The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 127: what you’re looking at

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

VALENTINE AND VENETIA 109 amazement. For some weeks or months previously I had heard of Miss Trelawney, —every one had heard of Miss ‘Trelawney, — and I was astonished on being told in that church and on that occasion that you were Miss Trelawney. ‘Then said I to myself, ‘ lam mistaken; ’ and yet I could not altogether convince myself that I was so. I do not wish to flatter you, very far from that, but I was at a loss to believe at the time that there could be another young lady in the world resembling the Miss Venetia Trelawney whom I saw walk up the aisle of St. George’s Church and proceed to the altar on that occasion.” | ‘“‘ Well, and you were never led to make inquiries? ’’ asked Lady Sackville. ‘No, never,’ responded Malvern. “I have already told you that I have no impertinent curiosity; and _ besides, though temporarily interested in you, and the apparent mystery attending you at that time, I was too much en- grossed with my poor father’s disappearance to give the circumstance a prominent place in my memory. But the other night, when you interrupted my interview with the prince, from the very signs you made me did I perceive that the suspicion which I had entertained at St. George’s Church ‘was, after all, the correct one, and that the young lady passing by the name of Venetia Trelawney was really the same whom I had once before met under such very different circumstances.” ‘* And now you seek explanations? ”’ said Venetia, quickly. ‘““No, very far from it,’ responded Malvern. ‘I have already assured you that I have no impertinent curiosity. Besides which, under ordinary circumstances your affairs ‘would not regard me, and I trust that I know the position and the duties of a gentleman too well to pry into the secrets of any lady.”’ ‘Under ordinary circumstances, you say?” ejaculated Venetia. “ Are there, then, some extraordinary circum- ‘stances,’’ she inquired, “‘ relative to you and me? ”’ “Do you not think,” asked Malvern, “ that I am talking to you in a somewhat familiar strain, despite a certain embarrassment and awkwardness which I just now felt, but which is rapidly wearing off the nearer I approach the final revelation? But I ask, do you not think that I am conversing in a sort of familiar, free, and offhand manner, (C(O) nn) | OOO <Si