The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 224: what you’re looking at

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

THE PRINCESS CHARLOTTE 195 ‘“ But something must be done! ’’ cried the young princess, who had listened with the utmost impatience to her aunt’s somewhat lengthened address. ‘‘ I cannot suffer my poor mother to remain environed by these fearful perils. If I write to her a warning letter, it will be intercepted — ”’ ‘“‘ An idea has struck me,” ejaculated the Princess Sophia. ‘It is evident that this Mr. Jocelyn Loftus is a generous- hearted, chivalrous young man, one who is resolved to become the champion of your mother against her enemies. Arguing from a knowledge of the human heart, it is indeed most probable that after his rescue from the French authori- ties he has sped back to England to embrace his beloved Louisa and personally assure her of his safety. I will at all events write this very day to Canterbury.”’ “You will write to Mr. Loftus? ”’ exclaimed the Princess Charlotte, eagerly and thankfully. “ Yes, I will write to him,’”’ resumed the royal aunt. “ I will beseech him to come up to London at once and hold a conference with me, a conference at which you, my dear niece, shall be present; and then we will settle some decisive plan for the protection of your dear mother against her enemies.”’ ‘Yes, this is the best course to pursue,” exclaimed the Princess Charlotte, again flinging herself into Sophia’s arms and embracing her affectionately. ‘ Alas! alas!’’ she continued, the tears once more streaming down her cheeks, ‘“sad, very sad, is my poor mother’s destiny. You must know, my dear aunt, that although everybody observes such caution when speaking in my hearing, there are never- theless times when I cannot help catching things which were never meant to reach me; and sometimes, too, I glean from newspapers such strange allegations and unmistakable allusions — ” ‘Concerning whom, my dear girl? ”’ demanded the Prin- cess Sophia, anxiously. ‘Concerning my own father, the prince regent of the kingdom,’’ was the response, delivered with so profound a melancholy that it was evident the young princess deeply felt the consciousness of her sire’s profligacy. ‘I know many things which perhaps, at my age and in my position, I ought not to know,” she continued. ‘I know, for in- stance, that during the long years which have elapsed since CoOnnicloooks (C(O)