The Mysteries of the Court of London Vol. 4 — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

Oa a PE a I ATI I I TE aa EE EIT ET EL I I I ET NTE IE ISL no bethought bérself tat the Hon. Mrs. Bredalbane's chamber was close at hand, aud ‘that this lady having Been somewhat indisposed, had kept her room all day. It thereford*occurred to the young Prinivess that she might repair to Mrs. Bredalbane's apartment for the ostensible reason of inquiring after her, but in reality fur the sake of campanion- ship,—eher Reyal Highness hoping that half-an- hour's friendly discourse with this lady, whom she liked much, would perhaps cheer her mind, or at all events efface these superstitious terrors which at present forebade Mr from seeking her fouch. We may herqobserve that the Hon. Mrs. Bredal- bane was one of the Bed-chamber Women attached to the Queen's household. She was a widow—abont forty years of age—very affable and kind-hearted— *but given to scandal and amazingly fond of gossip- ing. Her lodging at the Castle was at the end of the same passage from which the Princess Char- Jotte’s own suite of apartmeng opened, and which indéd cominunicated with t#@ rooms of several of the Court ladies. . Issuing forth from ler chamber, the young Princesa threaded the passage, which was lighted with lamps suspended to the ceiling; and she reached the extremity of the carpetted corridor without encoun- tering a soul. The door which she now gently opened led into a little ante-chainber beyond which was Mrs. Bredalbane’s own room; and as the Princess approached the door ofthe latter, she heard voices speaking witbig. Suddenly reminded that she would perhaps be intruding, she was about to jetire at once, when a3 word—a name—which sud- denly smote her ear, translixed her to the spot and all in a moment inspired her with the keenest curiosity aud the gcutest interest. That name was Sellis ! ‘ There were candles burning upon the table in the ante-chamber, A velvet curtain hung in the door- way between the two roums; and the door itself was now ajar. The reader may therefore under- stand how it was that the presence of the Princess was not observed by those who were in the bed- chamber, and how shy was thus enabled to become an unseen listener fo the conversation that was going on and in which her interest had been ex- cited in so sadden and so lively a manner, The voice which she had heard mention the name of Sena was that of the Hon. Mrs. Bredalbame; and she speedily discuvere® that the friend with whom Mrs. Bredalbaue was thus familiarly couversing, was Lady Prescott—also one of the royal Bedchamber Women. One former occasion, the Princess Charlotte Rail heard these two ladies in confidential! discoursé together; and her ears had then caught enough to make her long to know more. Now therefore that the opportunity so un- expectedly but so favpui ably’ presented itself, she gould not resist the temptation. Forgetting all her. recent terrors, and too much swayed®by intense curiosity to reflect for a moment that =he was act- infwrong thus to play the eaves-dropper, the young Pritcess was 60 completely transfixe 1 at the mention of the name of Sellis, that she could not posaibly avoid remaiuing where she had thus ead- denly stupped short: dnd losing sight of every other subject that a inement before had been up- permost in her mind, she wave all her attentiun to aed =o the discourse fhat was taking place in the fgner | ehamber. TUR MYATRRIES OF THR COURT. e . Pe “iin we ae Thee eee dete g gee es, Ee © eee, Gee ere WE Onde ep ees oo ee eo 3 ee] a! ee es “You seem, my dear.Mrs. Dredhibane,” said Lady Prescott, “to be somewhat bitter against che Duke of Cumberland. Surely you, hgve imbibed no unjust prejudice towards that Prince.?” “Prejudice,emy dear friend!” exclaimed Mrs. Bredalbane. “I am really surprised that you should deem me capable of such a failing. Itis perfectly true that Ido wot like the Duke, and that he never was any fdéPeurite of mine: beat al- though I may have my aversions and my antipa- thies, I should Bcorn to invent any evil reports, or exagrerate those already in circulation, to serv® 3 vindiclive Purpose.” “Qh! I know you too well,” cried Lady Pres- cott, “to need sush assurances from your lips ; and if I spoke of, prejudice, I was assuredly wrong. I am aware, my dear friend, that you are better ac- quainted ghan any other lady of the Court with the secrets and mysteries of the Royal Family-—” “ Yes,” observed Mrs. Bredalbane, .in a sort ot musing tone: “I could tell sonze strange tales if I chose. But there are certain things with which I am acquainted, and which will never pass my lips.” “When I asked you just now,” saig Lady Fres- cotts “to give me all the details relative to the affair of Sellis and the Duke of Cumberland, I did nof wish to intrude upon an‘wé®eret or spédeial knowledge that you may possess concerning that lamentable tragedy. 1 merely thought nf I was not in London at the time, but bé@ried in’that Welsh solitude to which Sir John Prescott took me for my health—as you must remember—~” *Yes—I recollect that you were absent at the time: and when I sent you the newspapers con- taining tho proceedings, leemember,” continued ALPs, Bredaibane, “that your husband wrote to beg I would desist from forwarding the journals, as you were in such a neryous state through ill- health that any excitement was most prejudicial.” “Aud therefore, you perdhive, my dear friend,” said Lady Prescott, “that I an ignoraut of most of the details connected with that dreadful affair, When I returned to Court after my Welsh rustioa- tign, the death of the Princess Amelia had betome the all-absorbing topic of mournful interest; and no one ever breathed a word relative to the Sellis tragedy. It had therefore well nigh fled from m memory util you so singularly and pointedly alluded to it the other day, I thon asked you to give me the full narrative; and you were about to complyewith my request, when something inter. rupted the discourse——” “T recollect,” said Mrs. Bredalbane: © it' was during the card-pcrty the other night, and I thought that as we were seated if the witidow-re- cess, the Frince-s Charlotte was listéning to what we said. That is the reason I broke off the topic so suddenly.” ° + Ang‘now therefore,” continued Lady Prescott “ that we are all alone together, and free frem in terruption—ifdeed wittiont a chance of anybody intruding wpon us—I hope you will gratify my cu- |! riosity.” * J have no objection,” replied Mrs Bredalbane: then, after a pause, she commenced fier aatrative in a low and measuéed tone, az if she were not only impressed with the solema seriousness of the sud- + ject, but also afraid that thé very walls themselves ha jeears. o Sr: Re EE Ee Se | COMIC OOO 12) cS) CO