The Mysteries of the Court of London Vol. 4 — page 145: what you’re looking at

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

—_/pepeeemees a PE Py {32 “You have returned, then, from executing the. commisgion with Colonel Malpas ?” “Yes, your ladyship,” was the abigail’s reply. “JT saw the Colonel—gave him the money—gnd delivered your message. He says that he shall set off at once; and as the north-western part of the Continent is now suv unsettled in consequence of French affairs, he shall not attempt tuo pass along the Khime, but shall take ship for the Mediterrancau and by those meaus reach Ge- neva.” “Good !” said Venetia, in a tone of approval. © And vow, my dear girl, you mustat once proceed to Grosvenor Street and see the Karl of Curzon. If he be not at home wait for his return: and when you see him, tell him that if he values my good opinion and irieudship he will at once pay me uw visit.” “Bat has not your ladyship heard,” said Jessica, stammering and hesitating, ‘of a ceytain circum- stauce? The whole towngs ringing with it already. I heard the waiters talking of it at the door of the hotel where Colonel Malpas is staying. I also heard of it again at a shop where I stopped to buy something I required——But now your ladyship is prepared to hear it——” “] know evemwthing already,” said Venetia; “go don’t tarry to converse with me; but start off at once aud deliver my message to Lord Curazan. Tell, him that 1 have heard of what has taken place and that therefore [I am well aware he canunut ypenly visit Lord Sackville’s suite of apartments at Carlton House: tell him therefore that he is to ac- colupavy you hither, and you will introduce him by the private dour—as it is absolutely neces- sury i should see him without delay.” Jessica accordingly sped upon this errand; aud on arriving in Grosvenor Street, she found’ that Lord Carzon was at home, but engayed with his solicitor ou urgent business. On hearing, however, that it was Jessica who wished to gay a few words to hii, he immediately grauted, her an audience in avother room ;-and on receiving the message which she delivered, he appeared to be uucertaiu bow to act. The abigail urged upon him the necessity of complying with her mistress’s de- sire; and he gave his cousent—for he not only was loth to quarrel with Venetia, but he was also anxious to hear what she might have to say, a préscutiment informiog him that it was relative to the transactious of the preceding night; though how Venetia parposed tu interfere in them, he was at a loss to understand. However, to be brief, | he dismissed his solicitor for a couple of hours; | and bidding Jessica haaten homeward,« he soon afterwards sallied forth and rejoined her in the ueighbourhood of Carlton House. The cuoning abigail speedily introduced him into the palace, and led him unubserved to Venetia’s boudoir, where he was welcomed in the most charming aud flattering masner by the divinity of the place. Having bad: him sit down apon the sofa, Venena told Jessica to withdraw; but sa the faithful abigail was retiring, she whispered in her ear the following rapidly uttered instruction :— “Listen attentively for the boudoir-bell; and when you hear it rim, go and tell Lord Saukville hat Twieh to speak to hint immediately.” PEEPEREEY a Gir ses ne ee wee, _ 2D | Earl of Curzon. THE MYSTERIES OF THE COULI. CHAPTER CALVII. THE WIFE'S STRATAGEM. Ws must now obServe that during the interval of Jeasica’s absence “to fetch the Earl of Curzon, Venetia had thrown off her gown and put on a loose morning wrapper,—thus leaving herself in an elegant undress. She likewise allowed her hair to flow in all its anburn richness and silken luxu- riance over the, shoulders which were now left bare in their dazzling whiteness; while a few stray tresses were suffered to fall around her throat and over her bosom, where they lay like dark gold upon polished ivory. Into her looks she had thrown all that sensuous wanton languor which rendered her so dangerously enchanting and so overpuweringly captivating in the presence of a man endowed with strong passions, Nor was the effect of ail this preparation on her part, and of the luxurious exposure of her rich and resplendent cherms, lost upon the Earl of Curzon, notwithstanding his mind had been so much occupied with other things. Moreover, although he had once revelled in those beauties on which his eyes now settled eagerly and intently, yet it was but once—and that was far, very fur from being sufficient to sate the strong passion with which Venetia had inspired him from the very first moment of their acquaintance. The reader is of course aware that after a certain communication which Venegtis had received from Colone) Malpas, she could not in her heart entertain anything like a favourable sentiment towards the When with the Colonel on the Continent he had evidently talked of his amour with herself: perhaps, for anything tixt Venetia knew to the contrary, he had even boasted elsewhere and to others of the conquest he had obtained over her. At all events, he had betrayed the delicate circumstance to Malpas; aod this was a crime which Lady Sadkville was not likely to forgive. If then we find Venetia now affecting the amiable towards Curzon—smiling upon him—placing herself upon the sofa by his side, and at once bending upon him a look and assuming an attityde which seemed to declare that she was not unmindful of their past intimacy—if we behold her doing all this, it was because she had a special purpose in view, and a pafdcular object to accomplish, to the carrying out of which she made all her fealings of dislike towards the Earl entirely subordinate. ; “T thought, Charles,” she said, “that the very firat person you would have seen on returning to Lendon, was myself :’—and‘as she thus spoke ghe threw into her looks an expression of tender ree proach. ; “ My dearest Venetia,” he said, “I should have communicated with you this afternoon. Most as- suredly I shodld not have ventured to call upon you after the trafisactiona which occurred last night, and in which J am so painfully and seriously involved with your husband,” Come—tell me all about it,” said Venetia, thfow- ing one of her euowy arms round hia neck, and leaning towards him in such a way that her bosom reposed upon his breast and she could thus gase up into his gountenance: “tell me, I aay, all the par- ticulars of this adventure~for you and 1, Charles at all pvents are not guing to quarre],” CONNIE OOO ge: gee A eo ae es ES a - eS (ae Geer | cS) CO