The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 124: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XI VALENTINE AND VENETIA RETURN we once more to Carlton House. It was about midday, and Lady Sackville had just de- scended from her boudoir to the drawing-room of her suite of apartments, when a domestic entered to state that Sir Valentine Malvern requested an interview with her ladyship, and that he hoped it would be accorded him. Venetia at once desired that he might be admitted, and in a few minutes the young baronet was ushered into the drawing-room. ‘“T gave you a special invitation to call upon me,’ said Venetia, extending her hand with graceful affability toward him, “‘ and yet you send in a message as if you thought that there was some difficulty in obtaining access to me.”’ “Tt is but midday,’’ answered Sir Valentine, ‘‘ full two hours earlier than the proper time for paying visits of cere- mony or courtesy, but, as it appeared to me, the most suitable hour for making a call on a matter of business.” ‘A matter of business? ’’ echoed Venetia, with a sweet smile, ‘‘ I am at a loss to conceive how there can be any business between us. But in any case you are welcome. As for the propriety of the hour, you are quite right, Sir Valentine. This is just that disagreeable part of the day when there is little or nothing to do, and it is difficult to know how to amuse oneself.”’ ‘A little embroidery, or tambour-work, or ty ae aa os suggested Sir Valentine; but he spoke in a somewhat melan- choly manner, and also with a partial embarrassment amounting to constraint. ‘“T dislike such occupations,” answered Venetia. ‘I _ was always of indolent habits. I used once to be much addicted to novel-reading, but latterly I have given it up. 106 connicloao S (© = al ~~. a nl > = ._™