The Mysteries of the Court of London by Pauline Clarendon — page 368: what you’re looking at

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

MRS. BRACE AND HER VISITORS 365 imperiously toward the door, exclaiming, in a stern voice, ‘“ Begone, sir, or it will be the worse for you! ”’ “No, I’m damned if I’m to be bullied in this way,” retorted the Magsman, instantly recovering his selt-pos- session and cool insolence. ‘‘ The world says your Royal Highness is no better than you should be, and now I’ve had a proof of it.’’ For a few moments the prince was staggered by this un- expected display of defiance; but speedily becoming alive again to the embarrassing nature of his present position, he said, ‘“ The coarseness of your allusion is only equalled by its falsity. This lady I respect, and you shall not insult her in my presence. Now, depart quietly, or you will be handed over to the keeping of a constable for endeavouring to extort money from her.”’ “ That’s a capital joke,” exclaimed the Magsman, with a chuckling. laugh. ‘‘ Why, everything she’s got, by right belongs to me — ” ‘““ Silence! ’’ screamed Mrs. Brace, almost frantic. ‘And what’s more,” added the ruffian, heedless of this interruption, ‘‘I’ll bring an action against your Royal Highness for crim. con. with my wife! ” The milliner shrieked, and fell senseless upon the carpet. ‘““Miscreant!”’ ejaculated the prince, unable to restrain his rage at the last threat levelled against himself, “ I’ll have you hanged before you’re many weeks older.”’ “No, you won’t,’”’ responded the man, with a tone and air of insolent defiance; ‘“‘ but you’ll send me five hundred guineas to-morrow along with the same sum that my wife has promised me, and on that condition I shall say no more of this business.”’ Having thus dictated his terms to the heir apparent, the Magsman grasped his club and strode out of the room, banging the door violently behind him. The noise aroused Mrs. Brace from her swoon, and his Royal Highness raised her in his arms; then, placing her on a chair, he filled a tumbler with water and made her swallow some of the refreshing beverage. Not that the prince cared very much for her. His pride had been terribly wounded by the idea that he had ever intrigued with the wife of such a ruffian as the one who had just quitted the apartment; but the milliner was too CONnniclooolKs (GO)