The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 84: what you’re looking at

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

EDITHA 63 summate duplicity Editha had made him believe that she really loved him, and that it was not his gold which pur- chased her favours, but that he himself was the object of her disinterested affection. Strong, therefore, in the conceit with which she had thus imbued him, and to which his infat- uation rendered him so easily accessible, he exhibited no jealousy when he saw her smiling upon others who were really handsome and possessed of qualifications calculated to win a woman’s heart. Quietly biding his time, as it were, he waited until the first dazzling effects of her presence had passed away, and when the evening was somewhat more advanced and her admirers began to flit about elsewhere, then was it that Mr. Emmerson availed himself of the oppor- tunity to approach Editha, and take a seat by her side. For a short time they conversed together upon indifferent topics; but presently Lady Curzon rose, saying with a smile, “Give me your arm, and let us visit the card-room for a few minutes.” Thither they accordingly proceeded. It was not, however, to gaze upon the card-players, nor to observe what was going on in this room, that Lady Curzon had desired to be conducted thither; but it was because there were compara- tively few persons in this apartment, and therefore it was more easy to converse without restraint. Accordingly, seat- ing themselves on a sofa at a distance from the card-players, the aristocratic lady and her citizen paramour began to dis- course in a confidential manner. “You are tiuly beautiful to-night, Editha,”’ said Emmer- son, gazing with unfeigned rapture upon the charming creature who affected to love him. ‘‘ And you also appear to great advantage,”’ she replied, although in reality his sallow complexion, hard features, and looks denoting the driver of close bargains filled her with a disgust which only a consummate duplicity enabled her to conceal. ‘‘ And is it possible,”’ he said, drinking intoxication from her glances, ‘‘ is it possible that you, the courted, the ca- ressed, and the brilliant idol of fashion, really love me, the unpretending, unassuming man of business? ”’ “You know that I love you,’’ she answered, fixing upon him a look that seemed full of passion, while her magnificent eyes vibrated like stars. ‘‘ Have I not shown you that L y] Connicloooks (C(O)