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

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814 “ 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 it?” asked Mrs. Fitz- herbert. “In mine!” rejoined Meagles, “Ah!” ejaculated the lady, a flush te-appearing on her cheeks and dying away again as suddenly: “then I am to understand that I behold im you an enemy 2?” “ God forbid that you should forte me into an act of hostility!’ exelaimed Meagles, “ Nevertheless, your werds prove that, under par- ticular circumstances, you are prepared to aet on the offensive,” said Mrs. Fitgherbert, her eyelids, her lips, and her bosom now evinting a nervous trepida- tion whieh showed that her glacial 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 expéct to behold his Royal Highness no more—otherwise thati as a friend.” “And if I resist this eruel deeision—if | pro- claim open hostility to this tyfanhouws conduct—if I assert my tights——” gasped the unhappy lady, throwing a look of mingled entréaty, apprehension, and suspeélise on Meagles as he stood before her with half-averted countenance. “O madam!” he exelaimned; in atone whieh showed that his heatt was not eallous to all the pa- thos of this singular bit touchitig seete: “compel me not to give utteratice to meénaces—foree me not to speak in an unmanly way towards your——” “Nay—I will not be thus easily erushed=thus readily subdued !” ejaculated the lady, in a momeiit recovering her presence of mind and the energy of her character. “I know that you dre capable of anything desperate, Mr. Meagles—but I defy yotir threats !” “ And yet you must suspect, madat,” he said, in a tone full of meaning, “that I am acquainted with a secret concerning yourself—a secret involving your honour, madam—-—Alh! that tell-tale blush shows that | am not misunderstood——”’ “ But the Marquis de Bellois would not be villain enough to 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 her coun- tenance, and her whole frame trembling with concen- trated rage. “JT require not the Marquis de Bellois’ words to corroborate the tale which it is in my power to tell,” said Tim Meagles, forcing himself thus to give ut- terance to threats of which he was profoundly ashamed, “ Ah! then you fancy that the honour of a woman can be sulfied beyond all redemption by the mere fact of your breathing upon it?” exclaimed Mrs. Vitzherbert, 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- cumstances——” “ Begone, sir!—begone!” cried the lady, inter- THE MYSTERIES. rupting Meagles with sovereign imperiousness, and pointing towards the door. “One word, madam—one word——” “ Not a syllable—unless it be to demand my par- don for an insolence which has 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!” eried Meagles, his face becoming purple: and drawing forth a packet of papers he held it significantly up betore 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, upen a sofa. Still she retained her senses—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. * Viadam, pardon me—in the name of God! par- don me, for doing all this,” exelaimed Meagles, ter- rified by the appearanee of the unhappy lady: “but I am the ereature of eireumstanees—; * No, sir—no—the ereature of your own diabolical selfishness !* eried Mrs. Fitgherbert, in a rending tene. “ You are persecuting me that you may gain a rewatd: but sooner or later heaven will punish you for the part you have this day taken against me. Tell me, however—tell me,” she said, her manner stiddenly becoming subdued and her voice sinking, —* does he—the Prince—does he know that you possess those papers iy * As God is a witness to my words, the secret itself—your secret—is unknown and unsuspected by his Royal Highness,” exelaimed Meagles. * And it will remain so, provided that I obey the eonditions which you dictate?” she demanded, itt a hoarse thick tome: then, without waiting for a reply, she added, * Had I been left to contend only with the Prinee, whom I still look upon and claim as a husbatid, I would not have yielded—Oh! no— never, néver! Nor should all the power which the King might exercise, when informed of the position wherein I stand with regard to his son, have induced me to disavow my marriage or place a seal on my lips respecting it. To the 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 the perpetration of this tre- mendous wrong, I am forced tosubmit; for I know,” she exclaimed, her eyes glaring wildly — even savagely upon him,—“ I know that you would not scruple to coerce ine by the means which a yillain’s treachery has placed in your hands. And now, sir,” she demanded, after a few instants’ pause;—* what are your orders ?” “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 handsome provision shall be made for you by his Royal Highness.” “ Not a shilling, sir—not a single shilling!” ejacu- lated Mrs. Fitzherbert, summoning all the dignity and hauteur of her character to her aid: for unless she were thus sustained in a Condition of unnatural SA a a Te GOMIGIOO (C Sa(C©