The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 267: what you’re looking at

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

238 THE COURT OF LONDON ‘“ Young! ’’ echoed the prince regent, ‘‘ why, she is close upon eighteen years of age.” Then, bending a look of peculiar significancy upon his sister, he said, “‘ The females of our family, Sophia, cannot be married too early.” The princess’s countenance, her neck, and all that was seen of her shoulders instantaneously became crimson as a peony, for those words smote her as a taunt and a reproach, her brother being well aware of her frailty. “You might have spared that observation, George,’’ she sald, the tears starting forth upon her lashes. ‘“ Well, well, I did not mean to afflict you,” said the prince, in a soothing tone. ‘“‘ It was a random remark, and not intended to wound your feelings. But now let me repeat for your consolation, that so far as the incidents of last night are concerned we are safe enough.”’ “And he—the boy — my son,” faltered the princess, ‘‘is still at the surgeon’s to whose house he was conveyed? ” “To be sure,” returned the prince. ‘ You do not think that with such a wound he could possibly be removed yet awhile. Besides, when he is convalescent where shall he be removed to? Not back to Fleet Lane.” “Oh, no, no,” exclaimed the princess. ‘‘ For Heaven’s sake never let him see that dreadful man again. Oh, the glimpse that I caught of his countenance was sufficient to make me shudder for the rest of my life, whenever his image starts up in my mind. But does he suspect, does he know who it was that thus swooned in the presence of that tragic spectacle? Did he, in a word, recognize me? ”’ ‘I do not think he did,’’ answered the prince, ‘‘ but that he saw your face is probable, because your veil had blown aside where you fell.’ ‘Tell me all the particulars,” said the princess. ‘‘ Give me those details of which I am as yet ignorant, — how you got the boy away, whether any passers-by saw you — ” “I will satisfy you in a few words,”’ said the prince. “Coffin had not joined me more than a couple of minutes at the extremity of the bridge, and scarcely had I paid him the amount agreed upon for the night’s service, when a female rushed past. She had on a cloak and thick veil, and seemed poorly clad, but the frantic pace at which she was speeding along instantaneously attracted the notice of myself and Coffin. At the instant she passed us her Gomichboo SS (E(0)