The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 226: what you’re looking at

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

204 THE COURT OF LONDON the bottom of allthis. For if the real truth were to transpire, the prince, who is uncommonly keen, would ‘at once see through the whole design, and our purpose would be defeated. Well, my dear Venetia, you must now fully understand what I mean,” added Miss Bathurst, ‘ or, if you wish, I will be explicit to the end. And perhaps this course is the best. In plain terms, then, you are destined to become the mistress of the prince regent.” The deepest crimson now mantled upon Venetia’s cheeks, but delight also beamed in her looks, joy dancing exultant in her sunny eyes, and her bosom heaving with a long sigh of pleasure. If the still small voice of conscience, whisper- ing for a moment, touched a chord which vibrated to her heart and sent up that carnation glow to her cheeks, this voice was nevertheless almost instantaneously hushed by the louder tones in which ambition spoke in that same heart, and the thrilling pzans of triumph which resounded through her soul. ‘“'Yes, you are destined to become the mistress of the prince regent,’’ proceeded Miss Bathurst, ‘‘ and no matter what remonstrance rigid virtue may offer or cold prudery may suggest, it is a brilliant and an enviable position. I say enviable, for there is not a titled beauty in the sphere of aristocracy that will not be madly jealous of you, and to be jealous, is to envy. You will be courted and fawned upon even by those who will hate you most, and of the male sex you will become the idol, the goddess, the divinity. Now, mark me well. If, with all the opportunities thus afforded, you play your cards judiciously and with tact, you cannot fail of success. When the curiosity of the prince is sufficiently piqued concerning you, he will devise some means to seek your acquaintance. Perhaps he will call upon you, without any formal introduction at all. So much the better; you will then have him in your power, and may stipulate your own conditions. If he falls madly in love, as he assuredly will, you can obtain anything at his hands, even to becoming a peeress in your own right. But we will not waste time in all these conjectures; the main point is for you to follow the career in which you will be placed and the advice which will be given you, and it is inevitable that the whole plot will succeed. It must succeed. But mind, one false step will ruin everything, one single act of imprudence will mar COMmMiclooo® S (C(O) im =