The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 268: what you’re looking at

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

THE DECISION 237 when speaking, with the highest title properly belonging thereto, but with an inferior one, for in order to avoid un- pleasant observation and gossiping curiosity, Indora passed not as a princess in England, but merely as a wealthy lady of Hindustan. Two female dependents (Sagoonah and another) together with a native male servant, had accom- panied her from Inderabad. The Englishman, whose Christian name was Mark, had been hired by her at Calcutta to serve as her intendant, steward, and butler, — the comp- troller, in short, of her little household. He therefore knew who she was, but Sagoonah alone of those who had accom- panied her from India was acquainted with the real object of her Highness’s visit to England. It was Mark who on the arrival in London had procured the villa for the princess’s accommodation, and in all respects he had proved himself efficient and trustworthy. While we are speaking of the household, we may as well add that besides the domestics already mentioned, there was a groom and coachman, for the princess had at once bought a carriage and a pair of horses on settling at the villa. The coachman did not sleep in the house; the groom occupied an apartment over the stables, and these two last-named dependents were in total ignorance of the high rank of their mistress. We may now continue the thread of our narrative, taking it up at the point where Mark had entered the drawing-room in pursuance of the summons sent by the princess through Sagoonah. “Ts it possible, Mark,’’ inquired Indora, “ to obtain any English newspapers that go back for several years? ”’ ‘‘ All English newspapers, please your ladyship,” was the domestic’s response, “‘ are filed at certain places in London, and it is even possible sometimes to purchase a complete set of any particular newspaper.’ ‘In that case,’ resumed Indora, with satisfaction upon her countenance, ‘‘ I must get you, the very first thing to- morrow, to procure me a file for the last twenty years. Do you think you can accomplish it? Spare not gold —”’ ‘“‘ Everything, please your ladyship, can be procured in this country by means of money. By noon to-morrow I pledge myself that your ladyship shall be in possession of a file of newspapers.” The domestic then bowed and withdrew. 1.0)(0\(6) (@) ¢om <S (E(O)