The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 257: what you’re looking at

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

228 THE COURT OF LONDON two bedchamber women a look to assure them that the secret of their conversation on so ticklish a topic was safe with her, and she then followed the queen away from the apart- ment. ‘““T have been seeking you in your own chamber, Char- lotte,’’ said her Majesty, ‘‘ because I wished to have some conversation with you. Indeed, I was informed that you had dismissed your ladies for the night at an earlier hour than usual, but that you had not retired to rest, and this intelligence, added to your altered looks during the day, determined me to demand an explanation at your hands.” Thus spoke the queen, as she led the way along the passage toward her royal granddaughter’s room. But just as they reached the threshold and the princess caught a glimpse of the writing materials on the table, the recollec- tion instantaneously flashed to her that she had left the letter to her mother lying upon the table. The queen, then, had perhaps read it? Yes, there was little doubt that such was the case, and hence that bitterness of tone and manner which her Majesty had shown toward her for the first time. ‘Not finding you ere now,’’ said the queen, as she ad- vanced into the room, while the princess followed, closing the door behind her, ‘‘ I took the liberty of ascertaining what had been the nature of your most recent studies, and if I were therein guilty of an undue amount of curiosity, at all events it was not more reprehensible than that which you have just now shown in listening to the conversation of my bedchamber women.”’ The vein of sarcasm which began to penetrate through this speech from its commencement increased in bitterness as her Majesty went on speaking, and as she gave utterance to the concluding words, her eyes settled upon the letter that lay on the table. ‘JT understand your Majesty,’’ said the young princess, her indignation suddenly aroused to a degree that armed her with a more than feminine courage. ‘“‘ You have been reading the letter which I inadvertently left here? ” ‘“Ves, I have read every word of it,’ responded the queen, in a cold tone of defiance. “I have read how you dare accuse your own father, your uncles, myself, and several of the proudest nobles and most virtuous ladies in the country of being engaged in a conspiracy — ” EORNIELIOO KS, (E)