The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 200: what you’re looking at

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

ST. JAMES’S PALACE 175 be more becoming for yourself to accompany Florence alone. In that cold reserve which you may exhibit toward the prince, Florence will see nought save the distant respect which a lady would naturally show in the presence of his Royal Highness. But were I to find myself in the company of the prince, I could scarcely manifest even the most ordinary politeness. For though years and years have passed since the date of poor Octavia’s wrongs, and also of the base outrages which he dared — though so fruitlessly — attempt toward yourself, yet is the memory of them immortal with me. All things considered, therefore, you would do well to go alone with Florence. Besides, you say that although the Princess Sophia will not be present at the interview, yet she has promised that the master of her household shall attend upon you.” “Oh, it was not through any fear that I proposed you should accompany us,” exclaimed Pauline. ‘‘ Even were his Royal Highness inclined to renew toward me, either by word or look, the insults of bygone times, the presence of his daughter would assuredly prove an adequate check. Or else,’ added Pauline, in a more serious tone, ‘‘ must he indeed be far, far more depraved than we even know him to be.” Lady Florimel now retired to perform the little requisites of her own toilet, and at half-past twelve her ladyship and Florence stepped into the carriage. In a few minutes they were set down at St. James’s Palace, that dingy, rambling, ignoble-looking old brick building, the exterior of which has the appearance of a tumbling down barrack, but upon whose interior hundreds and thousands of pounds have been expended to minister to the extravagance, the pomp, and the parade of royalty. Poor unfortunate working classes, how have ye been doomed to the most crushing toil in order to furnish forth the splendour of those palaces which exist as the trophies of that tyranny which has achieved — wretchedness and slavery! On alighting at St. James’s Palace, Lady Florimel and the Honourable Miss Eaton were received by Sir Robert Conway, the master of the Princess Sophia’s household. This gentleman was about sixty years of age, of courtly appearance, and one who had spent all his life as a hanger-on of royalty. He had passed through all those grades of Cconniclooolks (C(O)