The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 281: what you’re looking at

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

264 THE COURT OF LONDON’ Such were the lines written inside the envelope, and which the three sisters now hastily scanned with frightened looks, blanching cheeks, and palpitating hearts. ‘“ What is to be done?” exclaimed Agatha, in consterna- - tion. ‘“ Loftus is at Maravelli’s— Ah! and now I under- stand,” she half-shrieked forth, as a sudden reminiscence struck her. “ What do you understand?’’ asked Emma and Julia, both in a breath. “That allusion which Lady Prescott made,’ returned Agatha. ‘“‘ Oh, I felt at the time it was something more than a mere random retort, that it was a deliberate taunt flung out full of malignant significancy.”’ ‘“ But how is it possible she can suspect what has happened to you?’’ demanded Emma, who, as well as Julia, had caught the infection of Agatha’s dismay. “Oh, Maravelli must have penetrated the whole truth,” exclaimed Agatha, wringing her hands in despair. “‘ Instead of believing that it was the princess whom he delivered, he must have known that it was me. And he is not making a secret of it, he has told it to Loftus, Loftus has told 1t to this Lady Prescott, and now Bergami will go and find.it all out. O God! exposure is imminent, ruin hangs over our heads! ”’ Clasping her white hands in despair, the unhappy young lady threw herself upon a sofa in the bedchamber, and gave way to an effusion of the wildest anguish. Julia became equally terrified, and though Emma could not but feel all the danger of her eldest sister’s position, and also of her own and Julia’s as accomplices in the concealment of the child- birth, she nevertheless showed more presence of mind than they on this trying occasion. She accordingly hurried to Mrs. Ranger’s room, where she found that lady very busy in examining a new set of false teeth which had just been sent home by a famous dentist in Geneva. But the hag speedily forgot all about her artificial embellishments when the aftrighted Emma hastily sketched the outline of what had occurred within the last hour, and the fearful results which might ensue. Accompanying Emma to the chamber where Agatha and Julia were sitting in despair upon the sofa, Mrs. Ranger urged them -to collect all their fortitude and presence of EORMIELIOO KS (E(0) im