The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 364: what you’re looking at

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

338 THE COURT OF LONDON be induced to flog you with a horsewhip for the baseness and heartlessness of your conduct. As it is, I warn you that I have the power of wreaking a terrible revenge.’’ “ Now, will you explain yourself?” said the prince, be- coming frightened, and scarcely able to conceal that he was so, for he instantaneously saw that Mrs. Arbuthnot would never dare adopt such a demeanour as this and use such words as those unless fully confident of wielding some terrible weapon of vengeance. “ Tf your Royal Highness will resume your seat,” said Mrs. Arbuthnot, speaking with more calmness, “1 will very speedily explain my meaning.” The prince returned to the sofa, and sat down without. saying a word. ‘“ Believe me,’’ continued the bedchamber woman, “ it, is painful, most painful, to be compelled to adopt such a tone as I am now using, but neither I nor my daughter are worms to be trodden upon with impunity. I am in pos- session of a secret regarding a member of the royal family, a secret of such fearful import that if made known it would strike the whole country, ay, and all the world, with terror and consternation — Shall I go on?” ‘‘ Yes, explain yourself,’ answered the prince, not knowing to what possible circumstance Mrs. Arbuthnot could allude; and, unfortunately for him, there were so many important. secrets connected with himself and his family that he was at a loss to fix upon the one that was known to his visitress. | “Then I must proceed,” she continued, “ and it is with pain that Idoso. Sir, the secret to which I allude intimately concerns the honour, the character, and if he were of humbler station, the very life of your royal brother the Duke of Cumberland. There is a document in existence —”’ “A document! But of what kind? What does it refer to? ’? demanded the prince, nervously agitated. “ Sir, it is a letter which the murdered Sellis —”’ “‘ Murdered! ”’ echoed the prince, instantaneously catching the significancy of Mrs. Arbuthnot’s expression. ‘‘ No, he committed suicide. The coroner’s inquest proved it —”’ “That your Royal Highness firmly believes the story of the unfortunate man’s suicide, I have no doubt,” interrupted. Mrs. Arbuthnot, ‘“ but there are proofs to the contrary.”’ EOMMGIOO S (C(O) im