The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 341: what you’re looking at

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

308 THE COURT OF LONDON bestow my favours must be the young, the handsome, and the attractive, not the old, the ugly, and the repulsive. Tis sufficient,’ she murmured to herself, “‘ to be compelled to submit to the embraces of a horrid sensualist such as the prince.”’ Jessica hastened away to Leveson House, obtained an interview with the marquis, and delivered the message from Venetia. The nobleman was scarcely able to conceal the delight which he experienced at a result that he had evidently hardly ventured to anticipate, and in his joy he thrust a bank-note for twenty guineas into Jessica’s hands. The abigail, charmed with this munificence, returned to Carlton House, saying to herself, ‘‘ After all, Lord Leveson is not such a very nasty-looking man, and if I were in her ladyship’s place — But no matter. I dare say it will end as his lord- ship wishes, for that he does hope and expect to win her ladyship is evident enough.” | Punctual at the appointed hour the Marquis of Leveson made his appearance at Carlton House, and was conducted to the drawing-room where Venetia, attired in an elegant morning dress, was waiting to receive him. Rising from her seat in a manner coldly courteous, she saluted him with a formal inclination of her head, and slightly indicating a chair, she resumed her own place on the sofa. The marquis, whose looks and bearing indicated the most respectful admiration, took the seat thus formally offered him, and, with the cour- teous ease of polished breeding, he said, ‘“‘ May I flatter myself that your ladyship has deigned to forgive me for the past? ”’ ‘There are insults and outrages,’’ replied Venetia, coldly, “‘ which cannot be consigned to oblivion. At the same time they may be so far pardoned as to permit the individuals themselves to meet in society and exchange the usual cour- tesies of acquaintanceship.”’ ‘To be restored to your ladyship’s favour on any terms will prove an indescribable relief to my feelings,’ said the marquis, with a low bow and a half-smile. ‘“ T now await,’ observed Venetia, with a slight curling of the lip and elevation of the head, as much as to imply that she would not condescend to take notice of the remark the noble- man had just made and in which he had chosen to assume that he was restored to her favour, ‘‘I am awaiting the Eomichbooks.co mn