let the reader recollect, was the second time that he had — THE MYSTERIES. been reproved and set at defiance by female lips upon the memorable evening whose incidents we are describing. “T have heard of Republican writers and Demo- cratic speakers,” continued the Countess of Des- borough ; “and hitherto I have been inclined to join in the common hatred which animates the aristocracy against them. But hear me, Prince of Wales—hear me while I solemnly proclaim and declare that I now cease to wonder that men should desire to abolish Monarchy and level thrones, when I think how vile, ‘corrupt, and profligate Kings and Princes generally are. And now,” she added, abruptly turning towards the door, “you will detain me at your peril,” “The door is locked,” said the Prince, with a smile in which vindictive malignity and gloating licen- tiousness were strangely commingled. “I was concealed behind it when you entered—and ex- pecting a scene, I took the precaution to secure it.” Thus speaking, he leant upon the mantel-piece and surveyed the Countess with the insolent free- dom of a libertine and the cowardly menace of a bully. “You are a villain!” she exclaimed, her face, neck, and bosom becoming scarlet with indigna- tion. “ Suffer me to depart—or I will no longer hesitate to raise ae voice a summon assistance Dy my screams.’ “The shrillest scream aiid the loudest shriek,” said the Prince of Wales, in a tone of cold and ferocious triumph, “will not penetrate beyond these four walls. There are double casements to those windows: between this inner door and the outer one there is an ante-chamber. Scream, then —shriek—beauteous Eleanor—and all will be in vain !” “Then will I resist you with my teeth—my nails !” exclaimed the Countess, her eyes shooting forth fiery arrows upon the Prince. ‘Never have you appeared to me more lovely —more enchanting —more desirable than now,” said his Royal Highness, perfectly unmoved by that threat. “ Your cheeks blush a more delicious red with the fury of indignation—your eyes are as bright as meteors —your lips are of a livelier scarlet—and the teeth shine between them like dazzling pearls. Oh! you are a divine, a heavenly creature, Eleanor-——dearest Eleanor ;—far, far more beauteous at this moment than when you lay re- clining in my arms upon the sofa at your own dwelling, and when I might have become the master of your charms had opportunity then served. In the name of God! why not manifest equal kind- ness towards me now?—wherefore compel me to wrest by force those enjoyments which it were paradise to have yielded voluntarily ?” “T confess that there was a time when—in a moment of weakness—I forgot my own dignity in your presence,” said the Countess: “ but, thank heaven! your triumph was not complete—nor shall it ever be !” “And yet the proud and haughty Eleanor can- not look me in the face and declare that she has never proved faithless to her husband—never em- braced a lover inher arms !” exclaimed the Prince of Wales, fixing a searching look upon the lady’s countenance. “What mean you ?—what——” (C(O) @ 6) 0)(0) =)