The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 146: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XIV THE ROYAL BROTHER AND SISTER Asout an hour after the occurrences just related the prince regent received a pressing note from his sister, the Princess Sophia, begging that he would call upon her as soon as possible. Her Royal Highness occupied apartments in St. James’s Palace, and thither the prince accordingly re- paired. We have stated in a preceding chapter that the Princess Sophia was now about thirty-eight years of age, of luxuriant embonpoint, and of very handsome countenance. But the traces of deep care were visible upon her features; and with- out rising from her chair in the elegant apartment where she received her brother, the royal lady bade him, in a languid tone, place himself near her, as she wished to consult him on a matter of the utmost importance. The ladies who were in attendance upon the princess had withdrawn, in obedience to a sign which she made on the entrance of her brother; and this circumstance, together with the deep melancholy which appeared in Sophia’s man- ner, and the look of mingled mystery and hesitation with which she regarded him, proved that it was indeed some affair of more than usual importance that had induced her thus to send for him. ‘“ Has anything unpleasant occurred? ’’ asked the prince, who was conscious of so many misdeeds of his own and so many errors and frailties on the part of every member oi his family that he was always apprehensive of detection, ex- posure, or retribution. “ Nothing has occurred that need give you any particular annoyance,” replied the princess. Then, after a few mo- ments’ pause, during which the colour went and came upon 125 cConnicloooks (C(O)