The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 115: what you’re looking at

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

96 THE COURT OF LONDON most probably head and ears in debt, and only anxious to get a husband in order to throw the burden of her liabilities upon his shoulders and thus save herself from prison.”’ “ It looks uncommonly like it,’’ observed the marquis. ‘“‘ By the bye, any news of the gossamer lady? ”’ asked the prince, with a smile. ‘None, sir,’’ responded the nobleman, his looks becoming clouded all in a moment; but instantaneously recovering his composure, he said, ‘‘ Does your Royal Highness know whether Mr. and Mrs. Sackville have returned to town? ”’ ‘TI do not,” answered the prince. ‘‘ But perhaps Malpas can tell us.’”’ Then, advancing toward the centre of the room, he said, ‘‘ Colonel, do you know whether the Sack- villes have returned from Brighton? ’”’ ‘They came back last night, sir,” exclaimed the Earl of Curzon, ‘‘ and proceeded to Acacia Cottage.” “You had that information from our friend Tash,” whispered the baronet, hurriedly. ‘‘ He sent Robin to me late last night with the same intelligence.” “Do you think Sackville will join our party? ” inquired the prince. ‘“T have received no answer to my invitation,” said the colonel. ‘For my part, I do not think he will make his appear- ance,’’ observed the Earl of Curzon. ‘Nor I,” added Sir Douglas Huntingdon. ‘‘ He must be heartily ashamed of himself, no doubt.” ‘And would not hike to face us, eh? ”’ said the Marquis of Leveson. ‘He fears, perhaps, a terrible bantering,’’ observed the prince regent. ‘Tt is now half-past six,’’ said the colonel, consulting his watch; ‘‘ and that is the time named in the note of invita- tion. Shall I order dinner to be served up? ”’ But ere the prince, to whom the question was put, had time to answer, the door was again thrown open, and the servant announced Mr. Horace Sackville. GOMIGIOOKS () (E(0)