The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 222: what you’re looking at

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

200 THE COURT OF LONDON court, for we have numerous relations and friends for whom we wish to provide in the various departments of the civil and military services. For a long time past we have taken counsel together, in order to devise some scheme to regain, though indirectly and through the medium of another, at least some portion of our lost interest with the prince regent. After varied deliberations we resolved upon a certain scheme, all the points and bearings of which we duly dis- cussed, so as to mature our plan and render it ripe for exe- cution whenever we should find the fitting agent for carrying it out. I accordingly gave instructions to a certain Mrs. Gale, a shrewd, deep-seeing, and active woman, to procure for me a young lady of matchless beatuy, elegant manners, fashionable appearance, and strong mind. It was no ordinary being that was thus sought after. There are plenty of beauties about the court already, and therefore for our purpose it needed one whose loveliness should transcend any- thing which ever came within the sphere of the prince’s view. Months have passed since I gave that delicate but important. commission to Mrs. Gale, but at length she has succeeded in the discovery of the perfect creature so necessary to the success of these plans. Mrs. Gale is the woman whom you encountered the day before yesterday in Gracechurch Street, and you are this phoenix of perfection.” Here Miss Bathurst paused for a few moments, while: the colour gradually mantled upon Venetia’s countenance, for the young lady now began to comprehend her destiny. As a matter of course, her mind was not sufficiently depraved. to receive these explanations, so significant in their tendency, without a partial shock, but this effect of her better feelings was speedily triumphed over and subdued by the sense of gratified vanity, as well as by the certainty of present riches and splendour, and with the prospect of ascending to the most brilliant position. Miss Bathurst, who watched her with the keen, searching eye of a thorough woman of the world, read what was passing in her soul, and speedily saw that Venetia was her own. ‘“‘ To-morrow,” she continued, ‘‘ you will go and take up your residence at Acacia Cottage, and in a very few days the whole West End of London will be ringing with the in- telligence of a most lovely but mysterious star suddenly appearing in the galaxy of London life. The very mystery COMmMiclooo® S (C(O) im