The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 246: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. i ee le es a = = = - — —— = — = =, 44) Hil WIM | spe He TAI iH ee Hii iy i I) ! Hi I | if LADY JERSEY. to her lips and pretending to be deeply affected. “ Be- lieve me when I declare that your Royal Highness will have no friend more devoted, more faithful, more loving than myself; and if you should deign to make me your confidant—because all great Prin- cesses like you have confidants to whom they un- bosom their secrete——” “ But suppose there are secrets which their hus- bands have enjoined them not to reveal?” interjected the artless Caroline. “Then for that very reason they must be sure and act contrary to their husband’s commands,” was the audacious response which the Countess at once hazarded. “And why 90!” inguired the Princess, her air suddenly becoming pensive. “Because the confidant in such a case will tell the Princess whether the husband's motive was a worthy one in enjoining the particular secret to be kept,” said the Ccuntess. “ Husbands are net imma- &2 culate, even though they be princes ;—and since your Royal Highness has deigned to distinguish me with your friendship, I am bound to give you honest, can- did, and ingenuous counsel.” “Oh! heaven knows I require it badly enough !” exclaimed Caroline, clasping her hands fervently. “Your Royal Highness will find no fiatterer, but a truthful and plain-speaking confidant in me,” re- tarned the Countess: “that is to say,” she imme- diately added, “if I am really to consider myself a confidant as well as a friend.” “ Assuredly—miost assuredly,” observed the Prin- ceas, altogether thrown off her guard by the air of sincerity and well-intentioned frankness which the hypocritical woman was such an adept at assuming. ‘Bot whatever secrets I may reveal to you——" “« Will remain entombed in my own breast,” added Lady Jersey. “ Your Royal Highness must know that at the English Court, and likewise in a princely household such as this, there are invariably two parte (CO DOO (CO