The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 340: what you’re looking at

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

THE PEARLS 307 “To prove that the Marquis of Leveson is unfeignedly sincere in his desire to enter into the good graces of Lady Sackville, and that he would gladly and joyously seek any opportunity to manifest his friendship and his respectful devotion toward her ladyship, he begs to state that the hundred pearls now sent to Lady Sackville represent as many thousand pounds, and if Lady Sackville would so far forget her antipathy toward the Marquis of Leveson as to grant him an interview, he would explain in a few words how the accompanying string of pearls can possibly be of such pecuniary value to her ladyship.”’ “What on earth can the drivelling old idiot mean? ”’ exclaimed Venetia, too much amazed to be indignant. Then having handed the letter to Jessica, she inquired, after a pause, ‘‘ Can you understand what he aims at? ”’ ‘‘ There is some artifice concealed beneath this appearance of profound respect,’’ observed Jessica, ‘‘ but if I were your ladyship I would see the marquis and ascertain what his real meaning can be. It would appear at first sight as if, in some way or another, he was offering your ladyship a hundred thousand pounds, for, as he says, there are a hundred pearls upon this string, and the letter declares that each one is worth a thousand. How he can make this out, I do not understand, because, beautiful as the pearls may be, they are worth at the outside but a few hundreds — ”’ ‘““ Oh, if he think to purchase my favours with even a hundred thousand pounds,’’ exclaimed Venetia, the glow of triumph suffusing her countenance, and her lips curling haughtily at the same time, ‘‘ he is much mistaken. What! I, young, rich, and beautiful as I am, to abandon myself to such a loathsome mass of corruption as that man! No, no, ten thousand times no! But nevertheless, for the sake of eratifying my curiosity, I will see him in order to ascertain what he means. Go you, Jessica, to Leveson House, see the marquis yourself, and tell him that he may call upon me at midday precisely. I will not write a line to him, nor will I send a message by any save a confidential person such as you, for the marquis shall never have reason to boast of my favours and the world shall never have the slightest pretence for saying that Lady Sackville surrendered herself to such a superannuated sensualist. Those admirers on whom I do CONNIE OOOKS (C(O)