The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 299: what you’re looking at

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

266 THE COURT OF LONDON you to wine and you held your glass, I saw his hand rest upon yours with an amorous pressure that was perceptible enough to any one who understands these things — ”’ “Ab! your lordship is such a proficient,” ejaculated Editha, with a taunting laugh. ‘“ You shall say so before I have done,” rejoined the earl, “for if you did not kiss each other when in a moment of good humour kissing went all around the table, yet you sat so close to each other that I could see as well as possible his knee pressing against yours; and I have no doubt that your feet were talking mutely though eloquently enough to his under the table. I know you are as deep as a well, Editha, as profound a hypocrite as ever woman was, but nevertheless you could not last night altogether veil the real state of your feelings from me. I saw your bosom heave and fall with sensuous palpitations; I could even follow the occasional thrill of rapture which swept through your form, doubtless when in contact with the knee, the foot, or the elbow of your companion; I marked when he whispered some hurried word in your ear, and which little episode in the tender drama would have passed unnoticed had not the rapid movement of his head been followed by the quick blush mounting to your cheeks; and ever and anon too I caught the veiled look which your eyes flung sidelong upon the glowing countenance of Venetia’s husband.”’ ‘““T have listened silently, but I cannot say patiently, to this long tirade,’? commenced Editha, in a voice that was tremulous with conflicting emotions, ‘‘ and I can only say that in return for your gratuitous accusations, your vile imaginings, and your wicked interpretations of the most innocent looks and gestures that you are a liar and a coward — ”’ ‘“Liar!”’ ejaculated the earl, his olive-tinted cheeks be- coming red as a peony. ‘ Ay, liar,’’ echoed the countess. ‘‘ And it is not the first time that I have called you this name. You have accused me of forgeries, you have accused me of adulteries — ” ‘Yes, and they are all true,’’ thundered the earl, now springing from his seat and dashing his hand violently upon the table. ‘Coward — dastard! you had to apologize for those accusations,”’ said Editha, her lips white and quivering with GEomicbooks (ele) mn