The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 92: what you’re looking at

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

THE SEARCH AFTER A SON 69 ‘“ T must see this Richard Stamford upon business of private importance. And, hark you, sir, take care that no one knows of the visit which I am about to pay him.” The page bowed submission to this command, and he and the king sallied forth from the castle by the most secret means of egress. The distance which they had to traverse was not very great, and when they arrived within sight of the house which the page pointed out to the monarch, his Majesty bade the youth return to the castle. A strange feeling now seized upon George III, as he paused for a moment to contemplate that dwelling which stood out, in the solitude of its site, from amidst the scene that was otherwise dimly outlined in the obscurity of the evening; and a sensation which appeared to him like a presentiment of evil gradually crept over his entire frame. At length, summoning all his presence of mind to aid him in a course along which an irresistible power seemed to be impelling him, the monarch approached the door, at which he knocked gently. The summons was soon answered by the landlady, an old woman of respectable appearance; and, by the light which she carried in her hand, she imme- diately recognized the king. ‘Hush! ” said his Majesty, perceiving that he was known; and, entering the passage, he asked, “ Is Sir Richard Stam- ford within? ”’ ‘““ Yes, Sire,”’ returned the landlady. ‘‘ But — ”’ ‘““ Not another word,” said the king, cutting short whatever objection she was about to make. ‘“ Which is his apart- ment? ”’ ‘““Up-stairs, may it please your Majesty,” rejoined the old woman. “I will show your Majesty the way.” ‘““No, I will go alone,’’ he observed. ‘‘ There, keep the candle for a few moments at the foot of the stairs, and don’t follow me.’’ The landlady saw that the king was much agitated, and, with that habit of passive obedience which is engendered by the servile and degraded condition of all the humbler ranks in this wretched country, she dared not give utterance to the words that were nevertheless trembling at the tip of her tongue. For she knew that Sir Richard Stamford was not alone; and although she was unaware of the name and CoOnnicloookKs (C(O)