The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 321: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XXIII THE EXPLANATION OF A PLOT Ir was evening, and Madame Angelique was seated in her elegantly furnished room, the table well spread with dessert and wine. It was evident she expected somebody, for she frequently consulted her watch, murmuring to herself, “This note specified nine punctually, and it is considerably ast.” At length the door opened and a domestic announced the Duke of Marchmont. “IT know it is shameful to keep a lady waiting,” said his Grace, with a sort of forced good-humoured jocularity, ‘‘ but I was detained at the club where I dined.” “ Better late than never, my lord,” responded Madame Angelique, “‘ and now if your Grace would honour me by taking a glass of wine, I will explain how I have progressed in a certain matter in which your Grace is interested.” “Ts it that of the Indian lady?” inquired the duke, as he helped himself to some wine. ‘‘ By Heaven, I hope your answer will be in the affirmative, though I care not even if it should be to tell me that the hope points toward that ayah of hers, for the magnificent beauty of the one is equalled by the darker glory of the other’s.”’ “Ah, then you have seen them, my lord?” ejaculated Madame Angelique, with a smile of satisfaction. “You had so piqued my curiosity a few weeks ago, when you renewed the subject one night that I was here —”’ “That your Grace went and laid wait at Bayswater to catch a glimpse of them in their carriage, eh, my lord? ”’ said the milliner, with an arch smile. “ Precisely so,’”’ responded Marchmont, “‘ and I was so interested that I went a second time. On the first occasion 301 GOMIIGIOO SS (E() mM