The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 142: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XIV THE CAPTAIN ENJOYING HIMSELF WeE must now return to Carlton House, where, as the reader will remember, we left the prince locked in a room with Mrs. Malpas, the colonel with Venetia in her bou- doir, and Captain Tash lying concealed in the housemaid’s chamber. Having ignominiously expelled therefrom the colonel in his female attire, Captain Tash waited for about a quarter of an hour, when he fancied that Malpas must have got clear out of the palace, and finding that all was now still in the passage, and little suspecting indeed to what desirable quarters Malpas had managed to introduce himself, the captain issued forth from the housemaid’s bedchamber. Returning to the dining-room and finding that Sackville had not come back, —remembering, too, that he had intimated he should not return until a very late hour, — the redoubtable Tash resolved upon sitting up for him. But perceiving that the decanters were well-nigh emptied, he rang the bell violently. ‘Plumpstead, my worthy fellow,’ said the captain to the butler, who himself answered the summons under the impression that more wine was wanted, ‘‘ you behold me alone, without liquor and without a companion. Now, forasmuch as you are an excellent fellow and have the keep- ing of an excellent cellar, you shall forthwith bring up half a dozen bottles of the raciest vintage. You can then trot off to bed, as I will sit up for Lord Sackville. But stop one moment. Is my man Robin in your servants’ hall? ” ‘ He is, sir,’ was the reply. 6 What i is oe doing? ”’ asked Tash. ‘“ He has worked himself into the darkest corner of the 125 CORNICLOOL ‘Ss (GO) im