The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 361: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XXXIII THE INTRIGUING MOTHER WHEN Mrs. Arbuthnot entered the room, she found the prince seated upon the sofa near the table on which the refreshments were spread, and she instantaneously saw that his look and manner were full of a cold hauteur, a sort of a tacit warning to make her aware that he was in no humour to put up with any “ scene.’?’ Her demeanour was profoundly respectful, with a tinge of reproachful mournfulness, for she was a thorough adept in all hypocrisies and artifices, and knew full well how to assume an aspect suitable to any occasion or to any circumstances. The prince partially rose from his seat, bowed distantly, and waved his hand toward a chair; then, without uttering a, word, he awaited the explanation of this visit. “ Your Royal Highness will graciously pardon me,” said Mrs. Arbuthnot, commencing in the gentlest and mildest tone, for she was desirous to see what humble persuasion would do first, ere she had recourse to the alternative of harsher means, “‘ your Royal Highness will pardon me for this intrusion, but it is on a very painful matter that I have ventured to approach the representative of my sovereign.” ‘Proceed, madam,” said the prince, with a slight bow, and with a glacial courtesy of manner. ‘My daughter Penelope,’’ continued Mrs. Arbuthnot, ‘ig in a way to become a mother, and she is profoundly anxious relative to the future.” “TI told your daughter, madam,” responded the prince, ‘“‘ that when the time came that she could no longer conceal her situation, — and that, from what she told me, will be some months hence, —she could easily retire from the court for a short period, under suitable arrangements, which your 335 ] (C(O) nn) GDoOo KS { i nin