The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 193: what you’re looking at

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

THE VISIT TO THE REGENT’S PARK 175 merely as an Oriental lady of fortune. Christina had men- tioned Zoe’s name as that of one to whom reference could be made if requisite; and Indora, perceiving from the way in which Christina spoke that she was on intimate terms with Zoe, gave her permission to mention confidentially the real rank of the lady into whose household she was about to enter. Thus there was no breach of trust on Christina’s part in stating that much to Lady Octavian Meredith. For an hour or two every day the Princess Indora shut herself up in that exquisitely appointed boudoir which we described on the first occasion that we introduced her to the reader; and there she employed herself in examining a portion of twenty enormous volumes which were piled up in the room, and which consisted of files of the Times for as many years as there were volumes. Once or twice during the first two or three weeks of her residence beneath that roof, Christina had occasion to enter the boudoir to speak to the princess, and she found her poring over the leaves of those files with a most earnest intentness. The young maiden however attached no importance to the circumstance, but simply ascribed it to that love of instruction which the princess displayed in all matters that concerned the affairs of Great Britain. One day, as Christina entered the sumptuously furnished drawing-room, she perceived a note lying upon the carpet, and fancying that it was some stray piece of paper of no consequence, but that it ought not to be left to mar the ex- quisite neatness with which the apartment was kept, she picked it up. A glance, however, at the paper showed that it was a letter, and without reading even a single word of it, she placed it upon the table. At that very instant the Princess Indora entered, and Christina, presenting her the note, said, “‘I found this lying upon the carpet.” The Oriental lady’s superb eyes appeared to recognize it at a glance, and for a moment there was a gentle flush sweeping over the delicate duskiness of her countenance. Christina beheld it, and mistaking its cause, said, somewhat proudly, ‘“‘ Your ladyship ” (for the title of Highness was not used beneath that roof) “ cannot possibly think that I would violate the sanctity of your letter.” “No, my dear Christina,’ exclaimed Indora, with the enthusiasm of generous frankness, “ not for a single moment CONMIC OOO) <S) (E©) im