The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 179: what you’re looking at

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

162 REYNOLDS’ WORKS ° Lord Saxondale could scarcely retain his joy as he breathed the most liberal promises in the ears of the young woman. “Walk in, my lord,’ she said, throwing open a door leading out of the hall. ‘“ My mistress will be with you immediately. ‘She is merely making some change in her toilet.” Saxondale entered an apartment that was not merely elegantly, but even luxuriously furnished. A table in the centre was spread with a supper consisting of several cold dainties and choice wines. The curtains had been drawn closely over the windows, and the room was lighted by a lustre suspended from the ceiling. “ Now,” thought Lord Saxondale to himself, “in a few minutes, perhaps in a few seconds, I shall have an oppor- tunity of gazing close upon those charms which I have already devoured from a distance. But hers is a loveliness which cannot diminish by a near view. Ah, what happiness! ” and he literally rubbed his hands with delight. At this moment he heard female voices whispering in the hall. Then the door opened, and then a lady of tall stature, oreat beauty, and elastic walk entered the room. She was clad in an elegant wrapper thrown loosely around her; and in her appearance there was not merely that negligent abandonment of one who has just put on a déshabillé, but also a meretricious exposure of her charms. She was not the Signora Vivaldi, and therefore Lord Saxondale at once took her to be either a guest or a relation of a fair danseuse. He accordingly bowed with the polhtest courtesy, but volunteered no explanation of his object in obtaining this interview. “Your lordship will doubtless think me very indiscreet and very imprudent,” said the lady, motioning him to be seated, as she threw herself listlessly upon a sofa placed near the supper-table, “‘ in receiving you at this time of night, or, rather, I should say, at so early an hour in the morning; but from all that my maid told me of your lordship’s anxiety to form my acquaintance, I was vain enough te suppose — ”’ “ Your maid? ’’ echoed Lord Saxondale, with unfeigned astonishment. ‘‘ Surely there must be some mistake? It was the fair mistress of the villa to whom I was desirous of paying my respects.”’ ‘““And I, my lord,’ answered the lady, reddening with CONNIE NOOO KS (E(0)