The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 250: what you’re looking at

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

| ae a. to relax into a smile, which was nowever grim and repulsive enough. She then rose and took her departure. It being now the hour when supper was served up in the young ladies’ room, Mrs. Brace repaired thither to preside at the table; and it was eleven aclook when she returned to her own private par- lou. The Prince of Wales was waiting for her shere, Octavia Clarendon having left him a few minutes previously. “The evils which you presaged just now, my dear friend,” he said, speaking in an agitated manner, “are already developing themselves. Octavia has ob- tained iny portrait, in which she discovers a mar- vellous likeness to Mr. Harley. And no wonder, indeed! But she has likewise had dreams which have left strange thoughts behind; and the faintest whisper—the slightest incident will cause the whole fatal truth to flash to her comprehension.” “She has told you all this?” said Mrs. Brace, seriously alarmed. 30 — —- ee el i -_-_— -@ ~-~ @ a=: -< he We “'Yes—and in the most artless manner possible,” returned the Prince. “Then wherefore did you not seize the opportunity to break to her gradually who you really are——” “ Because it is in the nature of man to put off the hour of evil or of danger as iong as possible,” inter- rupted his Royal Highness; “and because she frightened me by certain observations which she made.” “ And those observations?” said the milliner in- quiringly. “Were to the effect that if I deceived her, she would throw herself at the feet of the King and de- mand justice!” responded the Prince, in alow and solemn tone. “The danger is most serious—most menacing! It would be as much as all my prospects of wearing the crown are worth ——” “Yes: exposure would be terrible—ruinous !” said Mra. Brace, in a musing manner. “I have managed to obtain a delay of six wecks before the time when I have solemnly pledged my- A ayeyo) SS COMM