The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 125: what you’re looking at

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

104 THE COURT OF LONDON four occasions already that I have no reason to be pleased with that lady or with any of her connections.’’ ‘“Now, my dear prince, you are not acting sensibly or justly,’ said Venetia, turning toward him and placing one of her taper fingers upon his lip as if to prevent him from speaking further for the moment. Then, as she poured upon him the golden flood of her radiant looks, she continued to observe, ‘‘ If you have been enabled so readily to forget, or rather to repent of your ancient connection with Mrs. Fitzherbert, must I not fear that when wearied of me, you will case to think of your poor Venetia with love and affection?’”’ ‘Never, never, my heart’s darling,’”’ cried the prince, throwing his arms around her neck and drawing her toward him. Then, as her superb bosom heaved and swelled against his chest, he said, ‘“‘ Ah! dearest Venetia, there is a ereat difference between our connection and that which subsisted between me and Mrs. Fitzherbert. You are faith- ful to me — you will always be faithful; whereas she went to France, intrigued with the Marquis of bBellois, and became a mother by him; then, on returning to England, she flew back to my arms, vaunting as it were her fidelity toward me, — a fidelity in which for a time I was idiot enough to believe. Nor was the French marquis her only paramour — Oh, I have had many and signal proofs of her scandalous infidelities and depravities! And now, there- fore, can you wonder if, notwithstanding the tenderness of my original connection with Mrs. Fitzherbert, I have been alienated from her for nearly twenty years? ”’ “All this is no doubt true enough, my dear George,’ said Venetia, redoubling the apparent ardour of her caresses and lavishing a thousand seeming proofs of tenderness upon her royal paramour, in order the more effectually to rivet the silken bonds and flowery fetters in which her fascinations held his soul captive. ‘‘ But nevertheless,’’ she continued, ‘‘ you must not visit upon any of Mrs. Fitzherbert’s relations the vindictive sentiments which you may experience toward herself.”’ ‘“‘ Ah! even if I were inclined to doso, you would take care, my wily charmer, effectually to prevent it,’’ and as the prince thus spoke in a jocular manner, he indulged in delicious toyings and amorous dalliances with his beauteous mistress. Gomichboo CS (E(@)