The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 167: what you’re looking at

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

150 THE) COURT. “OF “LONDON ‘Yes, the legal portion of the affair can be thus managed,”’ said the Earl of Curzon. ‘‘ But your ladyship has yet to tell us how this sham duel, as you call it, is to be managed.” ‘“T chanced a few days ago,” said Venetia, ‘‘ to take up a book in which were recorded many curious experiments of legerdemain, sleight-of-hand, and conjuring tricks, and one of the feats described was most ingenious and interesting. It was that of a conjurer suffering a person to fire a loaded pistol at him, a pistol charged with ball.’’ ‘“ But what was the ball made of? ”’ asked Curzon, with an incredulous curl of the lip. “It was a ball of hollow glass filled with quicksilver,” answered Venetia, ‘‘ and when such a bullet is held in the hand it feels of the same weight as a genuine one, the ap- pearance o1 which it also has to the eye.” ‘“ Excellent! ’’ exclaimed both Horace and Curzon, now in the same breath, for they both perceived in an instant how Venetia’s idea of a sham duel could be carried out. “Now, Horace, you can withdraw,” said his wife, “ and I will summon Jessica to conduct the Earl of Curzon as privately as possible out of the palace.” “Tn the course of the day, then,” said Horace, with a cold salutation, ‘“‘ your lordship will send some friend with a challenge, according to the wonted formalities? ” ‘“T shall do so, my lord,’ responded Curzon, likewise with a haughty reserve. Venetia now rang the bell, and her husband at once issued from the boudoir. ‘Now, my dear Curzon,”’ said Venetia, the moment they were once more alone together, ‘“‘ you must not be angry at what I have done, for I was resolved to put an end to this duel, or, rather, to disarm it of its dangerous character. Come, tell me you are not angry, for assuredly I do not wish to quarrel with you,” and as she spoke she lavished upon him such intoxicating caresses that he rapidly experienced a thaw in the ill-humour which he had conceived against her. ‘‘I forgive you for the harsh and biting words you used just now toward me,” she added, ‘‘ and therefore — ” ‘Well, dearest Venetia,” said Curzon, ‘“‘ you must admit that the stratagem of which you made me the dupe was enough to irritate me.”’ ‘“ Hush! no more of all this,” she said, gaily and archly ECORMIELIOO KS (E(0) m