The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 43: what you’re looking at

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

MORE PEARLS FROM THE STRING 25 of gloating satisfaction and sensual triumph appeared upon his countenance, and as he locked up the desk again, he said to himself, ‘‘ She will be mine, she will be mine! ”’ About an hour afterward, Lady Sackville’s carriage dashed up to the house, and the marquis went forth to the very threshold in order to receive the brilliant Venetia, for whose visit the intelligence he had received from Captain Tash had so fully prepared him. She endeavoured to look as self-possessed and composed as possible, but the keen eye of the marquis could not fail to observe a deeper shade of seriousness on her countenance than he had ever seen before, and at the same time the glitter of uneasiness in her magnificent eyes. But he appeared not to notice this be- trayal of emotion on her part, and with profound respect escorted her into the parlour where he had so recently re- ceived the gallant officer. ‘““T am come to draw upon you again, my noble banker,” said Venetia, making a great effort to smile with a sort of dignified good-humour, but there was something sickly in it as she drew forth the string whence so many of the pearls had already disappeared. ‘““T am entirely at your ladyship’s service,” replied the Marquis of Leveson, ‘‘ and believe me when I assure you, without flattery, that the happiest moments of my life are those when your ladyship honours me with your presence.” ‘‘ Perhaps your lordship means to convey a little covert satire in that remark,” said Venetia, with a perceptible bitterness in her tone. ‘‘ You look upon each visit which I thus pay you as a step bringing me nearer and nearer to the catastrophe which you so confidently expect will take place? ”’ ‘“T hope that your ladyship will acquit me of aught savouring of such rudeness as satire,’’ rejoined the marquis with a bow, “ for, believe me, Lady Sackville, I am incapable of a discourteous act toward you.”’ ‘And yet your lordship’s antecedents do not altogether justify the remark,” exclaimed Venetia, who was in one of those humours which compelled her, as it were, to vent her spite a little upon the very man on whose purse, if not actual bounty, she had come to make a large claim. ‘‘ However, we will not dispute, my lord,’ she immediately added, recovering her wonted air of dignity mingled with exquisite (C(O) nn) GDoOo <Si