The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 77: what you’re looking at

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

THE FRIENDSHIP OF ROYALTY 59 and ferociously dealt with; and she was borne away by Mrs. Brace and Harriet to another chamber. Restoratives were administered to Tim Meagles and the working man and while these individuals were being recovered, the Prince of Wales paced the room with rapid and uneven steps, deliberating how he should act in regard to them. That an irreconcilable breach had now suddenly occurred between himself and Meagles, was evident; and he knew Tim quite well enough to be aware that he was capable of proving as dangerous an enemy as he had been a valuable friend. The present crisis was ‘an. alarming and a difficult One; especially as it might lead to an exposure of everything connected with Rose Foster’s deceased parents and the causes which had led to the father’s suicide and the mother’s sudden death. Moreover, the prince saw that in many other respects he was deeply in the power of Meagles; and he per- ceived at a glance that his ex-friend would sooner or later stand in the light of an extortioner demanding immense recompenses for former services rendered. These rewards, titles, honours, places, and pensions would be wrested by menaces instead of besought as boons, and thus, in every point of view, was it quite clear to the Prince of Wales that if he ever intended to make an attempt to crush Meagles altogether, now was the time. Such were the reflections that passed, with rapid sweep, through the mind of the Prince of Wales during the couple of minutes that he paced with uneven and agitated steps the chamber where so many varied and stirring incidents had occurred. Toa man so thoroughly heartless and capable of such black ingratitude as his Royal Highness, it was not very difficult to arrive at a decision. But even while he was yet wavering how to act, the senior constable, who bore the euphonious name of Bax, accosted him, with many low bows, and gave every possible intima- tion, short of the utterance of words, that he craved per- mission to speak. “Well, now, what is it? ’”’ demanded the prince, observing that the man was fidgeting around about him. ‘Please your Royal Highness,” said Mr. Bax, with an- other very low bow, “‘ these fellers must be took into custody for assault and battery on your Royal Highness’s person. IS (C(O)