The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 74: what you’re looking at

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

VENETIA AND HER AGENT 57 he continued, ‘‘ you looked as calmly dignified and as elegantly stately as the Goddess Diana, but now you seem superb and terrible as Juno the queen of heaven.”’ ~ “Teave the room, sir,” exclaimed Venetia, rising from her seat and catching hold of the bell-cord. ‘‘ Remain another instant and I summon the lackeys to thrust you forth.”’ “ Ah! would you dare heap insults on me again? ”’ cried Malpas, also springing from his chair. Then, with a look of malignant triumph, he said, “* Madam, you are in my power, utterly in my power, and you would do well to come to terms with me.” “In your power, sir! It is ridiculous!” ejaculated Venetia, in a tone of scorn and with a look of withering indignation, but still she did not pull the bell, for she felt that she was not standing on the securest ground possible in respect to Malpas. ‘‘ You doubtless think,’”’ she continued to observe, “‘ that because I have entrusted you with a delicate and secret mission you have acquired a certain authority over me, and you imagine to work upon my fears? ”’ , “You speak the exact truth,” said Malpas, ‘‘ and remem- ber that if we have now come to serious language, it 1s your ladyship who has provoked it.”’ ‘“ Penniless, wretched, and miserable,’”’ said Venetia, in a bitter tone, “‘ did you issue from a debtor’s gaol, and the first person to whom you applied was the very last to whom you _ should have so addressed yourself. Nevertheless, I took you by the hand, I gave you employment, I put gold into vour pocket, and now you seek to turn around upon me, viper that you are. But I will trample you beneath my heel, I will crush you as I would a worm, I will cover you with con- fusion, infamy, and disgrace.”’ As Venetia thus spoke, her form seemed to dilate, her stature heightened, her bust expanded, her cheeks mantled with the deepest carnation, her eyes vibrated like stars, her beauty became alike grand and terrible. “ Oh, since you treat the matter thus,’ said Malpas, “‘ let us understand each other. Think you that I have ever for- gotten, or could have ever forgiven, the tremendous exposure which took place when the Banquet of Six was given at my house? No, by heavens, it was a barbed arrow that rankled CORNICL@Oo! cS (CO) im