The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 88: what you’re looking at

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

70 THE COURT OF LONDON with courtly ideas to which her tongue could only give utter- ance in a courtly sense. ‘‘ But, after all, she is a sweet, good-natured princess, and if she were not a princess, we should speak of her as a most amiable creature.”’ “ But this story of Sellis? ’ said Mrs. Arbuthnot. ‘‘ Come, my dear friend, I do not suppose that you have any reserve with me? ” “Very far from it,” exclaimed Mrs. Bredalbane. “ It would indeed be very wrong of me to keep any secrets from you, after the implicit confidence which you have placed in me. Not but that I should have penetrated the intimacy subsisting between your charming daughter Penelope and the prince, even if you had not whispered in my ear that such an intimacy did really exist. But if Penelope should prove in the family way, as you fear — ” “Fear is not perhaps exactly the word, my good friend,”’ interrupted Mrs. Arbuthnot, ‘‘ because the existence of issue from this amour would always prove a sort of tie — You understand me?” she observed, significantly. ‘* Without a doubt,’’ answered Mrs. Bredalbane, “ and I do not know which to admire the most, the truly woman of the world way in which you take your daughter’s con- nection with the prince, or the precision with which you estimate the results. Ah! my dear friend, I have seen so many, many strange things within these walls. But, while I think of it, let me observe that if Penelope should prove with child, I can recommend an excellent and trustworthy female, at whose house she can go into retirement — ”’ “A thousand thanks for the interest you take in the matter,” interrupted Mrs. Arbuthnot. ‘ But pray do let me bring back your attention to that topic which for the present moment has an absorbing interest for me, — I mean the affair of Sellis.”’ : ‘‘ Well, then, I will give you that narrative,’’ answered Mrs. Bredalbane. ‘ You are well aware that the transaction took place during the night between the 31st of May and the Ist of June, 1810, therefore upwards of five years ago. The Duke of Cumberland was then living, as he is now, in the Kitchen Court of St. James’s Palace. He had three valets, Neale, Sellis, and Joux. The first-mentioned was an English- man, the second an Italian, and the third a Frenchman. Neale was a very ordinary-looking person; Sellis was a ? comlclooolks (CO)