The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 102: what you’re looking at

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

THE ROYAL INTRUDER | 85 were extinguished. What on earth could he say? She then asked him why he did not speak to her. Again, what in the name of goodness was he to say? And yet something must be done. The position was growing fearfully critical. If he revealed himself, would she alarm the whole palace with her cries? Suddenly the prince regent recollected what Tash had told him relative to her being of a disposition that would sink overwhelmed beneath the honour of the royal favour, and inspired by the cheering hope, the prince resolved to do his best in bringing the present dilemma to a tranquil and peaceful issue. Advancing therefore to the couch, he took her hand and pressed it to his lips, but without uttering a word, and this was done at the instant she reached that part where her speech broke off as above indicated. “ Ah! I am glad,” she continued, ‘‘ that you are not filled with anger and vexation at the disappointment you have experienced. At all events, let me beseech you to sit down by the side of the couch, and talk seriously and deliberately with me— _ By the bye, you have shaved off your mous- tache,’’ she observed, forgetting for the moment that she ought to be playing a grave and sentimental part; but the natural frivolity of her character would thus break out in spite of herself, in spite, also, of the tutorings she had re- ceived from Lady Sackville. ‘‘ And let me tell you that your hand is not quite so smooth as it used to be, it is some- what wrinkled— Heavens! what a dissipated life you must have been leading to have got your hand so wrinkled during the short space of a few months. Let me see, it was in October last year when we separated, and this is the end of April— But why have you withdrawn your hand? ”’ The prince, thinking that the moment was not quite come yet for revealing himself, patted her cheek three or four times with the palm of the hand which he had just withdrawn from the grasp of her own fair fingers, and then feeling for the chair at the side of the couch, he sat down. ‘““ Now, my dear Percy,’’ resumed the lady, ‘I have a proposal to make to you, which you may accept if you will, and I do not think you will refuse it. Suppose that no affection subsists between us, yet for decency’s sake should we live together like man and wife, if not as man and wife. But you will ask me about our means. Now let me tell you that I am better off than you fancy. I have got five ECORNICLOOL cS (C(O) im