The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 85: what you’re looking at

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

THE FRIENDSHIP OF ROYALTY 63: ence which he had missed from his own desk some weeks previously, and which contained the proofs of his marriage with Mrs. Fitzherbert! ‘Then Meagles really was a traitor and a scoundrel,’” cried the prince aloud, as he assured himself that the papers were indeed the originals and no forged imitations. ‘‘ He must have stolen them, the villain, stolen them from me, his benefactor and patron. But he will be punished at length, that is, if I know anything at all of English home secretaries and of Home Office proceedings. Ah! ah! Master Meagles, caught at last, eh? ’’ exclaimed the heart- less heir apparent, with a triumphant laugh. ‘‘ Much as the Ministers dislike me as an individual, they have a profound veneration for royalty, and they will save this royalty from being in any way damaged, even though I am its repre- sentative who must now be vindicated. Yes, yes; there is no fear but that Meagles and his companion Melmoth will get the worst of it at the Home Office.” And again the treacherous, ungrateful prince chuckled joyously. Then, resuming his examination of the papers, he dis- covered not only the half of the Lightfoot certificate which he had lost, but likewise the remaining moiety, and here was another cause for wonderment and satisfaction. But there was still a packet of papers to inspect; and, to his increasing surprise, the heir apparent found that they were all in the handwriting of Mrs. Fitzherbert. And, ah! to whom were they addressed? ‘To the Marquis de Bellois, a nobleman whom his Royal Highness knew to be at that moment in England, and whose name had been more than once mentioned to him by Tim Meagles. Impelled by a devouring curiosity, and also animated by startling suspicions, the prince addressed himself to the task of perusing the numerous letters contained in this last men- tioned packet. But, oh, why does his cheek blanch, why does his lip quiver, why does he become nervous and trem- bling, as if a strange excitement be growing upon him? Yes, and more acutely wrung are his feelings, now that the damning truth is carried to his soul, — the truth that Mrs. Fitzherbert was faithless to his bed and had been the para- mour of another. And more, oh, more still remains behind; but it is speedily revealed, speedily developed by means of (Gi) Anyi } cS \