The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 265: what you’re looking at

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

236 THE COURT OF LONDON the prince. “ In fact, everything connected with last night’s adventure is satisfactory enough, so far as we are concerned. But at the very time that I was arranging plans to gratify your wishes in respect to your son, you were plotting and intriguing against me, ay, and with my own daughter, too.” “Ah! what mean you, George?” cried the princess, flinging upon her brother a frightened look. ‘“ Answer me one question immediately,’’ he said, in a severe tone; and gazing upon her with a look which seemed to bid her beware how she deceived or trifled with him, he asked, “‘ Have you written to a certain person styling him- self Jocelyn Loftus — ”’ “Then Charlotte must have betrayed me!” exclaimed the Princess Sophia, the angry blood mantling upon her cheeks. ‘ Oh, this is unkind, most unkind on her part — ”’ ‘No, my daughter is not a traitress of that ignoble stamp,”’ interrupted the prince regent. ‘“‘ But there is no necessity to practise any concealment or affect any mystery in the affair. Charlotte penned a long letter last night to her mother, and that letter happened to meet the eyes of the queen.”’ ‘Well, George,’’ exclaimed the Princess Sophia, “ I confess that I took compassion upon the distress of mind in which my niece was plunged — But are you aware of the extent of her knowledge? Do you know that your daughter — ”’ ‘“T know everything,’ said the prince. ‘“ Charlotte listened to some discourse which was taking place yesterday morning between her grandmother and Mrs. Owen, and misunderstanding one portion, and allowing her excited feelings to exaggerate another, and indeed mistaking the whole drift of the conversation — ”’ ‘Can I really believe you, George? ’”’ asked the Princess Sophia, gazing up steadfastly into his face. ‘‘ Because if you are telling me the truth, I should be so glad, so very glad, to learn that this conspiracy does not exist.” “Tt does not,’ answered the prince, with the most brazen effrontery, “‘ nowhere except in the brain of my silly daugh- ter. As a matter of course, I have persons watching my wife’s actions; that I have reason for doing this, you may believe or not as you choose. At all events,” added the prince, haughtily, ‘“‘ I am the best judge of my own private CORAIELOOC SS (E(@)