The Mysteries of the Court of London Vol. 4 — page 147: what you’re looking at

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

3 TIE MYSLERIES OF THE COURT. Lens ED TD ime { EE er ES? ar EE a SRR aE a Thus peaking, she advanced towards a elde-jnot think we need stand here baudying word table which stood in a recess of the chimney-piece ; ‘Tis quite apparent now that I canoot chullenge aud while pretending to be in search fur a book, | you to meet me’ at a dozen paces: Dor can you she pulled the beli-wire unperceived by Lord | challenge mie. Neither can I very well bring an Curson. action against you—nor you against me.'s “Mo—E gannot find the volume,” she said; and “it would inde be the most ridiculous puait returning to the sofa, she placed herself in the | of law-suits,” observed Horace, “that ever were same voluptuous contact with him as before. | brought befure the cognizance of a tribunal. But “Now, do you not think you are actiug tovlishly ? | how is the oomplicated affair tu end?” Teil me the truth :’—and she began to lavish upon; “ Perhaps this fair divmity, the ge@ldess of in- him a perfect torrent of caresses which seemed of | trizue as well as of beauty,” said Curzon, with a the tenderest as they were certainly of the most | bow of mock solemnity towards Venetia, “ will ezciting nature. condescedU to issue her instructions: for it is She fastened her lips to his—she threw her arms | quite clear that her ladyship’s dramatic ima- around his peck—aud during the intervals of the | gination has contrived this spendid equivoque. warm and fervid kivaes which they thus exchanged, | Heavens! if it should be lost ¢e the theatrical she breathed the tenderest expressions in his ears, world, what a misfortune would it be!” added the Intoxicated with a sense of bliss, the Earl of | Earl, in a tone of bitter irony. Curzon forgot all about Editha—all about his con-| Venetia, who had been listening with calm in- templated law suit: he thought ouly of this woman | difference to the observations thus made by the of glorious Leauty and of enchanting fasciuations | Earl vf Curzon, pow deemed it time tv develop her Views, “ You both stand im a atrange position towards each other, it is true,” she said; “and you neither appear . upderstand how there can possibly be | | | who was now placed tn ‘such close contact with him;—and yielding to the influence—the almost maddening influence—vf his desires, he was on the point of snatching the last crowuing bliss, when the door of the boudoir was suddenly burst | an issue from the dilemm:, Now, as all the world open, and Lord, Sackville appeared upoo the , is already acquainted with the discovery of your threshold ! intrigue, Horace, with Lady Curzon, it becomes The Earl of Curzon gave vent to an ejaculation absulutely necessary that you should fight a duel of dismay while sturtiug from Veuctia’s arms as if | with Locd Curzon. The code of honuur, as he has she ‘had suddgply changed into a serpeut: ther, | assured we, reQuires this pleasant little proceed- an he beheld ihe scarlet glow which flamed up on; ing: or else he would be deemed aud proclaimed the countenance of her busband, fie naturally | a coward by all his friends asgwell as his enemies, thought that it was a fiery indignation which was | A duel, then, there must be. But on the other thus expreseed. But though pernaps for the firrt | hind, how can Lord Carzou possibly seek your instaus there might have Leen such a fecling iu life, Horace, for having dishonoured him, when he Sackville’s huart, yot it was rather with amazement | in the same mauner has dishououred you? And that he was thos ivspired—amagement miugled | it will not do to tell the world that thema is tit for with @ feehnug of shame tuo, at the spectacle wnat | tav in this affiir. In the first plice it would not now met his eyes. But almost ins:antaneously | suis the Gail even tu dave the fact made known at recovering his presence of mind, and of course | all, because he wishes to obtain a divurve from penetrating the sratiem which Venetia had | his wile, whieh he evuld not procure if his own thus adupted, he clused the door—locked it—and | conduct were mado pablie; he would be held un- advanced a few paces farther into the bvuduir, —| deserving of the remedy. Then, in the second Curzon knew not what to say or what to do. ! place, there is uv ned to make public the seene Hle was overnhelwed with confusion, until Venetia | which has vow vecurred ; ‘because you, Horare, do suddenly bursting out laughing recalled him to a | vt wish to expuse your wife ~ yeu do nut seek a full scuse of his position, Yes—and all in @ mo- divorce from ner—you base uo vindictive feelings ment the truth flashed tu his mind. It was @ |b gratify. As for toe barlof Cu gun, decf comat, Ble ubiyreia Of the part of Lady Sackv.lle t» place as & wan wud a8 #@ pent. eu, will minhtaia & pro} r RE Be ge | him aud her husband precisely on the same fouting | fuund silence also relative to the scere that has towards each other! But, teaveus! whatan utters ‘just accurred. Now wuercfore you begin te com- profligate did Vevetin now seem i his eyes!— | prehend how stands the matter between yous and what a shameloxe meretniciou. woman had she! yet it is mest cantradictory~ tost anoma-ous—— thus rendercd hersef! Such were the thoughts | inost paradexieal’ For the world, knowing only that, flashed through the mud of the Eari of | of yout intrigue, Horace ewith Lady Curzon, will Curzun all in a momett. according to the code uf honour look for a duel “1 congratulate your lordship,” he said, a wither- | between yourself und Lord Curzon, whereas you, ang irovy iu his accents, “upou the possessivn of | Lord Curzon,” she gontioned, *‘on the other hand, auch an aumuable and excellent wife, who thus | cannot possibly stand up to take my husband's ieadily sacrifices herself in order te cave you from | life undet the cireametances which have now a duei to Which L now of course cannot challenge | transpiredy but whieh are nof tobe made known you.” to the world. ' Suclt is the contradistory position. * At all eventa, my Jord,” retorted Horace, his | But know yé what-f6 to be done!” countenance aguin becoming scactet, “siavé Lkeow | Veuetia atopped short as she asked this gues- myselt tu be profligate and debauched, J um not! tion, Both her tasband and the Earl of Curzon | buse enough to go laying snares to entrap ny | pazed upon her MP uufeaed surprise mingied | wite-—-nor unjust enough to repruach ker wheu 1! with curiosity, The latter even furgot bis rage | Hind that she gues astray.” jg@iu hate.ut the stratajan of weich he had beea | Well.” said Curson, contemptuously, “I dof’made the dapesto completely was hia interest ! . - | e SR Ele MAP ay wap age eRe U-eieny - ¢ deme ee: a) ek Ee ae peep eI GLE OY PE fos ere ree viep-emnegeieta aieirie nate ECOMNIE OG O) cS) CO