The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 308: what you’re looking at

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

274 THE COURT OF LONDON ‘‘ Wherefore this excitement? ” asked the princess, gazing upon him anxiously. ‘‘ Because you have just made an observation, dear lady,” - responded the baronet, ‘‘ which has opened my mental eyes to a truth unsuspected until now, and the sudden revelation of which to my senses produced mingled feelings of surprise and terror.”’ “ And that truth — what is it?’ demanded the Princess Amelia, trembling all over and still contemplating the baro- net with those lovely azure eyes which appeared to swim in a delicious languor. ‘‘T dare not answer your question,” replied Sir Richard, now evincing much embarrassment and confusion. ‘“‘ If there be secrets between us, Richard,’’ murmured the royal maiden, ‘‘ what becomes of the friendship which we have pledged each other? ”’ ‘Oh, what am I to say? What am I to do?” exclaimed the baronet, his whole frame quivering with emotions of an indescribable ecstasy as he pressed the hand of the princess in his own and gazed intently on her beauteous, blushing countenance; for this was the first time she had ever ven- tured to call him by his Christian name alone, and the cir- cumstance amounted almost to an avowal on her part, or at least to an encouragement of such an avowal from his lips. ‘“‘ What are you to say? ”’ repeated the princess, who herself felt as if she were bathing in a fount of bliss and as if the gates of paradise were slowly unfolding to her contemplation all the joys within. ‘‘ What are you to say, do you ask?” she murmured again. ‘‘ Oh, answer me frankly and candidly, and tell me the nature of that truth which has so suddenly become apparent to your comprehension? ” “ But I may offend you, dear princess; I may risk your friendship, — that friendship which I value more than life,” exclaimed the baronet, bewildered how to act. “No feeling which you are capable of harbouring can possibly offend me, Richard,” said Amelia, her tone express- ing the soft sensuousness which was diffused throughout her entire frame and was expressed in the deepening hue of the swimming eyes and the glowing tint which spread its carna- tion richness over her cheeks. “Then you command me to speak candidly, dear prin- cess? ’”’ said the baronet. (C(O) ANC 0)(0)() (CO)