The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 137: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. 123 one of the arm-chairs already noticed. But scarcely had she thus sunk down upon the flocculent cush- ion, when a Sharp click as of some mechanism giving way met her ears—and at the same instant her wrists were caught in manacles which sprang out of the arms of the treacherous chair, while two steel bands started from the richly-carved back and grasped her shoulders. A shriek burst from her lips—she struggled violently, but all to no purpose: for she was a captive—and powerless! We should observe that the manacles and the steel bands which had thus fastened upon her, were covered with velvet, so that they inflicted no positive injury upon her, nor even produced the slightest abrasion of her fair and polished skin. Scarcely was she thus caught in the gripe of the treacherous chair, when a door which fitted so ad- mirably into the wall that she had not previously observed its existence, was thrown open—and the Marquis of Leveson stood in her presence. “ My lord,” she immediately exclaimed, in a voice of gentle remonstrance, “this is most un- worthy treatment towards one who came volun- tarily to your mansion, knowing that Friday was your day for prosecuting the love-campaign against Venetia Trelawney.” “ Ah! you are then acquainted with the secret compact of your six admirers,” said the Marquis, in astonishment: “and you are aware of the ex- istence of that wager which I am this. night des- tined to win?” “T know all, my lord,” answered Venetia: “and what is more, | knew when entering the carriage at Hyde Park corner, that 1t was your equipage and that I was coming to your abode.” “But who acquainted you with the particulars of the compact and the love-campaign ?” inquired the Marquis, who had expected to be overwhelmed with reproaches instead of experiencing so much meekness aud humility on the part of the beau- teous creature on whom his eyes were now fixed with gloating fervour and devouring passion. *“On Wednesday evening,” responded Miss Tre- | lawney, in a gentle tone, “ Colonel Malpas told me everything.” “But you had intended to abandon yourself to the Prince of Wales, divine being !” exclaimed the Marquis, approaching nearer to her and rivetting his eyes upon the bosom that was palpitating-with visible heaving's. “Tt is true,’ was Miss Trelawney’s ready an- _ swer, delivered with an air of charming though mournful sincerity. “But the instant that your footman whispered in my ears the announcement which was intended to beguile me, I read the whole | truth as clearly as if it had been explained in detail. L saw that the Prince had treacherously | made you his confidant—I remembered that it was your day to adopt proceedings with regard to me—and I understood in a moment that you had availed yourself of the opportunity afforded by the appointment which I had made with his Royal Highness. Unhesitatingly was my mind made up that instant. I resolved to punish the Prince’s per- fidy by fixing my choice on you and accepting the overtures which I presume you are prepared to make.” “Aot my dearest Venetia,” exclaimed Lord so completely in my favour and that such happi- ness was in store for me, you would have found me at your feet the instant you entered the drawing- room. But I cannot even now scarcely be- lieve——” “ My lord, listen and I will be candid with you,” said Venetia, the earnestness of her looks deepen- ing in expression. “So soon as Colonel Malpas revealed to me the trammels of this compact, con- Spiracy, or love-campaign—whichever you may please to denominate it—I resolved to accept the a ——<———_——- --_ overtures of the individual who was most exalted © in rank. I therefore chose the Prince. But he has performed a treacherous part in betraying his success to your ears: whereas the proceeding you ~ have adopted to delude me to your mansion, is only as tratagem that may be regarded as legitimate enough in the operations of a love-siege. I there- fore resolved, the moment the truth flashed upon | my mind in the manner I have described, to dis- card the Prince and accept your lordship. For next to his Royal Highness is your rank the lof- tiest of all my suitors, and consequently the more calculated to reflect honour upon me. these been my intentions, I need not have come hither. Your servants would not have dared to retain me a prisoner in the carriage, if I had cho- sen to leave it: my screams would have aroused all Piccadilly to the rescue. Moreover, think you that when the carriage turned into Albemarle Street, I could any longer remain in doubt, even if I had for a2 moment experienced any uncertainty upon the point, to whose mansion it was that I was being borne? And had I wished to fly, could I not have done so the instant I descended the steps of the carriage? My lord, you perceive that my conduct in every respect corroborates all I tell you.” “It does—it does, my beloved Venetia,” ex- claimed the enraptured Marquis, iu a delirium of joy and ecstacy at the unexpected turn which the adventure had thus taken. “And you will be mine, Venetia ?—you will be mine—wholly mine?” *T will be your’s, my lord,” she replied, firmly and deliberately. “ You will do all that lies in your power to minister to my happiness——” “ All—everything!” exclaimed the nobleman, trembling with the delicious anticipation of revel- ling in that divine creature’s charms. “ Five thousand a year shall be settled upon you, my Ve- netia: you shall be surrounded with luxuries, en- joyments, and pleasures! Oh! let me hasten to release you from this restraint which 1 so deeply deplore—let me clasp you in my arms i And stepping behind the chair, he touched a spring, the effect of which was instantaneous for the purpose of release: so that the manacles fly- ing from the imprisoned wrists and the steel bands from the ivory shoulders, sank back into the wood- work of the treacherous chair, “Pardon me this outrage, dearest Venetia— most adored of women!” exclaimed the Marquis, catching her in his embrace as she rose slowly from the seat. “ Ah! it was too bad of you, my lord,” she mur- mured, winding her snowy arms about bis neck. For an instant she abandoned herself to his fer- vid caresses: but it was only that she might throw | Leveson, ‘if I had known all this—if I could have | him completely off his guard ;—for the next mo- _ anticipated that your thoughts had taken a turn! ment, with a sudden and dexterous Jerk she O — ——— —_ _ — = ung Had not ~ OOM im ‘ Go