The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 42: what you’re looking at

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

24 ‘THE COURT OF LONDON he said, ‘ Well, I suppose I must make up my mind to go and ask Venetia.’ And your lordship may depend upon it that I urged everything I possibly could in order to make him follow up this resolution. So when I left him just now, he was going to Lady Sackville’s boudoir to make known his wants and demand her succour.”’ “You have managed most admirably, Captain Tash,’ said the marquis. ‘‘ Does Lord Sackville frequently hint at this mysterious source of wealth which his wife possesses? ”’ ‘‘ On two or three occasions, when more communicative than at other times,”’ answered the captain, “‘ he has ex- pressed his wonder where Venetia can possibly get so much money from; and once, when considerably obfuscated with wine, of which he had drunk great quantities in the despera- tion of a frightful run of ill-luck at the gaming-table, he observed that he knew very well it was not from the prince she received such vast pecuniary subsidies, as his Royal Highness himself was most frightfully hampered in that re- spect.” ** Ah, well, it matters but little what Sackville says or thinks,’’ observed Lord Leveson, in a musing tone. Then rising from his chair as a hint to Captain Tash that the present interview need not be prolonged, he presented the gallant officer with a couple of bank-notes for a hundred pounds each, saying, “‘ You have played your cards ex- cellently, and I am more than satisfied with all you have done. It is most probable that the necessity will soon cease for you to continue the work of plunging Sackville into these difficulties, — but, however, I will let you know in due course.” Thereupon Captain Tash took his departure, and as he issued forth from the Marquis of Leveson’s house to reénter his cabriolet, he strode forward with so grand an air, with such a tremendous swagger, and with his immense bell- shaped hat perched in so singular a fashion over his right ear, that he looked not only as if Albemarle Street itself belonged to him, but as if the whole of the West End were his private property. Immediately after Captain Tash had thus taken his departure, the Marquis of Leveson opened his writing-desk, drew out a private drawer, and proceeded to count the pearls which it contained. When he had finished, a smile conniclaoo (CO nin