The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 178: what you’re looking at

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

FRESH ADVENTURES 161 opening the matter to her mistress. But if the world only knew what I have discovered to-night, — that the beautiful Angela Vivaldi, whose virtue has been paraded off as 1m- maculate as her loveliness is transcending, is nothing more or less than the kept mistress of one of the great dons of the opera, what casting up of eyes, and holding up of hands, and lifting up of voices there would be! Well, after all, 1t will be a conquest of its kind, because I know she has refused so many offers and has treated so many letters with con- temptuous silence. And yet, if she should all of a sudden receive me into favour, it will be rather astonishing. But the soubrette spoke confidently enough. Ah, I know what it must be! This signora has her pride, and has refused two or three marquises, four or five earls, and a whole score of barons, Just because they were not of ancient family; and I presume that cunning soubrette, knowing that I am de- scended from ancestors who lived in the time of the Tudors, is very well aware beforehand that her mistress will not say nay to me.” In these and similar musings did half an hour pass, while the conceited young nobleman was kicking his heels to and fro in the road. At length he became uneasy. Was it possible that the lady’s-maid had been laughing in her sleeve at him the whole time? He began to fear so. But if it were the case, would it not add the crowning ignominy to all the previous humiliations of this memorable night? Saxondale was rapidly falling into despondency. But ah! the front door of the villa opens, a female form trips forth and speeds down to the gate! With hope suddenly reviving, — not merely reviving, but soaring up into exultation, — Lord Saxondale hurries thither, and the first glance he obtains of the lady’s-maid’s countenance is the harbinger of happi- ness. “Well, what news have you for me?” he impatiently asked. “ Let this be the reply,” responded the soubrette, and she opened the gate. Kdmund hastened in, the young woman shut the gate, and hurriedly conducted him into the hall. There, as she closed the front door, she threw upon him a look full of arch meaning, and whispered, “ Did I not tell you that I should succeed? Did I not promise a triumph? ” CONNIE DOOKS (S(O)