The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 149: what you’re looking at

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

132 THE COURT OF LONDON to you that the key had by some means found its way into the chamber. Your ladyship wiil hence conclude that something transpired of a totally unexpected nature to interfere with our previous plans and compel me to refuse admittance to my husband when Jessica brought him to the door. Yes, Lady Sackville, something did transpire, but you will pardon me it [ pass it over in silence. It is my secret, and must remain so. Doubtless I have forfeited your lady- ship’s friendship and good opinion. It is my misfortune, scarcely my fault. At all events, I beseech you not to attribute the occurrence to a wilful breach of faith or pre- meditated treachery on my part. What you will now do relative to my unprincipled husband, I know not, but I have little doubt that you will find means to propitiate if not to disarm him in respect to his infamous designs toward yourselt. “The haste and anxiety I exhibit in penning these lines will, I hope, convince your. ladyship that it 1s my sincerest _ desire to divest myself as much as possible of the odium which in your ladyship’s estimation may attach to my seemingly treacherous conduct of last night, and 1f I append no name or initials to this note; your ladyship will not imagine that I am afraid to allow such a document with my signature to remain in your hands. It is merely a precaution which I adopt lest the note should fall into the hands of others.”’ ‘Ah!’ said Venetia, on whose countenance a ray of intelligence had gradually beamed as she perused this singular epistle, ‘‘ I now begin to understand the whole affair. It is as clear as daylight that some lover, whom Mrs. Malpas — preferred to her husband, found his way last night to her chamber. But who could it be? Captain Tash was closeted and concealed in the housemaid’s chamber at the very time when you and Malpas gave the ineffectual summons at the spare bedroom door. The lover, then, was doubtless already at that moment in the room with Mrs. Malpas, and Captain Tash had no doubt been pandering to the suddenly impro- vised amour. Now, was that lover my husband or the prince? For between those two the matter appears most certainly to rest.” ‘Lord Sackville, please your ladyship,’ said Jessica, GOMIGDOOKS