The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 99: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER X THE ROYAL INTRUDER THE couch in the chamber was so situated, with the drapery drawn around it, that as the prince entered he could not immediately perceive the lady who occupied it. Wax candles were burning upon the table, and gently drawing back the curtain, his Royal Highness cast a hurried and anxious look upon Mrs. Malpas. We say anxious, because he was fearful at the moment that on recognizing him she might scream forth. But the lady had her eyes fast closed, and indeed was pretending to be asleep. By the advice of Venetia she had placed herself in a manner which, with all the appearance of an unstudied abandonment, had the effect of displaying her charms to the most voluptuous advantage. Asa matter of course she fancied that it was her husband who had Just entered, and as Malpas was to be introduced there under the impression that it was the lovely Venetia whom he would find in readiness to receive him, it was as a matter of calculation that Mrs. Malpas had disposed herself in the most provoking attitude, so as to enthral those desires which the idea of possessing Venetia would no doubt excite in the colonel’s breast. She feigned to be asleep, too, in order that her husband (as she supposed him to be) might have leisure to collect his thoughts and see the necessity of putting the best possible face on the disappointment thus in store for him, and likewise that he might have an oppor- tunity of contemplating those charms which his wite, with a very pardonable vanity, flattered herself could not be altogether without an effect upon him after so long a separation. But the prince, not knowing anything of all these matters, 82 ECORMIELIOO KS (E(0)