The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 172: what you’re looking at

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

154 REYNOLDS’ WORKS peared to enjoy amazingly the confusion into which her sud- den appearance at the casement had thrown Lord Osmond and Miss Vincent. Then Miss Vincent, with many blushes, said to Lord Osmond, ‘ Do pray, my dear Adolphus, tell the countess what it is we were saying.’ You will pardon me, my lord, for being so explicit — Yes, yes, go on, go on,” said the earl, catching eagerly at the hope of finding himself no cuckold after all. “Well, my lord, the rest is soon told,” continued Make- peace. ‘‘ Lord Osmond rushed up to the window, while Miss Vincent stood blushingly aside, and he forthwith whispered the secret in the ears of the countess. Now, my lord, what ‘I mean to infer from all this is, that suppose any one had been near enough at the time to see merely Lord Osmond and her ladyship under those circumstances, and yet too remote to have overheard what previously took place, the impression might have been very detrimental indeed —”’ ‘By Heaven!” shouted the old earl, ‘‘ I am no cuckold after all,” and springing up from his chair, he began dancing and capering about the room, performing the most extraor- dinary antics and throwing his body into the most gro- tesque contortions. ‘“‘ Why, do you know, Makepeace,” he ejaculated, when it at length pleased him to desist from those demonstrations which, however interesting as an ex- pression of feeling, were certainly somewhat uncouth if regarded in the light of attempts to exhibit the twistings and twirlings which the human limbs can achieve, and to display how the human frame can become as circumvolved as a corkscrew, — “‘do you know, Makepeace, that it is the very incident you have been so innocently describing which put such a dreadful idea into my head? And yet I now see it all. It was an optical delusion, — yes, and an auricular delusion also, for would you believe it, Makepeace, that I could have not only sworn I saw the kisses but likewise heard them? ”’ “It shows, my lord, how even the most intelligent can deceive themselves, " said the valet, gravely. *“ It does indeed. But what a fortunate thing I did not give way to my rage. I would not for the world have ex- posed myself so foolishly.” “ It would indeed, my lord, have been & Pd sad business, : rejoined Makepeace. ne ge oa — — A ee Be) ge eT tas CopmmicloookSs.E@