The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 221: what you’re looking at

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

On the previous day I chanced to call upon Lady Wenlock at Kew; and in the course of conversa- tion her ladyship mentioned that the most cele- brated beauty of the day, Miss Venetia Trelawney (as her name then was, previously to her marriage), was to be at the horticultural féte announced by her Jadyship for the ensuing evening. Having al- | ready received an invitation, I resolved to be there. | On the Wednesday morning I met Mr. Sackville | by accident, and told him I should be at the féte, | in order to avail myself thereof to procure an in- troduction to Miss Trelawney. Mr. Sackville | must remember the circumstance.” | “Perfectly,” said Horace, in a cold but un- trembling voice. “J did repair to that festival,” continued the Colonel: “and I obtained the wished-for intro- | duction to Miss Trelawney, as she then was. I need not enter into particulars: suffice it to say |; that we walked together in a secluded avenue, , allowing the ladies who accompanied her—Mrs. ; and Miss Arbuthnot, I believe—to proceed a con- siderable distance a-head. My suit, which I | pleaded passionately, was successful: and Miss Trelawney gave me an appointment for the en- suing Friday evening, at a place which I named.” “Friday evening!” ejaculated the Marquis of Leveson, exchanging a rapid but meaning glance with the Prince of Wales. “Yes—the Friday evening,” returned Malpas: “and consequently before Mr. Sackville’s marriage _ with the lady, which marriage took place on the ensuing Wednesday. One more word will suffice: | Miss Trelawney met me on the Friday evening al- _luded to at the house of Mrs. Gale in Soho . Square——” “At what o'clock?” inquired the Marquis of : Leveson. “ At nine o’clock,” responded Malpas. | “ And how long did she remain with you at Mrs. , Gale's?” asked Lord Leveson, with another rapid, , but now astonished look at the Prince Regent. “Let us have all the circumstances stated in detail and accarately recorded,” he observed, making notes in his pocket-book. “Miss Trelawney remained with me at Mrs. Gale’s from nine until past eleven on that Friday .” returned Colonel Malpas. “But the proof of this?” said the Marquis, in- quiringly. “ Here is Mrs. Gale’s own certificate of the fact,” answered the Colonel, tossing a folded paper | dass towards the Marquis. “I have no more to say :” —and he resumed his seat. The Marquis of Leveson opened the paper; and the astonishment he already felt, was enhanced when he recognised Mrs. Gale’s handwriting, which was perfectly familiar to him. He had ex- pected to find the document a forgery: bat there was no doubt it was genuine, although the circum- stances detailed in it might not be true for all that. “Yes—this is Mrs. Gale’s handwriting,” he said: “I know and can attest it.” He then read the paper, which set forth that Colonel Malpas and Miss Venetia Trelawney (jow Mrs. Sackville) had passed two hoars to- gether at her establishment, between nine and eleven o'clock, on the night of Friday, September 20th, 1814. Malpes now felt assured that his triumph was THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. complete: for Horace Sackville still remained silent and motionless, with the fever spots burning upon his cheeks and his lips quivering. The Marquis and the Prince once more ex- changed locks of ineffable astonishment, as tf uncertain what course to pursue, and yet having it in their power to make some ing revela- tions: while the Earl of Curzon whispered hurriedly to Sir Douglas Huntingdon, “ You see how that rascal Tash deceived us both !” But all on a sudden, the door was thrown open with such violence that the screen was nearly upset ;—and Venetia herself, followed by Captain Tash, entered the room. Robin was not however with them: he had been hastily despatched on some errand, the nature of which will speedily transpire. Nothing could exceed the grandeur of Venetia’s beauty at this moment. Her splendid form was drawn up to the full of its noble height—and, as her tuesque as that of a soulp- carriage now seemed sta tured Juno, by her shoulders being thrown back and her head being held erect, her superb bust displayed its ample development to the fullest advantage. Up- heaved in its luxuriant proportions, it seemed ready \o burst through the drapery that outlined its swell- ing contours: while the glowing cheeks, fiaahing eyes, dilating nostrils, and lips apart, threw the speil of an almost Olympian majesty upon her transcend- ing charms Every one present, save Sackville, started from his seat as the beauteous lady and her formidable- looking companion made their appearance: while Ho- race himself rose geatly and leisurely, his features now illumined with the radiance of approaching triumph. As for Colonel Malpas, guilt and cowardice were as legibly depicted upon his ashy cheeks and in his affrighted looks, as ever the words themselves were printed on the page of a volume. “Your Royal Highnese—my lords—gentlemen,” said Venetia, in a tone which, though firm, was filled with all the flute-like harmony of ber ; voice, —“ you have listened to the tale of accusation: now do me the justice to hear the defence.” “ Most assuredly!” exclaimed the Prince Regent. “My lord,” he added, turning tewards Leveson, “ whatever disappointment you may have experienced relative to this lady, justice must be deneher. You are the chairman of the mecting—and I know you will do your daty.” majesty of Venetia’s appearance, that he forgot all the resentment excited by the scene which had ocourred at his own house—he no longer remembered the incidents of the treacherous chair— bat he felt suddenly inclined to do anything or every- thing on behalf of that woman of superha charms. “Let us all be seated,” he exclaimed. “Horace, hand your wife a chair—~and Captain Tash——" | Bat the gallant officer had already dropped into a seat and was stretching forth his hand to grasp the nearest decanter, before the uis had time te utter another syllable. The Captain likewise drew towards him three or four dishes of cakes and fruits: and as he began to eat and drink with as much cool- ness and absence of restraint as if the house were his own, he said, “ Go on, my lord: I ean always hear best when profitably employed.” SSE — a = ERE GOnMGOOOKS CO