The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 137: what you’re looking at

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

116 THE COURT OF LONDON Sir Douglas Huntingdon now emerged from behind the screen. Venetia, pale, marble pale, with concentrated passion, trembling from head to foot, and with her fair hands firmly clenched, had risen from the sofa and was standing before the looking-glass, surveying herself with evident astonishment at the violence of her own emotions as expressed in her countenance. ‘It 1s not worth while to expend so much splendid indigna- tion upon such a wretch,’ observed Sir Douglas Huntingdon, taking her hand, which she now willingly abandoned to him. ‘‘'To-morrow night you shall go to Leveson House; but I will follow you thither. A few minutes after you have entered, will I present myself at the door and demand admission. If 1t be refused, I will enforce it; and when once confronted with the marquis, I will threaten him with the fullest exposure of his conduct toward Ariadne, unless he solemnly undertakes to observe eternal peace and silence with regard to you.” ‘‘ Now you are indeed my best, my dearest friend,” said Venetia, gazing tenderly upon the baronet. ““ Ah! would that I could again induce you to believe that I love you, and you alone? ’’ he murmured, pressing her hand to his lips. ‘Yes, I shall esteem your conduct of to-morrow night as a proof of love,’’ observed Venetia, her look now assuming an expression of soft wantonness, “‘and any reward that you may claim — ”’ ‘‘T understand you, dearest,” cried the baronet, joyfully; and flinging his arms around her, he pressed his lips to hers in one long delicious kiss. A minute afterward the baronet quitted the boudoir. Gomicdooks (E(0)