The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 221: what you’re looking at

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

204 THE COURT OF LONDON ‘“T thank you, madam,”’ said Jocelyn, “‘for the flattering terms in which you speak of me. As for the object of my present visit to the city of Geneva, it is dictated by the illim- itable compassion I experience for a much injured prin- cess.” “Yes, [| am no stranger,’’ continued the lady, “ to the mission which you have undertaken in respect to the un- fortunate wife of the prince regent. I am likewise acquainted with the fact that you are the bearer of a letter from the Princess Sophia to her Royal Highness. But I am at a loss to understand,’ she suddenly exclaimed, ‘‘ how it is that having quitted England in December on this mission, you are only now about to accomplish it, and yet it’s the month of May.”’ | ‘“T have suffered fresh imprisonment and persecution in France,’ returned Loftus. ‘“‘ But on these heads I will give you full details anon. Meantime, madam, may I request you to proceed with your own history? ”’ ‘“ T now then take up the thread of the sorrowful narrative which regards myseltf,’’ said Mrs. Roberts. “ The abrupt departure of my noble lover, his disgraceful abandonment of me within a few hours after I had given him the last and fondest proof of affection which it is in woman’s power to bestow, was not the only calamity that my weakness and folly had entailed upon me. While I was endeavouring by the assumption of a calm demeanour to veil the sense of dishonour and of wrong that gnawed at my heart’s core, the tongue of scandal was busy with my name. Insidious whis- perings were circulated relative to me, and certain particulars, wherein the ludicrous was strangely blended with the ro- mantic, were rumoured relative to my amour. It now became necessary for me to withdraw from the sphere wherein I had been accustomed to move, for, alas! my reputation was undermined, even if it were not altogether destroyed. When a frail and erring woman, Mr. Loftus, is placed under the ban of society, it is not her guilt that is punished, but her want of cunning and tact in concealing it. The Spartan children in ancient times were not chastised for stealing, but for their clumsiness in not being able to conceal their thefts, and thus is it with regard to the frailty of ladies in fashionable life. But I will not pause to moralize upon the point, nor do I seek in what I have said a justifi- EORMIE NOON KS (E(0) m