The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 244: what you’re looking at

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

THE YOUNG PRINCESS 215 should scorn to invent any evil reports, or exaggerate those already in circulation, to serve a vindictive purpose.”’ ‘Oh, I know you too well,’ cried Lady Prescott, “‘ to need such assurances from your lips, and if I spoke of prejudice, I was assuredly wrong. I am aware, my dear friend, that you are better acquainted than any other lady of the court with the secrets and mysteries of the royal family.”’ “Yes,” observed Mrs. Bredalbane, in a sort of musing tone, “‘ I could tell some strange tales if I chose. But there are certain things with which I am acquainted, and which will never pass my lips.” ‘“ When I asked you just now,” said Lady Prescott, ‘‘ to give me all the details relative to the affair of Sellis and the Duke of Cumberland, I did not wish to intrude upon any secret or special knowledge that you may possess concerning that lamentable tragedy. I merely thought that as I was not in London at the time, but buried in that Welsh solitude to which Sir John Prescott took me for my health, as you must remember — ”’ ‘“ Yes, I recollect that you were absent at the time, and when I sent you the newspapers containing the proceedings, I remember,” continued Mrs. Bredalbane, ‘ that your hus- band wrote to beg I would desist from forwarding the journals, as you were in such a nervous state through ill-health that any excitement was most prejudicial.’’ ‘And therefore, you perceive, my dear friend,” said Lady Prescott, ‘‘ that I am ignorant of most of the details connected with that dreadful affair. When I returned to court after my Welsh rustication, the death of the Princess Amelia had become the all-absorbing topic of mournful interest, and no one ever breathed a word relative to the Sellis tragedy. It had, therefore, well-nigh fled from my memory until you so singularly and pointedly alluded to it the other day. I then asked you to give me the full narra- tive, and you were about to comply with my request when something interrupted the discourse.”’ ‘““T recollect,” said Mrs. Bredalbane. ‘‘ It was during the card-party the other night, and I thought that as we were seated in the window recess, the Princess Charlotte was listening to what we said. That is the reason I broke off the topic so suddenly.” CORAICLOO© SS (C(O)