The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 174: what you’re looking at

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

THE WITNESS 149 in person and elegant in manners was Lord Sackville. Being thus mutually pleased, they soon fell into a very agreeable and interesting strain of conversation until the quadrille began. Then they danced together, and when the quadrille was over, they went into the music-room, and Editha, being a proficient with the guitar, at that period a fashionable instrument, consented to practise a duet with Lord Sackville. Now, as there were very few persons in that apartment at the time, the greater portion of the guests being in the quadrille-room, Lord Sackville and Lady Curzon were enabled to amuse themselves without much constraint, and what with a little singing and more tender looks, varied by some agreeable discourse, they soon came to be very much pleased with each other. i Venetia, while lounging through the rooms upon the arm of some adoring duke, caught sight of her husband bending over Editha with tender looks, and for an instant the flush of jealousy mantled upon her cheeks, — but only for an instant. No sooner was the jealous sentiment conceived, when it was followed by the thought that she had no right to entertain it. Not only was there a compact between her husband and herself that they were both to pursue their own pleasures independent of the moral restraint of the con- nubial vows, but she had already availed herself of that immunity in admitting the Earl of Curzon to her arms. Banishing the jealous sentiment, therefore, she bestowed upon Editha a most affable salutation, and on her husband a look of cordial familiarity, as she passed them by; and bidding her ducal companion conduct her back to the quadrille-rooms, she left her husband and Editha to continue: their téte-a-téte without constraint. But at about a quarter to eleven Venetia stole away from the gay scene and the brilliant throng, and retiring into Miss. Bathurst’s own bedchamber, she put on a bonnet provided. with a thick veil, and threw a capacious mantle over her elegant ball-dress. Then, hastily descending the stairs, she proceeded on foot to Albemarle Street, which, be it remem- bered, is only two minutes’ walk from Stratton Street, and as the night was fine and dry, she accomplished that trifling distance without any inconvenience. But let us now return to the interior of Leveson House, thus preceding Lady Sackville’s visit thither, and we shall CoOnniclooolkks (C(O)