The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 128: what you’re looking at

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

VALENTINE AND VENETIA 109 amazement. For some weeks or months previously I had heard of Miss Trelawney, —every one had heard of Miss Trelawney, —and I was astonished on being told in that church and on that occasion that you were Miss Trelawney. Then said I to myself, ‘1 am mistaken;’ and yet I could not altogether convince myself that I was so. I do not wish to flatter you, very far from that, but I was at a loss to believe at the time that there could be another young lady in the world resembling the Miss Venetia Trelawney whom I saw walk up the aisle of St. George’s Church and proceed to the altar on that occasion.”’ “Well, and you were never led to make inquiries? ”’ asked Lady Sackville. “No, never,’ responded Malvern. “I have already told you that I have no impertinent curiosity; and _ besides, though temporarily interested in you, and the apparent mystery attending you at that time, I was too much en- grossed with my poor father’s disappearance to give the circumstance a prominent place in my memory. But the other night, when you interrupted my interview with the prince, from the very signs you made me did I perceive that the suspicion which I had entertained at St. George’s Church was, after all, the correct one, and that the young lady passing by the name of Venetia Trelawney was really the same whom I had once before met under such very different circumstances.” ‘‘ And now you seek explanations? ”’ said Venetia, quickly. ‘““ No, very far from it,’’ responded Malvern. “I have already assured you that I have no impertinent curiosity. Besides which, under ordinary circumstances your affairs would not regard me, and I trust that I know the position and the duties of a gentleman too well to pry into the secrets of any lady.” “Under ordinary circumstances, you say?” ejaculated Venetia. ‘“‘ Are there, then, some extraordinary circum- stances,’’ she inquired, “ relative to you and me? ”’ “ Do you not think,” asked Malvern, “ that I am talking to you in a somewhat familiar strain, despite a certain embarrassment and awkwardness which I just now felt, but which is rapidly wearing off the nearer I approach the final revelation? But I ask, do you not think that I am conversing in a sort of familiar, free, and offhand manner, CORNICLOO© cS (CO)