The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 293: what you’re looking at

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

260 THE COURT OF LONDON domestic retired, and our young hero, being left alone, relapsed into a train of gloomy reflections. Thus three hours dragged their slow length away, and, in the meantime, let us see what was taking place in another part of Carlton House. The performances were over, and the larger portion of the audience had taken their departure to their own resi- dences, but the more immediate friends of the prince — indeed, the same who had dined with him previous to the commencement of the amateur representation — assembled in the supper-room, where an elegant repast was served up. The ladies who had figured in the performance retained their gauzy raiment, and thus the board seemed to be em- bellished with the exposed charms and wanton looks of courtesans rather than of ladies priding themselves on their lofty rank, and standing, as it were, on the highest pedestals of the social sphere. As the wine circulated freely after supper, and the coral . lips of beauty sipped the champagne-nectar of Epernay, the colour deepened upon the cheeks, the eyes flashed more brightly, the regards became more tender and more wanton, the conversation grew more free, and the little familiari- ties of friendly conviviality became enhanced into positive license. Venetia again sat next to Sir Douglas Huntingdon; the Earl of Curzon had managed to remonopolize the hand- some widow Lady Prescott, who, be it observed, appeared nothing loth thus to receive his attentions; while the Count- ess of Curzon was again the companion of Venetia’s husband, Lord Sackville. As for the prince regent, he drank so co- piously that he was soon in a very agreeable state of intoxi- cation, and thus devoting himself entirely to the bottle, or, rather, to the bowl of curacoa punch, he ceased to take notice of his guests, and was taken little notice of by them. Jocelyn’s note had been put into his hand, but after hastily scanning its contents he consigned it to his waistcoat pocket, and soon forgot all about it. At length his Royal Highness fell asleep in his chair, and then the company began to break up. Lord Curzon con- ducted Lady Prescott to her carriage, and pressed her hand as he took leave of her, a pressure that was assuredly re- turned, though slightly and timidly perhaps. He then sought his own carriage, to which his wife had just been Gomicbdooks (E(@)