The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 290: what you’re looking at

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

THE PRIVATE THEATRICALS 257 assured her that if she did this and watched her opportunity to introduce her fingers into the King’s right-hand waistcoat pocket, she would inevitably recover the lost note. Highly pleased ‘with this advice, Adeliza bestowed a handsome reward on the Astrologer, and took her departure. Such was the first scene of the drama, and it passed off to the infinite delight of all present, with the sole exception of Jocelyn Loftus, whose thoughts were bent on far more serious subjects. The curtain fell, and when it rose again the stage represented a splendid garden. The King of the City of Pleasures was now discovered reclining on the magic couch which the Astrologer had lent him, and which was supposed to be placed in the summer-house on the grounds belonging to the royal palace. The Astrologer, who was a funny fellow in his way, had contrived this magic couch to be as uneasy as possible, and the King amused the audience by many ejaculatory complaints uttered in the way which on the stage is called ‘‘ aside,’’ but which means that such remarks are to be made louder than any others. And now, to the sound of delicious music, did the Sea-nymphs make their appearance, Venetia as their Queen bearing a wand in her hand. But here we must interrupt the progress of our narrative for a moment, to observe that had it not been for the enthu- silastic outburst of applause which welcomed Venetia and her fair companions, an ejaculation that fell from the lips of Jocelyn Loftus would have startled every one present. It was an ejaculation of utter amazement, an ejaculation which he could not have suppressed had the utterance of it cost him his life at the same moment. But fortunately for him it was lost and absorbed in the loud and prolonged welcome that greeted the train of aristocratic actresses. Over the heads of the applauding throng that occupied the cushioned seats in what may be termed the pit of the theatre, from his retired corner, were the looks of Jocelyn fixed upon one of those lightly dressed and seminude beauties representing the Sea-nymphs. Could it be possible? Was it indeed she, or only a wondrous, marvellous resem- blance? And yet it was scarcely possible to err? There was the same classic outline of the profile, the same grandeur of form, the same look; there were the same lips, the same. unmistakable expression of the eyes; and there also was the bright glory of the auburn hair. Cconniclooolks (C(O)