The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 114: what you’re looking at

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

THE FEMALE GARB 97 beholding Lady Sackville emerge, not from the room op- posite, but from one higher up the passage? The colonel heard her pronounce a female name, followed by an imperi- ous, ‘‘Come hither!’’ and he instantaneously perceived that it was he himself who was thus taken by Venetia for some servant-maid. A sudden change came over the colonel, for he felt all in a moment that the opportunity was now serving him. A glance rapidly flung behind showed that the captain had closed the door of the little chamber on ignominiously kick- ing him out of it, for the gallant officer intended to remain concealed in that room at least until he thought the colonel had had time enough to get clear out of the palace, so that the authorship of this ludicrous sport might not be suspected. For Captain Rolando Tash had a certain opinion of his own dignity, and did not choose to compromise it by being dis- covered in the act of engendering such a practical joke as this. Thus was it that all in a tne the wheel of fortune made a complete revolution, and circumstances transpired in favour of the colonel. Captain Tash had shut the door, Jessica was still prosecuting her search in other parts of the palace, and Venetia was in a room close at hand. Thither therefore did the colonel speed without another instant’s hesitation, all his recent fears being absorbed in the hope of coming triumph. The moment he appeared on the thresh- old of the boudoir, Venetia, who had returned to her seat on the sofa, started up and gave vent to an ejaculation of mingled astonishment and alarm, for at the very first mo- ment that tall figure appeared in the doorway, she saw that it was not the housemaid, but a man in female apparel, and the next moment she erat the colonel. But even while that ejaculation was still thrilling from her lps, Malpas closed the door, loeked it, and drew forth the key. Then, tearing off the cap and gown, he secured the key in his breeches pocket, exclaiming, in a tone of mingled malice and triumph, ‘‘ Now, Venetia, you are in my power.” ‘ Where have you been, and what means this masquerad- ing frippery? ’’ demanded Lady Sackville, still maintaining a bold front, although she felt that she was now entirely in the colonel’s power. ECORNICLOOL eS) (©) mM