The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 173: what you’re looking at

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

150 REYNOLDS’ WORKS ‘or if accident should enable us to arrest any one on sus- picion of having perpetrated this deed, it will be necessary for your ladyship to reveal at a coroner’s inquest, in case of the death, or before a magistrate, in case of the arrest of a suspected person, all those circumstances to which your lady- ship has just alluded.”’ ‘‘ Living in this country under the protection of its laws,”’ responded Indora, ‘‘ I shall assuredly conform to them.” ‘‘ At the same time,” continued the inspector, “ after all your ladyship has said, we will keep the whole matter as quiet as possible; because, so far from doing anything to defeat justice, we, as its functionaries, are bound to succour and advance its proceedings. Does your ladyship — ”’ “It were well if you questioned me no further,” inter- rupted the queen. ‘‘I have told you as much as under circumstances I can possibly impart.”’ ‘‘ Yet there is the fact,’’ said the inspector, “ that your servant was clad in apparel belonging to your ladyship,”’ — for Mr. Clarkson had told the police authorities this much, though the affair of the ayah’s self-appropriation of the gold and jewels remained unknown alike to surgeon and con- stables. ‘“ Most solemnly do I assure you,” said the queen, ‘ that I am utterly at a loss to comprehend my ayah’s motive in thus apparelling herself in my clothes. But whatever it were, whether a mere freak, or whether for some less venial purpose, she has been sufficiently punished.”’ ‘“ And lyour ladyship does not mean to charge her with anything? ”’ asked the officer. ‘“‘Charge her?’ ejaculated Indora, almost indignantly, ‘no, certainly not.” “Her ladyship would rather that this interview should end,’’ whispered Christian, hastily, to the inspector, and at the same time he slipped a couple of sovereigns into the officer’s hand. “Very good, sir, very good,” observed the inspector, pocketing the amount. ‘“ We would not for the world give her ladyship any unnecessary trouble or annoyance, not for the world, sir. We shall let the matter rest until we receive any fresh instructions from her ladyship.”’ The inspector and the constable then took their departure, and the moment they were gone the queen said to Christian, CORNICLIOOKS (E(0)