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whom I attacked。 I never called the policeman a hireling。 I
may have been a criminal； in short； but I never was a fool。'
'Enough； madam；' returned the Prince： 'more than enough！
Your words are most reviving to my spirits； for in this age；
when even the assassin is a sentimentalist； there is no
virtue greater in my eyes than intellectual clarity。 Suffer
me； then； to ask you to retire； for by the signal of that
bell； I perceive my old friend； your mother； to be close at
hand。 With her I promise you to do my utmost。'
And as Mrs。 Desborough returned to the Divan； the Prince；
opening a door upon the other side； admitted Mrs。 Luxmore。
'Madam and my very good friend；' said he； 'is my face so much
changed that you no longer recognise Prince Florizel in Mr。
Godall？'
'To be sure！' she cried； looking at him through her glasses。
'I have always regarded your Highness as a perfect man； and
in your altered circumstances； of which I have already heard
with deep regret； I will beg you to consider my respect
increased instead of lessened。'
'I have found it so；' returned the Prince； 'with every class
of my acquaintance。 But； madam； I pray you to be seated。 My
business is of a delicate order； and regards your daughter。'
'In that case；' said Mrs。 Luxmore； 'you may save yourself the
trouble of speaking； for I have fully made up my mind to have
nothing to do with her。 I will not hear one word in her
defence； but as I value nothing so particularly as the virtue
of justice； I think it my duty to explain to you the grounds
of my complaint。 She deserted me； her natural protector； for
years； she has consorted with the most disreputable persons；
and to fill the cup of her offence； she has recently married。
I refuse to see her； or the being to whom she has linked
herself。 One hundred and twenty pounds a year； I have always
offered her： I offer it again。 It is what I had myself when
I was her age。'
'Very well； madam；' said the Prince； 'and be that so！ But to
touch upon another matter： what was the income of the
Reverend Bernard Fanshawe？'
'My father？' asked the spirited old lady。 'I believe he had
seven hundred pounds in the year。'
'You were one； I think； of several？' pursued the Prince。
'Of four；' was the reply。 'We were four daughters； and
painful as the admission is to make； a more detestable family
could scarce be found in England。'
'Dear me！' said the Prince。 'And you； madam； have an income
of eight thousand？'
'Not more than five；' returned the old lady； 'but where on
earth are you conducting me？'
'To an allowance of one thousand pounds a year；' replied
Florizel； smiling。 'For I must not suffer you to take your
father for a rule。 He was poor； you are rich。 He had many
calls upon his poverty： there are none upon your wealth。
And indeed； madam； if you will let me touch this matter with
a needle； there is but one point in common to your two
positions： that each had a daughter more remarkable for
liveliness than duty。'
'I have been entrapped into this house；' said the old lady；
getting to her feet。 'But it shall not avail。 Not all the
tobacconists in Europe 。 。 。'
'Ah； madam；' interrupted Florizel； 'before what is referred
to as my fall； you had not used such language！ And since you
so much object to the simple industry by which I live； let me
give you a friendly hint。 If you will not consent to support
your daughter； I shall be constrained to place that lady
behind my counter； where I doubt not she would prove a great
attraction； and your son…in…law shall have a livery and run
the errands。 With such young blood my business might be
doubled； and I might be bound in common gratitude to place
the name of Luxmore beside that of Godall。'
'Your Highness；' said the old lady； 'I have been very rude；
and you are very cunning。 I suppose the minx is on the
premises。 Produce her。'
'Let us rather observe them unperceived；' said the Prince；
and so saying he rose and quietly drew back the curtain。
Mrs。 Desborough sat with her back to them on a chair；
Somerset and Harry were hanging on her words with
extraordinary interest； Challoner； alleging some affair； had
long ago withdrawn from the detested neighbourhood of the
enchantress。
'At that moment；' Mrs。 Desborough was saying； 'Mr Gladstone
detected the features of his cowardly assailant。 A cry rose
to his lips： a cry of mingled triumph 。 。 。'
'That is Mr。 Somerset！' interrupted the spirited old lady； in
the highest note of her register。 'Mr。 Somerset； what have
you done with my house…property？'
'Madam；' said the Prince； 'let it be mine to give the
explanation； and in the meanwhile； welcome your daughter。'
'Well； Clara； how do you do？' said Mrs。 Luxmore。 'It appears
I am to give you an allowance。 So much the better for you。
As for Mr。 Somerset； I am very ready to have an explanation；
for the whole affair； though costly； was eminently humorous。
And at any rate；' she added； nodding to Paul； 'he is a young
gentleman for whom I have a great affection； and his pictures
were the funniest I ever saw。'
'I have ordered a collation；' said the Prince。 'Mr。
Somerset； as these are all your friends； I propose； if you
please； that you should join them at table。 I will take the
shop。'
End