The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 78: what you’re looking at

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

THE NOBLE INTIMATES 61 The invitation was accepted, the bell was rung, the soda- water and brandy brought up and disposed of, and now the hectic flush produced by fresh stimulation appeared upon Saxondale’s cheeks. “The papers speak splendidly of the signora’s success on Saturday night,” said Lord Harold. ‘ What a magnifi- cent creature she is! ”’ “T would give the world to know her,’’ returned Lord Saxondale. ‘“‘ And, to tell you the truth, I should have lain in bed all day to nurse myself, if it hadn’t been that I wanted to speak to you upon this subject.” “Well, go on,” said Harold. “ Tell me what you want.” “Oh, deuce take it,’’ said Saxondale, pettishly, “ you know very well what I want, — to get introduced somehow or another to Signora Vivaldi; and as you can always manage this sort of thing, I want you to do it in the present instance.”’ “And what would Florina say,” asked Harold, ‘‘if she knew that her brother was helping her intended husband to an acquaintance with a beautiful dancer? ” “In the first place, Florina need know nothing at all about it,” replied Edmund, “‘ and, in the second place, it’s no reason because I am engaged to be married to your sister when I am twenty-one, that I am to remain an anchorite in the mean- time.” ‘“T was only joking, Saxondale,”’ exclaimed Harold. ‘‘ But, seriously speaking, we must really get acquainted with this )) - delightful creature. The newspaper of this morning ; says that though she has been nearly all her life in Italy, she is not an Italian by birth, and it ventures to hint that she is of English parentage. It’s quite true that she’ has little of the Italian about her, except the graces of the daughters of the sunny South; for as to her beauty, there is nothing Italian in that billiaiiey of complexion which puts even the fairest skins of our English girls to shame.”’ “Oh, but there are fair Italian women as well as dark ones,” bheerted Saxondale. ‘I have read so in a book. But whether Italian or English, this Signora Vivaldi is the most enchanting creature I ever saw in all my life, — Lady Florina of course excepted. And now, is it possible to get introduced to her? ” “ You heard what we were told behind the scenes at the opera last night,’’ said Lord Harold, “‘ that the signora is CoOnnicooolkKs (S(O)