The Mysteries of the Court of London by Pauline Clarendon — page 396: what you’re looking at

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

ELEANOR AND THE PRINCE 393 the prince; then, glancing hastily around the apartment, he said, in a more subdued tone, “ Is it possible that our dis- course may be overheard? ”’ ‘Not the slightest apprehension need be entertained on that head,’ was the immediate response given by the countess. “ Your ladyship is the depositress of a secret, a terrible secret, involving the honour of one of the royal family of Eingland,’’ resumed the Prince of Wales, fixing a searching look upon Eleanor’s countenance, from which all the colour immediately fled. ‘Does not your Royal Highness think that it were better to leave such a secret in the oblivion where prudence has sought to bury it? ’’ she asked, in a low and tremulous tone; for she saw that it was useless to attempt a denial of the circumstance to which he alluded. “Think you that I am anxious to publish my own sister’s shame? ”’ he demanded, in a voice which showed how deeply his pride was wounded, and how humiliated he felt on account of the dishonour that had fallen on a relative so near to him. “No, such is not my intention; but I am desirous to learn all the circumstances connected with this most distressing incident.”’ ‘It were useless to probe those circumstances now, since all possible precautions have been adopted to cover them with an impervious veil,’ said the Countess of Desborough. “And yet your ladyship perceives that, in spite of these precautions, a whisper has reached my ears, conveying to me the startling intelligence of the dishonour of my sister.” There was a mixture of irony and vexation in the tone and manner of the prince, which struck the countess with the truth and justice of his observation. For, notwithstand- ing all the measures which prudence had suggested and which the command of unlimited resources had enabled her to carry into execution, her royal friend’s secret had indeed transpired by some mysterious and at present unaccountable means. ‘Let me convince you,’ resumed the heir apparent, “that I am better acquainted with the outline of this un- fortunate occurrence than your ladyship imagines. A carriage breaks down late one evening in the Edgeware Road; the Princess Sophia and the Countess of Desborough CONnniIcloool KS (GO)