The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 70: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER VII VENETIA AND HER AGENT Asout ten days after the incidents which we have just related, and as the delicious month of April was verging toward a close, the last of a series of private dramatic per- formances was to take place at Carlton House. Accordingly, between seven and eight o’clock on a certain evening, we shall find the beautiful Venetia dressing in her own chamber for the part which she was to take in the drama. The tasteful Jessica and another maid assisted at this toilet, which was so well calculated to display the erand and voluptuous charms of Lady Sackville to their fullest advantage. We need not, however, linger to describe her personal appearance on the occasion. Suffice it to say that she wore her auburn hair showering in ringlets over her naked shoulders so dazzlingly white, and that some natural flowers were the only ornament which appeared upon those Hyperion locks. Her drapery, gauzy and transparent, low in the body and short in the skirt, revealed the luxuriance of her bust and all the symmetry of her limbs. Her arms were naked; and thus was the brilliant Venetia dressed, or, rather, undressed, 1n a manner the most voluptuous and the most provocative. It was half-past seven, and the performances were to commence at eight. Her toilet was thus achieved in good time, and when it was completed she dismissed her maids and sat down to cast a look over her written part. But not many minutes did she remain thus alone, for Jessica reappeared with the announcement that Colonel Malpas was in the drawing-room and requested an immediate interview. “ Ah!” ejaculated Venetia, ‘‘ he is returned, then, and I will see him, if only for a few minutes.”’ 63 ECORnICLOOKS (C(O) im