The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 149: what you’re looking at

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

— Swe eee, eee, eee eee PF @ See qa EES - ee Ai ie acarcely audible: and her head drooped upon his breast. Oh! with what impassioned rapture did the in- fatuated young man take that charming head between both his hands and cover it with kisses! Then gently forcing Venetia to look up, he lavished ® thousand caresses upon her polished brow—her glowing cheeks—her charming mouth: but to no far- ther freedoms did the demonstration of his passion extend—to no sensual license did those burning caresses lead! His haud sought not to invade the treasures of her bosom: ’twas snfficient for him then to feel the rich volume of either firm and snowy globe heaving against his chest;—and Ve- netia could not do otherwise than contrast the deli- oate devotion of Horace Sackville with the frenzied longings and andisguised sensuousness of the Prince Regens. For a long time did Miss Trelawney and her sixth suitor remain in tender and interesting dis~ course together. They talked upon many subjects —they reviewed all the ciroumstances under which they had first become acquainted with each other —they laid plans for the fature—and they arranged that their bridal should take place as early as con- venient. When they separated it was past six o'clock in the evening: and Captain Tash remarked to his . span Robin at the Green Dragon opposite, as they | saw Horace Sackville leave Acacia Cottage, “ Wil, that is the longest visit that aoy gentleman bas yet paid to Miss Trelawney |” CHAPTER XL. MBS. GALE. ' ke was about four in the afternoon that an elderly ‘emale, of matron-like appearance and well-dressed, presented herself at Leveson Mansion in Albe- marie Street. She was evidently known to the domestics: for the hall-porter instantaneously ad- mitted her without a word, and a page at once ' conducted her into the room where the Marquis ‘ was seated. She looked one of those respectable, motherly ' women whom children would love and in whom in- experienced, artless girls would place implicit oon- fidence. There was something uncommonly good- tempered in her smile and benevolent in her gaze, —something exceedingly unpretending, frank, and honest iu her manner. Her apparel was neatness iteelf; and its material as well as her general de- meanour indicated a gentiewoman in casy circum- stances. Bat how appearances may be deceptive! This female, with the kind and motherly air—with the unassuming blandness of manner—and with the wok of unimpeachable respectability, was none other than a vile procuress. Her name was Gale: she poesessed a handsome and well-furnished house in Scho Square ;—and in that establishment she had a perfect harem of beauties whom she had ' Geooyed into her meshes, and whom she sold to the Qa eee eristucratic voluptuaries and wealthy profligates of the West End. Beneath that auavity of manner whieh she had so long assumed that it had become } guineas a part of her nature, she concealed a diabolical dis- position. There was no infamy—no wickedoces of =e ° el THE MYSTERIES OF THN COURT. which she was not capable: her plots and intrigues had carried desolation and despair into many a respectable family, and had proved the ruin of mary a lovely girl. She had long been wedded to iniquity itself: but now, being its widow, as it were, she lived by involving others in ite maze. Her per- severanve in carrying out any scheme whick she herself initiated, or which might be entrusted to her, was only equalled by her avarice in making the most of it either in the form of profit or reward. She was well known to all the rakes, roués, and vo- luptuaries about town: she was also a go-between for married ladies who required the succour of such a person ;—and she had heaped up riches by means of her manifold iniquities. Sach was the woman whom the Marquis of Leve- son had sent for in the morning, and who now came in obedience to the summons of one of her best and oldest patrons. “Sit down, Mrs. Gale,” said his lordship; “and listen to me attentively. But, first tell me whether you have time and inclination to embark in a little enterprise for me.” “J have always time at your lordship's service,” was the bland response) - and every inclination to devote it to your lordsnips purposes.” “TI expected no less favourable an answer from you,” observed the nobleman. “Listen,then. At Beechey Manor, near Wandsworth, reside a certain Mr. and Mrs. Bradshaw. The husband is an elderly man; and I have every reason to believe him an unprincipled scoundrel, who has already once trafficked in his wife’s charms. She is younger than he, and exceedingly beautiful. This Mrs. Bradshaw I am determined to possess. But inasmuch as her husband is an intriguing, desperate, reckless fellow, he is quite capable of selling me his wife first and bringing an action for damages after- wards. Such a proceeding I am therefore anxious to avoid. In fact, I would sooner abandon the enterprise than piace myself in the power of this Bradshaw. Do you comprehend me?” “ Perfectly, my lord,” replied Mrs.Gale. “I can easily negotiate the affair without mentioning your lordship’s name; and if I succeed, the interview can take place at my house, where the lady need not know who your lordship is, unless indeed she is already personally acquainted with you.” “I do not think she is, Mrs. Gale,” observed Leveson: “because I never knew any one by the name of Bradshaw. To be sure, the name may be an assumed one: but this is a risk I must ron. At all events, if the husband be not informed who the nobleman is that employs you, he can never obtain direct and positive evidence upon the subject Besides, you reed not say that you are employed by a nobleman at all.” “Of course not, my lord,” rejoined Mrs. Gale: “for if the matter did ever go into a court of justice, all the barristers in the world would not get aye out of me if I chose to answer nay—and as for being put upon my oath, I should not value such nonsense a single straw.” “You speak bke a very sensible and discreet woman, as you are, my dear Mrs. Gale,” said the Marquis of Leveson. “And now as to financial matters. I will give this Mr. Bradshaw a thousand s—five hundred to be paid when he handa his wife into a hackney-coach, where yuu will be seated to receive her—and the other five hundred , eee ecommicoooks ena “ibe | | a ee = &