The Mysteries of the Court of London by Pauline Clarendon — page 162: what you’re looking at

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

AN AMAZON 159 “Egad! I was quite sure that you would be welcome,”’ exclaimed Meagles, taking up a foil from the table and making a sham thrust at her ladyship. ‘“‘ Only conceive,”’ he added, turning toward the prince, who was surveying with gloating eyes the fine form of the huntress, ‘‘ I met our fair friend here as she was coming from her morning’s ride — ”’ ‘1 was just about to put up my horse in the stables in King Street,’’ interrupted Lady Letitia; “for I went out alone for a good scamper at daybreak, and when I came back, there was not a groom nor even a boy in attendance to take the animal from me.” “ Well — and I offered to unsaddle him for you,’ Meagles. ‘But I did it for myself while you were thinking about it,’ responded the lady, as she gave her friend a real lash with her riding-whip in acknowledgment of the sham thrust he had made at her. “ Don’t spare him!” cried the prince, laughing heartily as Tim Meagles vainly cut a caper to avoid the blow. ‘ But had I anticipated the pleasure of your company, my dear Letitia, I would have risen to receive you. Indeed, I ordered Germain not to make his appearance with breakfast until eleven, though I knew that Meagles would be here at ten — because I had resolved to take a bath in the interim.” “Treat me just as if I were one of your own sex,” ex- claimed the lady; ‘‘ and have your bath, by all means. Here, I will give you your dressing-gown and slippers,’’ she continued, throwing the former upon the bed and placing the latter in a convenient position on the carpet by the side of the couch. “ And you mean me to rise in your presence? ’”’ asked the prince, laughingly. “Why not?’ demanded Letitia. “ You do not suppose that I shall go home and tell the baronet that I have had the honour of assisting at the toilet of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales? ” “Egad! you are quite capable of telling your husband anything,’ exclaimed Meagles, putting on a pair of boxing- gloves and attacking an imaginary antagonist in a most scientific fashion. ~ You are very brave in buffeting the empty air, Tim,” ’ gaicd EOMMIE OO cS (E(O)