The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 89: what you’re looking at

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

12 THE COURT OF LONDON to be introduced at court, how you have succeeded in induc- ing your father to make you independent, and how, for the sake of appearances, you are willing to forgive the past and dwell once more with your husband. He will greedily embrace your offer. The assurance that you possess an income of a thousand a year will bring him to your feet and make him promise to treat you with all possible kindness henceforth. But when you find him thus pliant and ductile, you must tell him that there is one condition which you have to impose as the basis of a future good understanding be- tween you: namely, that inasmuch as you have conceived the utmost friendship for me, and as I have communicated to you your husband’s infamous conduct toward me on the present occasion, you stipulate for a solemn agreement on his part to abstain from all molestation toward me in future.” “Ah! I understand,’’ said Mrs. Malpas, now amazingly relishing the scheme which Lady Sackville had propounded. ‘The idea is excellent, and’ may be carried out to complete success.’ ‘“T felt persuaded you would embark in this friendly enterprise with me,’’ said Lady Sackville. “ I have already provided myself with the sum of five thousand pounds, which I will place in your hands this evening, and which you can show to the colonel not only as a proof of the tale you will tell him, but also as an inducement for him to yield ~ to your views.”’ After some further discussion upon the details of the scheme the two ladies separated until the evening, Mrs. Malpas returning to Butcherhall Lane to devise some excuse for a night’s absence from her parents’ home, while Lady Sack- ville remained in the drawing-room pondering upon all that had just taken place. In about half an hour her husband entered that apartment, and accosting her with mingled suspense and_ hesitation he said, ‘‘ Well, Venetia, have you.been enabled to comply with my request? ”’ ‘““T have,’’ she answered. ‘Then drawing forth her purse, she produced the bank-notes which she had deposited there and handed them to her husband, at the same time observing, with one of her most enchanting smiles, “ I am afraid you are getting rather extravagant, Horace. I hope that Captain Tash does not lead you into gambling or betting — ”’ ECORNICLIOO KS (E(0) im