The Mysteries of the Court of London Vol. 4 — page 197: what you’re looking at

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

eee eo em Mi ee Se ee eed ea Oe” ees eee Sp een = 184 birth to a daughter, and that even this circumstance had failed to endear her royal husband to her. Years and years elapsed: I had opportunities of pushing my way in the world—but my mind had grewn too unsettled to allow me to take advantage of them. I abandoned my diplomatic career and -; joined the Prussian army. Without vanity I can say that the credentials I possess are those of which any military man may be proud. In a short time T rose to the rank of Captain, and fought in all the dread campaigns in which Prussia bore her part against Napoleon. But if I had abandoned the seclusion of the diplomatic cabinet in order to fy from thought, I assuredly had gained nothing by the change: for my pursuer followed meghrough all the mazea of war, even into the ranks of battle! At length the abdication of Napoleon at Fontainbleau and his retirement to Elba gave a short peace to Europe—that peace which is now to be disturbed again by the wild ambition of this meteor-man whom it is imponsible not to admire and gaze up to as the mightiest of warriors, the greatest of heroes, and the grandest of emperors! Quitting the army at the time of the abdication, I visited Italy for my amusement; and some months ago I . was suddenly startled by the intelligence that her rena Ss a as ee eet oe we \ Sl ee ee al 2 oe ee! ee, Royal Highness the Princess of Wales was tra- velling in the same country, and was indced dnily expected at the same city where I thenwas. J was now seized with feelings which I cannot attempt to describe. Suthe it to say that 1 wasaimpelied by an irresistible power to see the Princess. Against this impulse I strugzjed for several days: but it grew stronger than myself—and yielding to it, I proceeded to the hotel at which she had taken up her quarters. QOn sending up my card, I was at once adinitted to her presence; and she received me with a frank affability and a warm-hearted candour which seemed to say as plaiuly as looks and actions can possibly have a meaning, ‘ Jrecewve you as an old friend. gnthe name of friendship, welcome! There must be an eternal silence, tf not oblivion, with rejurd to that episode in our lives which dates more than twenty years buck!’ I un- derstood her meaning; and a great change was suddenly worked within me. Instead of the rest- l-ssness of a disappuinted pazsion, I felt as w I bad drunk of the holiest balm of Christian resigna- tion’ An anodyne had been all ina moment ad- ministered to a heart the wound of which for long years had remained open. Fricndship!—to pos- sexs the friendship of the Princess would now be mre than a recompense for all that [had endured: it wou'd make me happy! She appeared to be animated with exactly the same icelings; and treusmg me in the light of a friend, she inquired What 1 was duing—how I was ongaged —what were My pursuits ; and then delicately touched upon my means of existence. With equal caudour did I answer her, makins her aware that | had nothing but my half-pay as a Prussian officer, and a small pension which 1 had received iu acknowledgment of services rendered during the war. ‘Thereupon she proposed that I should enter her service a: principal equerry—that ollice being at the moment vacant. I accepted the offer—accepted it at once, because it was made so frank'y and go kindly. To have refused it, L wnust have stated some reason ; and as I was puur, vut of employment, and tota'ly disen¢riged, I could invent nu excuse of a legiti- 2 Pa ; t 2 gee Ee apy op oo) ene Ce See SS ie pee - ee eset ate OH — pp THE MYETERIES OF THE COURT. r mate character. Much less dared I confess that having loved henin my earlier fears —having loved her too ever since—and having continued unmar- ried in order to remain faithful to that romantic love of mine, I déred not accept a post which would constantly retain me about her person. Under these circumstances, therefure—and im- pelled by such considerations—I at once replied in the affirmative: and behold me {nstalled as equerry in the establishment of that Princess whose imae had dwelt in my heart for more than twenty years! Now, candidly speatin, Mr. Loftus, I wili admit that there was possibly some litte inuiscretion —~" “Pardon me for interrupting you, Baron Ber- ami,” said our hero: “but | think that you have exculpated yourself from any blame—even the slightest—in respect to taking office in the hou-e- hold of the Princess. But that her Royal High- ness was somewpat indiscreet in making the pro- posal to you, [ cortainly think.” “ Consider, Mr. Loftus, that she is of the most a artless, unsuspecting disposition,” exclaimed Ber- | gami. “ Elgrvouring no guile herself, she is never the first to look for it elsewhere; and her very canduur and frankness frequeatly make her the creature of impulse, 80 that sha is thoughtless in her actions. But, Mec. Loftus,” added Bergamini, suddenly drawing himself up to hi» full height an 1 gazing upon our hero with a look of noble in- genuousness, “you will believe me when, as a man of honour, a nobleman.* and an officer, 1 de- clare unto you that nefer since [ have thus been in the service of her Royal Highness, has a single look or word passed between us in any way ‘cal- culated to revive the memories of the past! What- ever may be felt in either heart, is profdundly con- cealed; nor have I the vanity to suppose that the romantic love of the Princess has survived the period when it was characterised by so many 6iu- gular but delicate traits at the ducal palace at Bronswick. Of this however enough! You be- lieve, Mr. Loftus, my solemn word ?” You need not, Baron Bergami,” exclaimed vur gE EES a — 2 ee ee ewes i ee hero, “do such violence to your own feelings as to | enter upon self-vindicatiou in this respect. As for her Royal Highness, not for a moment is it | necessary that you should repudiate on her behalf all the vile scandals and afrocious caiumnies which have recently been propagated concerning her. From whit I have this day narrated, and from all tha: 1 have succeeded iu learning since the moment I «sect foot in Geneva, it is clear enough that those three fiends in augel-shapes and bearing the name of Owen, are the au- thoresses of the scandal, the guilt, and the in- famy!" “ Yegs—true—to3 true!” said Bergami. “But how do you propose t» proceed iu vindicating her Royal Uighness, aad punishing the guilty ones ?” “Tn order to unmask the conspiracy,” returned Jocelyn, “we must obtain a thorough insight into all ita details, so that every single puint at all affecting the character of the Princess may bo fully cleared up. Now then, let us sec what it is that scandal alleges agaiast her. In the first place it is averred that she has been secretly de- livered of a child: but this we shall assuredly a = ee Se eee oe SNR ED a I RE TN GS GG US be enabled to bring home te Agatha Owen. Se- | ECOMNIE OG O) cS) CO