The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 301: what you’re looking at

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

284 THE COURT OF LONDON ing no guile herself, she is never the first to look for it else- where, and her very candour and frankness frequently make her the creature of impulse, so that she is thoughtless in her ~ actions. But, Mr. Lottus,” added Bergami, suddenly draw- ing himself up to his full height and gazing upon our hero with a look of noble ingenuousness, ‘‘ you will believe me when, aS a man of honour, a nobleman, and an officer, I declare unto you that never since I have thus been in the service of her Royal Highness has a single look or word passed between us in any way calculated to revive the memories of the past. Whatever may be felt in either heart is profoundly concealed; nor have I the vanity to suppose that the romantic love of the princess has survived the period when it was characterized by so many singular but delicate traits at the ducal palace at Brunswick. Of this, however, enough. You believe, Mr. Loftus, my solemn word? ”’ “You need not, Baron Bergami,’”’ exclaimed our hero, “do such violence to your own feelings as to enter upon self-vindication in this respect. As for her Royal Highness, not for a moment is it necessary that you should repudiate on her behalf all the vile scandals and atrocious calumnies which have recently been propagated concerning her. From what I have this day narrated, and from all that I have succeeded in learning since the moment I set foot in Geneva, it is clear enough that those three fiends in angel shapes, and bearing the name of Owen, are the authoresses of the scandal, the guilt, and the intamy.”’ “Yes, true, too true,’ said Bergami. ‘“ But how do you propose to proceed in vindicating her Royal Highness, and punishing the guilty ones? ”’ “In order to unmask the conspiracy,” returned Jocelyn, “we must obtain a thorough insight into all its details, so that every single point at all affecting the character of the princess may be fully cleared up. Now then, let us see what it is that scandal alleges against her. In the first place, it is averred that she has been secretly delivered of a child, but this we shall assuredly be enabled to bring home to Agatha Owen. Secondly, it is declared by calumny that the princess has received several lovers into the villa, but we shall prove that these gallants have been invited thither by the Misses Owen. Thirdly, the tongue of scandal affirms GOMiIcbooks (E(0)