The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 24: what you’re looking at

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, Say, + “Tell as about: Venetia Drelawney—the enethix”. THE MYSTRNTES OF THE COURTS “Never min@the duenna,” exclaimed the Prince. ¥ néesasft ambwered: the bardnéti “ You'new imow av seoooed in withing, the favours. of the’ adorable ) 38 “Upon what backs dotyou foubd-your dnfument; Hbrave? asked-tiie Regent, smilingwomplicentiy. “Upon theta that-if Misa‘ Trelsiney hall re- ratecls of the tobhaleitlentiiMilenreiswney as I-40" jected! the peopodals'of ¢ Dele, she: cant: only be myself’? “ Depend: ups it, she ls some adventures,” ob nerred-the Prince, .“ who seeks itolobtain nototfiety by surrounding: hetecif wiftt'am air of: mystery.” ‘“* Not so,” exclaimed the baronbtr “ for I forgot. to add tliat she is reputed to be'well off. At all eventsy she lives: iw godd ‘ style—theugyk in: 2 very: secluded manner; and she pays her tradesmen with seropuloedregularity.” “ dis! I see you! have beer pushifig your in- quivies in/all possible. quarters’ seid the Prinoce,. triamphed over by a Prince who will ssoner ort later beserme a Hing :”—and' as‘ Horeve Saviivifie gave titis: exptination, her narrodiy : watehed tar “By heardnd you almost 7p me-to tinddre’ take the conquest’ of thiefair oi,’ said'the Pritiee:. “Butwhat ifshe bé intent-onty on: forming some: brliderit: mato? it woald: be but neturdl+-aed hence the exteomeicironms of ber’ conduét:” “FP marrtaguivars her partioular aim)” remarked: Horave Sackville. “ she’ could: deubtiess' have ae- complished it lougtago. Such cliarmts as hevr’s‘dd- effect usowhisroyalpatred.” laughing. “I wdintt' the sir,” returned the | net baronct.. “Boo ad for Venetia being an: ad- ventures. it is altogether out-of the questien. The circumstance. relative to the Dakée blank cheque proves that slicis net-mereenary, and ‘tit her charme:at ali events are ’net-to be purchased by gold.” “Your reasoning is certeinly most: forcible,” sed his Royal Highness. * What is: tlie age of the heroine ?”’ “ She looks about four-and-twenty, I should " answered Sir Douglas: Huntingdon. ** No such thing!” efavulated the Earl of Cur- zon. “ Qne-and-twenty at the outside.” “ Well, [should not mind wagering heavily that she is six-and-twenty,” dravied out Celostel Mal- pas. “In twath,” observed-the Marquis of Leveson, “she is-one of those magnificent beings whose features bear the stamp of youthfal loveliness, but whose forms are matured id the most loxuriant proportions: and therefowe it is difiealt to jadge ’ her precise age.” a ee -*Bat at all events,” said the: Prince Regent, “ she is old enougii to make us wonder that, with such’ transcendent jovdlizess, she should still be uemarried: What do you think, Horace?” he in-: quired, turtiay:. towards his favourite. “There you' sits as-silent aad reserved as possibile — althouiyt: the wine is exhilarating and the topic of discourse exciting to a degree.” +1 was listening with attention, sir, to the various remarua passihg around,” said Sackville. “ But with respect ‘to Miss Venetia Trelawney, I have already spoicen in eulogtstic terms of her to your Royal Highness. In fact, it is impossible to have seco her ones, without thinking of her ever after- wards.” “ And how often have you seen her, Horace ?” inquired the Prince. “Perhaps a dezer times, sir,” was the response: and a flush passed over the naturally pale eounte- nance of Hlorace Saokville. ‘13 she really as beautiful as our friends here have represented?” asked the Prince Regent: “nd do you aiso think she is virtuous and well- intentioned ?” “No language is sufficiently powerful to do jus- tice to her lovetineas,” said Horace: “and as for her virtae and respectah lity, I should think that, niter the’ anecdote we have heard relative to tne dhavelated Sir Dougias Hantingfion. “How'can thivbé known? And if it’ is so, thee must dhe he’acyuainted with the nebiemen or gen- tlemen whose suit she has rejected—and surely at leat one’ of these: discarded: adofers would be amongst the cirole-of' oar friende: whereas: not a soul now pi “hes been ehabledto' obtain am imtroduction to’her.” “TI only repedted: one of the ruthours current relative to Verietia,” said Shokviile, atsumiitg”’ a careless tone and indifferent memer. “ But i fancy there can be no doubt that Misa Trelawney’ has recel ved setorat brilliant offers, though com- ing from indtviduais whe are personally unicnown to her, but who, being captivated by her loveliness, have presumed or their rank and fortune to: write tender billets laying their hearts at her feet.” “ And from the refasals experienced, you na- turaily infee that she has ne particular antbition with regard to marriage?” said the Printe Regent: imterrogatively. ‘““We are’all deveritig our opinions, such as: we: have formed thens,” answered Seckville: “and after all, seciug how little we know of the‘ lady, out ideas concerning her cdun only be the vertest con- jectures. Well, then, my belief is-that Venetia: is: a beings whose mind muss be as extraordinary ‘as her beanty: and: inssmech as she has rejected many brilliant offers of marriage—or at all evente,- as it is ‘quite clear that endowed as eheis wittt each teanscendent lovelinces, it must be her own fauk that she’ is still single—there are bat two infer ences to draw.” “ What are they?” inquired the Pree Regent. “ Rither that she possesses a mind so pure that she is resolved never to bestow her head. where she cannot give her heart lilbewise,” said Horace : “or else that she cherishes a towering ambition, which soars even above marriage and which- prompted her to decline the oppertunity of be- | comiug the mistress of a Duke.” “Then‘ what otr earth could she hope to be- come?” demanded the Regent. “The mistress of a Prinoe or a-King,” retarned Horace: aud the sidelong glance which he threw rapidly upon hie royal patron, was of searching and penetrating keenness. “You rogue!” ejaculated the Regent, bursting out into 2 good-natured laugh and laying his hand Duke's ciieque, your Royal Highne+s would aione ! on Sackville’s shoulder,—* you wish to > anne ls <Sreoin CONNEC MOO