The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 151: what you’re looking at

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

0 | Wales, fixing a searching look upon Eleanor's Gountenance, from which all the colour immedi- ately fled. | “Does not your Royal think that it were better to leave such a secret in the oblivion where prudence has soughg to bury it ?” she asked, in a low and temulous tone: for she saw that it was useless to attempt a denial of the circumstance to which he alluded. “Think you that I am anxious to publish my own sister's shame?” he demanded, in a voice which showed how deeply his pride was wounded and how humiliated he felt on account of the dis- nonour that had fallen on a relative so near to him. “No—such is not my intention: but I am desirous to learn all the circumstances connected with this most distressing incident.” “It were useless to probe those circumstances now—since all possible precautions have adopted to cover them with an impervious taid the Countess of Desborough. “ And yet yoor ladyship perceives that, in spite of these precantions, a whisper has reached my ears, conveying to me the atartling intelligence of the dishonour of my sister.” There was a mixture of irony and vexation in the tone and manner of the Prince which struck the Cuuntess with the truth and justice of his ob- servation. For, notwithstanding all the measures which prudence had suggested and which the com- mand of unlimited resources had enabled her to carry into execution, her royal friend's secret had dndeed transpired bysome mysterious and at present anaccouutable means. “Let me convince you,” resumed the heir-appa- rent, “that I am better acquainted with the outline of this unfurtanate occurrence than your ladyship imagines. A carriage breaks down late one even- ing in the Edgeware Road—the Princess Sophia and the Countess of Desborough take refuge in a neighbouring dwelling. The Princess adopted the name of Mrs. Mordaunt—the Countess of Desborough assumes that of Mre. Smith.” “Is it possible that those young ladies could have discovered whom we were? exclaimed Eleanor, her thoughts and her suspicions instantly settling upon Octavia and Pauline Clarendon: “ can they have been base enough to make the circumstance a subject for vulgar scandal and detestable gossip ? If this be the case, never more shall I belicve that the countenance is an index of the mind: for can- dour, sincerity, and artlessness were stamped npon the features of those girls [° “Blame them not—do them not so much in- justioe said the Prince of Wales. “ Being‘alto- gether unacquainted with them, except by name, itis not from their lips that the whispers have reached me; and I can likewise assert, upon the same good authority whence I did receive the as- anding and distressing intelligence, that those young ladies have religiously kept the secret of which accident rendered them the depositresses.” «© The n—Mr. Thurston—could he have betrayed the unhappy Princess?” murmured the Countess in a musing tone. * No—Mr. Thurston morits not your blame,” ob- erved his Royal Highness. “ Indeed, [ am tolerably vell assured that neither he nor the young ladies mve ever entertained the slightest suspicion who Mire. Mordaunt and Mrs, Gmith réally were. I shall a aa Oa ea aa, THE MYSTERIES. not tell your ladyship how I became acquainted with the circumstance which we are discussing : suffice it to say that my fnformant is as trustworthy as yourself__—” “Something strikes me !” ejaculated the Countess suddenly. “ When the travelling-barouche broke down, a man—perhaps a gentleman—essisted the Princess’s lady’s-maid to alight, and then opened the door to aid us to descend. But he disappeared abraptly—.and in the confasion of that moment, as well as in the excitement of the subsequent oc- currences, all recollection of his evanescent pre- sence was completely absorbed. It was that in- dividual, then, who was your Royal Highness's Shaan” Sate Bleanor, with & marked om “I will not deny the fact—since you have thas | cleverly divined the truth,” said the Prince: * but ore person will never divalge the secret to an- | other.” | “And yet he could not have informed your Royal Highness of everything,” exclaimed the Countess ! of Desborough : “ because, although he might have recognised the Princess and me in the carriage, it | was impossible for him to perceive the situation | which my beloved companion so unfortunately | found herself.” | “He remained in the neighbourhood and kept a strict watch all night long,” said the Prince, deter- mined to avert suspicion from Octavia relative to the authorship of the information he had received. “He saw the surgeon sent for—he knew that a child was born during the uvight—and as he was well aware that your ladyship could have no motive in concealing the birth of an infant of your own, he naturally concluded that it was my unhappy sister who——_” “ Enough !” exclaimed the Countess, imperiously “I again declare that I can discover no advantage in discussing thia moet palnfal subject. Your Royal Highness admits the secret to be safe in all quarters : let me therefore implore you not to disinter it from so desirable an oblivion. I love the Princess Sophia as if she were my own sister—I enjoy her confidence—and I have done my duty. Surely your Royal Highness has not come hither to up- braid me for the part which I enacted throughout that trying scene ?” “ God forbid * ejaculated the Prince. “Un the contrary, my deepest gratitade is due to your lady- ship. . o this case, your Royal Highness will grant me the boon I am about to solicit ?” observed Eleanor, y. “Speak I" said the heir-apparent, his eyes now dwelling with admiration apon the countenance to which excitement had brought back all the glowing hues of health and beaaty. “My prayer is that your Royal Highness will not reveal to the Princess Sophia your knowledge of her secret,” answered the Countess. “Oh! she would die through shame were she even to harbour a suspicion that her weakness—or rather, her un- fortanate love and its consequences—should be | known to the brother of whom she stands so much | in awe.” . “I promise your ladyship not only this — but any- thing else that you may choose to ask of me and which I may have the power to perform,” replied the voluptuary, assuming a significant tenderness COMM AOC SS co