The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 87: what you’re looking at

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

CONCLUSION OF HISTORY OF SELLIS 69 you and I have so frequently conversed, I do believe that the Sellis business is the only one left untouched by us — ” ‘And it is precisely that which has suddenly assumed an important degree of interest in my eyes,’ interrupted Mrs. Arbuthnot, “ after what you have told me relative to the young Princess Charlotte. But how came her Royal Highness to be aware that you, of all the ladies at court, were better instructed in this mysterious transaction than any one else? ”’ ‘“‘T will tell you how it happened,”’ said Mrs. Bredalbane. ‘‘ Poor dear Lady Prescott, whose melancholy death at Geneva has so recently appeared in the papers, was a bosom friend of mine, and one evening we were talking familiarly together, in the same way as you and I at the present moment. The conversation turned upon the Sellis affair, and I was induced to commence the narrative of the dread occurrence. Little suspecting who overheard me, I had nearly finished the recital, when all of a sudden the astound- ing fact became revealed to us that the Princess Charlotte was @ listener; and, as she subsequently confessed, she had caught every syllable, — that is to say, as far as I had advanced in the narrative.” ‘‘ Dear me, how very awkward! ”’ exclaimed Mrs. Arbuth- not. ‘‘ Was that long ago? ” “‘ Yes, some months, just before Lady Poised resigned and was succeeded by you. From that moment has the princess constantly plagued and persecuted me to tell her the remainder of the narrative, but it is of a nature which, strictly speaking, cannot possibly be revealed to so young a@ person.” ‘“‘ Is it, then, of so very peculiar a character? ’’ asked Mrs. Arbuthnot, with a display of curiosity that was significant enough. “Ah! my dear friend, if you only heard it,’ exclaimed Mrs. Bredalbane, ‘‘ you would indeed agree with me that I cannot, must not, dare not comply with the young prin- cess’s request. I have accordingly managed to put her off from time to time with a variety of excuses, but this morning she told me frankly enough she did not think that I in- tended to fulfil my promise at all. That was when you saw her looking so cross, firing up, indeed, in her truly royal manner,”’ added Mrs. Bredalbane, whose head was filled (C(O) nn) GDoOo <Si in