The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 139: what you’re looking at

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

a wr > ee a — JilE MYSTERIES C¥ THE COURT. 125 —_—_-—— --—- —— prehending that a forgery had been committed by | ing Venetia—is my oficnce of a gravity beyond all the Marquis of Leveson for the purpose of pre- venting the Prince's carriage from being at the place of appointment, she said in her usual tranquil manner, “I sent you no communication of any kind, sir.” «Ah! then I perceive that there is something wrong,” cried the Prince. ‘ You refuse me your hand—you are offended with me——” «‘T have been badly treated, sir,—ungenerously, unhandsomely, discourteously treated,” observed Miss Trelawney, who had thrown back her veil but remained standing: and as she spoke, her splendid features were animated with a displeasure amount- ing almost to indignation. “Venetia, if I have done anything to offend you,” said the Regent, earnestly, “I implore your forgiveness: and when J use the word ‘implore,’ it can only be addressed to some one whose displea- sure I would not for worlds incur. Ido not know, Venetia, that this word was ever uttered by me to any woman until now.” “We will enter upon explanations, sir, if you please,” replied the fair one, somewhat mollified by the tone, manner, and Janguage of her royal suitor, “ You will do me the honour to be seated,” said the Prince, pointing to the sofa. “Your Royal Highness spoke of some letter which you had received,’ said Miss Trelawney, as she sate down, while the Prince placed himself near her. “Here it is,” he observed as he took a note from his waistcoat pocket and handed it to her. She hastily ran her eye over its contents, which were penned in a beautiful female hand and were as follow :— * Friday Evening, 8 o’clock. “Miss Trelawney presents her dutiful and affectionate compliments to his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, and bees to inform His Royal Highness that a severe indisposi- tion, Which has suddenly attacked her, will prevent her from keeping her appointment with bis Royal Highness this evening. ** Miss Trelawney however entertains the hope that in the course of a few days she shall be enabled to assure his Royal Highness of her restoration to health.” “That note is a forgery, sir,’ said Venctia, her countenance still glowing with the indignation that crimsoned it the moment she began the perusal of the mendacious missive. “This is not my hand- writing, sir—and my presence here is a proof that I am not suffering from any indisposition what- soever.” ‘Then, by heavens ! it is a foul trick!” exclaimed His Royal Highness: “and I can guess,” he added, in the heat of passion, “ who is the concocter of the treachery. But what has happened ?—where have you been?” he demanded, hastily—his suspicions having instantaneously fallen upon the Marquis of Leveson. “First let me ask,” said Venetia, coldly and reservedly, “to whom your royal Highness commu- nicated all that passed between us yesterday ?” “ Ah! now I must indeed implore your pardon— and upon my knees too!” he exclaimed, falling at Venetia’s feet—for he saw that she knewal]. “I coufess that I was fool— dolt — idiot — imbecile enough to make a confidant ef aman whom I be- lieved to bea friend! But tell me, Venetia—charm- Ren as-spun caput geste mm gap natn forgiveness ?” “ Rise, sir—rise!” said Miss Trelawney. ‘This humiliation is more than I require—more than I expected ? “Then you pardon me?” exclaimed the Prince, eagerly. “‘T pardon you, sir,” responded the Jady. “Oh! ? thanks—ten thousand thanks!” cried the Regent, seizing her hand in rapture and conveying it to his lips: then, rising from his suppliant posture and resuming his seat by her side, he said in a low deep tone, “You are more generous than I have been, Venetia: but your conduct in thus pardoning me will render me all the more anxious to ensure your happiness,” “ Henceforth, sir,” remarked Venetia, with soft- ening tone and manner, “I hope that anything which may pass between us, will receive the inviola- bility which an honourable man is wont to observe under such circumstances 2?” “On my soul, Venetia, you shall never—never have to reproach me with breach of confidence for the future !” exclaimed his Royal Highness: then throwing his arms around her, he imprinted a fervid, burning kiss upon her lips. She gently disengaged herself from his embrace: and he besought her to remove her bonnet and cloak. With this request she at once complied: and then he beheld her in all the splendour of that beauty which was set off to so much advantage by the dark velvet dress she wore, and which bad produced so powerful an effect upon the Marquis of Leveson. “Venetia, you are charming—you are charming!” exclaimed the Prince, as his eyes dwelt gloatingly upon the bare shoulders and the exposed bosom of the superb creature: then once more flinging his arms around her, he drew her towards him — strained her to his breast—and covered her face with warm and impassioned kisses. “We have not yet finished our explanations,” she said, struggling to disengage herself a second time from his embrace. “ No—I will not release you,” he exclaimed, hold- ing her with all the force of a frenzied passion that trembled in itself: “I will not release you until your lips have given me back one of those kisses which I have left upon them!” “There, sir—there !” cried Venetia, bestowing a hurried caress upon her royal lover. “And now release me,” she added, with another and successful struggle. “What explanations have we left unsaid, my angel?” asked the Prince, the blood flowing like molten lead in his veins and his whole being con- suming as it were with the fires of an indomitable passion: for the contact of that splendid form and the influence of that kiss were more than enough to madden him with desire. “Have you no interest—no curiosity in ascer- taining what has betallen me this evening?” inquired Venetia, as she smoothed her disordered hair. “Think you that the note which I have just read was penned without a purpose ?” *T had forrotten everything save the pleasure ——s re oii . os NS a es iin — ee experienced in your divine presence, my angel,” exclaimed the Prince. “My head swims with rap- turous thoughts—my senses are bewildered with an excess of elysian bliss—my ideas are thrown a eee ae — 2 ee ee COMMICLOOOKS (EO)