The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 100: what you’re looking at

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

THE ROYAL INTRUDER 83 —neither why Mrs. Malpas was there at all, nor whom she expected, — supposed her to be really sleeping, and with a quick glance swept over the couch did he observe all that was sensuously exciting and voluptuously provocative in the abandonment of her person as she had thus disposed herself. One white and well-rounded arm was curved above her head, her dark brown hair flowed negligently over the pillow, her shoulders and bust were uncovered, and her other arm lay upon the coverlid, the folds and plaits of which developed the symmetry of the lower limbs, thus delineating the fine modelling of their proportions. ‘The flush of excite- ment was upon the lady’s cheeks, and the moist lips, which she held apart the better to feign slumber, revealed two rows of pearly teeth. Such was the delicious spectacle which greeted the prince’s eyes as he slowly drew aside the curtains. But not for many moments did he suffer his looks to linger on the lady whom he believed to be sleeping soundly. His desires were worked up to the highest pitch, the blood seemed to boil in his veins. It was not an intoxication, but a delirium of pleasure that seized upon him, for these were ever the sensations which the royal voluptuary experienced when a new conquest seemed about to crown his triumphs in the wars of love. Burning, therefore, with impatience to profit by the present golden opportunity, and fearful that the lady might awake and scream out in the sudden fright of beholding a man in her room, he at once advanced on tiptoe up to the table and snuffed out the candles. ‘This proceeding was accomplished so suddenly that although Mrs. Malpas opened her eyes at the first click of the snuffers, yet the second candle was extinguished ere she had time to observe that the individual was not her husband. She just caught sight of the form as it stood by the table, but almost at the same moment the room was enveloped in darkness, so that she perceived not the definite outline of that male shape. ‘Percy,’ she now said, in a low and tremulous tone, as she pretended to awaken up, “ we thus meet again. But little, little did you expect to behold me here,” she continued, in accents of mild and gentle reproach. ‘‘ Ah! were you not astonished when your eyes fell upon the occupant of this couch, and instead of the magnificent form of Lady Sackville GOMIIGdoOo! <S) (CO) im