The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 161: what you’re looking at

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

144 THE COURT OF LONDON — I have suspected, or, rather,” he continued, ‘‘ I have had positive proofs that my wife was a thorough intriguante.”’ ‘And pray, are you the most immaculate of men?” inquired Venetia, with an arch smile. ‘“ No, far from it,” responded Curzon, snatching a kiss from her lips; but he immediately added, “I do not choose my wife to pursue a similar game.”’ ‘Then how you must despise, scorn, and loathe me,” said Venetia, but with a certain haughty mockery in her tone. “Am not I a wife, and yet have I not forgotten myself with you? Am I not likely to do it again? ” “Ah! but you are one of the world’s exceptions,” ex-_ claimed Curzon, not knowing exactly what response to give. Then, aiter some little hesitation and with a certain confusion in his looks, he said, ‘‘ But wherefore shall we continue this topic? It only makes me say things disagreeable to you, and I would not for the world offend or annoy you, Venetia.” “ You neither offend nor annoy me,” she observed, with a peculiarity of tone and look which for the moment seemed to have something sinister in it; but as her countenance suddenly lighted up, she exclaimed, in a blithe voice, “ I know very well that I am different from other women, and there lives not a man on the face of the earth who can either scorn or despise me.’’ “True, most true,’’ exclaimed Curzon, bestowing upon her another caress. ‘‘ Well, I was about to explain that on the Continent I met a person who revealed to me all the secrets relative to Editha’s misconduct, and how artfully she managed, by the aid of her principal tirewoman, a girl named Gertrude, to carry on her intrigues in such a way that none of the servants, save this confidential one, could possibly suspect what was going on.”’ — “ And who could have been base and mischievous enough to give you such information? ” asked Venetia, her suspicions instantaneously settling upon Colonel Malpas. “ Ah! my charmer, I must not tell you that,’”’ said Curzon, patting her face. “ Well, go on,” she said, with an arch smile. ‘I do not wish to penetrate more deeply than you choose into your secrets. I suppose, however, that, having gained this infor- mation on the Continent, you lost no time in turning 1t to account the moment you came back to London? ” GOmMmicbooks (E(0)