The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 235: what you’re looking at

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

212 THE COURT OF LONDON he conducted her across the principal landing, down a long passage, into an antechamber, at the extremity of which was a glass door communicating with another apartment. ‘““Remain here, my love,” said the prince; “ but if the fantasy should seize you to come and join our sport, pray do so without ceremony.” Having thus spoken, and bestowing another parting caress upon Venetia, the prince hastened by the glass door into the adjoining apartment. Lady Sackville now approached this glass door, and peeping between the crimson blinds in such a way that she could see everything without being seen herself, she plunged her looks into the interior of the magnificent saloon which his Royal Highness had just entered. For magnificent it indeed was, furnished in the most luxurious style, and flooded with the light poured forth by numerous chandeliers and lamps. But what chiefly interested Venetia was the circumstance that five or six young ladies, all of whom she recognized as belonging to the proudest families of the aristocracy, had gathered around the prince, and were assailing him with all the artillery alike of their charms and their wit. Venetia was not jealous at the position in which her royal lover was thus placed. She loathed and detested him too cordially to experience a sentiment which, though in itself a noxious weed, yet can only flourish when moistened by the dews of love; and she likewise despised and con- temned him more than ever for having brought her to behold the present spectacle. ‘“‘ He believes me to be utterly and thoroughly depraved,” she thought within herself, ‘‘ and that I take delight in all kinds of profligacy. Well, perhaps the time may come when I shall do so. At all events, henceforth I shall never hesitate to follow my own inclinations, and gratify any caprices that may take possession of me; for I perceive full well that virtue is a mockery, delicacy a laughing-stock, and propriety an imaginery thing, within the precincts of a court.”’ Venetia was thus musing to herself, when she became aware of footsteps behind her. She turned abruptly around, and beheld Sir Douglas Huntingdon. Now, it will be remembered that the baronet, when avail- ing himself of his turn to prosecute the love-campaign GOMmicdooks () (E(0)