The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 130: what you’re looking at

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

112 THE COURT OF LONDON to give her certain explanations which opened her eyes to the comprehension of many mysteries, and which fully confirmed the statement he had made. This is not, however, the place to lay these explanations before the reader. They will be given in due course, and in the interval a requisite amount of patience must be exercised. “ But tell me, Valentine, tell me candidly,’”’ said Lady Sackville, when their long conference was nearly brought to a termination, ‘‘ do you not regret having found so near a relative in me? Oh, I feel that I am blushing as I look you in the face, for rumour with her thousand tongues cannot fail to have wafted to your ears the allegation that I am the mistress of the prince.”’ ‘“T did not come hither to judge you,” returned Valen- tine, ‘‘ but to communicate an important secret. That com- munication has been made, and now it is for you to decide whether you wish to consider me as your brother, and whether I am to look upon you as a sister.”’ “Can you doubt that such is my wish?” asked Venetia, in a tone of gentle reproach. ‘But remember,’’ rejoined Malvern, ‘“ that, legally speaking, we are not related.” ‘““ No, for the stigma of illegitimacy rests upon me and my sister,’ replied Lady Sackville. ‘‘ Nevertheless,”’ immediately observed Malvern, ‘so far as I am concerned, I cannot lose sight of the one solemn fact that the same father was the author of our being. Moreover, inasmuch as the late Sir Archibald Malvern deceived your mother, — alas, that I should have thus to speak of a father!—and sent her broken-hearted. to an early grave, there is no possible atonement which I, as his eldest son and living representative, am not prepared to make on his behalf to you and to your sister, the neglected, un- acknowledged children of that betrayed and broken-hearted mother. Therefore is it that I offer you and your sister a brother’s love, a brother’s fondness, and if you need it and will accept it, a brother’s counsel likewise. I would even add, taking a more worldly view of the subject, that of the large fortune which I have inherited equal shares shall be placed at your disposal.’’ “So much goodness, so much generosity, overpowers me,” murmured Venetia, melting into tears. Then suddenly wring- comicloooks (CO nin