The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 148: what you’re looking at

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

THE CAPTAIN ENJOYING HIMSELF 151 at all, and in all haste did she return with her burden to the boudoir. ‘Thence she conducted the colonel to the private issue from the palace, and as she parted from him, she said, in a low but impressive whisper, ‘‘ Remember, sir, that great though your triumph has been this night, ‘tis not one of which an honourable man may boast.”’ “Her ladyship,’’ responded Malpas, significantly, ‘‘ not satisfied with having sealed my lips with her kisses, has undertaken to fasten them still more hermetically with her gold. Indeed, we have a thorough, complete, and amicable understanding together.’ Thus speaking, he took his departure, and Jessica, giving vent to her disgust with a haughty toss of the head, hastened back to Venetia’s boudoir. There she learned from her ladyship’s lips the history of the misadventure which had made the colonel her companion for the past night, instead of the partner of his own wife’s couch in the spare bed- room. But though Venetia could explain how the colonel came with her, yet neither she nor the abigail could account for the extraordinary conduct which Mrs. Malpas had adopted in refusing him admission. Having risen from her couch and performed her toilet, Venetia was about to sally forth to the Marquis of Leveson, in order to obtain from him a further sum of five thousand suineas, wherewith to purchase secrecy of the extortioner Malpas, when she received the following letter enclosing the bank-notes she had entrusted to Mrs. Malpas: “Nine o’clock, A. M. “Immediately upon issuing from Carlton House, I enter a shop in Pall Mall for the purpose of penning these few lines to your ladyship, not only that I may at once and with- out a moment’s unnecessary delay enclose the large sum which your ladyship placed in my hand for a special purpose, but also to beseech your ladyship not to charge me with ingratitude for the part that I acted last night. Were I to inform your ladyship that when the instant arrived for me to receive my husband I changed my mind, you would not believe me, because your servant Jessica has no doubt informed you that the key disappeared from the place where you concealed it, and therefore the fact of my being enabled to leave the chamber ere now must of course prove ECORNICLOO! ‘Ss (CO) im