Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 178: what you’re looking at

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

AN AMAZON 161 “Have you ever seen my bathroom?” inquired the prince. “Only as I catch a glimpse of it now through the half- open door,”’ responded the Amazon. ‘“‘ Your Royal Highness must recollect that this is the first time I have had the honour of being admitted to your private apartments.” ‘“‘ And it need not be the last,’’ observed George, bending upon her a significant look; for although he had known the lady for two or three years, she had never struck him as being so handsome as she appeared on the present occasion. ‘“ Excellent! ’’ cried the huntress, laughing. ‘ The prince is paying me compliments! ”’ ‘Compliments? No, I am telling you truths,” said George. “Do you persist in forgetting that I am a gentleman for the nonce? ” and again she laughed. ‘There, now!” cried Meagles, who had been pretending to be very busy in examining the lock of one of the prince’s rifles for the last two or three minutes, “ I knew that your Royal Highness would not be displeased with me bringing Lady Letitia hither this morning.” ‘“‘Displeased!”’ ejaculated George, “I am _ delighted! But will you inspect my bathroom before I enter it?” he asked, turning again toward the lovely Amazon. ‘‘ Before you enter it? ”’ repeated the lady, as if she had not heard aright. ‘“‘ Why should you stand upon any such ceremony with me? I cannot succeed in persuading you to forget that my attire is unsuited to my sex.” “It becomes you admirably, at all events,” observed the prince, advancing close up to the huntress, who was leaning negligently against the toilet-table. Then, proffering her his hand, he said, “‘ Permit me to show you my bathroom.”’ “Oh, with much pleasure!’’ exclaimed Lady Letitia. “ It will perhaps afford me a hint for the establishment of some humble imitation at my own town residence.”’ Thus speaking, the Amazon accompanied the prince into the adjacent chamber; and when he closed the door behind him, she affected not to perceive the incident. “ Well, upon my word, your Royal Highness possesses a perfect Oriental bathing-room,”’ she observed, throwing herself on one of the voluptuous ottomans and surveying the place in a leisurely and altogether unembarrassed manner. COMMNEOOOKS (E()