The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 80: what you’re looking at

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

pete ee THE MYSTEKIEN UF THK COURT. E may not be included in fhe sat-gory of gernile- men who talk on commonplace spbjerts,” he edfed, speaking with greater sapidity than usual, “I will proceed to touch om the topics to which I inat now alluded” He paused for a : but Venetia spoke not a word. He looked in fase: its expression was that of calm indifferance, as if she did not for s moment imagine that he could have anything really serious to canfer upen. “You do not believes it possible, Miss Tre- lawney,” be continued, “that in the midst of this brilliant acene I conld venture to lead your atten- tion to a solemn subject. Ent i must make that endeawour; for I have been fortunate enough— fortunate, I mean, in one sense,—to become ac- quainted with a-secret that nearly concerns you.” “A secret thet nearly concerns ma!” echoed VWerotia, a sudden finsh appearing upon her coun- tenance, “Yos—a conspiracy that le afoot against you, Miss Trelawney,” answered the Colonel, lowering his voice to a mysterious whisper. “I cannot possibly understand your magning, tir,” remarked Venetia, in a cold tone. We shonid here obsevre that oming to the loiter- ing pace at which the Colanel had purposely walked he kad succeeded ip allowing Mra. and Miss Ar- buthnot to get upwards of twenty or thirty yards a-head in the sveone aleng which they were proceed- ing, and where there were no ather guests at the moment besides themselves. “Js is for ma, Mise Tselawney,” said the Colonel, in answer to her observation, and sesyming the can- fidential tone and manner of friendship or intimacy, there iso eonaniracy afoot against you ——” “A conspiracy I” seboed Venetia, in a voice of singled acarn an ulity. “Ye—a .” xepeatad the Colonel: “and if you will inf make me a aclemn. ise——But surely there was some strange i ides bushes?” heseddenly caipd, giascing te the nght. and left of the illuminated avenue of verdure. “J heard nothing extrsordinary,” said Venetis. ‘¢ And mareover,” she continued in a dignified man- ner, “if thera be amy listeners or canne-droppers these, it can make.no differance #0.me, inasmuch as. I am not seeking nor courting the confidence with |. whieh you appear 90 myaterianaly anxious to bopour me.” “ Mise ” azcieimed the Colenal, with an il)-subdued petalenne, © is it impassible for me to give you a presfof my friendship f—waill you not at enndennend to hear vm I msy have to ceom- e least. aay. pro “ Yon wih pieame your wend, 203 lady, that the communication I De 30 wake sbeall officer, to invest this diseoures with an 4 , do not feel disposed.to asaribe to it,” was Yenetia’s delibenate aud measured apawat. An ejaculation of mingled petulanes, annoyance, @pd wounded pride rose to the very tip of the 67 Celone\’s tongua, as he thus found himself beaten and be filed, step after step, in all his endeavours to | pees himself upon a friendly footing with Venetia, | end eatablish the tntimecy. of confidence between | obtained utteranre ;—aud biting his lip almost ti | the blood came, he fixed his eyes npon her in order to read into the depths of her soul and ascertain whether she was playing some deep and unaccount- | able past towards him, or whether this was her natural character and disposition that she was dis- playing, Batnothing appeared in the looks or the manner of the superb creature to wasrant the belief that there was aught artificial and constraived in her demeanour, oF atudied and unreal in ber conduct. The Colone) was therefore alike perplexed and mertified. He knew not precisely which course to adopt— whether to proceed with his attempt to insinuate himself iuto ber good graces by a great show of friendabip, or to start upon some other tack. He wae mortified, too, because he saw that his amicable advances were repulsed with a cold courtesy, and that while Venetia adhered to the roles of striot etiquette by regarding bim as an acquaintance, she was decided in discouraging all endeayours on his part to plape himeelf on a were intimate footing with her. His vanity was mounied—his pride was hurt;—and he already hated the beauteons creature in whose charms he newerthalosa ao eagerly longed to revel. But then he wished to possess her, not only becanse he was a sengualist and regarded her as the finest piece of @esh and blood that had eyer yet tempted his vo- luptuans appetite: but also because there was a grand trinmph ta achieve over his five rivals who | were embaxked in the same enterprise and yearn- ing for the aame conquest—and likewise becanse ahere ware six thonsand guineas to he obtained by that victary J “Perhaps, Miss Trelawney,” he said a% length, and in comment upon the last observation which had fallen from her lips,— perhaps you will be in- the | duced to attach same little importance to my com- munication when you have heard it;—and I shall ur generosity—I had almost the matter a secret.” He paused for a reply: but Venetia remainad. ailens. She was however displaying that polite as- te listen te him, he prooeaded in his discourse. “I havealready dintad, Miss Trelawney, that a gonapiracy is an foot against you; and I can afford you the amplest proofs that such is the case, Start set, bowever, ghee I inform yon that your axneading beauty has rendered you the object of a.wager on the part of a few base and infamous woluptnaries :.and jnasmueh as the secret of this meandsions transaction hes accidentally—or rather, eaxa, I resolved to and with whom I canvot very well break off my in- timacy: but if you will retain this matter a pro- found secret and condescend to follow such advioe as I shall give you——There!” ejaculated the | Colonel, once more interrupting himself with a ry 1 é F Hi Fs Fe sudden ejaculation of alarm, and stopping shart ix | al | CONNEC MOO SS COMM