The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 329: what you’re looking at

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

298 REYNOLDS’ WORKS neglected by me. I will show Mr. and Miss Ashton every attention, — not merely because you desire it, nor because mere ordinary courtesy would have prompted such conduct on my part, but likewise because I am already interested in this young brother and sister.” “TIT was about to give you some little explanation,” re- sumed Sir Frederick. ‘“ There has been for awhile past an Indian lady of rank staying in the British metropolis, but maintaining a strict wncogniia. By the death of her father she has recently attained a still higher rank, and large funds have been remitted to England for her use. These moneys were paid through our correspondent’s house at Calcutta, and it yesterday became necessary that I should see the lady of whom I am speaking, at her residence in the district of Bayswater. There I met Mr. and Miss Ashton, as well as a gentleman of the name of Redcliffe. Having received the lady’s instructions in respect to the large funds which our firm holds on her account, I ventured to hint that if it were agreeable, you, Anastatia, would call and pay your respects. The lady expressed her thanks, and with much courtesy gave me to understand that she was desirous of living in seclusion during her sojourn in this country. But she remarked that she by no means wished to condemn her beloved friend Miss Ashton to a similar monotony of existence, for it appears that Miss Ashton resides altogether with the Indian lady, while Mr. Ashton and Mr. Redcliffe were only the temporary vis- itors of a few hours. To be brief, I succeeded in inducing Mr. and Miss Ashton to accept an invitation to our enter- tainment this evening, and you may therefore expect them.” Sir Frederick Latham, as Indora’s financial agent, had necessarily been made acquainted with her queenly rank, but as the matter was a secret, he — with the characteristic cau- tion of business habits — forebore from revealing the truth even to his own wife. He had striven hard to induce In- dora to visit at his house. He had calculated that if she would only make her appearance for an hour in his brilliant saloons, the presence of a lady of such matchless beauty — even though her sovereign rank should still remain concealed — would give an immense éclat to the entertainment. But Indora had declined, not merely for the reason which she had alleged, but likewise because she deemed it her duty to bestow as much attention as possible upon the wounded ECORNICLOOKS (E(0)