The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 392: what you’re looking at

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TEE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. gg) an immediate interview with your ladyship. His lordship told the footman that he had seme business of impertance te communicate to your ladyship, and he is now waiting in the drawing-roem.” “ Ah! I think that I can guess the nature of Lord Leveasen’s business,” observed Venetia, with a look of indescribable vezation, as she turned towards Sir Douglas Huntingdon. “ You, my dear friend, who have so reeently become acquainted with all my secrets, and who therefore understand my exaet position so well,—you, I say, can see at a glance how it is that cireumstances have to some extent placed me in the power of the Marquis of Leveson.” * Ves, dearest Venetia,” replied the Baronet: “I understand what you meen. But is he not to some extent in my power f—have I not the means of aub- jecting both himeelf and his niece to a terrific ex- posure? Louisa first— Ariadne next—Oh! the vil- lain—if he dare use menaces to coeree you, Venetia, I will defend yeu—I will protect you—lI will save you from his power!” “ Ten thousand thanks, dear friend, for these assur- ances,” exelaimed Venetia, now of her own accord grasping that hand which she had a few minutes previeusly repulsed. “But shall I see the Mar- wis ?” ws By all means,” rejoined the B ¢ “let us at ence ascertain what it is that he requirés. After all, it is poasible that you may be mistaken as to the object of his visit--—” “Mo, no,” interrupted Venetia, impetnously: “I am cenvineed that it is with no friendly object he has ceme hither. Persevering and energetic in aceomplishing his aime—insatiable in his sensual lengings—no sooner has one intended victim es- caped from his toils, when he flies in pursuit of another———” “Then, all things considered,” exclaimed the - Barenet, “ yeu would do well to receive the Marquis here: and permit me to remain an unseen witness of the interview, either to be near to protect you from present insult, or te learn thoee particulars that shall gtide my actions for your future rescue.” “ Be it as you say,” rejoined Venetia: then turn- ing to Jessica, she said, “ Let the Marquis be con- dueted hither.” The Jady'’s-maid, who had been permitted to hear the preceding collequy because she was well ac- quainted with all the secrets of her mistress, hastily withdrew ; and the moment the door had closed, Sir Denglas Huntingdon ensconced himself behiad that eelf-same screen which on a former occasion had served for his hiding-place. Lady Sackville hastened te compose her features and settle herself as it were with a beseming dignity upon the sofs, in order te reesive the Marquis of Leveson: and accordingly, in a few minutes, the nobleman was ushered into the bondotr. “ This is an unexpected pleasure,” he exclaimed, advancing towards Venetia, “to be admitted into the very bower of love and beaaty—the mysterious scene of ali ineffable fascinations——” “ Was it for the purpoee of induiging in this ab- surd rhapsody, that your lordship sent so pressing a demand for an audience ?7°—and as Venetia thus spoke, with a quiet earcasm ia her accests and a subdaed contemptaonsness in her looks, she rosd from the sofa as much as to imply that she wished the interview to be already at an end. “Your ladyship is severe—teo severe,” observed the Marquis, with a malignant giance, which seomed te infer that the hour ef his triamph was drawing near: then with a low bow he asked, “ Is it your ladyship’s pleasure that I should remain standing ?” “Oh! assuredly not,” exclaimed Venetia, with a glance which seemed to fling bask the defiance of his lerdship’s leoks. “Pray be seated :” and she herself resumed her place upon the sofa. The Marquis fixed his eyes steadily upon Lady Sackville; and as with one comprehensive look he embraced all the transcending charms of this woman of matchless beauty, he thought within himself that no daring was too desperate and no ineasure too extreme for adoption on the part of one who would seek to gain that glorious prize! “It is scarcely neagssary for me to observe,” he said after a pause, during which Venetia made a very evident gesture of impatience not unmingied with disgust at finding herself thus the object ot his lustfally gloating looks : “it is scarcely neces- sary for me to observe,” he said, “ that I have too many reasons to fear that Iam no special favourite with your ladyship—and yet I am one of your ladyship’s most enthusiastic admirers.” “Your admiration, my lord, considering all that has taken place,” she replied, with a deeply mean- ing look, “is little flattering to me.” “It is true, my dear Lady Sackville,” he eon- tinued, totally unabashed, “that when inveigied inté one of my mechanical chairs, you well nigh paid the penalty of that curiosity which led you to penetrate into those private apartments——” “Dare you allude to those chambers of in- famy ?” ejaculated Venetia, her eyes flashing fire. “But, Ah! my lord, I could have forgiven you for all that you thus attempted towards me: but when I think of how nearly that innocent gir" “I understand fall well what you mean,” inter- rupted Lord Leveson, with another malignant look: “and it is precisely because I do thus un- derstand you, that I have taken it into my head to call upon your ladyship at the present moment. Of course, having been to Stratton Street, I am well aware-——” ; “We need not repeat things which are mutually known,” suddenly interrupted Venetia. “Indeed, I am anxious that this interview should be ont as short as possible. State therefore the business that has brought you hither——” “ The explanation shall be given as curtly—and and I may almost add as imperiously—as it fy demanded,” replied Lord Leveson. “ Speak, then!” ejacalated Venetia: “and trifle not with my time, which appears to be more pre. cious than your's. What is the nature of your business ?” The Marquis fixed his eyes with the steadiness of a firm resolution upon the glowing eountenanec of Venetia, who was now truly grand—truly mag- nificent in her haughty indignation : and in a slow, measured, and determined tone, he said, “ My busi- neas here is to demand when it will suit Lady Sackville either to admit me to her boudoir as the partner of her couch, or to pass the night with me at Levesen House?” A torrent ef bitter reproaehes and terrible in- vectives rose te the very tip of Venetia’s tongue, as these words, so tremendously insulting, met her ear: but with an effort of surpassing energy, she COMME lOO© Ss CO