The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 153: what you’re looking at

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

132 THE COURT OF LONDON into some crime that would send him to the scaffold. Oh, if my feelings now prompt me to extend a helping hand toward him, what would they do in such a case as that? Should I not be goaded by desperation to dare everything, — exposure, dishonour, ridicule, scorn? George, my dear brother,’ she exclaimed, throwing herself at his feet and clasping her hands wildly, ‘ listen, I beseech thee, to the prayer of a penitent woman, an agonizing mother, and assist me to save my son.”’ ‘ Rise, Sophia, rise,” said the prince, somewhat moved again by the spectacle of his sister’s highly wrought anguish. “IT will see what can be done in the matter. If the habeas corpus was suspended just at this moment, I would soon manage the thing by having him seized, locked up, and sub- jected to some reformatory process. As it is, I may have him kidnapped and put on board a ship bound for the colonies, taking care to provide for him a good situation on his landing in Canada, Jamaica, or New South Wales, just as the case may be.”’’ “You will consider the matter, you will reflect upon it well? ’’ said the princess. ‘‘ But promise me two things.”’ ‘“ Name them,’’ observed his Royal Highness, “‘ and then I will give you my answer.” “In the first place,’ rejoined Sophia, ‘‘ promise me that no step shall be taken in the matter without my knowledge and concurrence; and, in the second place, you must pledge yourself that before the boy quits England for ever you will, by some means of other, procure me an opportunity of seeing him for a moment, at some place and under such circum- stances as to preclude the possibility of my being recognized by any one.” ‘‘ And if I do all this for you,” said the prince, after a long pause, during which he remained buried in a deep reverie, ‘if I do all this for you, I say, will you undertake to do a certain service for me? ”’ ‘‘ Oh, yes,’’ exclaimed the Princess Sophia, well pleased at beholding the affair assume the appearance of a bargain, because she knew enough of her brother’s selfish disposition to be aware that he was much more likely to do her a favour when he required one in return than he would be uf the obligation were all on one side. ‘“ Tell me what service you require at my hands, tell me what I can do for you.” Gomicbdooks (E(@)