The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 270: what you’re looking at

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

_ THE AUDIENCE AND THE LETTER 2593 received the note which the page now presented, and opening. it, she ran her eyes quickly over its contents. ‘Oh, it is no one of any consequence, — a mere pretence and excuse,” she said. ‘‘ Your Royal Highness will do well to decide upon not granting this interview.” “But what does the note say?” asked the princess. ‘Who is the lady? What does she pretend to be? ”’ ‘“ Bvidently an impostress,”’ rejoined Agatha. ‘“ Your Royal Highness’s exceeding benevolence and charity give encouragement to all kinds of persons to approach as sup- pliants for your bounty. Shall I order the page to state that your Royal Highness cannot be disturbed at present? ”’ ~The princess, good-natured and confiding as she was, and never liking to thwart the ladies by whom she was sur- rounded, was about to give her assent to the course which Agatha suggested, when the sudden fancy took her that she would look at that note which had just been presented. Perhaps it was a mere whim on the princess’s part thus to peruse that note, or perhaps it was that Miss Owen had on this occasion slightly overacted her part and had seemed too anxious to prevent the audience solicited, so that a faint suspicion, but vague and indefinite, was excited in the princess’s mind. Whichever were the cause, certain it is that the princess suddenly assumed an air of decision and firmness which she seldom wore on ordinary occasions, and turning to Agatha, she said, ‘‘ Give me that note.”’ Miss Owen dared not disobey, nor was she even imprudent enough to show any reluctance, but at once placed the billet in her Royal Highness’s hand. The princess thereupon glanced over its contents, which ran as follows: ‘““ May it please your Royal Highness, the writer of this is alady who has had the honour of enjoying the acquaintance of your Royal Highness’s august daughter the Princess Charlotte, and she has likewise been honoured by the notice of her Royal Highness the Princess Sophia. She is the bearer of a letter of the utmost importance from the latter princess to your Royal Highness, and therefore most re- spectfully and humbly solicits an interview, that she may have an opportunity of presenting the same to your Royal - Highness, she being pledged to deliver that letter into your Royal Highness’s own hand. If your Royal Highness’s suppliant refrains from appending her name to this letter, ECORNICLOOKS (C(O) am