The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 318: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERIES. “ No—I will go alone,” he observed. ‘‘ There— keep the candle for a few moments at the foot of the staire—and don’t follow me.” The landiady caw that the King was much agitated ; and, with that habit of passive obedience which is engendered by the servile and degraded condition of all the humbler ranks in this wretched country, she dered not give utterance to the words that were nevertheless trembling et the tip of her tongue. For she knew that Sir Richard Stamford was not alone ; —e«e«nd although she was unaware of the name and high position of the lady who was wont to visit him, but who always came so closely ycjled as to defy the most piercing observation to catch 3 glimpse of her countenance—the old woman felt as- sured that her lodger and his fair companion did not wish te be disturbed, even by the visit of Royalty. But she held her peace through awe and dread of that King whom she had been taught to look upon as a being seeond only to the god-head ;—and even with that debased and servile feeling of mingled terror and veneration, was united one of gratification at the thought that her humble abode shonld be tins ho- moured by the presence of Royalty. Honoured, in- deed {-—a precious honour to have that scrofulous, sanctimonious, biood-thirsty old tyrant crossing her threshold ! However, there she stood at the foot of the stairs —holding the candle in her hand, while the King ascended with a somewhat hasty step. On reaching the landing he opened the door that immediately faced him ;—but he was suddenly struck with an ap- palling consternation at the spectacle which met his eyes. Yet what baleful scene—what terrible aspect had paralysed and transfixed him thus? Behold! Sir Richard Stamford was seated upon a sofe—and half reclining in his arms was her Royal Highness the Princess Amelia ! So deeply absorbed were the tender pair in the vows and pledges of love which they were breathing in murmured tones to each other, and in the fervid caresses which they intermingted with their discourse, that they heard not the opening of the door: but all on a sudden it was elosed with violence, and an ejactn- lation of horror blended with a poignant anguish smote simnitaneoudy upon their ears. They started up—and a stified shriek burst from the lips of the Princess Amelia as her eyes encoun- tered the ghastly looks of her royal father: then, throwing herself at his feet, she extended her clasped hands towards him, exclaiming, “ Pardon me—par- don me, beloved parent—have mercy upon me !” “Unhappy girl!” cried the King, fearfully agitated and unable to control his words: “ you know not what you have done nor whom you love—fbr that man is your brother !” “Wo, no, dear father!’ exclaimed the Princess: “it is only a wondrous likeness which deceives you— this is Sir Richard Stamford !” “I fnow it—I know it,” groaned the unhappy monarch: “bat he is my son—the offspring of Hannah Lightfoot” “@O horror!” exclaimed the baronet: and sinking upon the sofa, he covered his face with hie hands and gave irresistible vent to the convulsive anguish of his soul. “ Just heaven! what mean you, father?” cried the Princess Amelia at the same moment — and she sprang from her kneeling posture like a corpse that is galvanised. 2, LT A TN = 307 “I mean,” said the King, staggering beneath the weight of a tremendous affliction and speaking in a hollow voice,— I mean that in my youth I loved and seduced a heavenly creature—and that Sir Richard Stamford-———” “Oh! say no more—say na more!” murmured the Prinoess, tottering to a seat, om which she fell: “he is my brother—my brother—aad Ged will avenge | this incest !” “ Ineest ! no—mo—do not say thai!” exclaimed the wretched King, shivering all over: “you have net been thus fer culpable, Amelia ?—+tell me that you have not !” Bat the anhappy Princess made po reply. Pale as marble, and with arms hanging straight down as if she had lost their use, Amelia reclined back in the |; chair—her eyes fixed with a vacent wildness apon the ghastly and convulaing countenance of the Hing. And now this miserable monarch cenki no lenger repress the groans and anguished ssbs that bespes ail from his seat :—and by the arm, he said in a hollow tone, “ Isall this true? —or is it a hideous dream ?” “It is true—it is true,” sobbed the almost heart- broken monarch. “ You are my sonm—and yet I dare not embrace you, after the appalling discovery that has just been made!” « No—no—you cannot embrace me—TI feel that you can not!” groaned the baronet. “But you will not curse me——" “Holy God! it is for you, Richard, to curse me!" exclaimed the King, writhing in the anguish of his frit. - Curse not—neither the one nor the other!” cried’ the Prineesa Amelia, recalled to sense and recollection by that awful word which fell like the voice of the dead upon her ears: then, alowly rising from her seat, and fixing upon her father’s coun- tenance a look so woe-begone and so full of horror that it froze all the blood im his veims and made him feel as if some hideous destiny were impelling him on to become the executioner of his ewn child, she said in a voice that was tremulous but paimfaliy clear, ‘Remember that there is still one sorrow and one in- ee ElOOO® SS