The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 113: what you’re looking at

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CHAPTER IX THE BANQUET VENETIA’s husband advanced into the room with the easy assurance and calm self-possession of good breeding, and as if there were nothing peculiar either in his own position or in the circumstances of the present occasion. Having paid his respects to Colonel Malpas, who could very well have dispensed with his company, Horace turned toward the prince, and his Royal Highness shook him with all his wonted cordiality by the hand. The Marquis of Leveson and Sir Douglas Huntingdon were equally warm in their greet- ings; whereas the Earl of Curzon was not only somewhat cold and distant, but likewise suffered a partial sneer to curl his lips as he spoke. Sackville did not, however, seem to notice this manifestation of ill-feeling, but, turning again toward the others, he proceeded to discourse, without constraint or embarrassment, upon the principal topics of the day. In a few minutes the domestic announced that dinner was served, and the party repaired to the banqueting-room. The repast was of the most succulent description, fully equalling that of which the same company had partaken at Lord Leveson’s. The wines were of the first quality, and the dessert was not less commendable to the tastes of the convivialists. During the banquet not a word was spoken in reference to the object of the meeting, and not an allusion made to it. But the discourse was sustained, as if by a common consent, on a variety of other subjects. Never- theless, everybody did in his heart feel that unless these efforts were made to support the conversation uninter- ruptedly, the damp of constraint would speedily fall upon their spirits. As for Colonel Malpas, he drank large quantities 97 COME 0)(0)(0) SS (GO) am