The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 370: what you’re looking at

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

344 THE COURT OF LONDON ‘My dear madam,” asked the prince, now turning toward Mrs. Arbuthnot, ‘“‘ have you procured the letter of which you spoke to me yesterday? ”’ ‘‘T have, sir,’ was the answer, and as she spoke, the lady produced the paper which she had succeeded in abstracting from Mrs. Bredalbane’s writing-desk. “ You will permit me to look at it,” said the prince. ‘ Not that I mean to keep it,’”’ he added, laughing, ‘ until Miss Penelope is introduced to her intended husband, and there- fore the moment I have cast my eyes over it, I will return it to you.” ‘ Rather, permit me to read the contents to your Royal Highness,”’ observed Mrs. Arbuthnot, with a significant look. ‘‘ You will find that it is worded precisely as I told you yesterday, and that it is clearly corroborative of the tale told by the valet Joux and which I also described to you.” ‘“‘ Read the letter, then,’’ said the prince, in a short, abrupt manner. ‘“‘ You must really think me very dishonourable to suppose for an instant that I would keep the paper if entrusted in my hands, and evade the fulfilment of the bargain entered into between us yesterday.” “Your Royal Highness should neither be surprised nor offended that I adopt the proper precaution,’’ answered Mrs. Arbuthnot, in a firm tone. ‘“ But listen, and I will read this letter.” With the contents of this fragmentary document the reader is already acquainted; we need not therefore repro- duce it here. Suffice it to say that a gloom began to settle upon the prince’s countenance as soon as Mrs. Arbuthnot commenced reading it aloud, and at the mention of that pointed allusion to the Princess Augusta’s unnatural crimi- nality, his Royal Highness gave a visible shudder. He said not a word, however, until she had finished, and even then he remained for upwards of a minute absorbed in a moody reverie. “You two ladies,” he at length said, “‘ are acquainted with a secret which vitally concerns the honour of my brother and my sister. Rest assured that I am prepared to fulfil the conditions yesterday agreed upon. I have spoken to a gentleman, an intimate friend of my own, who is willing, Penelope, to become your husband. As I said ere now, in a good-humoured strain, and as I seriously repeat at present, COMicloo® S CO