The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 258: what you’re looking at

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

THE QUEEN 229 “Tt is true, madam, it is true!’’ exclaimed the young princess, looking grandly handsome at that moment in the flush and the glow of her great indignation. ‘‘ Even while compelled to admit that this eavesdropping of to-night is not the first instance of the kind of which I have been guilty, I at once and unhesitatingly proclaim to your face that from your own lips have I heard the avowal of a conspiracy’s existence.”’ “ You dare?’’ ejaculated the queen, turning very pale, and with a strange quivering of the lips, for she knew not what to think. “Yes, I dare, madam,’’ exclaimed the princess, ‘‘ I dare accuse you thus boldly; and I dare also aver that I listened and overheard every syllable that took place between your Majesty and Mrs. Owen yesterday. Hence that alteration in my looks which you have observed — ”’ ‘““ Ah! then denial will be useless,” muttered the queen, between her false teeth, and drawing forth a snuff-box from her bag, she took a huge pinch of the stimulating powder. Then, as if it had inspired her with the insolent ‘spirit of one who boldly throws off the mask when it becomes impossible to wear it any longer, she said, “‘ You and I had better understand each other at once, Charlotte. In that letter,’ — and she pointed to the one upon the table, — “you inform your mother that you have accidentally dis- covered the atrocious conspiracy which exists to ruin her, but that through the kindness of your aunt Sophia you expect to secure the services of a young gentleman whom you do not know otherwise than by name, in order to help your mother to frustrate the designs of her enemies; and this letter you propose to transmit by your new friend, Mr. Jocelyn Loftus, provided you can in reality secure him as the champion of this cause. Now if, after reading that letter, I searched for you in all the adjacent rooms until I found you in Mrs. Bredalbane’s antechamber, it was for the express purpose of letting you know at once that there is but one will in England at this moment which shall be paramount, and that is my will. You are not queen yet, and unless you yield implicitly to my advice, you never shall be. Your own father would help to disinherit you in favour of one of his brothers, if you were to thwart his purposes. As for Sophia — the foolish minx! — how dares ) CORAICLOO© SS (C(O)