The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 26: what you’re looking at

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TE —_——_————— —— 12 me into undertaking the conquest of this mys- | terious fair one? Come—don’t deny it—I see that such is your aim; and I dare say you think there will be fine sport and exciting amusement.” ‘“ Really, sir,’ faltered Horace Sackville, blush- ing deeply and looking much confused, “I hope——’ ‘Hope, my dear young friend !— what, hope you have not given me offence, eh?” exclaimed the Prince Regent. “On the contrary, I ought to be flattered by the idea which you have formed to the effect that if any one succeeds in obtain- ing the smiles of the beauteous Venetia Trelawney, I shall be the man. But suppose your belief to be well founded, I am not going to monopolise for myself all chances of possessing the charmer ;— and if I do enter upon this love-campaign, it shall not be to the exclusion of my friends.” “But there is not a soul now present,” said the Earl of Curzon, “who has not entertained views and hopes with regard to Venetia: and surely, sir, you do not mean that we should all launch out into bold and active rivalry with your Royal High- ness?” “Indeed, but I do though,” exclaimed the Regent: “and since we are to have sport, let it be of the most thrillingly exciting character. What say you? Shall we all start upon equal terms in the race, with love and beauty as the prize ?” “ Capital! capital!” cried the dissipated baro- net. “A bumper of Burgundy to welcome the happy thought !” “Yes—the proposal is not bad, by any means,” drawled forth Colonel Malpas, as he caressed his moustache, “T am quite agreeable to it,’ said the Earl of Curzon. “ And I am one in the race, remember,” ex- claimed the Marquis of Leveson. But what says Sackville ?” “Oh! he will be a gladiator likewise, in this warfare of love,” cried the Prince Regent. “ Assuredly, sir,” returned Horace—but with a significant expression of countenance, which how- ever passed unnoticed in the general excitement created by the proposition of his Royal Highness. “ Now, my good friends,” resumed the Prince, “it is absolutely necessary that we should pro- pound and agree to some general rules to be ob- served in this love-campaign: otherwise we shall be clashing with each other in a manner that must inevitably lead to confusion and expose us all to ridicule.” “Hear! hear!” cried the attentive listeners. “Let us, then, begin with the understanding that we preserve an inviolable secrecy relative to our compact,” proceeded his Royal Highness ; “and that we also forbear from any sinister or illegitimate means of undermining each other.” “ Agreed!” exclaimed the voices of the rest. “ And inasmuch as perhaps some of us, if not all,” continued the Regent, “may by various means succeed in procuring an introduction to Miss Tre- lawney, the result of which may be to obtain per- mission to call at Acacia Cottage,—will it not be as well if we make arrangements so as to preclude the chance of two or more of us meeting there at the same time ?” “ But how can this be accomplished?” inquired the Earl of Curzon. THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. te Pte, Pt toe Ge eee oe) Te ee ee ns —— ‘Easily enough,” answered the Prince Regent. “There are six of us—and there are six days in the week, excluding Sunday. Let a particular day be allotted to each for making calls, sending pre- sents, serenading, or taking any steps in which there might be a possibility of clashing with simi- lar proceedings on the part of the rest. For in- stance, Monday for one—Tuesday for another “ “The proposal is excellent!” exclaimed Sir Douglas Huntingdon. “I shall stamp my approval of it in a bumper.” “ Yes—the proposal is good enough,” drawled forth Colonel Malpas. ‘“ But how shall we allot the days ?” * According to rank,” returned the baronet. “Oh! fie,’ ejaculated the Prince. “How do you think I would agree to a plan which would place me first upon the list —I, who have disa- vowed all monopoly and repudiated all selfishness in the proceeding ! No—let us ballot fairly. Come, Horace—vwrite all our names on pieces of paper; and toss them into a vase or urn.” ~ This was done: and as the Prince called the six days one after the other, the names were indivi- dually drawn forth from the splendid porcelain vase into which the pieces of paper whereon they had been written were flung. The following was the result :—- Monday—The Earl of Curzon. Tuesday—Sir Douglas Huntingdon. Wednesday—Colonel Ma!pas. . Thursday—The Prince Regent. Friday—The Marquis of Leveson. Saturday—Mr. Sackville. The announcements were received one after another with much merriment; and the order wherein the numes stood, gave rise to many witty jokes, repartees, and humourous retorts. The wine circulated freely ; and bumpers were drained to the health of Venetia Trelawney. “By the bye, my dear friend,” said his Royal Highness, as an idea struck him during a pause in the conversation and a temporary lull in the hilarity, —“T do not think that we have made our arrange- ments as complete as they might be rendered. Be- cause it does not strike me as fair that if one of us should succeed in gaining the favours of this charmer, the rest should continue to persecute her with their importunities. Besides, the successful lover would naturally desire to enjoy the privilege of visiting his mistress as often and whenever he chose, without being limited to one special day in every week. And lastly, as we are all starting in the same race, it would be but just and natural that we should know who wins and when he wins.” “ Most assuredly !” cried the baronet. “I wonder that these points did not strike any of us before. Our compact would be wretchedly deficient without the settlement of such important matters.” “And should not the victer receive a testimonial in acknowledgment of his skill], tact, and persever- ance ?”” exclaimed Colonel Malpas, abandoning the habitual drawl in his anxiety to proffer this sugges- tion—by which, we imagine, he was vain enough to hope that he should be certain to profit. “Venetia Trelawney and six thousand guineas would be no mean reward to crown a man’s la- bours,” said the Earl of Curzon, “ What is the general opinion? Shall we make a sweepstake for six thousand--—-a thousand a-piece?” OMNLEGDIOOKS: